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Like it or not, the sludge-y, snow-y, sleet-y season is coming—and when it finally descends, you're gonna want the best men's winter boots you can slip your feet into. We're talking about the days when your daily driver pair of sneakers, no matter how gorp-y, needs to stay indoors. When the slush is deep and the ice is black and your best friend is your thermal underwear. The best winter boots can handle all of it, but—and we imagine this is why you're here—don't need to compromise on looking as good as your favorite kicks. A great pair of winter boots delivers on all fronts: good looks, grip, water-resistance, and cozy warmth.
The Best Winter Boots Shopping Guide
- The Best Ultra-Practical Winter Boots: Sorel Caribou Winter Boots, $200
- The Best Anytime, Anywhere Winter Boots: Blundstone Thermal All Terrain Boot, $290
- The Best Hiker-Style Boots: Danner Mountain Light Boots, $440
- The Best Pamper-Yourself Winter Boots: Ugg Classic Mini Boots, $150
- The Best Pull-On Winter Boots: Diemme Alpagao Boots, $555
- The Best Suitable Winter Boots: Tricker's Stow Boot, $640
- The Best Certified-Platinum Winter Boots: Timberland 6" Waterproof Boot, $210
- The Best Sneaker-Style Winter Boots: Adidas Terrex Swift R3 Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Shoe,
$180$144
Winter boots have benefited from the same rising style tide that's elevated rain boots, hiking boots, and even technical outerwear into the realm of fashion. Some of that comes from a realization that the classics from staple outdoors-y brands, like Blundstone and Sorel, have attained icon status. Some of that is because sportswear brands like Nike and Adidas have brought their innovation, and fashion brands their edginess, to the ugliest time of year. Hell, there are winter boots that we can endorse wearing with a suit, saving you the added baggage of towing an extra pair of office-ready lace-ups on your morning commute.
With all that in mind, we rounded up 26 of our favorite pairs—the very best men's winter boots on the market—to meet every moment, price, and “wintry mix” imaginable.
Looking for even more boot options? Don't miss our round-ups of the best boots under $200, the best boots on Amazon, the best Chelsea boots, and the best rain boots.
The Best Anytime, Anywhere Winter Boots
We've sung the praises of Blundstones many, many times before. Here's a quick recap, though: Blunnies are comfier than that memory foam mattress you just bought using a podcaster's coupon code, impervious to wetness and chill, easy to slip on and off, and strangely fashionable. If you've never owned a pair, this is the year to take the plunge—all the hype will make total sense the moment you slip them on.
For most places on or above the Mason Dixon, the classic 550 Blundstones lack the grip and warmth required to survive winter without falling on your ass and with all your toes, so that's why the All-Terrain Thermal version gets our stamp for winter. It's aesthetically the same, but comes with toasty Thinsulate insulation and an even toothier sole, so you don't end up on one of those Ring doorbell videos of people eating it on their icy driveways.
Heads-up that Blundstones can run small, so consider sizing up (or ordering two pairs and returning one, if you can't try them on in a store).
The Best Ultra-Practical Winter Boots
Sorel's Caribou is the Hummer of winter boots. The waterproof nubuck upper extends to your calf, giving you snowbank-stomping powers. That, plus sealed seams and the duck boot-style rubber surrounding the upper's base ensures that your socks will stay dry, no matter how deep the slush at the crosswalk. But really, the star of the show is that sherpa lining.
It's not real wool shearling, unfortunately, but Sorel's synthetic stuff is exceptionally warm and comfortable, cushioning your ankles as you slog your way through backwoods trails, slush-covered city streets, or anywhere in between. The sherpa lining is removable and washable, too, so you can toss it in the machine once every couple weeks. You may not have to sweat the weather in these boots, but they're warm enough that the hot-footed will want to wear thinner, airier socks.
