The Best Winter Boots for Women of 2024

Serenity is here with deep snow and the Sorel Women’s Joan of Arctic Boot ($240), a 12-inch-tall tiger of a boot that has taken care of all our winter feet woes.

The Joan of Arctic has a halo of fluffy faux fur that snagged any free-flying snow trying to make its way to our undergarments, keeping us warm and dry.

Made from a waterproof suede, the shaft is malleable yet sturdy and blocks out the elements. Underneath the feet, we found the rubber sole offers plenty of grip and adequate lift off the ice and hardpack snow.

Encompassing the foot is a vulcanized rubber shell that’s handcrafted and totally waterproof — it reminds us of a super durable rain boot that’s built for blizzards. We appreciate the roominess in the design, which allows thick socks and toe wiggles, and in turn keeps the warmth factor high.

For the ultimate foot oven, there’s a removable interior felt bootie that 6 mm thick plus a felt midsole that’s another 2.5 mm.

Overall, we love the blend of style, function, and protection offered in the Sorel Women’s Joan of Arctic Boot, which tops our list for women’s winter boots.

Columbia calls this boot sleek and toasty, but we’d throw in durable too. The Columbia Omni-Heat Waterproof Women’s Boot ($140) can keep up with a variety of conditions in and around town (and even on some light trails).

They offer a great amount of warmth thanks to Columbia’s Omni-Heat thermal-reflective lining and 200 g synthetic insulation. They’re toasty, comfortable, and durable enough to last our editor for several seasons.

In terms of specs, the boot also has an Omni-Tech waterproof/breathable seam-sealed membrane and a waterproof textile upper, with added faux fur trim for major style points. The rim of waterproofing on the side and around the toe of the boot is plenty for general, daily use, and even walking back in forth in heavier snow at say, a ski resort.

The traction isn’t enough on super icy or wet surfaces, so we wouldn’t use these for serious winter hiking. The aglets, rivets, and lace caps are all metal, and none have failed our tester yet. The Columbia Omni-Heat Waterproof Women’s Boot fit comfortably and are easy to lace and unlace.

Our only con? We don’t recommend these boots for those whose feet run wide. Instead, try one of the boots below (Baffin would be our recommendation).

Guys and gals alike comment on how good these boots look and want a pair for themselves. The Timberland Authentics Waterproof Roll-Top Boot ($170) is hands-down one of our favorite winter boots. Even after all these years — we’re going on 7 — we love these boots. 

The premium full-grain, waterproof leather upper is stalwart against weather and whatever your feet need to work their way through — we feel protected in these puppies. The deep lugs on the rubber outsole and raised heel haven’t worn out yet and offer excellent traction on icy, slick surfaces. The sole feels flexible yet stout.  

The uppermost half switches to suede, which is malleable. As a result, when we lace up, the boot neck really hugs our entire ankle and lower leg. You can also fold the upper neck down, for style or to dump heat, though we’ve never opted to do so. Usually, we appreciate the extended protection from cold temps and deep snow. 

Inside, the entire boot — including the tongue’s underside and the entire 7.5-inch shaft — is lined with soft, warm teddy fleece, which also wicks away moisture. Yes, these boots hold heat. So much so that we would not recommend wearing them to an indoor event like a concert or convention center. Still, these boots are certainly comfortable for walking in part thanks to the EVA midsole. Even the durable Taslan nylon laces haven’t worn out. 

We highly recommend these boots to any ladies who are looking for a durable, foot-hugging shield — and don’t be surprised if your friends and partners might be a little jealous of how cool they look. One detail worth noting: The Timberland Authentics Waterproof Roll-Top Boots take a minute to lace up and down versus a looser slip-on style snow boot.

If you have yard work to tackle, shoveling to do, vehicles or animals to take care of, this is the boot for you. The Sorel Women’s Caribou Boot ($200) is a steadfast and classic nose-to-the-grindstone design. And we love it.

