Support & Stability

The Icebug Detour BUGrip boots are a bit bulky and lacked the kind of support and stability needed for serious winter hiking. The boots do feature the Boa lacing system, which helps to quickly and evenly tighten the boot around your foot, but even with this feature, it never felt like we achieved the kind of secure and stable fit that you’d want for a long trek. They were more than adequate, however, for a casual hike or everyday commute. Where the Detours outshine every other boot in the test, however, is the traction they provide with the innovative BUGrip that features metal studs imbedded in the sole. This feature makes walking over a sheet of ice as stable and secure as if you were walking on a sandy beach.

Quality & Construction

The Detours are relatively well-built, but they simply don’t have the kind of rugged, bulletproof durability that most of the other boots in the test have. The majority of the upper is a fabric material that doesn’t provide the kind of durability and longevity that comes from leather.

Comfort

The Detour are a fairly comfortable boot, though the tongue did tend to bunch up creating some hotspots at times, especially on longer excursions or more strenuous activities. The boots weren’t the warmest boots in the test, but were close and kept our feet warm even when standing still in the snow for up to half an hour.

Weight

The Detours were the second-lightest boot in our test, but much of this weight savings can be attributed to the lack of leather and rubber that significantly decreases the boots’ ability to protect your feet on serious winter hikes.

Protection

For casual hikes and everyday winter commutes, the Detours provide plenty of protection for your feet. The lack of any substantial leather in the upper, or a wraparound rand, makes them fall short, however, when it comes to serious hiking through rugged terrain or over long distances. The Detours did keep our feet dry when hiking in slushy conditions, though.