Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Winter Shoes: Stylish, Waterproof, Insulated, and More!

Are you ready to conquer the winter in style and comfort? Look no further, as we unveil the ultimate guide to the best winter shoes for women. From stylish boots to waterproof wonders, insulated essentials to lightweight must-haves, we've got you covered. Whether you're braving the urban jungle or tackling the great outdoors, these top-notch winter shoe recommendations will keep you warm, dry, and on-trend. So, grab a cozy blanket and settle in, because we're about to reveal the crème de la crème of the best winter boots for women.

What to consider when choosing women's winter boots

When it comes to picking out the perfect pair of winter boots for women, there are a few key features to keep in mind. These features will ensure that your fashion choices aren't compromised, even in the face of sleet and snow. Here's what you should look for:

• Rubber boots: According to Lopez, boots made of rubber with non-skid soles will keep you safe from slipping in inclement weather.
• Comfort: Mrsan suggests opting for boots made of synthetic materials like polyester. These boots won't conform to the shape of your foot, so try them on multiple times before leaving the house to ensure a good fit. Ill-fitting footwear can cause the counter stiffener shape, which is the thermoplastic material between the shoe's lining and upper meant to give it shape, to lose its form.
• Waterproof: For extremely cold weather, Lopez advises choosing boots with upper materials that have non-wicking properties. This will ensure that your boots stay dry and keep your feet warm.

The most fashionable winter boots for women

If you're looking for winter boots that combine comfort and style, consider these options:

Palladium Pallabase Twill Boots

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 15 | Heel height: 2 inches

For those who value both comfort and style, this PETA-approved vegan boot is a great choice. With its distinctive chunky aesthetic and discreet zipper design, this is the perfect boot to wear on cold days when the snow is melting. The rubber sole and thick heel will keep you safe and add an elegant touch to your holiday outfits.

Franco Dizzy Bootie

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 2 | Heel height: 3 inches

If you have a last-minute date or event to attend, these booties are the perfect option. With a three-inch block heel and a convenient back pull tab, you can slip them on in seconds and make it to your reservation on time. Made with a water-repellent leather upper and cozy fleece lining, these boots are not only stylish, but also comfortable enough to wear for 8 hours.

Dr. Martens 1460 Combat Boots

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 5 | Heel height: 1.25 inches

Add an edgy touch to your winter outfit with these iconic Dr. Martens boots. Available in matte or patent finishes, these boots are a timeless staple that can be worn with almost anything. While they may take some time to break in, they will provide excellent protection on slippery sidewalks.

Sorel Joan of Arctic Wedge III Lexie Bootie

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 3 | Heel height: 3 inches

If you're missing your high heels during the winter months, this waterproof wedge bootie is the perfect solution. The Joan of Arctic style features a molded rubber sole for good grip, full-grain leather, and boucle fabric. This versatile pair is suitable for all-day wear and will keep you warm and stylish.

Blundstone Lace-Up Gore Boots

Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: 6 | Heel height: 1.25 inches

For a more elevated feel, try out the lace-up trend with these Blundstone boots. With their gold brush detailing and elastic panels, these boots offer a grunge vibe. The pull tag on the back makes them easy to slip on, and the shock absorption feature ensures comfort and stability while walking.

The best waterproof winter boots

When it comes to winter boots, finding a pair that is waterproof is crucial. Here are some options to consider:

Ariat Harper Waterproof Boot

Sizes: 5.5-11 | Colors: 2 | Heel height: 1 inch

With its "impermeable" waterproof PRO construction and 100% full-grain leather, these Ariat winter boots were designed to withstand rain puddles, packed snow, and rough terrains. Shoppers have praised their ability to keep their feet warm even in the fiercest winter weather.

Ugg Adirondack Boot III

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 8 | Heel height: 1.25 inches

For extreme weather conditions, these Ugg sheepskin boots are a reliable choice. The Adirondack style is constructed with 100% leather and a synthetic sole, making them perfect for winter wear. They offer great arch support and will keep your feet warm and dry, even in harsh elements.

The best winter boots with extra insulation

If you need extra insulation to keep your feet warm during winter, consider these options:

Columbia Minx Shorty III Boot

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 8 | Shaft height: 6 inches

Columbia boots are known for their style and warmth. This particular pair features 200 grams of insulation, an Omni-Grip™ non-marking traction rubber outsole, a faux fur collar, and waterproof materials. These boots will keep your feet dry and cozy throughout the winter.

Kamik The Ariel F Winter Boot

Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: 4 | Shaft height: 7.5 inches

With removable EVA footbeds, thermal insulation, a synthetic rubber outsole, and waterproof suede, these hiker-inspired boots have everything you need for winter. The faux fur cuff adds a touch of chic style while keeping your ankles warm. These boots are perfect for low temperatures and provide comfort and protection.

