10 best men’s snow boots for keeping your feet warm in winter
Although we may be used to much milder winters in England these days, let’s not forget that it was only a few years ago that we were hit with a severe arctic blast that brought the country to a grinding halt, and had plenty of people trudging through the white stuff with inadequate footwear.
First of all, do not get this confused with a round-up of snow shoes – we’re not talking about those foot sleds used in cold climate expeditions.
Neither are all snow boots the oversized Yeti kind that you’ll notice on everyone’s feet if you have ever enjoyed some après ski somewhere.
Instead, a good snow boot will look like an enhanced hiking boot (which is effectively what they are) that will offer excellent waterproofing, superior insulation and good breathability to combat the conditions that they will be used in.
Other things to consider are an efficient and effective lacing system that will provide a good fit and mould to your foot – tightening the boot to your foot easily and quickly so you don’t have to spend any time with your gloves off readjusting laces in icy temperatures.
Despite the fact that snow boots are heavy duty, they should be made with a number of materials that won’t compromise on comfort and can track the terrain underfoot.
A good snow boot should be finished off with an effective tread or lug pattern that will keep you on your feet whether we see centimetres or inches this winter.
To test, we took all our boots to a real snow slope to see how they fared with different kinds of conditions that included snow compacted by snowboarders and skiers to drifts that had accumulated by the walls.
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Danner arctic 600
This good-looking boot has a waterproof suede upper and is incredibly comfortable to wear straight out of the box. The hi-top design means that it can comfortably cope when the forecast is set for more than just a dusting of the white stuff and the Vibram Arctic grip outsole was one of the best on test.
It offers all terrain traction and will help you keep your footing no matter how high tempo your pace through the snow. Very well insulated, our feet were never in danger of feeling frosty and we also liked the durable rand around the toes and the handy side zip, which meant that we could get in and out of the boots really quickly.
Buy now £177.32, Danner
Adidas terrex free hiker cold
Adidas has taken its proven free hiker boot and effectively winterised it, encasing the upper in Gore-Tex “duratherm” for undeniable waterproofing and insulation and underlining it all with a winter specific continental rubber. The outsole will help keep you on track over cold, hard ground with a full-length boost midsole for comfort and ease of walking.
The stretchy Gore-Tex at the boot’s high collar stopped any ingress from snow when ploughing through a drift and provided a barrier against stones and grit when walking over more open ground. The lengthy front zipper means you won’t end up with any lacing issues and provides a totally enclosed snow boot that will keep feet dry and insulated for as long as you need to be outside.
Buy now £220.00, Adidas
Trespass negev II
A value for money boot that is well equipped to deal with deep snow and offers good waterproofing and comfort thanks to a generous lining of fleece throughout the upper. The outsole tread pattern coped well with a range of conditions from slush to powder and there’s plenty of protection in the boot’s foot profile against hidden rocks.
Buy now £49.99, Trespass
Snow Peak x TDS niobium concept 1
These boots have a waterproof shell that will stand up to the coldest snap and will provide a good barrier to the worst that the winter can throw at your feet. Good insulation and breathability combines with an outsole that is informed by New Balance’s best-selling trail runners and offers excellent traction. The manufacturer calls the boot a “transformable footwear system”, which means that the outer shell can be removed to transform the boot into an outdoor sandal and then can break down further into an indoor slipper when you’re warming up indoors.
Buy now £280.00, Snowpeak
Palladium pampa sport cuff WPS
A good deep tread pattern on these waterproof boots will keep you on your feet through the fiercest blizzard or most frantic snowball fight. The leather upper and sealed seams were effective at keeping feet dry and the luxurious pure wool lining ensured that when temperatures tumble your feet don’t turn into blocks of ice.
Buy now £140.00, Palladium
AKU hayatsuki GTX
You know when a boot looks like this that it’s built to take on some seriously wintry weather. This lightweight mountaineering shoe makes good usage of technologies from Gore-Tex lining to a Vibram outsole to produce a totally snow-proof boot. A good deep tread pattern means that you can walk with confidence over a range of snow conditions.
Buy now £369.90, AKU
Ariat catalyst VX defiant 8
These serious snow boots made from waterproof leather will help you plough through the worst of white outs. They’re manufactured with a thick Vibram outsole that features an aggressive tread pattern and lugs that won’t clog up with mud and snow so that the effectiveness of the traction isn’t compromised if you’re out in the conditions for an extended length of time. Excellent insulation, waterproofing and breathability combine with good cushioning from the midsole that absorbs any lumps and bumps under the snow.
Buy now £300.00, Ariat
Haglofs duality AT1 GT men
This boot, made with recycled materials, almost has a snow shoe-like outsole that extends slightly beyond the heel and really adds to the stability that you get from the tread pattern, especially in slushy snow. A nice stretchy Gore-Tex membrane offers the right balance between waterproofing and breathability and the shoe is very comfortable to wear. Haglof’s has also included an exchangeable midsole – a tougher one that works well on hard packed snow and a soft one for when the thaw sets in.
Buy now £220.00, Haglofs
Mammut taiss light mid GTX
You know when a boot says that it’s crampon compatible that it’s going to be built for some seriously alpine weather. These lightweight shoes offer up Gore-Tex protection against the snow and good all-round insulation. The lacing system gave us a really nice fit and the wraparound hi-top retained warmth and stopped any slush getting in when stomping through drifts. As you’d expect from mountaineering boots, these offered excellent traction too.
Buy now £350.00, Mammut
The North Face nuptse booties
These down-filled boots are water repellant so if you’re just clearing the driveway or wandering locally they are an excellent choice as they offer supreme warmth and are so comfortable to wear that you won’t want to take them off when you get back indoors. The brand’s “ice pick” lugs on the outsole were also very effective at keeping us upright on compacted snow.
Buy now £90.00, The North Face
The verdict: Men’s snow boots
It’s hard to imagine a more fit for purpose boot than the Danner arctic 600, which was adaptable to all kinds of winter adventuring. Supremely comfortable, it offered lasting insulation and the technology meant that the suede upper never got waterlogged.
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