Bunny Boots 101: What Are Bunny Boots and How Do They Keep Your Feet Warm?
Bunny Boots are insulated rubber extreme cold weather boots built on a vapor barrier design, first developed for the U.S. military and later adopted as everyday winter gear across Alaska.
At Alaska Gear Company, we make the modern version: the Bunny Boot VBX line, built around our Vapor Barrier X (VBX™) system.
What are Bunny Boots?
Bunny Boots are rubber boots with insulation sealed between an outer and an inner layer of rubber, so that neither outside water nor moisture from your foot can reach the insulation.
The military's official name was the Extreme Cold Vapor Barrier Boot, and it came in two versions:
- Type I (black): nicknamed "Mickey Mouse boots" because their oversized shape reminded people of the cartoon mouse's big feet.
- Type II (white): extra insulation for colder conditions. It reminded soldiers of snowshoe hares or Bugs Bunny, so it became known as the bunny boot. The white was a nod toward camouflage.
Civilians came to call both "bunny boots."
Where did Bunny Boots come from?
Bunny Boots came out of the U.S. military's effort to protect soldiers' feet from frostbite and trench foot during World War II and the Korean War.
- 1944: Dr. Paul A. Siple and Harry C. Bazett developed a layered, insulated design that broke the rule that boots must breathe.
- Late 1940s: Leslie H. L'Hollier of Hood Rubber refined the concept by adding air space within the insulation. The Navy approved his design in 1949 for submarine crews.
- Korean War: The boots went to troops in Korea. The Army's 1953 medical study concluded they were the primary reason cold-related foot injuries dropped.
- Alaska: Surplus boots spread to the public, and Alaskans made them a winter staple. In March 1974, when musher Rod Perry couldn't find one of his bunny boots before the Iditarod start, Anchorage residents answered a radio call and brought 139 pairs in his size.
- 1995: The Army announced plans to retire the boot.
- 2023–2024: Alaska Gear Company announced plans to make Bunny Boots in late 2023, sent test samples out in early 2024, and put the first commercial run in stores later that year.
Read more in From the Front Lines to the Last Frontier: A History of the Bunny Boot, or see our guide to military surplus vs. modern Bunny Boots.
How does Vapor Barrier X (VBX™) work?
VBX keeps a Bunny Boot's insulation dry by sealing it between waterproof layers of rubber, so snow, water, and sweat can't reach it.
- Outside layer: a 100% waterproof rubber shell keeps snow and water out.
- Insulation: wool insulation sits between layers of rubber, fully enclosed.
- Inside layer: a rubber barrier keeps foot moisture out of the insulation.
Because the insulation stays dry, it will not freeze. If water ever comes in over the top of the boot, you can dump it out and wipe the inside dry with a towel. The insulation stays dry because it never got wet.
Do your feet sweat in Bunny Boots?
By design, even if your feet sweat in a vapor barrier boot, moisture from sweat does not leave the boot, and it never reaches the insulation. In a typical insulated boot, sweat soaks into the insulation, and damp insulation stops keeping you warm. In VBX boots, the insulation is sealed inside the rubber, so it stays dry and keeps working all day.
Managing sweat is simple:
- Wipe it out. A light fabric liner sits over a waterproof rubber lining, so moisture stays on the surface instead of soaking in. On a break, pull the insole and wipe the inside dry. There's no waiting overnight for the boots to dry.
- Let the insole work. Our True Fit insoles are hydrophobic and vented, so they don't hold moisture and they let air move under your foot. Pull them out at night to dry.
- Wear wool. Wool keeps insulating when it's damp; synthetic and cotton socks get clammy and cold faster. We designed our Bunny Boot Wool Sock for these boots.
- Don't overdress your feet. One good wool sock is usually plenty, since the boot provides the warmth. Thicker socks make you sweat more.
- Swap socks on long days, and let your feet air out at night.
A GearJunkie reviewer who tested the Bunny Boot VBX LITE said he could feel moisture inside the boot, but it never made his feet any colder.
Learn more in how VBX insulation works, do Bunny Boots make your feet sweat?, what to wear with Bunny Boots, and Bunny Boot care and maintenance.
How cold can Bunny Boots handle?
Bunny Boot VBX ratings range from a Comfort rating of -5°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing for the Bunny Boot VBX LITE to a Max rating of -79°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing for the Bunny Boot VBX MAX.
Every style has three ArCLO ratings:
- Comfort: you can wear it all day and stay comfortable.
- Capable: good for real work or time outside.
- Max: the coldest it's built for, for short stretches, not all day.
The ratings come from lab testing at North Carolina State University's Wilson College of Textiles, which measures heat loss through each boot on a heated test foot. ArCLO is a guide, not a guarantee against frostbite or cold injury. Activity, moisture, wind, and your other layers all affect how warm your feet stay.
What does "Tested & Proven" mean?
