These Winter Boots for Men Will Keep You Toasty and Dry Through Ice and Snow

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You can layer up underneath your go-to winter coats to keep warm but an even more essential part of the cold weather equation is some solid footwear. When temps drop and you’re braving a wintry mix, you may want to level up from your everyday pair of boots. A good pair of winter boots will keep you warm and dry to the end of the season while also ensuring you aren’t slipping and sliding on iced-over sidewalks or slushy streets.

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to winter boots, but it’s important to choose a style and material that works for the winter conditions in your area, whether that’s cold, dry weather, mild drop in temperature, or heavy snowfall.

The Best Winter Boots for Men

• Best Overall: Sorel Caribou Boot

• Best Budget Option: Kamik Nationplus Snow Boot

• Best Slip-On: Keen Hood NXIS Pull-On Boot

• Best for Outdoor Work: Bogs Bozeman Mid Boot

• Best Hiking Boot Style: Vans UltraRange EXO Hi Gore-Tex MTE-3 Boot

What to Consider

Materials and Construction

The materials used for winter boots are generally similar to those used in hiking boots—leather, rubber, synthetic—but with an added focus on warmth.

Leather and suede uppers, like the ones on our Best Overall pick, are waterproofed to handle precipitation and are a long-lasting, durable option. They typically require some breaking in because of the stiff leather and can limit ankle mobility. Synthetic and textile materials coated in polyurethane are waterproof and more flexible but they can wear out faster.

Rubber boots, like our Best for Outdoor Work pick, generally use a seamless design to ensure no water gets in. The upper is a single piece of molded rubber that’s bonded to the sole—little or no stitching means little or no chance of water getting in.

Outsoles

Vibram soles are a familiar brand of traction tread soles, but many brands now make their own in-house treads that perform just as well. The outsole needs tread, sometimes called lugs, for traction—we made sure to list the size of the lugs when it’s available, because those in particularly icy places should get deeper lugs for better grip.

If you live in a place where temperatures dip but there’s no chance of snow, you can get away with a sole with standard traction. While the boots we recommend will keep you on your feet in wintry weather, they won’t replace crampons or spikes, which you might need for extra grip if you’re running or hiking in the snow.

Warmth

The majority of our picks use some sort of insulation in the lining to keep your feet warm. Thinsulate is a synthetic insulation used in a lot of our picks, as well as winter jackets and outerwear, because of its ability to insulate even when it gets wet.

Some styles rely on sherpa fleece or felt to trap in heat, but these materials won’t keep you warm if they get wet. We’ve listed the amount of insulation in either weight (grams) or thickness (millimeters) when it’s available, and added estimated temperature ratings for brands that provided them.

The shaft height of winter boots can land from just at your ankles to mid-calf. A higher shaft height will protect you from deep piles of snow or puddles but they do limit your mobility, making them hard to drive in. If your winter is cold but dry, or you’re in a city where roads and sidewalks are plowed for you, this may not be a priority and you can get away with an ankle-height boot.

How We Selected

Our lineup of men’s winter boots includes options for mild seasons all the way to bitter cold and snow. We pored through boots from brands we trust, as well as winter boots that got great reviews from shoppers. Then, we tested out a handful of products to understand how these shoes hold up in various winter conditions. Our recommendations are all made using quality materials and weatherproof construction, so you can be sure they’ll keep you warm, dry, and upright in the event of ice.

Caribou Men’s Winter Boot

The Caribou is a best-of-all-worlds boot that can tackle most cold winter conditions and has insulation rated to negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It relies on thick felt lining and a sherpa ankle collar for insulation to keep your feet warm. The plushy material provides some extra padding and the lining is removable for easy cleaning or drying.

The leather uppers are triple stitched to a waterproof rubber guard for durable protection. The gusseted tongue is sewn all the way to the top of the boot where it meets the ankle collar ensuring no snow or debris can get in. The large D-ring lacing system is easier than standard eyelets for easy on-and-off.

This is a great casual boot for winter that will keep you warm through snow shoveling or short walks around town, though it isn’t ideal for winter hikes or snow shoeing. The shaft height provides great coverage but limits mobility, so it’s not the best for tackling trails.

Nationplus Snow Men’s Winter Boot

These boots have 200 grams of plush insulation that can be removed clean out or dry your pair. The liner also wicks moisture so your feet won’t sweat after a long day. Its suede uppers and rubber guard are waterproof and the seam-sealed construction ensures no water seeps in.

The shaft height provides ample coverage but will require some break-in as the suede is stiff, so you’ll feel like your mobility is limited at first. These run small so go up a whole size if you want to wear them with thick socks.

