Deck Boot or Bunny Boot? How to Choose by How You Spend Your Day
Choose a deck boot when your cold is wet and your day keeps moving. Choose a Bunny Boot when your cold is deep and you'll be standing still in it for hours.
These aren't two versions of the same boot. They're two different categories, built for two different kinds of day. So the useful question isn't which one is warmer. It's what your day actually looks like: how wet it gets, how cold it gets, and how much of it you spend on the move.
Below, we walk through what each boot is built for, then match them to the days Alaskans actually have. For the full rundown on what makes a good deck boot, start with our guide, Deck Boots 101: The Complete Guide to Insulated, Non-Slip Boots for the Dock, the Deck & Everywhere Cold.
Are Deck Boots and Bunny Boots the Same Kind of Boot?
No. Our deck boot and our Bunny Boots share the same insulation platform, but they're separate categories built for different jobs.
The shared piece is VBX™, which stands for Vapor Barrier System. VBX seals the insulation inside a 100% waterproof rubber shell so water can't reach it. Wet insulation is cold insulation, and keeping it dry is most of the job.
The idea is an old one. The U.S. Army developed its sealed, insulated rubber boot during the Korean War, and the military surplus Bunny Boot that Alaskans still wear, trade, and hang onto comes out of that line. (Read the full story in A History of the Bunny Boot.) Our VBX Bunny Boots keep that fully encapsulated design and update the insulation, materials, and comfort. We later took the VBX platform down to ankle height for the Ankle Deck Boot VBX.
From there, the two go separate ways:
- The Ankle Deck Boot VBX is built for wet surfaces, changing weather, and getting in and out the door all day.
- Bunny Boots are built for deep, still cold and long hours outside in it.
New to the category? Start with What Are Deck Boots?
What Is the Ankle Deck Boot VBX Built For?
The Ankle Deck Boot VBX is built for wet, changing cold on days when you're on the move. That describes most of an Alaska fall, winter, and spring: the Homer harbor in October, the Juneau ferry terminal in a downpour, a grocery store parking lot in Anchorage during breakup.
It's rated to -35°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing, which makes it the warmest ankle deck boot available. It's a three-season boot made for wet cold, not a deep-winter boot.
- Grip on wet footing: a non-marking, cold-resistant rubber outsole with water-siping micro-grooves for wet and dry decks, plus hybrid all-terrain lugs for rocky, snowy, and icy ground.
- Easy on, easy off: a laceless slip-on with a neoprene collar and pull tabs. You can get into it with a coffee in your other hand.
- Light on your feet: about 2 pounds per boot (men's size 10).
- Low enough to drive in: ankle height keeps your ankles free on the pedals and out of the way in the truck.
- Comfort lining: a fleece lining for feel. Because fleece holds water, the deck boot is built for splashes, slush, and wet decks, not for being submerged.
What Are Bunny Boots Built For?
Bunny Boots are built for deep, still cold: long days outside when you won't be moving much. Think ice fishing, dog mushing, or a long snowmachine run.
They're bigger boots, with more insulation around more of your leg, a reinforced 360-degree rand and toe cap, and deep diamond-shaped lugs that bite into ice, snow, and mud. They can also be fully submerged without losing warmth.
The Bunny Boot VBX line has four boots, each built for a different kind of cold day:
- Bunny Boot VBX LITE: the lighter, shorter Bunny Boot, for everyday winter, chores, commutes, and weekend outings. About 2.5 pounds per boot (men's size 10).
- Bunny Boot VBX NEO: for active cold days, hunting, and deeper snow, with a neoprene collar that flexes as you move. About 3 pounds per boot.
- Bunny Boot VBX Composite Toe: for cold job sites, with a puncture-resistant composite toe cap and an outsole tested to 100,000 flex cycles at -40°. Nearly 4.5 pounds per boot.
- Bunny Boot VBX MAX: for the harshest conditions and the longest stretches standing still, like ice fishing, tree stands, and mushing. About 4 pounds per boot.
For each boot's lab ratings, see our ArCLO ratings page.
In testing, people wearing the VBX Bunny Boot in Alaska's coldest conditions, from reindeer herders to heavy-equipment operators, kept telling us the same thing: their feet never got cold. You can read how we built and tested it in Developing the Warmest Winter Boot.
Which Boot Fits Your Day?
Match the boot to your coldest, longest day, and to how much of it you spend moving.
| If your day looks like this | Reach for |
|---|---|
| Harbor, ferry terminal, or errands in fall rain and slush | Ankle Deck Boot VBX |
| Breakup mud, driveway shoveling, and a lot of getting in and out of the truck | Ankle Deck Boot VBX |
| Everyday winter, chores, and snowy weekend outings | Bunny Boot VBX LITE |
| Hunting, active cold days, and deeper snow | Bunny Boot VBX NEO |
| A cold job site where toe protection matters | Bunny Boot VBX Composite Toe |
| Ice fishing, mushing, or snowmachine days with long waits | Bunny Boot VBX MAX |
Still deciding? Ask yourself two questions. Is your cold wet or deep? And do you spend the day moving or standing still? Wet and on the go points to the deck boot. Deep cold and parked in it points to a Bunny Boot.
Deck Boot or Bunny Boot FAQ
What's the difference between a deck boot and a Bunny Boot?
A deck boot is a lower, lighter slip-on built for wet surfaces and daily wear. A Bunny Boot is a taller, heavier boot built for deep cold and long hours standing still. Our Ankle Deck Boot VBX and Bunny Boot VBX line share the same VBX insulation platform.
Is the Ankle Deck Boot VBX warmer than a Bunny Boot?
No. The Ankle Deck Boot VBX is rated to -35°F (ArCLO rating) based on lab testing and is built for wet, everyday cold. Every Bunny Boot VBX is rated colder, so choose by how you'll use the boot.
Can I wear a deck boot in winter?
Yes, on wet, active winter days. It's a three-season boot for fall, winter, and spring. For long stretches standing still in deep cold, a Bunny Boot is the better fit.
What does VBX mean?
VBX™ stands for Vapor Barrier System, the insulation platform behind our Bunny Boots and the Ankle Deck Boot VBX. It seals the insulation inside a waterproof rubber shell so water can't reach it.
Can you submerge a deck boot?
No. The shell is 100% waterproof rubber, but the fleece lining absorbs any water that gets inside. Bunny Boots can be fully submerged without losing warmth.
Match the Boot to the Day
If your cold is wet and your day moves, the Ankle Deck Boot VBX is the one. It comes in Shale Black, Alpine Green, Copper Red, and Brooks Brown, in men's sizes 4–15 and women's 5.5–16.5, online and at our Anchorage and Fairbanks stores.
If your cold is the deep kind, the Bunny Boot VBX line covers the LITE, NEO, Composite Toe, and MAX.
