Best Women’s Winter Boots of 2024

Many outdoors-lovers hate saying goodbye to their sandals and shorts for the winter season, but there’s something alluring about donning a pair of winter boots and layering up to face the weather. Footwear that keeps you warm and dry will make it much easier to go outside and enjoy some exercise, sunlight, and fresh air when the temperature drops.

Over the past five years, we’ve tested more than 30 pairs of winter boots on icy streets, snow dusted trails, and powder covered mountains. We narrowed our list down to the boots with the best traction, insulation, and durability, and you’re sure to find your perfect pair among our top picks.

For those who look forward to winter every year, we also have guides to the best snowshoes, traction devices, and winter tents to get you out on your next adventure.

Quick Picks for Women’s Winter Boots

Check out this quick list of our favorites, or continue scrolling to see our full list of the best winter boots with in-depth reviews.

Best winter hiking boots overall: Salomon X Ultra Mid Winter ($175)

Best snow boots overall: Sorel Caribou ($200)

Best winter rain boots: Bogs Neo-Classic Tall ($140)

Best town-to-trail winter boots: Columbia Minx Shorty III ($110)

Stylish winter boots for around town: Sorel Slimpack III Lace ($140)

Great winter boots for a day hike after work: KEEN Terradora ($150)

Best budget winter boots: Merrell Thermo Chill Mid ($130)

Comfy winter boots with removable liners: Sorel Joan of Arctic ($240)

Great winter boots for snowshoeing: Oboz Bridger 7” Insulated ($210)

What’s Most Important to You in a Winter Boot?

PRICE

You don’t have to break the bank to get a pair of top-quality winter boots, but we find that spending a little extra is often worth the boost in insulation, traction, and durability. That said, we have a recommendation for every budget in our top picks below.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

What will you primarily be using your boots for? Hiking? Working outside? Everyday wear around town? Figuring out what you’ll use your boots for most will help determine how warm they should be, what kind of tread you need, and how tall they should be.

Lightweight shoes that hit at the ankle and have variable lug patterns are best for hiking and backpacking. Tall boots with heavy insulation are best for trudging around in snow, and rain boots are best for areas that are wet and cold but don’t experience a ton of snow.

INSULATION

You’ll likely want a lighter, more breathable boot for high-output activities, but your feet should never get really cold in a good pair of winter boots. All boots meant for winter should be at least minimally insulated with materials like fleece, wool, or synthetic fibers to help retain body heat.

Uninsulated waterproof boots can also work as long as there’s ample room to wear thick wool socks. For extremely cold weather or low activity levels, medium-heavy insulation may be required to keep your feet warm.

BOOT HEIGHT & GAITERS

Taller boots are best for extreme cold and deep snow, though lower-cut ankle boots allow greater movement and are generally more comfortable to walk or hike in. Snow gaiters can be added to any height boot to increase weather protection and keep snow from getting into the top cuff. Some boots have built-in gaiter loops near the toe that you can connect gaiters to increase their effectiveness.

TRACTION

The more intense your activity will be and the more extreme the conditions (ice), the more traction you’ll need to keep from slipping, sliding, and potentially falling. For activities like hiking, a boot with aggressive traction is recommended. To increase traction on any boot you can throw on some traction devices or crampons.

Critical Winter Boot Considerations

WEIGHT

Winter boots can weigh 4-7 lbs., but we prefer styles that keep bulk and weight to a minimum for hiking or casual use. For those of us that are used to wearing trail runners, lightweight boots will feel more familiar, comfortable, and far less clunky on the feet. Lighter footwear also takes less of a toll on your body, is generally less stiff, and is easier to break-in.

That said, heavier boots are often more suited to very harsh winter conditions, so they’re a good choice for places that regularly see heavy snow and temperatures below O.

LINERS

Some boots have removable liners (like the Sorel Caribou) which makes it easy to wash them, dry them out quickly, and replace them as needed. But they can also give the boot a looser, less specific fit. A boot dryer can be helpful for quickly drying out wet/sweaty boots with non-removable liners (like the Columbia Ice Maiden). A loose fit isn’t really an issue for snow boots you’ll use primarily for shoveling the walk. For boots you’ll be hiking or walking around town in, more close-fitting liners will feel less cumbersome and floppy to walk in.

INSOLES

Upgrading your insoles to cushier, warmer, or more supportive aftermarket insoles like Superfeet can improve the fit and comfort of most boots. Just remember that you’ll need a little extra room to accommodate thicker insoles.

WEATHERPROOFING

Rubber, treated leather, or vapor barrier membranes (like GORE-Tex), are typical materials used to weatherproof boots. A good winter boot should keep your feet dry since moisture leads to heat loss. You can always apply a waterproofing treatment to your winter boots to restore their weather protection.

BRAND

Sometimes it can pay off to try inexpensive off-brands, but we’ve found that it’s usually worth paying a bit more for the quality and durability of tried-and-true brands that have been around for a long time. Generally, we find that we’re the most satisfied with the materials and craftsmanship of products from bigger footwear brands that continually take feedback from their customers to improve their products.