The Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2023

The mountains of North Carolina possess varied and dramatic weather. Even in early-season testing, a 50-degree range from 20 to 70 degrees took our tester from down jacket to t-shirt, with the Targhee III ($174) keeping pace all the way.

While KEEN is often seen as significantly wider than others, the fit was true with enough room for midweight wool socks. Comfort came with first wearing, as secure lacing teamed up with waterproofing to splash confidently through icy Appalachian creeks.

Style points brought Targhee from path to café even as the boot’s structure and materials won on the trail. Based on the rigidity of its 6-inch upper, this boot is more for day hiking than backcountry overnights or extended trail campaigns with heavier payloads. Warmth is average for a non-insulated boot that offers fall and spring hiking options at a reasonable price.

Support, comfort, and solid foot protection from weather and gritty trail conditions. KEEN’s easy striding design made walking less tiring, particularly with two children in the mix across peak and valley.

Targhee’s agility allowed more starting, stopping, and directional changes without worry about wet, cold, or blisters. And its sole construction smoothed out the bumps along the way.

Finding a boot that spans the spectrum of winter weather is a challenge, one that Oboz took on with vigor. With this Bridger model ($200), a well-managed cloak of 200g insulation handles moderate to fairly deep cold. That’s true even during brief periods of stop-and-stare appreciation of the winter landscape.

Wool-topped insoles fight back conductive heat loss through the boot’s outsole. And the addition of waterproof leather adds years of durability even on rocky trails or through sharp-crusted snow.

Oboz has never been shy about grabbing for traction with its hiking boots. Here, directional lugs and specialized, silica-infused winter soles add meaningful grip on icy surfaces. Testers took on extremely slick road surfaces along with frosty trails with no notable slippage.

While boot heights for winter hiking boots vary dramatically, the 7-inch upper on this Bridger strikes an efficient balance between weather protection, ankle support, and agility across mixed terrain.

Hikers with Oboz brand experience will instantly recognize the reliable lacing system, protective toe, and wrapped outsole in the Bridger, Sawtooth, and Arete lines. Styling is consistent as well, offering a distinctive profile that’s not shy about staking a claim to adventure.

Newcomers who make Bridger their winter pick will find a consistent fit across multiple products. This allows easy migration to a non-insulated model when the snowpack yields to spring wildflowers.

The Xero Alpine Boot ($160) will satisfy anyone looking for a more minimalist winter hiking boot. With 200g insulation across a zero heel-drop platform, this one merited our attention for its expansive hiking-plus functionality.

The removable, heat-reflective insole adds to warmth in a boot floating in at less than 12 ounces per foot (in a women’s 7). The Iowa testing team pushed this completely vegan-friendly boot across forest and field, even jumping low-lying branches and disused farm machinery in the process.

Beyond snow, tar-like mud crisscrossed the trail. No slipping here, with efficient energy transfer from foot to tread. In and through it all, stability bordered on shocking (in a positive way) given the boot’s nontraditional appearance.

Attentive lacing is needed to capture Alpine’s performance. Our female tester noted the stay-connected heel cup that improved the boot’s structure. Toes could spread for wider feet. Greater warmth accrued, keeping biomechanical efficiency with the medium lug outsole. Easy to walk past in evaluating hiking options, this eye-catcher from Xero deserves a second look.

Our Seattle-based tester pulled this pair on, finding them more like “running shoes than hiking boots” with a true-to-size instant fit and immediate comfort. The higher, padded cuff made her first steps easy and sure, all underpinned by a Contagrip outsole with multidirectional lugs.

Determined to overcome wet or wild, the Cross Hike ($190) prevailed across conditions common to the Pacific Northwest. The integrated lacing system and closed-gusset tongue kept the Gore-Tex membrane’s performance intact.

Uphill and downhill, the Cross Hike couldn’t be prodded into slipping. As the boots aren’t insulated, there’s room for a reasonable sock.

We wore them without gaiters and were impressed to find the uppers dry after a wet, muddy, and snowy hike. Breathability was superior, with little water pushing past the cuff after post-holing through deep snow.

Salomon is known for winter performance from ski slope to cross-country trail to mountaintop. The Cross Hike delivered with extras, including a hidden tongue pocket for the lacing toggle.

