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The Alaskan Buffalo is a minimalist winter boot model with a natural wool lining. Wearing barefoot boots hasn’t been on my radar for ages, so I was thrilled yet careful about the test. I couldn’t help but choose this pair — it was cute, visually comfortable, and promising in terms of winter shoe efficiency.
That’s how I came up with testing my new purchase — for a few weeks already. Were my expectations justified? In this review, I will do my best to describe my experience as informatively and concisely as possible.
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Weight and Style
The first thing that surprised me about the model was its lightweightness. It didn’t ever cross my mind a pair of winter boots could be in that package. The manufacturer claims that the Alaskan Buffalo weighs 210 grams, but I found it hard to believe it when I held the box in my hands — it felt even lighter.
The fit is true to size and solid. The seams, as you can see in the photo below, are neat and look strong.
General Impression
The ground feel in these shoes is truly amazing. I do feel like I’m walking barefoot in them. What’s more, this experience won’t harm my feet in the long run — they are securely protected, while the wide-toe box doesn’t squeeze my toes.
The way the toe box is designed is worth another highlight. Its toe protection feature is much appreciated. There is a special overlay section on the sock, which is to protect your toes from a stone or another hazard you may accidentally kick when walking or running outside.
Of course, it isn’t about a complete set of protection features — the model isn’t listed in the specialized footwear category with work boots and stuff like that either. For everyday wear, it is a great solution you don’t find easily in the market.
Alaskan Buffalo Flexibility
The flexibility of the Alaskan Buffalo is one of the reasons for my purchase. They are hyper-flexible. If you have any foot-health-related concerns and you’ve been wearing stiff shoes or those with arch support for a long time, you may feel a little discomfort at first. The reason is simple — we aren’t just accustomed to going barefoot for extended periods. In reality, in the long run, you will thank yourself for this shift to minimalist footwear. Go for special transition shoes for the most comfortable experience from regular to barefoot shoes.
Zero-Drop and Sole Attributed
This pair is zero-drop — in other words, completely flat, with the forefoot and the heel on the same level. As we know, even a minimal platform (or heels) in shoes shifts the center of gravity of our bodies and makes its position unnatural. Depending on the overall development of our muscles and posture, this design may lead to various musculoskeletal diseases. Zero-drop boots like these, on the other hand, allow for natural foot positioning, body movement, and gait.
Despite the lack of foot support and the very soft frame of the shoe, the Alaskan Buffalo style turned out to be quite stable and comfy for everyday wear. Due to good and robust lacing, as all as an additional zipper, I can securely fix my foot in the boot.
The outsole has fairly deep treads, which is good for traction. However, they are not too deep as well, preventing stones and debris from getting stuck in between and interfering with walking.
My only concern is the model’s grip. Unfortunately, it leaves much to be desired. It is pretty good on dry or more or less clean surfaces. If you step outside after it rained or snowed, the risk of slipping is high. Since these aren’t shoes for climbing, according to the manufacturer, I don’t have any serious complaints about how they work for my daily routine in the city.
Reliability, Warmth, and Comfort in Winter
These shoes were tested in the late fall at around 8 degrees Celcius above zero. The Alaskan Buffalo model has enough quality fur, which is pleasant to the touch and doesn’t fall off easily. They aren’t super warm, though. Due to their thin soles, the cold kicks in pretty fast, especially when you spend a lot of time just standing in them outdoors. I solved the problem with one simple trick — I just wore a pair of warm socks. You will need them when the temperature drops below zero.
The boots aren’t waterproof. I used a water-repellent treatment, and it went well.
Conclusion
The Alaskan Buffalo winter boots are some of the most comfortable and high-quality barefoot winter footwear I’ve ever worn. They look decent and neat on the foot — my 41 EU has never looked so petite. I enjoy walking daily wearing them and am convinced they will last for more than one season.
It may be that these boots won’t keep my feet super warm in winter. In a couple of months, I will update this review and share my new experience with them. One thing is for sure — they aren’t designed for extremely low temperatures. If you are living outside the northern hemisphere, these winter boots will make a perfect choice for your climate.
What’s your opinion about the Alaskan Buffalo from Magical Shoes? Share your thoughts in the comments — your experience will come in handy for other readers of our blog.