Winter Boots: Questions to Ask Yourself and Tips For Choosing Them

There’s a fine line between enough insulation and too much insulation. People assume that buying a winter boot with heaps of insulation guarantees warm feet. Like any outdoor equipment, the better suited to your use, the better it’s going to perform. In other words, you don’t necessarily need to go for the -40 winter boots to get good protection against the cold.

Winter hiking or moving through the forest on snowshoes generates a lot of body heat, especially in deep snow or on steep terrain. Consequently, winter boots for high-energy activities tend to have lower levels of insulation – say 200 or 400 grams (0.44 lb. or 0.88 lb.) – to prevent overheating and sweat, which causes cold feet in cold weather.

Many casual winter boots use the same amount of insulation for the same reason. It’s also hard to fit more insulation into a boot that you can’t really distinguish from a casual summer shoe. So, don’t necessarily go for the winter boot with maximum insulation. Think about other features that suit your intended activities; while you may want sturdy, -40 winter boots when spending time outside, they won’t be very comfortable during car rides or days spent running errands.

Men’s Winter Boots

Women’s Winter Boots

Kid’s Winter Boots

If you’re snowshoeing or hiking in the snow, look for higher-cut boots with good ankle support. On snow-covered slopes, it will lessen strain and help prevent a sprain or fracture. Deep lugs on the outer sole provide traction and in some models, different types of rubber are combined to provide more grip in slippery situations. Whether you are looking for women’s winter boots or men’s winter boots, waterproof, breathable boots are probably the best way to go unless you’re in places with cold, dry snow such as the Far North (in which case you will need maximum insulation and may want to consider an option like -40 boots). Leather uppers, on the other hand, provide support, breathe well and keep your feet dry if they are regularly cleaned and treated with a waterproofing spray.

If you spend a lot of time outside or ice fishing on frozen lakes, you may want to consider higher levels of insulation.

Those hefty winter boots you see on snowmobilers are full of insulation mainly because snowmobilers don’t move around much unless they’re out of gas or their machine has capsized.

Snowmobile boots tend to be heavy, making them tiring over long distances, but nothing beats them for comfort in cold conditions. Boots in this category also tend to be high cut to deal with deep snow, and some even come with extendable snow collars for really big drifts.

There are also several models of -40 boots designed to provide effective protection even in extreme cold. These boots are ideal for freezing temperatures, long duration activities or those requiring little movement.

On the other hand, if you’re only stepping out for a second or aren’t going to be walking outside for lengthy periods at a time (if you live in the city or the suburbs, for instance), a comfortable pair of winter boots with just enough insulation will suit you perfectly.