The best lightweight winter boots

If you're looking for lightweight winter boots that don't compromise on warmth and comfort, take a look at these options:

Stio Colter Boot

Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: 4 | Heel height: 0.19 of an inch

These Stio boots may look hearty, but they are surprisingly lightweight. Made with full-grain weather-resistant leather, 300 grams of synthetic insulation, and treaded rubber insoles, they provide warmth and comfort without weighing you down. Reviewers praise their all-day comfort and warm yet breathable feel.

Sorel Whitney II Short Lace Boot

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 6 | Heel height: 0.75 of an inch

Lopez recommends these Sorel boots for their durability and comfort. With 200 grams of insulation and a warm microfleece lining, they are perfect for colder temperatures. The EVA footbed provides support for long walks, and the boots offer ample ankle support.

The best winter boots for hiking

If you're an avid hiker, you need a pair of boots that can withstand the demands of the trail, while still keeping your feet warm and comfortable. Here are some options to consider:

Merrell Women's MQM 3 Mid GORE-TEX

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 3 | Heel height: N/A

These Merrell boots are perfect for hiking, offering maximum shock absorption and stability with their Air Cushion insole made of EVA foam. With a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane, these boots will keep your feet dry during your outdoor adventures.

Keen Targhee III Waterproof Mid

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 3 | Heel height: N/A

These Keen boots provide excellent ankle support, making them a great choice for hiking. With their waterproof design, you can confidently navigate shallow rivers and wet terrain. Reviewers rave about the quality, comfort, and design of these boots.

Winter boots FAQs

The best winter boots for everyday wear

If you're looking for winter boots that are suitable for everyday wear, take a look at these options:

Sperry Women's Syren Ascend Boot

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 2 | Heel height: 2 inches

This Sperry boot offers a perfect combination of style, functionality, and performance. It's ultra comfortable and versatile, making it a great choice to pair with dresses, jeans, or leggings.

Ryka Highlight Winter Boot

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 1 | Shaft height: 5.4 inches

When the weather turns colder, you'll need a sturdier boot. The Ryka Highlight Winter Boot provides sporty style and features padded cushioning, faux fur lining, and built-in heat protection. It's perfect for exploring holiday towns or taking walks in the woods.

Merrel Women's Bristol Chelsea

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 4 | Heel height: 0.75 of an inch

Offered in both a Chelsea and hiker style, these supportive boots are suitable for any weather condition. They are comfortable, warm, waterproof, and provide ample ankle support. They are versatile enough for any adventure, making them a winter must-have.

Dr. Martens Leonore Chelsea Boot

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 4 | Heel height: 0.75 of an inch

Embrace a bit of edginess with these classic Dr. Martens boots. Their slip-in style makes them easy to put on and take off, and they offer great comfort and durability.

Overland Mustang Shearling-Lined Waterproof Leather Hiker Boots

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 2 | Heel height: 2.25 inches

For extra cold days, these waterproof leather boots from Overland are both stylish and warm. With their shearling sheepskin shaft and wool lining, they provide exceptional warmth even in temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, their versatile coffee cream color adds an easy upgrade to your winter footwear.

The Best Snow Slipper: Ugg Classic Short Boot

Photo: Rozette Rago

Get this if: You're traveling to winter weather or going skiing.

Why it's great: The Ugg Classic Short Boot (men's) and the Ugg Classic Short II Boot (women's) are functional winter shoes that are comfortable, warm, weather-resistant, and lined with odor-resistant wool. They are perfect for après-ski and winter travel, serving as travel shoes, warm slippers, and winter boots.

It's important to understand that the Ugg brand has a reputation as a year-round fashion choice, but these boots were originally designed as outdoor gear to keep surfers' feet warm. We believe they still outperform similar options.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: These boots do not offer special traction on snow or ice. However, if you primarily wear them on pavement, in cars, around airports, or indoors, this should not be a major issue.

For our research, we referred to other review sites such as GearLab, SectionHiker, and customer reviews from outdoor retailers like REI. We were specifically looking for classic winter "pac boots," which have a waterproof rubber base and tall shafts to keep snow out. We focused on the following features:

Waterproofing: In addition to a waterproof sole, we looked for boots with tall shafts and snow collars to prevent snow from falling in or clinging to the leg.

Warmth: We tested boots with 200-gram insulation, which is ideal for active outdoor use for shorter periods of time. We also sought out boots with reflective layers to increase warmth without adding bulk.

Traction: We evaluated traction on different surfaces and found that fit, wide surface area on the bottom of the shoe, nubby, widely spaced lugs, and rubber material all contribute to better traction.

Style options: The choice between slip-on and lace-up boots depends on personal preferences and needs. Slip-ons are convenient for frequent house access, while laces offer better fit and traction.

Cost: We did not set a specific price range for this guide because most people typically find deals when purchasing boots. Our focus was on finding boots that work well and discussing the reasons behind our choices.

