Winter boots Sorel Conquest

For the past 5 years I have been using Sorel Conquest 2 boots as winter shoes. These are not hiking shoes, but rather hunting or fishing shoes.
The sole is soft, flexible, without a steel insert. That's why I like them. Walking long distances is much more comfortable this way than wearing rigid classic turbo boots. Natural walking is also facilitated by the successful shape of the sole (boat). The leg seems to roll from heel to toe.

The tongue of the boot is integral with the shaft. On the one hand, this protects from snow and water. On the other hand, it is quite difficult to put a foot in a double sock into a shoe. There's plenty of space inside. It’s just hard for your foot to slip through the bend of the shoe. And if your shoes freeze and freeze overnight, you won’t be able to put them on without first thawing them.

The boots are warm, because... The inside is insulated with 400g Thinsulate™ Ultra insulation. This really doesn’t cancel Thick Socks. There is also a drawback to the insulation - it takes longer to dry than a “naked” boot with leather insides.

Thanks to the thick sole, the boot does not freeze from the ground. The high rubber galosh perfectly protects against water, wet snow and salt. That's why I often wear these boots in the city when the sidewalks are covered with salty slush.

At the same time, the galosh does not interfere with the flexion of the foot. This happens when rubber covers the entire toe of the boot (some Columbia and Sorel models), right up to the instep. This amount of rubber impairs the breathability of the shoe and moves the lacing upwards, which is bad.
My Sorel Conquest boots have loops at the top of the lacing, which is not comfortable. It is much faster to lace when the top of the lacing is made with hooks. Apparently the manufacturer took this into account and new Sorel Conquest models are produced with hooks. This, by the way, allows you to make the laces shorter (mine are more than 2 meters long).

At the top of the boot there is a small skirt with an elastic band. It is designed to protect against snow. To be honest, I don’t use it because... In the city I wear pants over my bootlegs, and on hikes I use homemade shoe covers. If you do decide to tighten this elastic, do not overdo it - this can impede blood circulation and lead to hypothermia of the feet.

I use the strap at the back of the boot very actively. It helps to securely fix the heel in the boot.
There is no slot for cats. I use Lucky Vaude tethered crampons; previously I used Soviet crampons of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions.

Results

Once again I want to note that Sorel Conquest boots are not hiking boots. They are not intended for extreme hikes, but for active recreation. What's the difference? Hiking is a continuous stay in difficult conditions for a long time, where there is no way to dry your shoes, and you have to defrost them in the morning with your own feet. For hiking shoes, reliability is key. Household shoes are created with the expectation of only a short stay in difficult conditions (1 day), which is necessarily followed by a warm overnight stay, drying and ventilation.

Having numerous shortcomings, Sorel boots, nevertheless, I really like and cope well with the tasks assigned to them.
I wear them with pleasure both in the city and on hikes.