The Best Down Booties of 2023

If you live somewhere cold, insulating your feet in the winter is essential. Sure, you could drop a few bucks on a pair of house slippers. But if you’re looking for truly reliable warmth in a light and portable package, down booties are the way to go. Whether you’re taking your first ski hut trip, ski mountaineering, road-tripping to the slopes, need an indoor office shoe, or your house has wood floors, these booties are top-notch for protecting your feet when it matters most.

We tested a slew of these to narrow in on the best down booties on the market. To learn more about the details of down booties, be sure to check out our comprehensive buying guide, FAQ, and comparison chart below.

Otherwise, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for:

The Best Down Booties of 2023

Best Overall Down Booties

The North Face Thermoball Traction Booties

Specs

• Down ThermoBall Eco Insulation
• Fill 600-Fill
• Weight 17 oz. or 482 g.
• Country of Origin Cambodia

Pros

• Tread allows for heavy outdoor use
• Durable in terms of structure and quality
• ThermoBall Eco technology allows for warmth to be retained even if wet
• Mostly made of recycled materials

Cons

• Not as packable or light as the other down booty options
• More exposure to the ankle area due to low profile design

Mary Murphy

If you’re looking for down booties with a little more structure and tread, look no further than The North Face’s Thermoball Traction Booties ($69). These street-style down booties are perfect for walking outside in a couple inches of snow or bussing up to the ski resort on a chilly morning. There are women’s specific models, too. For all of those reasons, and the design’s sustainability focus, these booties are the peak of our list.

Topped off with the brand’s ThermoBall Eco insulation — a 100% recycled down alternative — these shoes are great for someone looking to get a lot of mileage out of their winter booties without sacrificing warmth. The synthetic fill keeps your feet toasty, even after exposure to snow or water. Plus, the style is efficient and easy to slip on.

The recycled rubber sole means less insulation for the soles of your feet, and with the grip, aren’t ideal for wearing in a sleeping bag. These Thermoball Traction Booties for men and women are built for outdoor use, however, they’re super comfortable indoors too. These booties only run in whole sizes, so we recommend sizing down if you’re in between. 

Check Men's Pirce at AmazonCheck Women's Price at Amazon

Best Budget Down Booties

Rab Down Hut Slipper

Rab

Specs

• Down Recycled goose down
• Fill 700-fill recycled down
• Weight 198 g or 7 oz./pair
• Country of Origin “USA or Imported”

Pros

• Eco-friendly design
• Grippy sole for safer steps indoors
• Soft fleece lining for maximum comfort

Cons

• Ankle height might not be the coverage you need
• Opening is not adjustable

Mary Murphy

These warm slipper-style down booties ($65) won not just one but two picks in our book: best budget and most sustainable, thanks to their recycled down filling.

In addition to recycled RDS-certified down, these down slippers also have a cushioned EVA foam footbed and a nonslip sole. They’re super lightweight and very packable, and they provide really good warmth — all for under 70 bucks.

If you need a lower-cuffed bootie, don’t miss out on the Rab Down Hut Slipper.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Backcountry

Runner-Up Best Down Booties

Baffin CUSH Booty

Specs

• Down Fixed PolyWool
• Fill Nylon filled with wadding, cotton, and a PolyWool footbed insulation
• Weight 11 oz. per pair
• Country of Origin China

Pros

• Sticky sole adds slip-resistance for walking around smooth surfaces
• Excellent loft
• Closing the ankle cinch helps keep warmth in
• Water-resistant

Cons

• A bit bulky when on your feet
• Wide fit might not be ideal for everyone
• Not super for extended outdoor use due to lack of underfoot structure

Mary Murphy

One top-notch mid-weight and ultra-cozy option is the Baffin CUSH Booty ($60). Perfect for hanging around the house or relaxing on those long chilly plane rides, these booties will keep your feet extra warm. 

What do we love? The PolyWool footbed allows for breathable warmth so your feet don’t get swampy. Even after wearing these for a few hours indoors, our feet were still dry after taking them off. They are also treated with Baffin’s B-Tek Dry technology, making them water-resistant. 

In terms of fit, they run true to size — simply refer to Baffin’s size chart. Due to the fluff of these booties, they look rather large on your feet and run slightly wide. However, once they were on, they don’t feel heavy or cumbersome. 

The Baffin CUSH Booty is ideal for that person looking to maintain warmth in their feet without going to the upper price tier. They are great for getting chores done around the house or sitting by the campfire. 

