The North Face Shellista 2 Mid Luxe Boot - Womens Review

The Northward Confront Shellista II Mid

Cost: $140
Weight: two lbs. 12 oz.
Insulation: 200g Heatseeker
What we similar: Impressive performance and skilful looks at a reasonable price.
What we don't:Traction could be better and the kicking can be hard to put on.
Run across The North Face Shellista II Mid

4.7

The Shellista 2 Mid is a time-tested offer from The N Face and has been around long enough to run into thoughtful improvements in materials and design. We wore this classic winter boot during a peculiarly snowy winter in Bend, Oregon, putting it to the exam in common cold conditions and deep snow. Overall, for a boot that retails for a very reasonable $140, nosotros were impressed with how much performance and attending to detail is packed into its design. To meet how the Shellista II Mid measures up to the competition, see our article on the best women'due south winter boots.

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Tabular array of Contents

• Warmth
• Traction
• Comfort
• Waterproofing
• Boot Summit
• Weight
• Construction and Durability
• Manner
• Fit and Sizing
• Other Versions of the Joan of Chill
• What We Like/What Nosotros Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Contest

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Performance

Warmth

The North Face Shellista Two Mid is a casual, wintertime-set up women's boot, made with a combination of nubuck leather and rubber in the upper and lined with synthetic insulation. We wore the Shellista hiking, running errands effectually town, and shoveling snow in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and our feet stayed comfortable and warm the majority of the time. Like to wool, PrimaLoft Silver Eco synthetic insulation has a corking warmth-to-weight ratio and is capable of retaining its loft and insulating abilities fifty-fifty when moisture—a nice feature when information technology comes to winter footwear. Underfoot, a half-inch foam insole serves equally the barrier between the uninsulated outsole and the foot. We were surprised when nosotros first saw this—compared to the UGG Adirondack 3 (which features a 3-layer foam midsole lined with wool insulation), we thought the Shellista would be disappointing in terms of warmth. But in the end, we were impressed with its insulating capabilities.

Unlike the UGG Adirondack, The N Confront does not provide a temperature rating for the Shellista, which nosotros really appreciate. Temperature ratings tend to be misleading as myriad factors contribute to your anxiety staying warm, including your circulation, level of exertion, sock pick, and fit. To see how the Shellista compared to the UGG Adirondack III (with a -32˚C temperature rating), nosotros went on a long wintertime walk in over a foot of fresh snow with the UGG on one pes and The North Face on the other. In the end, both boots kept our feet on the slightly cool end of comfortable in 15-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. Fifty-fifty after standing with each kicking immersed in a human foot of powder, the result was the same: in terms of warmth, the Shellista and the Adirondack are fairly equal.

Traction

Trustworthy traction in winter conditions is a challenging task, and the Shellista falls middle-of-the-pack in terms of grip on ice and snow. The outsole is fabricated of The Northward Face's Winter Grip rubber, and for most applications—such as walking on hard-packed snowfall or crossing icy roads—information technology was more than sufficient. We even wore the Shellista while shoveling our roof after a heavy snow, and although nosotros experienced pocket-sized slipping, we were impressed overall with the boot's concord on icy shingles. For comparison sake, we did find that the deeper and sharper lugs on the UGG Adirondack offer slightly more bite on slippery terrain than the Shellista's more shallow, snowflake-shaped tread. And when tested in conjunction, the herringbone tread of Sorel's Joan of Chill provided very similar traction.

Comfort

With a fleece-lined interior, costly cushioning at the ankle, and a lightweight, 1-pound six-ounce build, the Shellista excels in terms of comfort. Further, we found that the cushioned safety underfoot added a soft spring to our step. That said, the one-half-condom upper on pinnacle of the human foot does detract a bit from maneuverability, giving the Shellista more of the feel of a galosh than a snug-fitting, supple leather kicking. And we did notice some bunching in the midfoot—right where the talocrural joint flexes—which was more pesky than uncomfortable. Even if we tightened the laces all the style, there was yet an excess of material on the kicking. Unfortunately, this seems to be par for the course for nearly wintertime boots we've worn, and on the vivid side, allows you space to tuck leg warmers or pants into your boots.

With a viii.5-inch shaft top, The North Face up Shellista Ii Mid provides more warmth and cozy comfort to your calf than a shorter boot like the UGG Adirondack III at 7 inches, while nevertheless allowing liberty of motility and breathability. But due to this height, putting on and taking off the Shellista tin be an involved process. To make it worse, the kick doesn't have a pull tab on its rear, and its soft leather and safety build has a tendency to lose shape when pulling information technology on. Unless you lot want to boxing with the kick, y'all'll need to loosen the laces all the way to the top of the foot. Unfortunately, loosening the laces means that you'll have to tighten them all besides, one past ane, as the Shellista does not accept an easy, one-pull lacing organization.

