I needed new snow boots and crowd-sourced the best winter snow boots from all my northern friends. These are their favorites! This post includes affiliate links.
We don’t get a ton of snow in Virginia, but we get enough that when it does snow 5-10″ a few times each winter, I’ve gotta have warm and dry feet! This last snowstorm my toes were frozen, and I decided to start looking for some warmer boots. And then yesterday we got another dumping of snow and ice and I got to test out my new boots! Scroll down to see which ones I bought : )
The boots I’ve been wearing for years are an old pair of Uggs. They are a nice waterproof leather boot, fleece lined (I wore them all over Montana), but they aren’t really snow boots. The tread isn’t great, and the insulation could probably be kicked up a few notches.
My goal: Boots that are ideal for sledding, snowmen, and walking with the kids. As much as I wanted some super cute winter boots to wear around town, I actually don’t leave my house when it snows! #Southerner
The Best Winter Snow Boots
I went to Instagram to crowd-source this question. I knew my northern friends would have lots of great recommendations! Sure enough, there were some top winners. Of all the sticker responses and DMs, this may have been my highest number of responses EVER! You guys love your boots.
The top three brands were:
These were by far the most frequently mentioned brands. But there were many, many others, and a wide variety of opinions and styles linked to me. Here are your favorite winter snow boots! Scroll down to see which ones I bought.
The Best Winter Snow Boots
Sorel Tivoli IV Boot
$130 | These were the number one most recommended boot! People said they are super warm, comfortable, and will last "a lifetime." So many people said Sorel is the best boot brand out there! They are also super cute.
Sorel Caribou Boot
$169 | Another Sorel recommendation, these are higher up the calf and are totally waterproof. Again, many people said they would last a lifetime!
Sorel Joan of Arctic
$209 | The third Sorel brand rec were the Joan of Arctics. I found these to have a polarizing response, with some people LOVING them and others saying the leather upper were stiff and hard to get on and off.
Ugg Adirondack III
$250 | While more expensive than the others, these came highly recommended. One person said she'd had hers for 10+ years and another said she looks forward to snow just so she can wear them. They've also been rated "best winter boot" on several lists I saw across the web.
LL Bean Original Bean Boot
$249 | Another fan favorite, SO many people simply replied "BEAN BOOTS" when asked what the best boots are. I give these major points for versatility and style as well as being good for rain or snow. Make sure you look for the shearling lined lines and not the regular rain boots.
LL Bean Snow Boots
$139 | These are marketed just for snow and come at a lower price. I love the purple! I went to my local LL Bean to try to try them on and they did not have any in stock : (
Bogs Whiteout Fleck
$149 | These have a sleek simple look, and also look lighter weight than many of the lace up options. One person from Massachusetts said she had Bean Boots and Sorels and she loved her Bogs most of all.
Bogs Arcata Knit
$159 | These are lower than the Whiteout, but they are cuter in my opinion! They look very easy to get on and off.
Columbia Women's Minx Mid 3 Omni-Heat
$124 | These look cozy and tall, and came highly recommended. One person said they were the easiest high boots to walk in.
Columbia Ice Maiden
$79 | These came recommended from several people who said they were the best balance of warmth and comfort.
Kamik SnowGem
$134 | Kamik was another brand that came up several times. These get major points for being cute and tall/functional!
Baffin Snogoose
$153 | What a silly name!! But these were recommended by several people as being the "boot of all boots." They sure look it!!
Merrell Antora Sneaker Boot
$150 | These are much more of a "shoe" than a "boot" but I'm including them in the list because one person said she walked 7 miles in the snow and raved about their warmth and comfort! If you're looking for more of an athletic style, these are the ones.
KEEN Terradora II
$135 | Keens came up several times too for more athletic recommendations. These are lower, but they sure look cozy. They look super easy to slip on and off for walking to the garbage can out.
Which snow boots did I buy?
This was such a hard decision! I wish I could have gone to a store and tried them all on for comfort. I wanted to buy all the cute, low furry ones and really wanted to get the Sorel Tivoli boots that so many of you love. Most of the boots were sold out in my size, which narrowed down my choices by a lot.
First, I ruled out all of the lower boots in favor of tall ones to maximize leg warmth and snow falling in the sides. I can see if you live where it snows most of the winter you might need five different styles of boots (some of you told me you have many types!) but in the name of minimalism, I probably only need one pair of big, tall boots and my water resistant rugged shoes below.
Ultimately since my goal is playing with the kids, I prioritized three things:
- Easy on and off (for running out the door after them!)
- Lightweight (for sledding, running)
- Comfort (warm, stay dry, insulated, and easy to move in)
I ended up buying the Bogs Whiteouts.
Check them out at Amazon + Zappos. Great options!!
THEY ARE AMAZING!
I liked that the Bogs didn’t have laces and seam sealing wasn’t a concern with the rubber bottoms. While they might not be the warmest, and they’re definitely not the most fashionable, they are the more practical of the group!
They are so comfortable too!!
The rubber soles are a little springy, and they’re super lightweight – perfect for sledding and running and cold weather in general. Also they’re totally waterproof boots. They really are the best winter snow boots!! I look forward to putting them on, and they are a dream to get on and off. Just slip in and go. I’ve worn them all over town, and walked several miles.
