Hiking doesn’t need to stop once the snow starts falling and the temperatures drop. Rather, you just need to be prepared with the correct footwear. Don’t go trekking through snow in your low-cut summer hikers or lightweight fall boots — we can guarantee your hike won’t be enjoyable. Instead, invest in a pair of winter hiking boots that keep you warm, dry, and stable on the trails this winter. We tested four pairs of boots that have 200 grams of insulation for added warmth. All are waterproof for wet snow, are snowshoe compatible, and have intense outsoles to provide stability and traction for whatever terrain you are exploring.
Most Comfortable / Best for Packed Snow
Keen Terradora Wintershell Waterproof Mid
Amongst all testers, the Keen Terradora Wintershell boots were rated the most comfortable when it came to general wear, warmth, protection, and weight (these are the lightest boots tested, weighing in at 29.4 ounces per pair). On longer hikes (five plus miles), testers’ feet felt comfortable with adequate arch support, a wide toe box, and no hot spots or blisters, even during the first wear. The Keens have 200 grams of KeenWarm synthetic insulation and have a waterproof and breathable membrane, which kept feet warm and dry, even when powering through fresh snow. The molded collar was supportive, though it took a few tries to get the laces tightened in a comfortable manner to feel secure around the ankle. The outsole is made specifically for winter conditions and kept testers upright on slippery ice and snow pack. The only negative aspect of the Keen’s is their ankle-cut height (rather than high-cut like the Vasques or Danners), which, on hikes in deeper snow let some in from the top. Also, they didn’t offer as much stability in deeper snow and uneven terrain. As a result, we wore gaiters with the Keen Terradora Wintershell boots in deeper snow, which do have a D-ring for easy gaiter attachment. $160 | Keenfootwear.com
Most Stylish / Best for Trail-to-Town
Danner Mountain 600 Insulated
The new Danner Mountain 600 insulated and waterproof boots are easily the most stylish boots tested for the 2018 season — we had no qualms about sporting these boots to the brewery after our blissful winter wonderland stroll. Luckily, the style factor wasn’t the only positive note of the Danner Mountain 600 boots. The boots were also rated as highly comfortable with no break-in period, though one tester did report feeling a slight pressure on the top of her foot from the tongue. They are slightly heavier than the Keens and the Vasques (the Danners weigh 35 ounces per pair), but this weight helped testers feel a bit more stable on slippery terrain, as did the Vibram Fuga outsole with Megagrip technology. The boots provide good arch support and ankle support with easy-to-tighten laces on this mid-height shoe (we also liked wearing gaiters with these; even without a D-ring for gaiter attachment, just hook the lowest cross lace). Testers also noted their feet were not sore the next day, due to the cushioned midsole. Feet stayed warm with the 200 grams of Primaloft synthetic insulation and fleece lining and remained completely dry, even in pouring winter rain. $220 | Danner.com
Most Protective / Best for Tricky Terrain
Vasque Coldspark Ultra Dry
The Vasque Coldspark Ultra Dry shoes are higher cut, resting above the ankle, which testers really liked when it came to deep snow. Even with the higher cut, the boots were still extremely lightweight (just 31 ounces per pair; lighter than the low-cut Danners). Testers felt secure and stable on uneven or slippery terrain with the stiffer ankle shaft, but more than one tester did report blisters and pressure on the back, the upper part of their heels. The look of the Vasques is more stylish than the similar, high-cut Oboz boots; the dark colorway with lighter detailing on the upper and laces helped make these boots more wearable around town. The boots looked and felt sleek but were able to keep testers warm with 200 grams of 3M Thinsulate synthetic insulation, dry with UltraDry technology, and secure with a ColdHold dual-compound PU outsole. Although we weren’t able to test these boots for very lengthy hikes due to the heel rub, testers did report liking the cushioned, EVA midsole and the fleece collar. The boots were also extremely easy to lace up high and tighten. There is a D-ring for gaiter attachment. $140 | Vasque.com
Most Warm / Best for Cold Temperatures
Oboz Bridger
The Oboz Bridger boots with a 7-inch ankle shaft were rated as the warmest boots tested this season, even in single digit temperatures and on cold, windy hikes. A wool topped, soft thermal insole uses a mylar base layer to reduce heat loss, and the boots have 200 grams of 3M Thinsulate synthetic insulation. The boots also use a three-component waterproof technology and have a winterized rubber outsole for traction, though multiple testers did report skidding on ice or slippery snowpack with these boots. When it came to comfort, the Bridgers had little to no break-in period (though, they weren’t as comfortable right out of the box as the Keens or Danners) and offered good arch support and a large, roomy toe box. The look of the Oboz Bridger is more of a classic winter hiking boot, with a chunkier look and feel (the boots were the heaviest tested; 41 ounces per pair), but testers did report the Bridgers feeling comfortable, stable, and highly protective during wet and cold hikes. There is a D-ring for gaiter attachment. $185 | Obozfootwear.com