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Backcountry

Best Down Alternative Booties

Outdoor Research Tundra Aerogel Booties — Men’s & Women’s

Specs

• Down Alternative PrimaLoft Aerogel with 85% synthetic recycled insulation
• Fill 200g iVerticalX ECO polyester (85% recycled), plus a 1.5mm Aerogel insert
• Weight 264 g or 9.3 oz./pair (men’s), 255 g or 9 oz./pair (women’s)
• Country of Origin Bangladesh

Pros

• Taller cut
• Synthetic insulation provides warmth even when wet or damp
• Ankle cinch tops

Cons

• Down fill sets the bar for warmth

Mary Murphy

Surprisingly, there aren’t that many down bootie options on the market, which is why we decided to include at least one down alternative. This is a proper bootie, built for cold-weather travel and camping.

The Outdoor Research Tundra ($89) for guys and gals is an above-the-ankle slip-on bootie that will surely retain its warmth when you step outside onto the deck to look at the stars or pull them on in the ski area parking lot, thanks to that synthetic fill.

And while it’s not insulated with down, a few people on our staff gave this warm bootie a standing ovation — it delivers warmth, a cozy but not-too-snug fit, and durability on the soles.

It was also our top choice for durability. If you want a bootie with a sole that can handle some wear, the Outdoor Research Tundra should make your list, and you can check out the women’s version, too.

Check Men's Price at REICheck Women's Price at REI

Best Down Booties for Kids

Sierra Designs Youth Down Slip-Ons

Specs

• Down Natural Treated DriDown
• Fill 800-fill
• Weight 152 g or 5.37 oz./pair
• Country of Origin Unknown

Pros

• Made from 100% recycled polyester taffeta
• PFC-free DWR for water resistant
• Silicone bottom adds traction for no-slip safety

Cons

• Broad size range might make fit less precise

Mary Murphy

If you need something more than fleece baby booties, consider skipping toddler slippers and moving straight on to down booties.

The Sierra Designs Youth Down Booties ($30) have 800-fill down insulation for optimal warmth, especially for tiny feet and toes. The plumes are treated with a hydrophobic finish, so you don’t need to worry about the down losing all of its insulating power if your little one steps in a puddle.

They’re warm, they’re fairly durable, and the size range means they will last your kiddos a few years. A soft brushed tricot lining is included for comfort. The design is also eco-friendly with recycled material and a PFC-free DWR coating.

Instead of finishing the bootie with a cinch or tie closer, Sierra Designs made it easier for kids to put on with a sock-like, slip-on cuff around the ankle.

Topping the design off with a foam midsole, these slippers are worthy for all-day comfort. These youth down booties come in small, medium, and large and three colors.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Sierra Designs

Best Down Socks

GooseFeet Gear Down Socks

Specs

• Down Premium goose down
• Fill 850-fill (standard), up to 1,700-fill (custom)
• Weight 58 g or 2 oz./pair (size small)
• Country of Origin U.S.

Pros

• Customized warmth, durability, and look
• Size run includes XS to 2XL

Cons

• Husky aesthetic
• Custom down socks require an average 2-week turnaround to process and ship
• The down socks alone are not ideal for outdoor use (but the Waterproof Over Booties should do the trick)

Mary Murphy

Ever noticed your feet getting cold when camping? Even with wool socks, liner socks, or multiple pairs on, the air temperatures sometimes win. Enter down socks, the solution to your eternal cold-feet woes.

Down socks are light, fluffy foot layers stuffed with insulation and designed to keep your toes and feet warm no matter the temps outside. The best ones we’ve tested are these from GooseFeet Gear ($69-97).

Even better, you can fully customize these puppies. If you’re only venturing down to 20-30 degrees F, we’d recommend going with the standard 850-fill.

But if you’re going to be in more extreme temps — below 20 or even dipping below zero — you can add 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 100% more overfill to keep your feet and toes extra toasty. You can also easily customize the shell fabric and liner fabric deniers (fabric thickness) and colors — this down sock even has the most color options we’ve seen, so there’s plenty of room for customized style.

Make sure to add on a pair of their Waterproof Over Booties ($49) for extra protection if you’re planning to wear them around camp or in the elements.

Check Price at GooseFeet GearCheck Price at Garage Grown Gear

Best of the Rest

Sierra Designs Down Booties

Specs

• Down DriDown (natural down insulation treated with hydrophobic finish)
• Fill 800-fill
• Weight 269 g or 9.5 oz./pair
• Country of Origin China

Pros

• Eco-friendly design
• Grippy sole for safer steps indoors
• Easily packable

Cons

• Wider design might be a downside for folks with narrow feet

Mary Murphy

Sierra Designs Down Booties ($70) won us over almost immediately out of the box. On the coldest morning we’ve had so far this winter (in Colorado), it was 15 outside and (due to a 58-year-old heater) not warm enough inside.

