Best Winter Boots For Warmth And Comfort – From casual walking to winter hiking and working in sub-zero temperatures, below are the top winter boots of the season.
Winter boots are a timeless and adorable piece of gear. From classic soles to lightweight and modern designs, they aim to keep your feet protected and warm from snow and cold temperatures. Whether you live in a cold and snowy climate, love to hit the trails in the winter, or want to keep your feet warm for après ski, it’s likely that you’ll need a winter boot. Below we break down the best winter boots for the 2024 season, including our favorite options for everyday use, hiking and extreme cold. For background information, see our comparison table and buying advice. Note: This article includes picks for both men and women, but we’ve also written a dedicated round-up on the best women’s winter boots.
Best Winter Boots For Warmth And Comfort
Many winter boots specialize in warmth, mobility, or even style, but the North Face’s Chilkat 400 V is a true all-rounder. This full-grain leather design features a molded TPU shell, waterproof membrane to seal out moisture, and TNF’s Surface Control sole for truly impressive traction in cold conditions and on slippery ground. In terms of insulation, you get the 400-gram Heatseeker Eco, which provides plenty of warmth for sustained periods in the cold. Finally, the Chilkat 400 V tacks on some great performance features, including a D-ring gaiter attachment and a heel clip to keep your snowshoes or winter traction devices in place (we also found that The heel piece makes them easier to take off). It all adds up to a well-balanced design that’s just as at home hustling down driveways and running errands as it is hiking up steep trails.
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But as with any jack-of-all-trades design, the Chilcut has its fair share of trade-offs. The thick 400-gram insulation would be overkill for mild days or dry conditions, and its added bulk (along with the thick TPU shell) doesn’t lend itself to great freedom of movement. If most of your use is on hiking trails—and especially steep ones—and we recommend a lighter and more flexible design like the Merrell Thermo Chill below. And while the Chilkat is serviceable for every use, those who experience long and harsh winters may want to opt for a more durable boot with higher-quality materials such as the Sorrel Caribou, Baffin Impact, or Muck Boot. But for around-town wear and mild winter outings in less-extreme conditions, the TNF offers a tough combination of style, durability, and performance. Also worth mentioning is the more streamlined Chilcut V Lace, which has 200-gram insulation, drops a few inches in height, and retails for $135.
Comics Nation Plus doesn’t stand out in any particular category, but it checks all the right boxes for a quality budget option. The boot features a traditional construction with a burly leather upper and thick rubber that provides waterproof protection for the feet and toes. Insulation comes from the removable liner, which includes 200-gram foam-like thinsulate, and the long cut works well to protect your feet and lower calves. Pair them with some thick socks, and the Nation Plus will keep you comfortable while hiking or shoveling snow in sub-freezing temperatures.
What do you give up on the cost of Nation Plus? The materials aren’t up to the standards you’ll find on more expensive models, and we’ve occasionally experienced long-term durability issues with the Comic Boots. Plus, the removable liner gives the Nation Plus a loose feel that you can’t snuggle up like the TNF Chillcut 400 V top or bottom like the Merrell Thermo Chill. That said, it’s not a deal breaker for everyday errands and short walks, and the $100 price tag is hard to beat if you plan to stick to casual clothing or do outdoor activities. And note: The Nation Plus is only made in a men’s version, but the women’s exclusive Momentum of the comic offers the same balance of warmth, build quality and value.
It doesn’t get more classic than this. Caribou from Sorel has been around seemingly forever, and we love the mix of comfort, style and performance. First, it’s a very warm boot with a 9-mm felt liner, comfortable sherpa pile cuffs, stout leather upper, and a wraparound rubber bottom that provides a great reassurance when wading through muddy puddles. Most manufacturers these days turn to synthetic insulation to reduce bulk, but Caribou’s throwback felt interior is nicely warm and adds a soft cushion around your feet. The liner is also removable, which is a nice feature to speed up the drying process when the boots get wet in deep snow.