While testing various models, we found some boots that did not meet our standards:

- Danner Arctic 600 Side Zip: Although we still like this boot, we decided to focus on snow-specific boots instead of hikers.

- Baffin Canada: The fit of these boots was not satisfactory due to significant heel lift.

- L.L.Bean Snow Boots: These boots have loose foot fit and tread patterns without lugs.

- Columbia Minx Mid III: This boot is similar to the Columbia Heavenly, but we chose the Heavenly for its construction quality.

- Columbia Ice Maiden II and GlobalWin Waterproof Winter Snowboots: These boots have loose fits and lack traction.

- North Face Chilkat III: These boots are chunky and shorter than our top pick, with a higher price.

- North Face Shellista II: The fit of these boots was not as good as the Heavenly, and they lacked traction.

- LaCrosse Outpost II: While these boots offer comfort, their fit and size are not ideal.

- Sorel 1964 Pac 2, Joan of Arctic, and Tofino II: These boots have rain-boot treads and provide slippery traction in snow.

- Sorel Tivoli IV: These boots have insufficient insulation for winter conditions.

- Bearpaw Elle: While these boots resemble UGGs and come at a lower price, Fakespot gave them a low rating, and we have concerns about the synthetic lining's durability and odor.

- Steger Mukluks: We did not test these boots due to their high price and the need for self-waterproofing.

We plan to test new models from The North Face and Kamik as soon as they become available.

(This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.)

• Prepare your bedroom for winter with warm bedding and proper insulation. Check out our recommendations for a cozy bedroom.
• Ensure a safe winter drive by carrying essential items in your car. Check out our list of tools and emergency supplies for winter driving.
• Stay warm and cozy with our favorite throws, slippers, space heaters, and more. Check out our picks for a cozy fall and winter.
• Keep your dog warm and dry this winter with our top pick for dog jackets. Check out our review of the best winter jackets and raincoats for dogs.

The Best Winter Boots for Men of 2023

Best Overall Men’s Winter Boot: KEEN Revel IV Mid Polar Boot

Immediately out of the box, the Revel IV ($190) feels amazing. The padding is generous, and the volume is ample. The boots have extra volume over the top of the foot and in the toebox, which is critical for keeping the toes warm. This also makes it a good fit for a variety of foot widths.

Beefed up with waterproof, salt-resistant leather and rubber rands, the Revels resist wear and tear and ice-melting chemicals that can be hard on boots.

The boot rides over sharp-edged 5mm lugs that really bite into the crust. And like the Vibram’s Arctic Grip (used in Danner’s Mountain 600), KEEN has its own slip-reducing rubber pads. They give you noticeably better traction on slick, wet ice.

With so many good attributes, we awarded the Revel IV as our favorite boot this winter. It’s warm, comfortable, and secure around the foot.

Our only criticism is that we wish the Revel was a little stiffer, and hence more predictable and stable when hiking across pockmarked snow trails.

Still, the Revel IV is a very capable winter boot. It is offered in both an 8-inch version and a tall one. If you’re really stepping out into deep powder — like elk hunts in winter — we’d recommend investing in the high-collar boot. It’s also rated down to -40 degrees, which makes it a true polar boot.

Specs:

• Weight: 2 lbs., 4 oz. (pair)
• Waterproof: Yes
• Upper material: Leather and mesh
• Width: Slightly wider than standard

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Very warm
• Good value

Cons:

• Not quite supportive enough for hiking with exceptionally heavy loads

Check Price at REI

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Best Budget Winter Boot for Men: Quechua Snow Hiker

If you’ve traveled to Europe, you’re probably familiar with Quechua. The outdoor megastore is like our REI in the States. Hugely popular, Quechua only sells its own brand and is primarily appreciated for its budget-friendly pricing. It’s the go-to brand for first-time hikers dabbling with the sport or who don’t want to break the bank.

The rub? It wasn’t available in the States. Until now.

The Snow Hiker () is the first product from Quechua available in the U.S. And at , it’s a very attractive price point for hikers looking to broaden their trail season.

These insulated boots provided out-of-the-box comfort, and they have all the essential features you want in a winter hiker. The ankles ride high on the sides, providing support and keeping hard snow from bashing the ankle bones. The cuff dips behind the Achilles for forward and backward mobility.

They’re both waterproof and breathable, and the insulation is comfortable down into the low digits. A solid toe bumper deflects sharps hidden under the white stuff. And we found the 5mm lugs insanely grippy on snow and sloppy trail.

Impressively, it does all this in a lightweight boot. Our demos weighed in just over 2 pounds — for the pair!

We found the Snow Hiker runs narrow, so you’ll want to size up or try before you buy. And we ideally want to see a D-ring up front to clip a gaiter.

