I’m going to disagree with some of the posters here. As I posted on another thread, my S lives in waterproof timberlands in the winter. Assuming the main purpose of these boots is walking from dorm to class and around campus and nearby streets, you don’t need heavy duty snow boots. Paths and sidewalks will be cleared. The kids aren’t going to be wading through foot deep snow. They will more likely be dealing with a couple inches of slush. You also don’t won’t them to be too insulated. After you walk to class, you will be in a heated building for a hour or two or three. Your feet will get too hot if they are too insulated. On the other hand,if the main purpose is to hang out outside for several hours straight then you do need heavy duty insulation.
“in your opinion the Cabelas you recommend would be adequately high for the snowier days?”
The Sorel Caribou’s that other’s have recommended are probably a bit warmer, which will matter in Michigan. The Caribou’s say that they are rated to -40, which I understand is likely to happen there (but not where I am).
The Caribou’s are said to be 9 1/4" high. The Cabela’s Avalanche that I sent a link to are 8" high. I think that both are good boots. I suspect that if you get the Cabela’s I don’t know whether you might end up also getting one warmer pair before the winter is over. If you get the Caribou’s you might end up getting a less warm and lower pair before the winter is over.
There is definitely a tradeoff between having the right boot for every situation, versus spending quite a bit of money and having to deal with multiple pairs of boots clunking around in your dorm room. Since we have lived in the same house for a long time, there is little downside for us to have many pairs.
@me29034 might have a good point that while the Sorel Caribou’s will be great outdoors on cold days, they are going to be a lot of boot for sitting in class indoors. I take off my warmest boots as soon as I get through the first door, and I have never attended university in any location that is colder than Boston.
My D just got the LL Bean boots with thinsulate and loves them! They are not super clunky so you can wear them all day and walk around campus with warmth and comfort. If you were hiking or working outdoors I agree you might want true snow boots, but with those when you get to class your feet might get too warm and they’re cumbersome.
She said half the campus wears them even in rain in the winter so there must be a reason!
There seems to always have 20 or 25% off coupons floating around.
I’ll repeat what I said in the initial post: My son lives off campus.
He lives in an apartment in a house. I’m sure the campus shovels and plows, but any shoveling of his own porch and walk is going to be done by him, so he needs boots that work for it.
Unless he’s planning on going sledding, a pair of Tims is all he needs.
I also echo Sorel. For men, the Caribous. If there is a Nordstrom Rack near you or him in Michigan, look there after new years. I got my Sorel’s (womens) last year for $20. They are super warm and have a great sole.
New Englanders have been wearing LL Bean duck boots in the winter for over 100 years, so they are definitely adequate. 
What’s really important is knowing how to walk on ice - that comes with experience.
I’d also vote for finding basic cold-weather gear where you are, and holding off on the serious boot shopping until he’s back on campus. The sales team at the sporting goods store in town will have useful advice for him. If you are afraid he won’t get the boots himself because he’s too tightfisted, get him a gift certificate to that place,
@“Cardinal Fang” when he gets back, tell him to look at what others are wearing. He can order online.
As a perspective…my kids grew up in New England where there was plenty of snow, and one went to college in Boston.
The Boston kid never owned a pair of real boots. He had a pair of ankle high thnsulate lined things that looked like sneakers…but he usually wore just…regular sneakers.
The other kid got her first pair of boots when she was in college in CA where it never snows.
The only “boots” they had in high school were ski boots.
ETA…my kids wouldn’t have been caught dead in LLBean boots.
The duck boots are super slippery too! Love them in slush but not too much on ice.
For the dead of winter Pac boots are great. I just saw a pair on Bass Pro Shops online with the removeable liners for super cheap. Just google men’s pac boots. They don’t need to be Sorrel brand. They all look the same.
Mom of Michigan student ( senior) here. Sorels. Best by far
Yes, I agree that Bean boots don’t have great traction, and ice IS an issue in a lot of places.
Any boot recommendations for a guy with wide feet? The Bean wide boots aren’t quite wide enough across the toe area and I’m afraid the next size will be too long. He likes the look of the Sorel but not the Timberland.
I have to laugh. My son’s at Michigan and he refuses to wear his winter boots. He just wears gym shoes. Glad they shovel well… Ha
@Knowsstuff that’s why I recommended the winter Vans or Converse high tops. They are insulated and light weight with decent traction. I’d get a pair of those and just a crapoy pair of real snow boots from Wal-Mart or something for the few times you may wear them. We live in New England and I don’t think my kids even own snow boots lol
@RightCoaster nice suggestions. I will have to buy him a pair and not tell him they are insulated. Have no clue why he won’t wear boots…
Timely discussion. D and I just shopped for snow boots for her. Because we are in So Cal and she needs to try shoes on, our choices were limited. She chose the Sperry High Top Duck Boots over the the Sorels. She needed the boots for a work gig in Park City in late January. Grip was important for safety walking around.
I have a pair of Sorels I bought in 1973. Mine are felt lined, and I’ve replaced the felts, but the boots are like new.
Having said that…my kids would never wear them!
DD has Uggs @coralbrook and there are lots of different kinds now. And I know they sell them in CA, because that’s where my kid got hers!
DS lives on Phoenix. When he visits here, he borrows a pair of Timberland low cuts.
Michigan resident here. I walk almost every day here, all kinds of weather, shovel my driveway too. I wear Merrell Moab 2 shoes. They come in an ankle boot also. They are waterproof and my feet have never been cold in them even in negative degree weather. D in Wisconsin likes her Sorels.
None of the recommended boots come in wide widths 