The Best Winter Hiking Boots (2025)

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While there are dozens of great three-season hiking boots on the market, winter footwear is much trickier to pull off successfully. Designers need to strike a delicate balance between the comfort, support, and agility you’d find on a fair-season hiker, and the warmth and traction you expect from your favorite pair of Sorels. Luckily, the bar gets raised every year: this season’s crop of winter hikers will go the distance, whether you’re slogging through cold muck or climbing up icy, snow-covered mountains.

At a Glance

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Best Overall

Salewa Puez Winter Mid Powertex

$260 at Salewa (Women’s) $260 at Salewa (Men’s)

Sizes: Men’s 7-13, Women’s 6-11

Pros and Cons
⊕ No break-in required
⊕ Good in deep snow
⊕ Great grip
⊕ Light and fast
⊗ Cold below 10 degrees

Many winter boots will do the job of keeping you warm, dry, and supported—but you’ll want those straightjackets off as soon as possible. That was definitely not the case with the Puez Winters. I wore these boots on a multi-mile, deep-snow hike and a couple of muddy slogs, and then kept them on during the road trip home. I even wore them to work for a week straight and never once felt the need to fling them off.

All that comfort comes from smart shoe design—a well-engineered heel cup that kept my blister-prone foot snugly in place without feeling like a vice grip, a lightweight build (each boot comes in at one pound for a men’s size 10), a cushy hemp midsole, and a just-right rigidity that made them great for scrambling, but not ski-boot stiff.

These were not the warmest boots we tested, but they were up to the challenge down to 6 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as we were moving. That heat retention comes from a felt lining around the collar, 200 grams of Primaloft Gold insulation in the toe box, a 2.5mm wool and cotton lining around the upper, and a felt-lined footbed. Anchorage, Alaska-based tester Charlie Ebbers wore them non-stop for several days after a late fall snowstorm and said his toes were warm and happy while walking the dog, working on his cabin, grocery shopping, and even during some night hiking.

The boots shed slush and snowmelt thanks to a PFAS-free waterproof Powertex membrane, even keeping my feet dry while standing in an icy river for 40 minutes straight. All our testers found the grippy outsole ideal for staying upright on packed snow or steep, rocky trails thanks to aggressive toe and heel lugs.

Hunters who plan to sit around in the snow for hours on end scoping out animals should look elsewhere (try the more heavily insulated Mendl boot below), but for everyone else who wants to get out and explore the world from November through March, the Puez is a well-balanced choice.

Best for Hunters

Meindl Air Revolution Alpine Pro 200

$420 at Amazon $390 at Meindl

Sizes: Men’s 8-14

Pros and Cons
⊕ Nearly indestructible
⊕ Very warm
⊕ Supportive
⊕ Short break in time
⊗ Heavy
⊗ No women’s sizes

It makes sense that these boots were designed in Germany: they’d be at home on a technical winter climb in the Alps thanks to a crampon-compatible sole, heavy-duty waterproof build, and 200 grams of Gore Duratherm synthetic insulation. But all that tech works equally well for winter hunters and off-trail explorers, which we discovered through our season of testing.

To vet the Alpine Pros for the rigors of sitting on a high-alpine ridge glassing for elk or deer, I stood still in 10-degree temperatures for 90 minutes and waded into a snowbank for 40 before the cold started to creep in. The boot’s robust insulation pairs with a Gore-Tex liner to block moisture while staying relatively breathable.

Meindl claims that a smart tongue design allows the boot to suck in fresh air when your heel hits the ground and forces warm air out when you push off. We found that claim hard to prove—but on a bushwack through the forests near El Rito, New Mexico, our feet never got clammy, even on a mild 45-degree day.