If it’s deep out and we have shoveling tasks at hand, or we’re driving the snowmobile trailer to the trailhead in zero-degree temps at oh-dark-thirty, we wear these boots.

For such a stout build, these boots are easy to pull on and lace up. The upper is waterproof nubuck leather that gently folds around your lower leg and ankle, and is completely seam-sealed.

It’s almost mysterious how these boots keep our feet so toasty. There’s a 9mm felt inner boot — which often gets stuck on our feet when we pull ’em out, which is a tad annoying but not close to a dealbreaker — and there’s also a dreamy cuff made of Sherpa pile that gracefully snags flying snowflakes before our socks do.

The shaft height is ideal if it’s snowed overnight, reaching up to our mid-calf with an 8.5-inch neck.

Oh, praise that warrior of an outsole. The rubber is waterproof, vulcanized and hand-built — it truly is made to last through storm after storm. We haven’t noticed any wear and tear on ours despite ample abuse. Below, the tread’s heel has more than an inch of lift, which helps with traction.

Any gal looking to round out her winter boot collection with a long-term tool that’s comfortable and classic, look no further than the Sorel Women’s Caribou Boot.

While pricey, the Baffin Icefield Insulated Boot ($230) delivers great value. They have a comfort rating of -148 degrees F. Yes, you read that right: -148. Part of the Arctic line, they’re designed for very extreme conditions.

Totally waterproof and complete with a seven-layer inner boot system, these beasts are ready for your next extreme winter adventure, whether in the American West, Upper Midwest, Canada, or beyond.

The cinchable top keeps snow out, and they provide plenty of traction in slippery conditions. The Baffin Icefield Insulated Boot is not light or sleek, but they are warm. If cold feet are your problem, these could be the answer you’ve been looking for. They run small, so we recommend sizing up.

Sometimes you don’t need a burly knee-high snowboot and just want to give your toes some extra love when it’s cold, soggy, and damp out. Packaged with sweet classic style, the Vans SK8-Hi MTE-1 Shoe ($115) is a popular choice when light snow covers Colorado mountain towns and work well in the shoulder seasons.

The iconic brand created a lineup of footwear called MTE, which stands for Made for the Elements, built with water-resistant (or waterproof) and breathable materials, so you can walk through puddles and muck or stand around outside. The hip high-tops offer various levels of insulation using 3M Thinsulate and PrimaLoft. There are three options for levels of protection and insulation offered across the lineup: MTE-1 is the lightest.

MTE-1 is the level we tested in the SK8-Hi Insulated high-tops, which is water resistant, all-weather protection you can use if it’s sunny or if there’s snowfall or rain. The majority of the insulation is integrated around the toe and beneath the foot as well as around the top of the foot but doesn’t extend to the ankle. 

We found the shoes worked well in winter, early in the spring, and into a chilly fall. They never felt too toasty and our feet haven’t gotten cold in them, either, or wet for that matter. The insulation can be too much in summer, so we don’t recommend this pair as a year-rounder despite the curb appeal.

Underneath, the waffle lug pattern offers good traction. The sneakers have the brand’s proprietary All-Trac rubber that offers grip across variable conditions so you don’t slip, which we found to be true. Overall, we love the Vans SK8-Hi MTE-1 Shoe for casual winter days throughout the season.

These shoes come in tons of fun color and pattern options, too. If you need a beefed-up version for even fouler weather, check out the Sk8-Hi MTE-2, which has a more flexible outsole to handle the uneven ground that comes with snowfall and a boost more insulation than the MTE-1. The MTE-3 footwear is the most waterproof, warmest, and toughest of the trio — but this model doesn’t come with that tech.

While not the tallest nor for Arctic temps, we encourage every woman to have a pair of the Blundstone Women’s All-Terrain Thermal Chelsea Boots ($280) in their closet.

