Nesna Lobben vs Polar Lobben: Which Felt Boots Should You Choose?

Nesna Lobben and Polar Lobben are both Norwegian-designed wool felt boots made in Estonia, and at first glance they look like the same boot. They share the felt, the sole and the sizing rule. The real difference is height: Nesna Lobben is a low, ankle-high boot, Polar Lobben a tall lace-up boot that reaches up the calf. This guide compares the two so you can pick the right pair for your winter, buy the right EU size the first time and keep the felt in good shape.

Nesna Lobben vs Polar Lobben at a glance

	Nesna Lobben	Polar Lobben
Height	Low, ankle-high, short lacing	Tall, up the calf, long lacing with more eyelets
Upper	100% wool felt	100% wool felt
Insole	Wool felt	Wool felt
Sole	Moulded polyurethane, deep grooves	Moulded polyurethane, deep grooves
Left/right	No difference at first, shapes to your feet	No difference at first, shapes to your feet
Colours	Black, red	Black, grey, red
EU sizes	36–48	36–48
Best for	Short walks, the yard, the cabin, slipping on and off	Longer time outside, deeper snow, standing still in the cold
Made in	Estonia	Estonia

Both models are listed in our felt boots collection, together with the Felt Boots 724.

What the two boots have in common

Both boots come from the same tradition. They were designed to meet the needs of dog mushers, people who spend hours outside in dry, cold weather, and are now worn by anyone who wants warm feet in winter. What they share:

• 100% wool felt. The felted wool is lightweight, very warm and breathable, which helps keep feet warm and dry in cold, dry conditions.
• Wool felt insoles. Your foot stands on wool as well, not only inside a wool shell.
• A grooved non-slip sole. The moulded polyurethane sole has a deep profile that grips on snow and ice.
• No left or right foot at first. The boots start out symmetrical. They can feel a little stiff in the first days, then mould to your feet with wear until each boot fits one foot.
• Manufacturing standards. They are made in Estonia by a manufacturer working to NATO AQAP 2110 and ISO 9001.

Because the material, sole and fit concept are the same, warmth per square centimetre of felt is the same too. The question is how much of your leg you want inside it.

Nesna Lobben: the low felt boot

Nesna Lobben ends at the ankle and closes with a short lace. That makes it the quicker boot to put on and take off, and the one that sits more comfortably under a pair of trousers. It is a good choice if your winter is mostly short trips outside: taking the dog out, clearing the path, walking to the car, or wearing warm boots around a cold cabin or garage. It is also the lower-priced of the two models.

Choose Nesna Lobben in black or red.

Polar Lobben: the tall felt boot

Polar Lobben uses the same felt and sole but goes up the calf, with a long lace through several pairs of eyelets. The extra height covers more of the leg and keeps snow out of the top of the boot when you walk through deeper snow. It is the better pick if you stand still outside for a long time, for example at a winter market, on a frozen lake or at a sled dog race, or if you simply feel the cold easily. The long lacing also lets you adjust the fit around the lower leg.

Choose Polar Lobben in black, grey or red.

How to choose: a quick checklist

• You go outside often but briefly and want to slip boots on at the door: Nesna Lobben.
• You spend an hour or more outside in snow or stand still in the cold: Polar Lobben.
• You walk through snow deeper than your ankle: Polar Lobben.
• You want a boot to wear under straight trousers: Nesna Lobben.
• You want grey: only Polar Lobben comes in grey.
• You want a third option with wool felt insoles and a slightly different sizing note: look at the Felt Boots 724.

Sizing: why felt boots are bought bigger

Sizing is where most felt boot orders go wrong, and the rule is the same for both models. The product pages advise buying up to two sizes bigger than your normal shoes, especially if you wear wool socks inside. Felt boots are meant to be worn with a thick sock, and a little air around the foot is part of what keeps it warm. A tight felt boot presses on the foot and feels colder.

1. Measure your foot length in centimetres, standing, in the socks you plan to wear.
2. Start from your usual EU shoe size.
3. Add one size if you wear normal socks, up to two sizes if you wear thick wool socks.
4. If you are between sizes, take the bigger one.

For the Felt Boots 724 the product page gives a different rule: allow 1–2 cm of free space in front of the toes, because the toes do not reach the tip of the felt. Our size guide helps with foot length per EU size. If the size is still wrong, you can return the boots within 30 days with a prepaid label.

Care: keep the felt dry and clean

Felt boots need very little care, but they do not like heat or soaking. The maker's care advice is simple:

• Wipe dust off the felt with a dry cloth.
• Clean the sole with clean water and a cloth or sponge.
• Let the boots dry at room temperature after use in snow, away from radiators, stoves and other direct heat.
• Brush off snow before you go inside so it does not melt into the felt.

The boots are made for dry, cold conditions. In wet slush or rain a leather or rubber boot is the better tool, and our guide to winter boots for cold weather covers those options. For more on how felt boots work, fit and age, read felt boots explained.

Felt boots as a winter gift

Both models make practical gifts because the sizing rule is simple and the boots shape themselves to the wearer. If you buy for someone else, ask for their usual shoe size and whether they wear thick socks, then add one to two sizes. Our wool slippers and felt boots gift guide has more ideas for women, men and children.

Shipping and returns in the EU

We ship to every EU country. Shipping is free on orders of €100 or more and €6.90 below €100. Orders leave our EU warehouse the next business day and usually arrive in 3–8 business days. Prices include VAT, and you can return unworn boots within 30 days with a prepaid return label.

Summary

Nesna Lobben and Polar Lobben are the same wool felt boot in two heights. Take Nesna Lobben for quick trips outside and easy on and off; take Polar Lobben for long hours in snow and cold. In both cases order up to two sizes above your normal shoes if you wear wool socks, keep the felt dry and away from heat, and the boots will mould to your feet over the winter. See both in the felt boots collection.