Grubs Bowline 4.0 Boots
When it comes to outdoor adventures in the UK – whether you’re splashing through muddy lanes in your 4x4 or pitching a tent on a drizzly Dartmoor morning – decent footwear isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Enter the British brand Grubs’ Bowline boots - they look the part, and handle the outdoors brilliantly.
Straight out of the box, the Bowlines are surprisingly easy to slip into, thanks to their neoprene upper and flexible ankle fit. No stiff leather to break in, no wrestling with laces in a cold field. Just pull them on using the loop at the back, and crack on with the day. The inside feels nicely cushioned – like your feet have popped off to a spa while you get on with the mucky stuff.
I have size 7 feet, but struggle sometimes with size with rigid wellies as I have wide feet. I asked for their recommendation on fit and they sent me a pair of 7s. Wearing thin socks I did find them a teeny bit on the roomy side on the length as there is a 15mm toe allowance built into the sizing to allow for thicker socks, but the width was fine, but when I wore thicker socks (like in the photo above) the length was spot on but they were a little too tight; so for me and my exceptionally wide feet thin socks are the way to go.
Grip-wise, they do a cracking job. There is a lot of technical info about the sole, but all you need to know is it’s got decent tread and whether you’re walking dogs, jumping in and out of the truckcab or just nipping out for firewood in the rain, you feel secure and sure-footed. No comedy skids or undignified slides here.
As for keeping your feet dry, they absolutely do - rain, puddles, the Bowline takes it all in stride. They're fully waterproof up to the top of the neoprene shaft, which means unless you're wading through a river, your feet are staying dry.
I took them with me to a 3 day camping festival, and they were perfect for popping on first thing in the morning, with no socks, when traipsing through the dewy grass heading for the dreaded portaloos.
They’re reasonably lightweight for something that looks quite chunky. After a full day of wearing them around a wet campsite, your legs aren’t crying out for mercy. Plus, they’re easy to clean. A quick hose-off or wipe-down and they’re good as new – no faffing with polish or conditioning creams.
Any Drawbacks?
The neoprene is cosy, which is brilliant in February, but come July, and the hotter weather, they can get a bit warm if you are in them all day.
My other slight issue is getting them off. Most of us probably use one boot to ease off the other by putting to the toe of one on the back of the other, but, although the Bowlines do have a lip at the back, the lip is slight rounded so when the boot is wet you can’t get good purchase. Therefore, I had to sit down to get them off, which meant I had to step into my tent with wet boots to get to my chair, which I didn’t really want to do. Next time I’ll remember to take a boot pull.
Our Verdict
These boots will definitely go on any camping trip from now on, and I can also see me getting a lot of use out of them as gardening boots, popping-out-to-put-the-bins-out boots and dog-walking-in-the-rain boots.
The Grubs Bowline are practical, comfortable, and just rugged enough to survive whatever the UK throws at them – from boggy trails to campsite chaos. If you’re after boots that do the job without drama, and with a touch of outdoorsy flair, give these a go. Your feet will thank you.
Technical Bits
4MM INSU-FOAM ULTRA™ - gives all round foot comfort and insulation.
5mm POLYOU™ footbed - provides a soft cushioning for an athletic shoe feel. A million microscopic nitrogen bubbles that insulate the wearer from cold surfaces.
UNDERFOOT CHASSIS™ - give a sure footed platform.
SUPERLITE® technology - makes this boot 30% lighter than conventional rubber boots, buoyant and extremely comfortable thanks to its' moulded shape.
SUPERDRI™ lining - is hard wearing, wicks moisture away from the wearer’s foot to prevent a sweaty and uncomfortable feel. It is fungus and rot proof so will not smell like cotton-lined boots.
GATS outsole - superior grip on a variety of surfaces, the tread is designed to work with the action of the foot
COMFORT RATING - -20ºc to +20ºc.
Colours: Black/White, Plum/Gum, Sage/Gum & Midnight/Gum
Price: £79.95
more at » https://www.grubswarehouse.com