Lined with an EVA sheepskin footbed, our feet are so happy when we pull on the Chelsea, which we can do in seconds thanks to the iconic pull tabs on these boots. Those tabs help us run to yoga, grab the door, help our partner unload, or quickly take the garbage out. Whatever you want to do fast, this all-terrain boot is there to do it well.

Blundstones are first and foremost a work boot with more than 150 years of backing — that’s a lot of farmers that’ve stood in these boots before mountain towns discovered how good they work for everyday alpine living. While we don’t like working on our snowmobile trailer with these on, our feet are plenty happy spending hours shoveling or laying mulch or lifting heavy loads with these boots on.

The most magic may very well be in that outsole. Beneath your foot, you’ll find unparalleled traction with a grippy Vibram rubber and lug pattern that feels steady. We’re not encouraging heel strikes or sprints on ice, but you can walk with more confidence. A steel shank and polyurethane midsole backs up your arch even more.

A waterproof outsole and leather liner means the moisture stays at bay — unless of course it sneaks its way into the top of the boot neck. Beware. In addition to the plush insole, the outer is also made with Thinsulate, which helps trap body heat.

Hands down, we can’t live without the convenience, comfort, and fashion statement of this everyday winter workhorse — the Blundstone Women’s All-Terrain Thermal Chelsea Boots.

Read our full review of the Blundstone Chelsea.

Launched in the 2022-23 winter season, the stylish, functional Danner Women’s Inquire Mid Insulated ($180) is a competitive option among winter hiking boot-sneaker hybrids. This low-profile, supportive ladies’ shoe is great for walkers and commuters.

After pulling this ankle-high boot on in snowy, cold conditions, we found the design excels underfoot. The traction of the custom outsole and tread — which is full of multi-directional lugs — is excellent for walking on slick, hardpack snow. One of our testers had to walk daily through a narrow, sketchy, rollercoaster roof-runoff pathway to her front door and these boots offered supreme confidence. 

The softer, sneaker-like upper is made of suede and textile with ventilation ports, and the traditional lace-up entry is topped with two speed hooks on each side. When we were on the move and not walking through fluffy snow, our feet felt well-protected and supported in these boots.

The insulation — which includes a toebox filled with PrimaLoft AeroGel and a body packed with 200g PrimaLoft Gold — is adequate for walking around outside in temps below freezing but we noticed the warmth drop after standing or sitting indoors for a while. We also noticed that in particularly damp snow with a high water content, the exterior looked wetted out; though that didn’t seem to change the insulation value. 

Overall, the Danner Women’s Inquire Mid Insulated boot is an excellent choice for active use, walking comfort, and traction. The silhouette is particularly fitting when the activity is sedentary, the snow isn’t too wet or more than a few inches deep, and the temps are not arctic.

These Hunter Original Wellington Rain Boots ($139) have a simple design and an avid cult following. The vulcanized rubber is fully waterproof. Hunter boots are built on orthopedic lasts, and fans rave about the comfort. They’re only available in full sizes, however, so true half-sizers may have a hard time getting a perfect fit.

The nylon lining wicks moisture well. And the natural rubber outsole is adequate for most city conditions. But for truly slippery or icy conditions, these are not our top pick.

The 15-inch height on Hunter Original Wellington Rain Boots offers enough coverage for nearly any rainy or snowy conditions. It’s also worth noting the overall circumference makes for a snug fit. If you have larger, athletic calves, fit may be an issue.

Whether shoveling the driveway or hiking big miles, the Oboz Bridger 9-inch Insulated Boot ($200) will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable. Like most winter hiking boots, they have 200 g of insulation. On top of that, though, they also have wool-topped insoles to keep feet warm on the bottom.

The waterproof leather is impressively durable and has stood up to many rocky hikes and winter scrambles. Directional lugs provide great traction, and specialized winterized rubber soles are infused with silica to improve grip on icy surfaces.

