When Chris Townsend may otherwise have needed gaiters and walking boots with thick socks, he found it was much easier just to slip on the Grubs Bearline 8.5 boots.
Wellies are great for short walks in fields and woods when it’s wet and muddy, but most aren’t suitable for anything more and certainly not for snow and freezing weather. That’s not the case with the Grubs Bearline 8.5 boots. While these have a wellington boot design in most respects, they are very different. Firstly, they are insulated. Secondly, they have a hiking boot-style sole. These two features make them suitable for use on snow, and on rolling hills and moorland.
Chris Townsend Highly Recommends
I find the Bearline comfortable, supportive and very warm even walking through deep snow (almost over the tops of the boots) in temperature of -5°C.- very warm
- good grip
- waterproof
- good cushioning
- comfortable
- quite heavy
| Quick Specs |
|---|
| RRP: no US shipping | £129.95 (available from OutdoorAction) Weight: 2.54kg Materials: textured nylon, 8.5mm insulating foam, shock-absorbing midsole, Grubs Bearpaw sole Features: reinforced toe and heel, +10°C to -40°C rating Sizes: UK4-13 Unisex www.grubswarehouse.com |
The uppers are made from 8.5mm-thick neoprene foam, covered by a tough textured nylon on the lower section. The neoprene is soft and slightly stretchy. In the upper section it’s reinforced with narrow strips of textured nylon down the front and back so it doesn’t collapse. The toe is very hard and the heel is firm, helping keep the foot in place.
The heavy-duty sole unit consists of a removable 5mm foam insole, a shock-absorbing midsole, and a rubber outsole with a deep tread “textured to give it the same roughness of a bear’s paw”. The sole is torsionally stiff but flexes at the forefoot.
The fit is roomy. My wide feet fit comfortably with mediumweight socks on. Getting them on is easy, with nothing to adjust. Taking them off requires a bit more effort, but they do have a lip at the rear of the sole that can be used against a hard edge to lever them off.
I find the Bearline comfortable, supportive and very warm. Over the autumn and early winter of 2025 I wore them for walks in fields and woods and over moorland hills in cold, wet and snowy conditions. The biggest test was after a heavy snowfall. They kept my feet warm walking through deep snow (almost over the tops of the boots) in temperature of -5°C. I walked through muddy puddles, over boggy terrain, and in heavy rain, and they kept my feet dry.
I didn’t have any problems with sweat either. I wasn’t moving fast enough to generate much heat in the cold conditions and any moisture was absorbed into the soft lining. The grip is excellent on mud, snow, and wet surfaces of all sorts – grass, wood, rock, snow.
Cushioning is good too, and overall they felt like a hiking boot rather than a wellie. I did much walking on rough ground off paths and tracks, and the torsional stiffness was valuable for this, stopping the boots twisting under my feet.
The Bearlines don’t replace mountain boots. They’re not designed for steep snow and ice. However, on gentle hills they’re excellent. They can be even used with snowshoes and microspikes if needed.
At 2.54kg they are quite heavy but I didn’t really notice the weight. They’re bulky too, but again I didn’t notice this once on the move. I wasn’t wearing them in conditions where I was moving fast or needed nimble footwork. These are boots for when you want waterproofness, warmth and a feeling of security. I wore them when I’d have otherwise needed gaiters and walking boots with thick socks, and even then might have suffered wet or cold feet. It was much easier just to slip on the Bearlines.
How we tested
Chris used the boots in the first snow and ice of winter on local walks in woods, forests and moorland in the Cairngorms.