We slipped our feet into these, and they did the job. We also love the pillow feel of the insulation from top to ankle to bottom. In short, these down booties provide plenty of warmth, and their nonslip sole is perfect for that après stroll around any ski town.

All in all, Sierra Designs Down Booties also offer a lot in terms of sustainability. They’re made with a 100% recycled polyester shell, with a PFC-free DWR.

The cons? They may run a bit wide (don’t worry, the cords at the cuffs still seal in warmth). And some reviewers wish they had a bit more insulation on the sole.

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Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties

Specs

• Down Goose down
• Fill 850-fill
• Weight 85 g or 3 oz./pair
• Country of Origin U.S.

Pros

• Lightweight booties
• Lower cost for a down option

Cons

• Not the most tenacious outer
• Limited size options

Mary Murphy

Among the most lightweight down booties (not including down socks) on this list, Western Mountaineering’s Flash Booties ($77) are meant to deliver high warmth in a small and lightweight package.

The Flash Booties have 850-down-fill as well as a foam insole and reinforced sole like the brand’s Standard Booties.

Aside from having a thinner shell material (maybe not as durable), the Flash Booties performed just as well. If you’re looking for budget-friendly, warm, and lighter-weight booties, these could be for you.

These booties didn’t win a specific category, but they’re easily some of the best down booties you can buy at a reasonable price.

Check Price at Backcountry GearCheck Price at Go Hunt

Western Mountaineering Standard Down Booties

Specs

• Down European goose down
• Fill 800-fill
• Weight 170 g or 6 oz./pair
• Country of Origin U.S.

Pros

• Goose down provides top-of-the-line warmth
• High warmth-to-weight ratio
• Internal heel elastic strap for a stable fit and improved insulation

Cons

• Down is less resilient to moisture compared to synthetic fill
• Higher price

Mary Murphy

Western Mountaineering makes two models of down booties, but the Standard Booties ($110) are hard to beat. They offer high coverage, feature a high fill power for maximum warmth, and are amazingly lightweight at 6 ounces per pair. For all of those reasons, this bootie remains at the top of the charts.

The Standard Booties contain 800-fill European-sourced goose down and are finished with a foam insole and nonslip Toughtek outsole. The elastic draw closure is simple yet effective, and we found these to be highly durable.

We love that the outer shell fabric of these Booties also has a DWR finish for water repellency and durability in cold, moist, or wet weather.

Check Price at Camp SaverCheck Price at Neptune Mountaineering

Montane Prism Booties

Montane

Specs

• Down Alternative PrimaLoft insulation
• Fill 160 g
• Weight 170 g or 6 oz./pair
• Country of Origin China (designed and shipped in the U.K.)

Pros

• Well-fitted but plenty of insulation around the ankle
• Stuff sack included

Cons

• More streamlined, the narrower fit might not be ideal for wider feet or ankles

Mary Murphy

These are some of the most durable booties we’ve ever tested. The Prism Bootie Slippers ($60) from U.K. brand Montane also have quite a bit of insulation and are toasty warm. That’s thanks to the insulation, a fleece lining, and an insulated sole. And they’re pretty packable, too.

The Prism booties easily pack into a stuff sack and have a cinch cord at the top of the ankle to lock in heat for your feet. One con is that these are made with a synthetic filling, so they aren’t the warmest we tested. But in every other aspect, they’re wonderful.

In terms of specs, these booties have PrimaLoft Gold 55% recycled insulation, a brushed microfleece lining, a PrimaLoft Gold Grip Control 90% recycled insulated sole, and a Hypalon rubber sole.

Like most booties we’ve highlighted here, they’re also versatile. We’ve worn these booties winter camping but also just around the house and traveling as well. The fit is snug, and folks with larger feet might find they run small. They come in unisex sizing and two colors.

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Camp Saver

Rab Hot Socks

Rab

Specs

• Down Alternative Synthetic insulation
• Fill 133 gsm
• Weight 109 g or 3.8 oz./pair
• Country of Origin Unavailable

Pros

• Insulated outsole
• Compressible

Cons

• Not as warm as down or bootie designs

Mary Murphy

At a great price but not as warm as other choices on our list are these “hot socks” ($65) from Rab. The Hot Socks are similar to Rab’s booties, except these are made with recycled synthetic insulation instead of recycled down.