"Tested & Proven" is how we stand behind our boots: during development, every Bunny Boot VBX style goes through ArCLO lab testing.
Since the Bunny Boot VBX launched, our team has worked with field testers across Alaska, people who wear them for work like mushing, reindeer herding, hunting, and homesteading. Their feedback goes to our product team every year, and each season's boots carry the improvements. This season, that included revised metal eyelets for durability on the Bunny Boot VBX LITE, Bunny Boot VBX MAX, and Bunny Boot VBX Composite Toe. If they work here, they can work anywhere.
That Alaska testing builds on decades of military field use of the original Bunny Boot and its vapor barrier design. Read how we developed the VBX Bunny Boot.
See how cold Bunny Boots really keep your feet for the full breakdown, or which cold-weather boot is the warmest winter boot.
Which Bunny Boot VBX style is right for you?
The Bunny Boot VBX line has four styles: the Bunny Boot VBX LITE and Bunny Boot VBX NEO for cold weather, and the Bunny Boot VBX MAX and Bunny Boot VBX Composite Toe for extreme cold.
| Style | ArCLO category | Built for | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunny Boot VBX LITE | Cold Weather | Everyday winter, weekend outings, winter sports | 3,617 g of wool insulation; shortest profile; seven colors available |
| Bunny Boot VBX NEO | Cold Weather | Chores, hunting, deeper snow | Neoprene collar flexes through the shaft and adds warmth at the calf |
| Bunny Boot VBX MAX | Extreme Cold Weather | Ice fishing, snowmachining/snowmobiling, backcountry Alaska life and work | 6,597 g of wool insulation; highest ratings in the line |
| Bunny Boot VBX COMPOSITE | Extreme Cold Weather | Job sites in extreme cold | Insulated composite toe boot; oil-, chemical-, and slip-resistant outsole |
Temperature ratings, °F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing:
| Style | Comfort | Capable | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunny Boot VBX LITE | -5°F | -28°F | -45°F |
| Bunny Boot VBX NEO | -27°F | -49°F | -72°F |
| Bunny Boot VBX COMPOSITE | -31°F | -53°F | -76°F |
| Bunny Boot VBX MAX | -34°F | -57°F | -79°F |
Every style has a 100% waterproof rubber shell, VBX insulation, and a high-rebound EVA drop-in midsole. The LITE, NEO, and MAX use an outsole with deep diamond-shaped lugs for grip on ice, snow, and mud. All come in men's whole sizes 4–15 and women's sizes 5.5–16.5. Looking for classic white or black? The Bunny Boot VBX MAX comes in Arctic White, Shale Black, and Alpine Green.
Compare all four styles at alaskagearcompany.com.
Working outside in the cold? Read are Bunny Boots safe for the jobsite? Then check the Bunny Boot sizing guide.
Are Bunny Boots too extreme for everyday winter?
No. Bunny Boots aren't only for the far end of the thermometer: the Bunny Boot VBX LITE sits in our Cold Weather category with a Comfort rating of -5°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing.
That rating doesn't mean you need -5°F weather to wear them. It shows how much warmth the boot has in reserve, and everyone experiences cold differently. Activity, wind, moisture, and time spent standing still all change how warm your feet stay.
That's why the Bunny Boot VBX LITE works well beyond Alaska: ice fishing in Minnesota, pond hockey in Wisconsin, sledding in New England, or shoveling the driveway after a Colorado storm. For long days on the trapline or in the backcountry, go with the Bunny Boot VBX MAX.
More in are Bunny Boots too extreme for everyday winter? and best uses for Bunny Boots.
Frequently asked questions
Why are they called bunny boots?
The white military Type II boot reminded soldiers of snowshoe hares or Bugs Bunny, so they called it the bunny boot. The black Type I was nicknamed the Mickey Mouse boot, and civilians came to use "bunny boots" for both.
Are Bunny Boots waterproof?
Yes. Every Bunny Boot VBX style has a 100% waterproof rubber shell, and the insulation is sealed between layers of rubber so outside water can't reach it.
What happens if water gets inside a Bunny Boot?
Dump the water out and wipe the inside dry with a towel. The insulation in the Bunny Boot VBX line stays dry because it sits between layers of rubber and never gets wet, so it will not freeze.
Do Bunny Boots make your feet sweat?
Sweat never reaches the insulation in a Bunny Boot. By design, moisture from sweat stays inside the boot, so the sealed insulation stays dry, won't freeze, and keeps working all day. Wool socks, a mid-day sock change, and wiping the inside dry keep your feet comfortable.
Can you wear Bunny Boots outside Alaska?
Yes. The Bunny Boot VBX LITE has a Comfort rating of -5°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing, which gives it warmth in reserve for winters across the lower 48, from ice fishing to shoveling the driveway. ArCLO is a guide, not a guarantee against frostbite or cold injury.