And those features work. We ventured out on extremely slick roads and frozen trails and never slipped. The 7-inch height provides plenty of ankle support while still allowing full range of motion. These boots were on the slightly heavier side, but we were A-OK with that after factoring in the ankle height protection, traction, and durability.

And if you want even more, check out the Oboz Bridger 9-inch Insulated Boot, which offers an extra 200 g of warmth ($210). Overall, these are some of the best winter boots you can buy.

With a hip, sneaker-inspired style, the Danner Women’s Arctic 600 Size-Zip ($240) offers a unique entry for sliding on and off fitted snow boots. Traditional laces are threaded through eyelets to the speed hooks on the tall neck. A spacious, thick bootstrap on the heel helps you slide in. 

The unique addition: A 4-inch long interior zipper allows you to keep the laces tied while exiting or entering, or adds an even wider entry if you partially or fully un-tie. We did notice that the zipper moved up more smoothly than down, due to an internal fabric patch that provides protection and insulation. 

With an above ankle height, this design offers moderate protection against deep, fluffy goods and cold temperatures — though, of course, less than a calf- or knee-high winter snow boot. Our feet stayed absolutely dry in these puppies on wintry days running errands around the snow-buried town. 

What we noticed overall was that the athletic fit of the Danner Women’s Arctic 600 Size-Zip is reminiscent of a tailored hiking boot. When heading inside, where our feet typically warm up and swell, there’s not much space for expansion and comfort, especially if you prefer thick socks in the winter.

The simple solution is to wear light or medium-density socks and to loosen your laces when you need to. The flipside: If you’re heading to the office, this boot doesn’t make you sweat upon entry like other burlier builds on our list. 

Looking for a rain boot that can stand up to the cold and snow? Check out the Sperry Maritime Repel Snow Boots ($140), a simple duck boot style combined with great waterproofing. The seam-sealed design keeps water out to work in a variety of winter conditions. And the 200g Thinsulate liner provides just enough insulation for shorter walks around town.

We found they offered plenty of traction in rain and slush. They also did pretty well in icy conditions but not as well as some of the ice-specific boots on this list. We wish the leather lacing system was more durable. There’s also a bit of a heel, as we wanted to include at least one heeled boot on this list.

For casual day-to-day use in a winter climate, the Sperry Maritime Repel Snow Boots are great. Overall, these Sperrys score top marks for durability, function, and style. Bonus: they’re a great price.

The Oboz Sphinx ($195) performed stellar in testing, and while they look and feel quite a bit different from their Oboz Bridger counterparts (reviewed above), they offer a lot of the same great stuff — namely, a durable upper, functional lacing system, great traction, and 200 g insulation for warmth. What differs in the style and design is a lot, but for us, the biggest difference was the lugs and actual profile look of the shoe.

The Sphinx is slightly shorter in height, though it still measures over the ankle. The oiled nubuck leather provides a clean and sleek look, uninterrupted by the soles’ lugs (see the Bridger for comparison). That being said, the Oboz Sphinx still provided top-notch waterproofing and protection in snowy conditions and quickly became one of our favorites.

Anyone with wider feet will appreciate these Keen Revel IV Winter Hiking Boots ($190). KEEN is known for having a roomier toebox, and these are no exception.

More than that, they’re ready to take on snow, sleet, and whatever Mother Nature serves up. The waterproof membrane keeps feet dry through surprise stream crossings and everyday winter muck. And the 200 g of insulation kept our feet plenty warm (while hiking) in temps as low as 7 degrees F.

The tread isn’t extremely aggressive, but we never experienced any slippage. It also makes these a more comfortable crossover for walking the dog or running errands around town.

The Keen Revel IV Winter Hiking Boots also have some great features for getting outdoors. The metal gaiter loop on the toe means you can easily hike in deeper snow. And the rubber protection on the heel integrates well with snowshoes. And, like all KEEN boots, they have a large rubber toe bumper to protect toes and increase durability.