While its heel drop is only 10 mm, the Cross Hike portrays an elegant heel height that echos fashionable footwear. With adequate room for feet nudging wider, this boot is an athletic option.

Lowa remains one of the world’s preeminent mountain brands. U.S. hikers who’ve worn a pair know what’s coming. As in, strong statements about design, construction, and the on-trail performance of the Renegade ($255).

Our tester — new to Lowa but a savvy denizen of the Appalachians — added another perspective to winter boots: a national champion and a professional athlete from the world of road cycling.

Now coaching, mountain biking, and hiking North Carolina and beyond, he admired it top to bottom, from a sturdy upper to its durable Vibram outsole. While the footbed needed an upgrade, the boot was true to size.

Lacing and adjustment took some level of concentration, but the tongue’s comfort was superior to other boots he’s evaluated. Out on the trail, energy transfer was positive and consistent across varied terrain and weather conditions.

With the sole’s debris-shedding lug pattern, progress was steady as the GORE-TEX lining performed under the durable Nubuck leather shell. As with many Lowa boots, the MONOWRAP frame construction meant the boot tracked forward with reduced foot fatigue.

An uninsulated model, Renegade needs proper socking to reach freezing temps. An offsetting factor is enough flex to move freely, quickly, and maintain blood circulation in this confidence-inspiring winter option.

Many models in this guide make the step, leap, or jump into fall and spring use. Not the Terrex Free Hiker ($260) — it’s a pure winter hiking boot champion. This insulated model integrates a proprietary COLD.RDY insulation technology and uses an elastic liner and exterior zipper to harness the foot.

While startling to lace-and-eyelet traditionalists, this fitting and closure method is common in expedition-capable boots. That’s because gloved hands can operate the mechanism to change socks or switch to down booties at an alpine destination. Employing the BOOST technology improves the energy return (according to documented lab testing), making difficult miles less strenuous.

GORE-TEX is employed for waterproofness, with a PrimeKnit upper that means what adidas calls a “sock-like fit.” Testers needed the webbing heel pull to make the system work, finding workable ankle flexion, even with Free Hiker’s unyielding, motion-efficient EVA support frame.

While others at the trailhead might mistake it for a recreational pac boot (because of the zippered upper), they’ll be left standing in a cloud of snow.

PrimaLoft Gold steps into the mix with the Danner Inquire ($180) that’s as nimble as any tested for this Guide. Its trail capability competes with everyday utility for outstanding value across wide-ranging conditions.

Capturing the benefit of advanced, lightweight materials, the design doesn’t sacrifice structure to turn an OrthoLite footbed and TPU shank into hiking efficiency. These proven components serve Danner well across their line, including the Men’s Mountain 600 Insulated footbed (a boot also test-hiked with positive results).

Inquire sports a proprietary moisture barrier and midsole in a 5-inch-high boot. A leg gaiter is warranted for moderate to deep snow, as the easy-walking upper isn’t self-sufficient through deeps and drifts.

Our female tester, with flatter feet, wanted more arch support. An aftermarket footbed or insert is advised for most hikers. Danner offers a range of worthwhile options starting at $14. Importantly, MegaGrip material forms a high-traction outsole to make the entire package a durable result, with enough warmth to carry the day for winters to come.

This selection is back to the future, with big news attached to a perennial hiking favorite — wide is now available in the Nucleo High II GTX ($239). For several years, this trail-and-mountain workhorse has taken hikers and their stuff up, down, around, and across challenging terrain.

While structured for moderate loads, the package of features assembled here deserves to be revisited. Blood circulation is critical to winter hiking success, and too-narrow boots are a common risk factor to comfort and safety.

GORE-TEX Surround Technology is central to the boot. Breathability in all directions doesn’t sacrifice waterproof protection. Instead, it aids the creation and maintenance of a 60% humidity environment.

Durable Nubuck uppers protect this function, with a warrior-like appearance to beguile any Mad Max fan. The upper’s superior ankle stability and protection drew kudos from the hulking tester, a former football and rugby standout.

Outsole construction and the lug design comprise this boot’s Impact Brake System. This allows superior control without blister-inducing movement inside the boot, or nasty spills while barging through snow, ice, mud, and sleet.

As a European brand, the traditional shapes, or lasts, can challenge some American feet. With wide now available, there’s good reason to take La Sportiva’s legacy of mountain adventure to winter trails this season.