Cold Feet No More: Sierra Designs Down Booties Review

I take my foot warmth pretty seriously, especially after suffering the consequences of frostnip on my toes. Which is why I absolutely love a solid pair of down booties that are not only comfortable, but also sufficiently insulated for indoor and outdoor use. Cue the Down Booties from Sierra Designs, a pair of slide-ons with durable construction and a decent price tag of $80.

They’re stuffed with 550-fill DriDown insulation. The natural down is treated with a molecular-level polymer, adding a hydrophobic finish on individual down plumes, which repels water and resists wetting out.

Like sleeping bags for your feet, the Sierra Designs Down Booties are highly packable and toasty warm, making them perfect to throw in a backpack or suitcase prior to any overnight excursion. I tested these booties over the course of a quintessential Colorado winter in the Rocky Mountains that saw low temps and plenty of blustery weather.

Better yet, you don’t have to be an extreme outdoors person to snag these shoes — they are more than suitable for indoor use while doing chores and hanging around the house. Or because of their unisex sizing and adjustability, these would make an awesome holiday or birthday gift for a loved one.

In short: These Sierra Designs Down Booties are a warm, versatile down booty that won’t empty your wallet. Thanks to the 550-fill DriDown insulation and DWR-treated nylon ripstop outer, these booties stay warm and dry even in damper, wetter conditions. The heel cuff reaches the lower-mid calf and can be tightened, enhancing insulation and protection from the hut to the outhouse. The soles of these shoes are made with a sticky, cushioned silicone, but they lack the tread needed to walk on ice or slick surfaces. For folks needing a unisex down booty that is compressible and warm, be sure to snag this pair.

Read our full roundup: The Best Down Booties.

Sierra Designs Down Booties Review

I remember slipping my feet into the Sierra Designs Down Booties and finding instant satisfaction in how stinkin’ comfortable they were. From the outside, they don’t look like they boast much in terms of foot support. But the inner bed is actually quite cushy. It’s almost like having two little memory foam mattresses for your feet.

Furthermore, the fit can be further improved by using the adjustable toggle located at the cuff, so you don’t need to worry about these sliding off when you’re walking around. These booties are available in general, unisex sizing from XS to L. For reference, I am size 7.5, and I prefer a wider toebox and have higher arches. So, the small size fits me well.

If you’re confused about sizing, be sure to use Sierra Designs’ chart that specifically lists what each size corresponds to in U.S. sizing. I did find in my research that folks struggle to find a perfect fit with these shoes, since the sizing is so generalized.

While the fit for me was overall pretty comfortable, I did find that my toes tended to slide around when walking, especially on slightly off-camber surfaces. These down booties are not made to walk miles and miles in. So shorter treks are most ideal if you choose to rock these over the winter.

DriDown Goodness

Sierra Designs makes these down booties with natural insulation, DriDown, a down that’s treated with a polymer to make it water-resistant. This hydrophobic finish means that your down booties will stay dryer longer and have better warming abilities from the moisture-resistant properties. The 550-fill and baffle-style construction makes them perfectly toasty for lower temperatures.

I tested out these Sierra Designs Down Booties in a variety of winter and spring conditions in Colorado, finding them to perform well when temps were around freezing and up. They were plenty warm for having coffee on a friend’s porch in the remote town of Marble, Colo. Because of the loft, my toes stayed plenty warm without feeling any bite from the occasional breeze.

Overall, I appreciate how well the down in these booties can resist moisture, especially as someone who regularly sees fresh snow almost daily in the winter. The DriDown insulation truly does well when exposed to moisture. Even after walking in some snow, dewy grass, or light rain, my feet stayed dry.

Textiles, Eco-Friendly DWR Treatment

Sierra Designs made these booties with a 50% recycled nylon ripstop shell that is treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent). The nylon outer makes these slippers lightweight, while also giving a similar robustness to that of a down puffy or jacket.

Additionally, the DWR is free of perfluorinated compounds, making these booties more environmentally friendly and ethically designed. I found that after walking in various types of moisture, the water beaded off these booties impressively well, and they dried quite fast. 

This liner is designed with tricot, a polyester knit-style fabric. This liner is luxuriously soft on the feet, especially if you’re someone who opts out of wearing socks in your down booties. I particularly appreciated this fleecy interior when I had to throw the booties on for a quick dog walk or stroll to grab the newspaper when I didn’t feel like making the effort to wear socks. 

The Sierra Designs Down Booties are also easy to pull on, thanks to the front pull tab and rear cuff closure. The cuff closure is made with an elastic cord and plastic toggle, which allows wearers to precisely fit the booties to their mid-calves. This adjustability helps keep encroaching snow and coldness out as well. Plus, you can use the cords to clip your booties to the outside of your backpack.

Best Use

Between the DriDown and water-resistant nylon outer, I am impressed with how moisture-wicking and durably made these down booties are without adding any extra bulkiness.

Though, the tread — or lack thereof — leaves a little to be desired. The flat silicone sole is perfect for indoor use thanks to its stickiness, but it is not sufficient for walking on terrain like firm snow or ice. Trust me, I fully put this to the test when I completely slipped walking on some ice outside my friend’s cabin — oops!

I found that these booties were also suitable for walking on concrete, damp grass, dirt trails, and wooden decks. Ideally, they are best used indoors with shorter outdoor trips around camp or from the cabin to the outhouse or rig.

Furthermore, the Sierra Designs Down Booties are a little over 9 ounces in the medium size. The use of natural down makes them remarkably packable.

If you are heading out on a backpacking or overnight backcountry ski excursion, these can easily be stuffed in a pack without taking up much space or weighing you down. Better yet, go ahead and stuff them in your sleeping bag so when you cozy up for the night, they are already in there for you to throw on.

These versatile down booties are pretty stellar for many uses. From chores around the house to fireside s’mores with friends on a crisp night, I loved this pair. And because of the muted colors and general sizing, they also make a fantastic stocking stuffer around the holidays.

Conclusion

In summary, the Sierra Designs Down Booties are an innovative and thoughtful take on the traditional down booty. Oftentimes, down booties lack enough durability or tread for outdoor use, but Sierra Designs flipped a switch when they re-released these puppies.

They have enough of a sticky silicone sole for quick (ice-free) jaunts in wintery conditions without sacrificing the feathery weight that you would find in a down sock. And while I wouldn’t necessarily walk on icy surfaces in these, they are suitable for standing in powder or hanging outside the local ski chalet.

The 550-fill DriDown is not only exquisitely warm but also moisture-wicking and quick-drying. This level of insulation is suitable for use in winter when the flurries fall and the cold air bites. The memory-foam style cushions are perfect for folks needing comfort after a long day of snowshoeing or nordic skating.

At less than $80, the Sierra Designs Down Booties are a solid down booty for the price. They do just as any down booty should: provide long-term warmth and lasting comfort for your feet. I recommend these to folks who desire a mostly indoor slipper with some outdoor use around town or camp.

If you want a down booty made to trudge in extreme conditions, I recommend seeking a pair with a durable, textured rubber tread. Currently, the Sierra Designs Down Booties are available in five unisex sizes from its online store.