Cole Haan made a great winter boot that's lightweight, waterproof, and mountain climber approved
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With below freezing temperatures and harsh conditions like snow and ice, this winter has been brutal, so far. Having the appropriate footwear and apparel to handle the season is very important.
Cole Haan is known for its comfortable shoes for comfortable and casual wear, but the brand is now taking on creating rugged footwear built for extreme weather.
To do so, the brand sought out expert wisdom of award-winning and history-making professional alpine climber Freddie Wilkinson to make the GrandExpløre Alpine Hiker Collection. Even with a technical design, the boots maintain the comfort and style Cole Haan is known for.
Coming in leather and suede options for men and women, the Cole Haan GrandExpløre Hiker Boots are designed to be lightweight, fully waterproof and ultra-insulated. Influenced by professional mountain climbers who face the world’s most severe conditions, Cole Haan's Innovation Team aimed to craft a stunning hiker that could withstand the elements of extreme temperatures and terrains, and the GrandExpløre is exactly that. Even as a fully functional outdoors boot, the GrandExpløre easily transitions from the mountains to the street for warm casual style.
In the past, I tested the Cole Haan 2.ZERØGRAND Wingtip Oxford and was more than happy to find the comfort of a sneaker in a shoe that could be worn to the office. When Cole Haan announced the release of the GrandExpløre Hikers I was excited to give them a try, too.
While I wasn't expecting the GrandExpløre Hikers to be as comfortable as sneakers, they are more much comfortable than any other winter boot I own.
There are many brands that make durable waterproof boots suitable for the winter, but there are few that do it in a lightweight shoe. Most other winter boots are heavy on-feet, so the weather must really call for wearing them. With the Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boots, you can wear them all day whether you're dressing casually or scaling snowy mountains.
I went with Chestnut colorway, which features a dark brown leather upper, dark tan suede on the tongue, durable D-ring lace eyelets, and bold accenting red laces. The combination of materials and colors make for a genuine Hiker look. Aside from the amazing style, what I like most about the boots is the outsole. Much like other Cole Haan shoes, they feature Grand.ØS technology, which allows for flexible, more natural motion of the feet.
If you're looking for a stylish footwear that can handle cold and wet conditions, the Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boots are for you.
Shop the entire Cole Haan GrandExpløre collection, now.
In addition to the collection of shoes for men and women, Cole Haan teamed up with acclaimed outdoor clothing and equipment maker Mountain Hardwear on a winterized Parka to complete your winter gear essentials.
Check out more items from the Cole Haan GrandExpløre collection, below:
Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot
Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot, $250
Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Alpine Hiker Boot
Cole Haan GrandExpløre Waterproof Alpine Hiker Boot, $239.95 (Originally $350) [You save $110.05]
Cole Haan Women's GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot
Cole Haan Women's GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot, $280
Cole Haan Women's GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot
Cole Haan Women's GrandExpløre Waterproof Hiker Boot, $280
Cole Haan + Mountain Hardwear™ GrandExpløre Parka
Cole Haan + Mountain Hardwear GrandExpløre Parka, $700
Amir Ismael Editor, Insider Reviews Amir Ismael is an editor for Insider Reviews, Insider's e-commerce branch of the service journalism team. As a collector of sneakers and fashion, Amir is passionate about all things related to style. He's covered everything including the industry's shift to producing more sustainable clothing, the most comfortable loungewear, all of the best places to shop for affordable business casual attire, and more. He's used his expertise in footwear and the footwear industry to review all kinds of shoes from sportswear giants, well-known casual brands, and startups. Amir's coverage also includes eyewear, watches, and grooming products like electric razors and men's skincare. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Amir has led Insider Reviews' face masks coverage with thoughtful recommendations based on CDC guidelines, expert opinions, and his own testing. During his time at Insider, Amir previously handled deals of the day coverage, and worked as a generalist writing hundreds of reviews ranging from phone cases and headphones to bed sheets and blenders, and has also covered major shopping holidays including Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Before joining the Insider Reviews team in 2017, worked as a freelance writer for Complex Sneakers and Sole Collector where he contributed to daily sneaker news and release dates, feature-length articles, and interviews with artists, designers, and athletes. Amir graduated from William Paterson University in 2015 with a degree in journalism and public relations. Say hello to Amir at aismael@businessinsider.com or on Instagram @amirjismael. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test style and beauty products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
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