Hood NXIS Pull-On Men’s Winter Boot

These lightweight Keen boots feel like a pair of house slippers but have insulation rated to an impressive negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The waterproof nylon uppers and rubber guard keep out the rain and slush you may encounter and the 4-millimeter lugged outsole keeps you from slipping on ice.

I keep these by the door to take out the trash and run a quick errand but have also used them going to work and they’re great for every occasion in between. They’re easy to pull on and take off and can handle puddles and slick streets around the city. They’re also easy to pack in a carry-on, unlike many other bulky winter boots. The ankle height gives me enough coverage on chilly days, but I’d wear a boot with a higher shaft if the snow was piling up.

While these are a more flexible and comfortable winter option they run small with a tight instep, so be sure and size up at least a half size. Negative customer reviews only knock the sizing and not the actual boot but if you size up, they’re warm, comfortable and a solid option.

Bozeman Mid Men’s Winter Boot

The Bozeman’s recycled rubber uppers, seamless construction, and cozy insulation make them the perfect winter boot thats stand up to hard work. A cushioned midsole provides all-day support and a moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet comfortable and dry.

The lugged outsoles give you great traction on slick and icy surfaces. Pulling them on is a breeze as they have integrated handles—not just tabs—and the opening is wide enough to tuck in your pants if you’re trudging in snow or traversing puddles and mud.

These boots are heavy-duty and feel heavy in hand, but were surprisingly comfortable when I put them on. The rubber-neoprene uppers aren’t stiff like a leather boot, so they’re flexible in the ankles and don’t require a break-in period.

I’ve worn a lot of boots and many have some sort of midsole cushion, but these are next-level comfortable for their weight and the protection they provide. While the sole is thick, it isn’t hard and I don’t experience any foot fatigue after being on my feet all day. These are comfortable to wear, but their heft does feel cumbersome at times.

The Bozeman doesn’t come in half sizes and the brand recommends sizing up. I’m a 10.5 so took an 11 and they fit well with thick socks.

UltraRange EXO Hi Gore-Tex MTE-3 Men’s Winter Boot

Vans probably don’t come to mind when you think of winter, but the brand’s new MTE range focuses on trail-ready shoes that can stand up against the elements.

The UltraRange Hi adds cold weather must-haves like Gore-tex waterproofing and Thinsulate insulation. The lugged soles provide excellent traction in wet weather and the rubber toe guard helps to fend off puddles. Associate Reviews Editor Tom Price used them around New York on a particularly cold and wet weekend.

“They had great traction and I never felt them slip on the street,” Price says. A longtime wearer of Vans, he noticed the significant difference in how warm these are compared to his standard sneakers. Price insists “these will be my go-to for the cold and snow around the city.”

Thermo Chill Waterproof Men’s Winter Boots

Merrell’s reputation for comfortable hiking boots comes through with this winterized pair. The 5-millimeter lugs provide excellent traction on an icy trail. The shaft height keeps your ankles covered but if you plan to trek through piled up snow you’ll want a pair of gaiters (or go with a boot that has a 10-inch shaft height).

The leather-mesh uppers are coated in polyurethane to keep your feet dry and the rubber guard around the foot provides shock absorption on rockier paths. The interior is packed with 200 grams of synthetic insulation and will keep you warm in both the backcountry and the city.

Thermal Men’s Winter Boot

We’re big fans of the Blundstone 500s and the brand beefed up its classic silhouette for winter with added insulation and a grippier sole. The pull tabs make for an easy on-off boot that will keep you warm enough in early winter, and the subdued style is easier to wear than high-shaft snow boots.

These run large so be sure and size down even if you plan to wear them with thick socks. They’re slightly heavier than the brand’s line of original 500 boots but still a lot lighter than most winter boots.

The waterproof leather keeps out moisture only up to the elastic gore at the sides, so this isn’t a pair you would go stomping around the snow in. They’re ideal for city dwellers who want extra warmth while commuting in plowed streets and salted sidewalks.

Classic Moc Toe Men's Winter Boot

Red Wing has been making some of the best work boots from their Minnesota HQ and tannery for over 100 years and recently started a line made for more casual wear using the same quality construction and materials.

The brand's Moc toe boot first came out in 1952 and quickly became the go-to for Pacific Northwest loggers. The full-grain leather uppers are Goodyear welted to the traction-tread sole so they can be resoled when the originals wear out. They're unlined but if you're in a mild winter the ankle coverage and good traction are sufficient.

They do run big so and some go down half a size while others need to go down a full size. I’ve owned a pair for several years now, went down a whole size, and they do hold up to pretty much everything. There is a break-in period since the leather is so stiff, but the result is a very comfortable boot that lasts.

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