Sizing
I bought a size 8, which is my actual shoe size, and they fit perfectly. If anything they’re on the big side – I had no trouble wearing wool thick socks AND even put in my custom orthotics! And for a girl with large calves, there is plenty of stretch. The boots are also very easy to get on and off. They have a little toe edge on the heel to help get them started.
The whole foot is a rubber shell, so snow can’t leak in, and the bottom is a sturdy rubber outsole with deep grooves. Look at that tread!
I’m very very happy with my purchase!
My Rugged Shoes
Like I said, we don’t get that much deep snow here. While I would love a second pair of boots that are cute and furry (and I might get some one day), I have a pair of Merrell MQM Flex hiking shoes that are my “around town” shoes. They’re waterproof, and I can wear them year-round. I just add Smartwool socks in the winter! I don’t really need hiking boots because we do most of our hiking in the summer. My closet and shoe storage is only so big, so I went for the bigger boots for snowstorms and will use these when the snow is melting.
Kids Boots
Mazen has these boots I bought on Amazon. Once his feet stop growing he can get some fancy ones! He loves these and runs for hours in them.
Birch inherited two still-in-the-box pairs of Totes boots from a friend. The strap that goes across the ankle is key to helping them stay on, although he doesn’t even really need the strap. He can also wear them on either foot, which if you know toddlers is a common occurrence : )
And Thomas wears these North Face boots that he loves. He keeps the laces loose and slips in and out of them. He swears by their warmth and comfort.
Heather says
Great choice! I live in Ottawa and we get colder temps and more snow and I love my bogs! The fact that they are totally waterproof is a game changer (I have had Sorels and Mukluks in the past but the leather needs to be treated so often to stay waterproof). My kids also love them and they can be easy to find second hand on marketplace. Enjoy the snow 🙂
Terry says
Fortunately I live in Florida and don’t need snow boots but have always heard good things about the Sorels
Kate says
I’m a big fan of my muck boots…they are my go-to for winter (just had them on as we’re getting a foot of snow in upstate NY today!). I own bean boots and sorels also but the convenience of the muck boot wins out every time. I think muck and bogs are very similar. Good choice!
Cathy says
Thanks for doing this post . I’m in Wisconsin and I need a new pair of winter boots . Now to make a decision!
Kath Younger says
It’s a hard one!
Steph says
Great post! After growing up in the mid-Atlantic, moving to the Midwest meant that I needed to take boot-buying a bit more seriously. I bought a pair of Sorels (similar to the Caribou) many years ago in the off-season at R.E.I. They’ve been worth every penny…absolutely love everything about them and I’ve walked MILES in mine. I still get compliments on them, even though they’re old now. My husband’s Timberlands (a brand not featured here, but with a great reputation) lasted him from Winter 1996 until last winter (!!)–no joke–25 years. When they finally fell apart, he bought a pair of Sorel Caribous and loves them. Highly recommend!
Kath Younger says
Ahhh don’t make me doubt my decision! haha. The next person I see wearing size 8 Sorels I’m going to ask them to try them on : )
Sarah says
You did a great job on this post! A lot of blogs tend to phone it in with a list of affiliate links post, so I appreciate how you described each boot and your thought process behind each one. The layout was also very nice and enjoyable to read! Thank you!
Kath Younger says
Thank you! My research was authentic so that probably helped 🙂
Alexandria says
I live in PA and finally caved and bought the Joan of Arc Sorels a few years ago. They look as pristine as they did coming out of the box and have great tread and waterproofing, but there is NO insulation at all – my toes are numb within minutes of bring in the snow, even with wool socks. I wear them for errands, picks ups, etc in the winter but use my decades old Ugg knock offs for sledding, shoveling, etc – and they just got a hole in the bottom! Needless to say, this post was super helpful and I love the ones you chose.
Kath Younger says
I just saw my neighbor wearing the Joan of Arctics! That’s too bad about your toes. I LOVE THE BOGS!
Holly Rosene Layer says
Thanks for posting this! I have chronic foot pain (maybe my high arches?) and find the only things that don’t cause additional achiness are my running shoes (HOKAs) and Crocs (that I use as slippers in the house). I have Bean winter boots that are neither warm nor comfortable (enough) 🙁 I’ve been ignoring the pain for years, and finally want to do something about it! I just ordered the Bogs and hope they will be more comfortable for walking in the snow, and warmer than my Beans. You also mentioned orthotics…would you mind elaborating on those a little? Are they custom from a podiatrist or like something you can get from Dr. Scholls? Do you have multiple sets or do you switch them in and out of shoes? I hate that I don’t wear my Ugg and Bean slippers around the house because by the end of the day my feet are killing me!
Kath Younger says
I got custom orthotics through my chiropractor actually, but they are designed for my foot. They were about $200 and I really love them. I have chronic foot issues, so they really help me with support. I do only have one pair so I switch them around day today whenever I’m going to be on my feet for more than 20 minutes. I hope you love the Bogs! They are so cushiony and soft