The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots

Review by Kate Agathon

My favorite footwear this season are easily The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots for their warmth and ease of use.

The boots met all my criteria: comfort, ease, warmth, traction, daily use, apres ski use.

Apres Ski

After a day of skiing, I want my feet to be comfortable and warm.

Full disclosure: I don’t like wearing heavy winter boots or the hassle of bending down and fumbling around with laces.

I also dislike the parking lot balancing act of swapping out ski boots for regular boots for apres ski (the struggle is real!).

Last season, I replaced the bulky boots with a pair of slip-on shoes for apres ski.

The slip on shoes were just okay- while I could slip my feet quickly into them, they were impractical in that they didn’t protect my feet from the elements and lacked decent traction for walking around the ski village.

Surely there was something better- something that protected my feet and ankles, provided decent traction and was easy to slip my feet into?

Thankfully, this season I have moon-boot inspired The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots and my apres ski footwear issues are solved!

I can quickly and easily pull them on (thanks rear boot loop) and the slipper-like fit gives my tired feet some welcome relief.

Constructed from ripstop polyester 700-fill down insulation, the comfy high boot cut sides felt like a warm quilt surrounding my ankles in a warm and cozy hug.

Furthermore, unlike similar pull-on designs, The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots feature a drawstring at the top tightened for a more precise fit to keep the elements out.

The grippy sole provided excellent traction on icy parking lots and dubious walkways.

The last time I wore moon boots was in the mid 1980s. Wearing light and comfy The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots reminded me of that joyous feeling and made me feel like a kid again.

Finally, the light slipper-like feel felt nice to wear in the car on the way home from the ski resort. For my first need -apres ski- the boots were a solid win.

Daily Use

My second need was having a warm, slip-on boot for everyday use.

I live in the heart of Colorado ski country, which means I need a boot designed for cold mountain conditions.

I also wanted a boot that I could easily slip on and off to go do quick errands around town, walk the dogs, shovel the driveway, wipe off the car, etc.

Once again, The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots were the perfect solution.

Until I had those boots, summer and early fall were the only time I had the luxury of slipping my feet into and out of sandals or clogs and going about walking the dogs or doing errands with relative ease.

I loved the ease of how quickly I could slip my feet in and out of the comfortable, functional boots.

In fact, I liked them so much that I bought another pair and put a pair of Kahtoola EXOspikes traction systems on them to use exclusively for walking the dogs on super icy days (I didn’t want the repeated inconvenience of putting the Kahtoola EXOspikes off and on the boots since I wore the boots everywhere).

Despite the depth and spacing of the lugs, the re-engineered The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots comfortably accommodated the Kahtoola EXOspikes. I had no problem slipping the traction system over the sole.

Then, I went out and bought two additional pairs of The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots for my husband; one for his Kahtoola EXOspikes and another for every day dog walks and quick errands.

This is the first time I’ve liked an item so much that not only did I go out and buy another pair for myself, but I bought two additional pairs for my husband.

Key Features

• Upper polyester ripstop
• Slipper-style fit
• High-boot cut
• 700 fill down (certified Responsible Down Standard or recycled)
• Has TNF™ DNA design elements including iconic colorblocking, puffy quilting and bold branding
• Sole Unit: IcePick® temperature-sensitive rubber lugs for increased traction
• Reengineered outsole has an updated lug shape for better traction

Be careful when you select your boots.

While The North Face Nuptse Apres Booties are similar in appearance, they have a lower fill (550) and do not have the superior traction that The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots have. While The North Face Nuptse Apres Booties are great for hut trips or cabin getaways, they do not provide the warmth or traction that The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots do.

Available in two colors (Mushroom Grey/TNF Black, TNF Black/TNF Black), the unisex sized boots are the ultimate winter boot for those who want comfort, traction, and convenience.

I definitely recommend The North Face Nuptse Traction Boots for both apres ski and every day winter living in the mountains of Colorado.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her husband, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.