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Sorel Conquest Carly Review

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Sorel Conquest Carly Review (Sorel Conquest Carly II)
Sorel Conquest Carly II
Credit: Sorel
Price:  $225 List
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Manufacturer:   Sorel
By Amanda Fenn ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 11, 2016
58
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 20% 6.0
  • Comfort - 20% 2.0
  • Weather Protection - 20% 9.0
  • Style - 15% 9.0
  • Traction - 15% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 10% 3.0

Our Verdict

The Conquest Carly We Reviewed is Discontinued as of October, 2016
REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
No faux fur
Can be worn in fall or winter
REASONS TO AVOID
Very uncomfortable
Difficult to take on and off
We really wanted to love the Sorel Conquest Carly boot. It earned top points in our style metric and earned our testers the most compliments of any other product in this review. Let's start with the positives: aside from its snazzy look, this model offers great protection from water and snow, as well as a surprising amount of traction given its attractive heel. Our biggest complaint with the Conquest Carly was its comfort. We tried and tried to break it in, but there's an oversized seam at the heel (where the rubber meets the leather upper) that rubs incessantly. Although our testers are no strangers to sacrificing comfort for fashion, when our feet are already chilly, the last thing we want is to subject them to further discomfort by picking a poorly designed boot. We would recommend the Sorel Tivoli High II or the Sorel Tofino (our Editors' Choice winner) instead.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-On Review


Featuring 100g of insulation and very attractive styling, the Sorel Conquest Carly caught our testers' eyes right from the start. This winter boot is somewhat of a cross between a riding boot and a military-inspired boot. One of the few fashion-conscious products in our review that does not feature faux fur, this model is ideal as a late fall to early winter “transition boot.” All that said, if you choose this model, be prepared to sacrifice your comfort. Even after three months of wear and miles of walking, we weren't able to break it in.

Performance Comparison


sorel conquest carly - we loved the stylish attributes of this boot, especially as a...
We loved the stylish attributes of this boot, especially as a transition piece from late fall to early winter, but it was just too uncomfortable to really enjoy wearing.
Credit: Mark Fenn

Warmth


This tall winter boot is fitted with 100g of insulation and a pull cord adjustment at the top of the shaft to seal in heat. Although the Tofino has the same amount of insulation, that boot feels a little bit warmer - perhaps because of the faux fur, softer interior, or closer proximity to the ground. That said, we think that the Conquest Carly is a good choice if you're looking for footwear that will transition from chilly fall days into milder winter weather. The Keen Elsa and Merrell Dewbrook Zip are two other pieces that can transition well from fall to winter.

sorel conquest carly - waiting at the bus stop in snowy weather is not the best application...
Waiting at the bus stop in snowy weather is not the best application for this boot. It performs best in milder temperatures.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Comfort & Coziness


Comfort is where this product really tanked. As we mentioned above, there is an extremely uncomfortable bump where the bottom of the boot meets the upper - and unfortunately that falls right at the heel. As soon as we stepped into this model, we felt it. At first, we had hopes that it would go away after a breaking-in period. Despite walking miles in this boot, it remained very uncomfortable. Additionally, it lacks any sort of cozy fleece lining and it made our feet sweat more than any other product we tested.

sorel conquest carly - the conquest carly doesn't feature a cozy faux fur cuff or any sort...
The Conquest Carly doesn't feature a cozy faux fur cuff or any sort of plush lining. On top of that, the heel rubbed terribly, leaving our testers wishing for relief.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Weather Protection


This model offers a fair amount of water resistance. It didn't flood until it reached a depth of 4.5 inches - and even then it was a slightly slower leak. It also has a tall shaft that will protect you from deeper snow drifts.

sorel conquest carly - we tested out water resistance while on a short hike in tennessee's...
We tested out water resistance while on a short hike in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains and then again in a side-by-side test in the bath tub.
Credit: Mark Fenn

Style & Fit


Style is where this boot made up some serious points. Our lead tester received multiple compliments every time she wore this boot. With its tall shaft, stylish heel, and leather detailing, it looks like a cross between a riding boot and a military-style boot. We also loved that Sorel did not include a faux fur cuff - not everyone loves that look and it can be challenging to find a product that offers style without faux fur. While this unique boot may not be for everyone, it appealed to our reviewers, as well as a broad age range of women.

This product runs quite small and we highly recommend ordering an extra half size up to try on.

sorel conquest carly - half riding boot, half military-inspired boot, the conquest carly...
Half riding boot, half military-inspired boot, the Conquest Carly was one of the most complimented products in our review. We loved the leather detailing, attractive heel, and the lack of faux fur.
Credit: Mark Fenn

Traction


We were pleasantly surprised that this model offered a fair amount of traction despite its raised heel.

Ease to Take On & Off


Again, the Conquest Carly did not perform well in this metric. The lace eyelets look great, but are tiny and difficult to thread. The opposite of the Baffin Loki, this model is very fitted along the top of the foot, which adds to its stylish appeal, but makes it more challenging to pull on and off.

sorel conquest carly - with its slender laces and eyelets, this boot was one of the most...
With its slender laces and eyelets, this boot was one of the most difficult to put on and take off.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Best Applications


We liked this boot for shorter around-town errands or nights out to the bar with friends - as long as we didn't have to walk too far. It pairs well with anything from skinny jeans to winter dresses with tights. It's also ideal for making the transition from fall to winter.

sorel conquest carly - we wore this boot on a long walk, but we definitely don't recommend...
We wore this boot on a long walk, but we definitely don't recommend that you follow our lead. This model is best saved for short jaunts where style takes priority over comfort.
Credit: Mark Fenn

Value


At $220, this is one of the most expensive products in the review - up there with the UGG Adirondack II. What you're paying for here is style with the added bonuses of a little warmth and good weather protection. If you don't care about comfort - and style is at the top of your priority list - then these boots could be a fine value, especially considering their early-season versatility; however, we just find it hard to swallow spending this much money on such an uncomfortable product.

At the end of the day, we find it hard to rationalize buying a boot that's more than $200 when it's this uncomfortable.

Conclusion


We would sum up the Sorel Conquest Carly as very stylish, but very uncomfortable. This tall boot transitions well from fall to winter (given its mild insulation and its lack of faux fur), but it is quite expensive.

sorel conquest carly - the conquest carly will keep your feet warm in a light dusting, but...
The Conquest Carly will keep your feet warm in a light dusting, but we don't recommend it for super cold days.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Amanda Fenn