At , there are going to be some compromises. But we’re happy to see this brand finally available in the States, and we expect it will match the growing outdoor interest shown in 2023.

Specs:

• Weight: 2 lbs., 1 oz. (pair, men’s size 10)
• Waterproof: Yes
• Upper material: Polyester and polyurethane
• Width: Slightly narrow

Pros:

• Affordable
• Minimal break-in time
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Lacks a D-ring for clipping on a gaiter

Check Price at Decathlon

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Best Men’s Snow Boot: Baffin Control Max Heavy-Duty

If your winter starts in October and ends sometime before the summer solstice, then you’re looking for a workhorse that can lift the soles and spirits.

Baffin’s Control Max ($260) has a whopping bottom end, dipping all the way to -94 degrees F. We’re going to throw our hands up in mercy at that spec. We haven’t tested them to that level and, hopefully, you won’t have to either. But we have worn these for a few winters and have really come to appreciate the warmth-to-weight ratio of this deep winter boot.

The boot is methodically constructed around thermoregulation. Outside, a waterproof leather exterior is triple-stitched to the rubber rand. Inside, a series of heat-reflecting aluminum membranes, foams, and moisture reservoirs move moisture away from the foot and trap the heat.

Underfoot, a waffle-comb footbed traps additional heat in honeycomb-like air pockets. And the entire boot rides over an aggressively lugged “arctic rubber” that’s tacky on ice.

The boot laces shut with four pairs of giant D-rings. The fit can be a touch sloppy, so they’re not our first choice for hiking, where we want a precise fit. But the rings and laces are easy to manipulate with heavy gloves. All in all, the double boot construction does a wonderful job of trapping heat and insulating you from the cold ground.

If your activity level is high, you’ll want something more nimble. If you live in a milder climate, these will be overkill. Our coldest days in these boots were in the low double digits and they didn’t feel overly hot, but we reached for the Bogs on days in the 20s.

The profile is massive underfoot, but the 3.5-pound boot doesn’t collect crud and feels lighter than it looks. If you’re looking for the ultimate cold-winter snow boot, or a boot that works during long periods of inactivity in the cold, the Baffin Control Max will keep you warm and cozy through it all.

Specs:

• Weight: 3 lbs., 7 oz. (pair, men’s size 10)
• Waterproof: Yes
• Upper material: Leather upper with sealed seams
• Width: A bit wider than average

Pros:

• Ideal for very cold weather and deep snow
• Good grip on ice
• Durable

Cons:

Check Price at Amazon

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Best Men’s Winter Rain Boot: Huckberry All-Weather Duckboot (AWD)

While we love the classic look of the traditional duck boot, they come up short in several mandatory requirements. The sizing runs large, the traction is sloppy, the midsole lacks support, and they aren’t all that warm. Huckberry tackles all these issues and brings a better duck boot with its All-Weather Duckboot ($188).

Sure, the AWD could appropriately imply “All-Wheel Drive.” A modern take on the classic duck boot, Huckberry’s All-Weather Duckboot is capable of tackling light hikes, trips to the ski hill, and around-town errands in inclement weather. And it does it better than the duck boots of yesterday.

The full-grain leather upper is welted to the rubberized leather rand. It’s 100% waterproof (up to the gusseted tongue) and breathable. A light inner liner doesn’t sport any fancy insulation. But we found it keeps the feet warm and the padded ankle collar traps warm air inside the boot, covering a wide range of winter activities.

What steals the ride, though, is the plush EVA midsole. It’s soft and cushiony and feels like you’re wearing your favorite sneaker rather than a fat, clunky, winter boot. The midsole is bonded to a Vibram outsole. It won’t be quite stiff enough for workwear or long hikes, but for clomping around town it’s the ticket.

Rather than featuring overly aggressive traction (or barely any at all), the lugs are generously siped, allowing plenty of ports for underlying water to siphon out from under each step.

Clean styling and functional, the AWD is a refined interpretation of the classic duck boot, better in nearly every way.

Specs:

• Weight: 3 lbs., 3 oz. (pair, men’s size 10)
• Waterproof: Yes
• Upper material: Leather
• Width: Standard

Pros:

• Versatile Vibram outsole offers traction on a wide variety of surfaces
• Rubberized rand and toe caps improve waterproofing
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Not quite stiff enough for use as a workboot or rugged hiker

Check Price at Huckberry

In conclusion, finding the perfect pair of winter boots can be a daunting task, but with this comprehensive list of the best options for women, you'll be able to stay warm and stylish all season long. Whether you need something fashionable, waterproof, insulated, lightweight, or specifically for activities like hiking, there's a boot out there for every need. Don't forget to check out the Ugg Classic Short Boot, hailed as the best snow slipper, and keep an eye out for the latest trends in men's winter boots for the upcoming year. With the right pair of winter boots, you'll be ready to take on whatever the season throws your way.