And while they’re labeled as socks, we found them to be more of a bootie style, as they do have an insulated sole. They’re also super packable.
We love that they have a lot of the elements of a traditional down bootie, including a taller height and insulated sole that’s wrapped up in a lighter, more sock-like package.

If you’re looking for a no-fuss, insulating layer for your feet and don’t want down, these down-alternative socks are worth looking into.

Check Price at Camp Saver

The North Face Summit Series Sleeping Socks

Specs

• Down Cloud down
• Fill 1,000-fill
• Weight 78 g or 2.75 oz./pair
• Country of Origin Unavailable

Pros

• Highest fill value and warmth out there
• Super durable

Cons

• Expensive
• Only one color option

Mary Murphy

We couldn’t not include these wicked-light down sleeping socks. But these are really only necessary for high alpine and extreme cold environments (think ski mountaineering or mountaineering and hut-to-hut traverses, or professional guides and emergency rescue teams). You’ll have to drop 400 bucks if you want a pair.

The North Face Sleeping Socks ($400) offer both a little and a lot at the same time. By far, they are the warmest socks on this list with the highest fill — at 1,000 — available. They’re finished with a light but protective 10-denier nylon aluminum coating.

If 1,000-fill cloud down is worth it so you won’t have to worry about frostbite ever again, then The North Face Summit Series Sleeping Socks should be on your list. They’re the only ones we’d want if we were venturing anywhere above 5,000 m for an extended period of time.

Check Price at North Face

Down Booties Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

The GearJunkie squad uses down and synthetic-fill booties and socks on outdoor adventures year-round. We use them camping and backpacking, on ski hut trips, and for everyday use in our chilly — sometimes freezing — mountain-based offices and homes.

We’ve tested down and down-alternative booties and socks in the early fall and winter in temps from -10 to 40 degrees. We also used them for fall and winter camping, après skiing, around the house, and more.

Throughout our field tests and personal experience, we determined the best down booties and socks based on a variety of metrics including insulation value, warmth, durability, comfort, support, fit, cuff height, adjustability, traction, and quality.

Beyond our tests, we also considered the most popular, award-worthy, innovative, sustainable, and legacy designs. These down booties and socks serve a range of feet, applications, and budgets.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Down Booties

Type of Insulation and Warmth

Similar to down jackets, the level of warmth of a down bootie largely depends on its fill. A down bootie with 800-fill is going to be much warmer than a down bootie with 600-fill. The most common type of fill we see used in down booties is either goose down or a synthetic alternative.

Down booties are going to have a better warmth-to-weight ratio and be more packable, though synthetic insulation booties can be fairly light, too, and more accessible in terms of price.

The type and thickness of the bootie lining as well as the material and height of the bootie will also factor into its warmth.

Style and Durability

There are only a few slight differences between down booties and down socks. Down booties are a type of shoe, with an insulated body, insulated sole, and some sort of closure at the top to seal in warmth. They can be ankle-height to mid-calf-height in order to insulate your whole foot.

Down socks are also fully insulated but may or may not have a sole and usually don’t have snaps, closures, or other features. They’re purely for providing warmth. Down socks also tend to be made of lighter, lower-denier fabrics, as they’re used more inside sleeping bags rather than walking around a house or cabin.

Down booties are the most common way of insulating your feet in winter and are usually more versatile and durable, though we did include a few down socks on this list as well. If you plan on wearing your down booties outside and adding some mileage to them, we suggest buying a pair with a thicker sole and traction.

When you’re shopping for down footwear, think about where you’ll be wearing the booties and how much durability you might want. Do you want an insulating slipper with a sturdy sole? Or do you want something with fewer shoe features, maybe to wear inside your sleeping bag?

Do you want a taller-height bootie or more of a slipper style? This last one is preference. Down booties can be worn with or without socks, but we suggest a thinner and breathable sock if you go with. The booties themselves are warm enough that there is no need to pull on a thick or 100% wool sock.

Finding Your Size

Unlike shoes, down bootie sizes fall on a scale, usually between XS-XL. A letter size will then coordinate to certain U.S./U.K. men’s shoe sizes. Most booties are measured in unisex or men’s sizes, but some will have women’s shoe sizes listed. The sizing and fit will also vary between brands, so we recommend always double-checking before making a purchase.

Price

The price of down booties will vary, but the price is mainly determined by the type of insulation, level of down fill, and materials used. You can expect to pay somewhere between $70 and $100 for a good, warm pair of booties.

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