An Autumn world now covered in a frenzy of reds and yellows will soon be blanketed in white, revealing a frozen world in which everything seems to stand still. One world is burrowed and another is revealed. Silent silhouettes of barren trees and dangling icicles. Trails once roamed under warm sunny skies will soon be covered in snow and ice, all demanding a boot that let’s you avoid cabin fever.
As part of the Fall/Winter 2012 Outdoor Collection for men, Wolverine® has introduced the Gauge. Built to be at home hiking at elevation or strolling through the winter laiden lowlands, the Wolverine Gauge WP 8” Boot adds warmth, style, and durability to the winter months and emphasizes the innovative comfort technologies and durability for which the brand is known.
Whether your winter excursions focus on work or play, once you drag your feet out onto the icy tundra, protection is the name of the game. Towards those ends, the Wolverine VFrame exoskeleton is molded to an abrasion resistant mesh and waterproof leather upper for stability, durability, and a unique modern style.
The leather upper is tough and durable. It features a water-resistant coating to shed snow, rain, and mud. A wave mesh lining with waterproof membrane, 400 grams of 3M™ Thinsulate™ ultra insulation, and a classic above-ankle upper all conspire to keep your toes from turning blue in sub-freezing temperatures. All told, the Gauge works hard to ensure that wet feet are the reality of a bygone winter era.
A divided lacing system with a loop eyelet at the ankle gives you a custom fit around the forefoot, and articulated hardware makes tying your boots easier than ever. Because let’s be honest, when Jack Frost is chasing you down, there’s nothing worse than having to stop, unglove and retie for the perfect fit.
But the Gauge isn’t just designed for the winter, it’s designed for winter revelry. As such, the Gauge also has added features for those who live and breathe for the outdoors, including a heel cleat to ensure snowshoes stay in a place and a gaiter compatible D-ring for knee deep days.
The Gauge’s slip- and oil-resistant rubber outsole is designed to excel in wintery conditions. Wide pads on the ball of the foot and deep lugs embedded into the soles are made of two distinct compounds for long lasting durability and dependable traction as you negotiate snow and ice while avoiding embarrassing diggers.
Bottom Line…
When the temps disappear off the thermometer and you need a lightweight, waterproof, performance-oriented boot with a lot of ankle support, turn to the Men’s Gauge 8” from Wolverine.
Manufactured by Wolverine USA, the Gauge 8” WP Boot comes in black, brown and taupe. The boot is available for $170 and is available from Wolverine.com and other online retailers.
*Gumption Gear Review received the Gauge 8” WP Abrasion Resistant Winter Boots from Wolverine at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured are provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.