Waterproofing

Fabricated with a combination of rubber and nubuck leather, the Shellista II Mid is a waterproof boot that is ready to handle wet snow, puddles, and even pelting showers. Take note, however, that the boot only is waterproof up to about the sixth grommet, or where the knit topper begins. Here, the tongue transitions from being gusseted to open, allowing h2o to easily penetrate the slits. Nosotros wouldn't desire to pool-hop in the Shellista in water much deeper than a half-foot, simply we were able to stand in kicking-deep powder for over 5 minutes without any moisture penetrating through.

Boot Height: Protection and Support

The North Face's Shellista II Mid has a shaft height of viii.5 inches, placing information technology about mid-calf. As we mentioned above, it is waterproof up to the knit topper, or nigh four inches from the top. Given its meridian, the Shellista provides slightly more coverage than the UGG Adirondack III, and noticeably less than the 12-inch Sorel Joan of Chill. And its leather upper has plenty of give to it, making it piece of cake to wear for tasks like riding a cycle or driving a auto. We like the circumference of the pattern too, every bit it layers well over a pair of leggings or skinny jeans, but also is streamlined enough to be worn under a flared jean or snowfall pant. After a peculiarly dramatic snowfall in boondocks, nosotros stood in over ii feet of snowfall for a few hours while shoveling our roof, and the combination of Shellista and snowfall pant finer kept our feet and legs both warm and dry.

Weight

On our scale, the Shellista clocks in at ane pound 6 ounces per boot (2 lbs. 12 oz. for the pair), which is decently light and leaves yous feeling similar you don't have a clunky block on your foot. Nosotros've found it piece of cake to hike in, mile after mile, and even capable of a light jog without as well much issue (other than the bunching at the talocrural joint, which we addressed in the comfort section above). Overall, we're impressed with the amount of warmth that the Shellista is able to provide without the bulk or weight of a thicker liner.

Structure and Durability

The Northward Face up's Shellista II Mid is a wintery take on your traditional prophylactic boot. The outsole and lower half of the upper is fully safety, joining with a nubuck leather shaft merely below the ankle. Hither, the meeting of two very singled-out materials feels flawless, and is adorned with a detailed piece of nubuck. Inside, yous get continuous PrimaLoft Silvery Eco, with padding at the ankle for both condolement and fit. Furthermore, the Shellista is covered in small details that really give it a premium feel: dotted designs in both the condom and the leather tie the boot together, and the plush oversized-knit gage is an eye-catching improver. What'due south more, The N Face up has gone then far as to give the tread a snowflake pattern.

The Due north Face's choice of materials with the Shellista ways it stays at a reasonable toll betoken without sacrificing likewise much in the way of performance. PrimaLoft insulation has a tendency to agglomeration over fourth dimension, meaning the liner of the boot might not be equally durable as, say, the wool interior of UGG's Adirondack Three. Furthermore, we discover leather to be a far comfier, cozier material in the footbed, but rubber gives you waterproof assurance at a low cost. We're still wearing a pair of these boots that we bought over five years ago, and aside from some packing out in the liner, they still are as warm and waterproof as ever. For the price, the Shellista is a durable, well-constructed kick that stands the test of time.

Way

The Northward Confront'south Shellista Two Mid is an eye-catching winter kicking that comes in a wide varieties of colorways. An oversized-knit cuff and the minor details in the rand and leather add style and feminine touches to a kicking that can handle snow, water ice, and common cold. The Shellista'south mid-calf superlative and relatively streamlined build (no fur-lined gage) allow you to either layer it over pants or under snowfall pants or gaiters, giving it peak-notch versatility. We exercise accept one small nitpick: nosotros detect that the kicking'south polish rubber outsole and half-upper does subtract a bit from its urban prowess, lending more than of the experience of a clunky rainboot than a stylish metropolis slicker.

Fit and Sizing

We tested the Shellista II Mid in a women's eight.5, and found its fit to exist rather truthful to size. If annihilation, you might want to size upwardly to suit thick socks. The extra padding in the ankles is a welcome feature, and finer keeps the human foot snug and in identify. As we mentioned above, we did feel a bunching of backlog material where the kicking bends at the ankle, which seems adequately typical in terms of the other winter boots that nosotros tested. This extra room allows the option of layering the kick over leg warmers or pant legs, but nosotros found it more than abrasive than functional.