The Best Hiker-Style Winter Boot
Danner's Mountain Light Boots are a hero of the hiking boot world. With an ultra-durable Vibram lug sole (which you can replace when it wears down) and breathable waterproof Gore-Tex lining behind the all-leather uppers, it's not a secret why they won legendary status among trail-roving backpackers. All that also explains why they're great winter boots, too—depending on your situation.
They're not insulated like bona-fide “winter” boots, which is good for anyone whose feet run hot. (Otherwise, grab yourself some thick winter socks.) But unlike those pure winter boots, you can wear Mountain Light's year-round. Oh, and heads-up: they run large, and don't have half sizes.
The Best Pamper-Yourself Winter Boot
They're comfy, they're warm, and they're what you deserve after surviving the last couple years. Like Crocs and Birkenstocks, Ugg boots have gone through a gauntlet of lazy jokes and emerged as a certified classiqué. And before you protest that Uggs only look right on soccer moms, we'd remind you of their original purpose—keeping the toes of Australian big-wave surfers toasty on frigid early mornings. Then we'd point you to these excellent shots of two opposite-spectrum style gods, Adam Sandler and Bella Hadid, pulling them off with aplomb. They look cool, trust us.
But even if someone tries to crack a joke, you won't care, because slipping on Ugg's shearling-lined, heat-regulating Classic Mini Boot is the ultimate act of self-care. Of course, that soft suede is absolutely not waterproof, so these are winter boots in the same way that your slippers are winter house shoes. Your self-care may be limited to strolling the neighborhood and getting the mail, but it's self-care nonetheless.
The Best Pull-On Winter Boot
Diemme, Italian makers of some of the most beautiful alpine-style hiking boots on god's mountainous earth, apparently looked at those Uggs, then at Sorel's boots, and said, “hold my Peroni, per favore.” Stacked atop a beefy Vibram sole is a waterproof rubber-trimmed suede upper—the better to stride through snow drifts without hesitation—that flows into an ankle-covering shaft of lightweight and durable Cordura fabric. Inside, luscious lamb shearling keeps your little piggies from squealing with chill. They're exactly the kind of boots to wear as you tromp around Chamonix or the Aspen Film Festival—or to get a fit off while everyone's given up.
The Best Suitable Winter Boots
If you can't stomach the idea of pairing your freshly-tailored tweed suit with a pair of gross-weather beast boots, then at least get some dress boots with a little extra insurance against the elements. Tricker's makes of some of the best dress shoes money can buy, and the brand's spin on a winter boot boasts all the Savile Row styling cues of traditional brogues—then add a high-top design to keep your ankles from freezing over and a sturdy rubber Vibram sole. The Stow Brogue Boots bring plenty of Peaky Blinders energy: expert tailoring, with a hard edge designed to handle the worst the world can throw at you.
The Best Certified Platinum Winter Boots
Decades of rap videos might have convinced you that Timberland’s iconic six-inch work boots are best kept box-fresh and pristine. But that’s doing your Timbs a massive disservice. Fact is, those nubuck uppers you’re being so precious about are fully waterproof, lined with PrimaLoft insulation, and built to combat much more extreme conditions and strenuous environments than an arena stage. Spray 'em down first with a water-resistant treatment if you want to make them easier to wipe down, but don’t be afraid to treat them like the true-blue winter boots they were born to be.
The Best Winter Boots That Are Also Sneakers
No need to imagine what would happen if you winterized your most comfortable sneakers with a waterproof upper and a set of snow tires for outsoles—Adidas did it for you. The Terrex Swift R3 Mid gets a GORE-Tex membrane and gusseted tongue to stiff-arm the wet stuff, weigh practically nothing, and have enough grip to scramble up and over everything short of a brick wall. No, they're not insulated, but they’re made with 50% recycled materials.
Plus 18 More Winter Boots We Love
R.M. Williams
Gardener Commando Leather Chelsea Boot
ROA
CVO Boots
Alden
404 Rugged Mocc Toe “Indy” Boot
Morjas
Alpine Boot