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The Caribou is an undisputed classic for all-around winter use, and the long, 9.25-inch shaft offers much more protection than a mid-height design like the TNF Chilkat 400 V above. But where the Sorel falls short is for long-distance walking: the heavy build will feel a lot more cumbersome than a light and sleek design like the Chilcut, and some people might find it a bit too much for around-town tasks like driving and speeding. There is too much boot to do. Grocery store visits. Finally, at $200, it will cost you more than twice as much as the Comic Nation Plus, though you get what you pay for given Sorel’s attention to quality. All hassles aside, the Caribou is a versatile choice for everything from outdoor pursuits to après ski, and it’s hard to argue with its elegant and timeless style…
Merrell specializes in hiking footwear, so it should come as no surprise that their Thermo Chill is one of our favorite boots for winter hiking. The Thermo Chill takes a fairly standard hiking boot design and gives it the cold weather treatment, with an average shaft height (for a hiking design), sturdy leather upper and waterproof lining, and a proprietary 200-gram. Fill that kept us comfortable while hiking in temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to the low 30s Fahrenheit. The roomy toe box pairs well with heavyweight socks (something many boots don’t allow), and the boot has a nicely light and supple feel. All told, the Merrell Thermo Chill is a solid choice for long winter walks, hikes, and snowshoeing.
We like the Thermo Chill’s low profile for hiking, but that’s a big tradeoff, especially in snowy or cold conditions. The 200-gram insulation is warm enough when running, but we wound up with cold feet during more sedentary activities with temperatures around 20°F. Plus, the low 6-inch shaft height means you’ll need gaiters in moderately deep snow. And it’s worth noting that there are stiffer and more supportive options on the market—helpful for those carrying heavy packs—including Oboe’s Bridger 10” Insulate, Salomon’s Quest Winter Thinsulate, and Merrell’s own Thermo Overlook 2 below, though They are worth the $20 price point. , $190, and $170 respectively. Still, the Thermo Chill is a great performer on the trail and holds its own for around-town use—and it’s a great value at just $130.
The Baffin Effect is a great workout, but if you’ll be outside in sub-zero temperatures for long periods of time—think ice fishing or outdoor work in places like the Upper Midwest, Montana, or Alaska—it’s in a category of its own. own The boot is insulated with an eight-layer system of foam and polyester, enclosed in a nylon and rubber shell. Winter boots are notorious for aspirational temperature ratings (typically -25°F to -40°F), but impact is rated at -148°F. We haven’t tested that claim (and don’t plan to), but users have reported being comfortable with the effect of reaching temperatures as low as -50°F. As cold weather boots go, this is about as good as it gets.
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The downside of too much warmth is that it doesn’t handle mild winter conditions well and isn’t breathable. The boot also weighs more than 7 pounds for a pair, has a 15-inch shaft height, and is very heavy and ungainly, so it’s not meant to cover much ground. But for those areas of the country where temperatures regularly drop below zero, we heartily recommend protecting yourself with the Baffin Effect. For a more modern-looking option from Baffin that still offers serious insulation, check out their -94°F-rated Snow Monster boots.
Slip-on Chelsea boots have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, and insulated varieties provide a great way to stay stylish in winter conditions. Among the options, the Anchorage III is our favorite design, featuring Keen’s attention to detail in a package that offers great looks and an affordable price. Performance wise, you get a really solid Keen. Freeze rubber outsole—specifically built for traction in cold and slippery conditions—with a waterproof lining and 200-gram insulation that offers moderate warmth without excessive weight. In terms of style, clean, full-grain leather uppers and classic Chelsea-boot stretch panels work well with everything from jeans to chinos. Overall, it’s a great day-in and day-out option that ranges from morning commutes to wearing around the office and after-work drinks or errands.
The Keen Anchorage is a great one-piece boot when you expect it
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