Other Versions of the Shellista

For this review, we tested the Women'south Shellista II Mid boots, which have a shaft height of 8.5 inches. The North Face also offers the Shellista Four Tall ($160), with a shaft height of 14 inches. The Alpine forgoes the knit cuff of the II Mid for a stylish leather and wool particular, and it comes in two colorways at the time of publishing. The North Face up also offers the Shellista III Mid, which features pull tabs on the sides (one of our big gripes with the Ii) and swaps out the II's knit accents for wool. The new version does weigh slightly less at 2 pounds 10 ounces for the pair and is the aforementioned cost at $140. Finally, the III besides comes in a "Shorty" version for $120, and the 2 is bachelor in a "Roll-Down" model for $130.

What We Similar

• A nice mix of performance and style. Y'all go the waterproofing and durability of a rubber kick, merely with insulation, a fractional-leather upper, and some nice design features.
• The padding at the talocrural joint gives a cozy feel and keeps your pes snug in the footbed.
• At $140, the Shellista II Mid is a functional kick at a very reasonable toll bespeak.
  

What We Don't

• Rubber and synthetic insulation are not every bit high quality of materials as the UGG Adirondack III's leather and wool.
• The Shellista can be arduous to get on and off with no tabs, and the laces do not have an easy 1-handed pull either.
• Excess textile around the top of the foot and lower calf results in bunching, resulting in a slightly clunky, galosh-like experience.

Comparing Table

Kick	Cost	Weight	Insulation	Height	Waterproof
The North Face Shellista Ii Mid	$140	two lbs. 12 oz.	200g synthetic	8.5 in.	Yes
UGG Adirondack 3	$250	ii lbs. 9.6 oz.	200g wool	7 in.	Yes
Sorel Joan of Arctic	$210	3 lbs. 14 oz.	6mm felt	xi.75 in.	Yeah
Kamik Momentum	$80	three lbs.	200g constructed	10 in.	Yes
The Due north Confront Shellista III Mid	$140	two lbs. 10 oz.	200g constructed	viii.5 in.	Yep

The Competition

When it comes to selecting a women'due south wintertime kick, there's no shortage of options. One particularly versatile model is the UGG Adirondack Iii, which is designed with a cuff that tin can be worn in two configurations and a relatively low vii-inch shaft that is great for loftier-exertion activities. With a focus on premium materials—including a total leather upper and wool-insulated liner—the Adirondack uses higher quality materials, fits better, is lighter, and more than durable. That said, in our testing we constitute that the Shellista and the Adirondack braved snow and cold temperatures very similarly. In fact, we were difficult pressed to discern a difference after a day of walking with the UGG on ane human foot and the TNF on the other. If yous're willing to pay the steep $250 price tag, UGG's Adirondack is hard to shell, only the Shellista offers similar performance for a whopping $110 less.

If you're on the hunt for something more flashy, Sorel'south Joan of Chill offers a heavy dose of way. Information technology combines a tall, 12-inch shaft summit with oversized metallic grommets, a suede upper, and a generous false-fur gage for a quintessential-looking winter boot. Waterproof almost up to its brim, the Joan of Arctic is a great option if you're constantly battling deep snow and want your kicking to do the work. That said, it'south likewise bulky for nearly snow pants or gaiters to layer overtop. We establish that the Sorel offers similar levels of traction to the Shellista, but its warmth and comfort comes upwards short, plus it'due south nearly 2-pound weight (per boot) makes it too clunky and cumbersome for hikes of any length.

For those on a shoestring upkeep, the Kamik Momentum is another skillful choice, clocking in at but $90 for the pair. Information technology comes with a like 200g of insulation, a safe sole and 8-inch shaft, and a nylon upper. You'll surrender the leather and some of the classy design features of the Shellista, simply the Momentum's fur-brimmed gage and diversity of colorways offering a mode of their own. And we peculiarly love that the Momentum offers a one-pull lacing system with bungee cinch—no need to tie knots with cold easily or tighten laces individually. But while Kamik advertises the Momentum as having a waterproof upper, we've heard reports of it quickly allowing moisture to enter. If you spend your wintertime in specially dry climates and don't deal with wet snowfall or puddles, the Momentum is a squeamish budget option. But for nigh purposes, we'd stick with the Shellista.

And finally, if you're interested in the Shellista II, information technology'southward likely that the Shellista III Mid has defenseless your heart as well. We oasis't been able to track downwards physical information from The Northward Confront, but the Iii seems to exist a variation—rather than a replacement—to the II, as both are available through a number of retailers at the time of publishing. The III comes in three colorways (the II is currently simply available in i), adds pull tabs to the cuff, and swaps out the II's knit accents with wool. Bated from these minor differences, the two boots are very similar in terms of technical details: you get an identical 8.5-inch shaft height, matching outsole and waterproof upper, and competitive weights (the Ii is ii oz. heavier for the pair).

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Source: https://www.switchbacktravel.com/reviews/the-north-face-shellista-ii-mid