Bunny Boots Without the Bulk: Alaska Gear Company VBX Bunny Boot Lite Review

I hate being cold. HATE.

I can tough it through a lot, but once the cold sets into the bones of my feet, it takes every self-control mechanism I can muster to keep my keester planted in my stand instead of bumbling around the woods when I should definitely be sitting still. I’ve been eyeballing a pair of bunny boots for a while now to combat the need to climb down and scent up the area I’m bowhunting in the name of getting warm.

The original bunny boot designs originated in Korean War–era efforts to develop the warmest boots for soldiers serving in the coldest climates. The basic design premise is to create a weatherproof outside and a weatherproof inside with wool baffling in between. The originals came in Type I and Type II models, designed for different cold intensities.

What started as a hyper-specialized, military-grade piece of gear trickled into the mainstream of cold-weather locales via military surplus hauls.

While these designs are still available at military surplus stores or second-hand on sites like eBay, Alaska Gear Company has overhauled the design to cover the gamut of cold conditions, with comfort ratings from -5ºF to -34ºF and maximum temps from -45ºF to -79ºF; there’s a boot for every level of cold.

After testing the VBX Bunny Boot Lite, I was thoroughly impressed and fairly certain this boot will comfortably cover the majority of your cold-weather pursuits.

In short: The entry-level warmth of the Alaska Gear Company VBX Bunny Boot Lite will cover your feet in almost anything winter will throw at you, and shines when the temps hover around 0º F or on active late-season outings.

If you’re searching for your next hunting boot, check out our buyer’s guide for the best boots of the year.

Alaska Gear Company VBX Bunny Boot Lite Review

My Experience

This winter was a weird one in central Montana, but the temperature swings we experienced probably made for better testing because I never had a long enough window to get used to the cold. We had plenty of swings from 55ºF to 0ºF overnight, and one of those days of drastic change set me up for one of my favorite hunts of the year.

Opening day of Montana’s traditional muzzleloader season brought 6-8 inches of snow and a high of the day at 8ºF. When I left my truck that morning, it was 0ºF, and as I glassed the hill, I could see deer tracks heading back into the timber.

On the hike in, I cut the track of a group of does crossing the path into where I have a stand hung on a ridge. Fresh tracks and a favorable wind allowed me to call an audible comfortably. Not far from where I intercepted the track, I spotted the does up ahead in the timber. I slowly climbed the ridge and shadowed the does as they fed farther and farther down it.

During the stalk, I was most impressed by the homeostasis maintained inside the boot during a long stop-and-go stalk, with short, quick pushes and long periods of waiting in between. On many late-season stalks, once moisture starts on your feet, your warmth is doomed, and any comfort you have can’t last. You won’t last for extended periods of stillness, and you may be forced to move when the situation calls for total stillness.

Sock Choice

I wore a medium-weight wool sock, and although I could feel moisture forming inside the boot, it never translated into a noticeable temperature change. It was surprising how light the Bunny Boots felt and how nimbly I was able to step despite their clunky appearance.

I had great traction while gaining the ridge and was able to step quietly enough to get inside 50 yards of the does. One shot and a cloud of smoke, and I punched my last whitetail tag of the season.

The VBX Bunny Lites also shone while taking down stands after the season, checking trail cams, and sledding with my family. Once I got a glimpse of warm feet, even when my feet got sweaty, I was quick to grab them — even if it seemed like they were overkill. They’re easy to get on and off, they’re guaranteed to keep you warm, and you get to feel like an astronaut for a bit, even if you’re just swinging by the grocery store.

Who Should Buy VBX Bunny Boot Lite

The VBX Bunny Boot Lite is the most versatile boot in the VBX lineup. According to AGC, the VBX Lite is comfortably rated to -5ºF, is capable down to -28ºF, and has a maximum low-temperature survival rating of -45ºF.

With a lower-profile upper and the lightest construction in this family of boots, the VBX Bunny Boot Lite is very capable as a general cold-weather boot for day-to-day use, quasi-stationary ventures like long treestand sits, extended days of ice fishing, or cruising around on a snowmobile looking for lion tracks.

For any outings with higher output, I recommend wearing these boots with a pair of gaiters to maximize the boots’ waterproofing by keeping snow from entering through the top.

If you hate cold feet and are looking for a versatile boot that carries you from casual wear to rugged hunts, the VBX Lite is the boot for you.

What I Love

Warmth and traction quickly made me fall in love with these boots. No matter the situation I’ve worn these boots in, my feet have never gotten cold. The lowest temps I hunted in hovered around 0ºF. Temps haven’t gotten that low over the last few deer seasons, but I’m hopeful for the chance to test these boots on a long sit in the stand in the years to come.

The traction on these boots is awesome. I was surprised by how well they performed on the steep terrain while tracking that group of does through the timber, despite the fresh powder and soft pine duff underfoot. The sole of the boot is a little wide, which I think also helped keep my weight better distributed and allowed me to follow quietly.

What I’d Change

One change I would make to these boots is to find a way to make them tighter. I would love the ability to control how tight or loose these boots are.

From a design perspective, I’m curious whether tweaking the layer layout to increase tightness might affect the boot’s warmth. No matter what I tried, I was never able to achieve the tightness I wanted. It didn’t affect the comfort of the boot, especially when I was moving slowly and carefully placing my feet.

But if I wanted to cruise in these boots for any considerable distance, I’m sure there’d be some rubbing. If I needed to go fast, I’d look for a more technical cold-weather hiking or mountaineering-style boot.

Key Features

VBX stands for Vapor Barrier X. The system encases the multilayer wool insulation in a moisture-proof barrier, keeping insulation completely dry by locking out moisture from the inside and out. The boots are constructed with vulcanized rubber. These Bunny Boots are 100% waterproof and have greater abrasion resistance and elasticity in cold temperatures.

The multilayer insulation system prevents heat transfer by shielding against frigid exterior temperatures while retaining heat inside the boot. The boots feature vented, hydrophobic, ergonomic insoles that help move moisture away from your feet and offer support, even though it may look like there’s plenty of room inside. These insoles come in two styles, allowing you to order true to size or downsize if you’re in between sizes.

The outsole features deep, widely spaced diamond-shaped lugs for increased traction and stability on ice, snow, and mud, while preventing mud and snow from accumulating underfoot.

Final Thoughts

There’s been a lot of buzz about these boots. Despite what might appear as a heavy marketing push, these boots are legit and perform as advertised.

The warmth is real, and they’re comfy out of the gate.

Whether you’re cutting a fresh track or filling a bucket for a Friday fish fry, these boots will get you where you’re going — all while staying warm and dry.