These burly boots are designed to let you cover a lot of ground comfortably. Testers appreciated the thick-but-pliable suede uppers, which kept us walking naturally on an eight-mile bushwack up to 12,000 feet outside of Peñasco, New Mexico. Deep, grippy Vibram outsoles provided plenty of bite, but still offered some feedback. Given their heft (each boot weighs 1.83 lbs), we proactively wore the Alpine Pros on a couple of break-in hikes. But we needn’t have worried: the boots conformed to our feet almost immediately.

Best for Shoulder Seasons

Mammut Blackfin III Mid DT

$199 at Mammut (Women’s) $199 at Mammut (Men’s)

Sizes: Men’s 7.5-14, Women’s 5-10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Grippy
⊕ Relatively lightweight
⊕ Moves like a warm-weather hiker
⊗ Finicky lacing system

Of all the winter boots we tested, the Blackfin III feels the most like a traditional three-season hiker. That’s thanks to the relatively lightweight build (1.3 pounds per boot for a men’s 9.5) and the mid-high cut, which kept snow out but didn’t make us feel like we were wearing a special winter boot. It’s built for those who put in lots of miles regardless of weather and won’t stop trekking just because it’s below freezing or there’s snow on the ground.

The boot’s warmth, which was immediately noticeable—but not overpowering on days when the sun was out—comes from insulation woven through with aluminum thread that helps reflect body heat. A waterproof membrane stood up to our icy river cold-plunge test without issue.

The Blackfin III’s Vibram outsole with chunky, all-terrain tire-like treads stuck to a variety of terrains, from loose dirt to packed snow. Combined with the lightweight build, this boot proved to be a versatile piece of footwear that allowed us to cover a lot of miles between the icy fall and the muddy spring.

The only hiccup our testers had with the Blackfin III was with the lacing system. Although no one had any heel movement or blister buildup, Seattle, Washington-based tester Kip Malone found it hard to get them cinched as tight as he wanted for more technical hikes, and had to stop and re-lace a few times before everything settled in.

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Lace up a pair of HOKA Men’s Anacapa 2 Freedom Hiking Shoes and get ready to hit the trail all winter long. Enjoy dry feet—even on snowy, wet days. The waterproof nubuck leather upper is Leather Working Group Gold-rated, while GORE-TEX footwear fabric with recycled textile provides reliable waterproof protection. Comfort and performance shouldn’t cancel each other out in hiking shoes—and HOKA’s design provides a protective cushion while maintaining a responsive toe-off for when you want to go faster. And to keep feet happy, the GTX Invisible Fit with recycled content provides improved comfort and breathability, while the lightweight 30% sugarcane EVA midsole ensures all-day comfort and support.

Best for Moving Fast

Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4 Mid Gore-Tex

$260 at Backcountry (Men’s) $260 at Backcountry (Women’s)

Sizes: Men’s 7-15, Women’s 5-11

Pros and Cons
⊕ Supportive
⊕ Aggressive sole
⊕ Great for snowshoeing
⊗ Pricey
⊗ Bold aesthetic not for everyone

Most folks out for a winter hike aren’t attempting an FKT (Fastest Known Time). But if you’re feeling competitive—or just want a winter boot that won’t slow you down—the Thermo Rogue 4’s is one of the most agile cold-weather duds on the market.

That sure-footedness at speed comes from a few special features, including a bouncy, dual-density foam midsole that provided lots of energy return when pushing off. Vibram Arctic Grip outsoles with terraced, tooth-lined five-millimeter lugs kept me upright while running up and down snowy trails throughout the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. An extra tall rigid ballistic mesh upper (with a Gore-Tex Liner) provided plenty of ankle support, but also snugged to my feet like a sock, creating a comfy, blister-free fit right out of the box and keeping the individual boot weight down to 1.3 lbs.

This boot is properly warm: 200 grams of Primaloft Gold Eco Series synthetic insulation and aerogel for the insole and over the toe made them comfortable while standing around in 15-degree temps. My feet did overheat occasionally when I was really huffing up a hill, but not so much that my socks were a puddle of sweat. Bonus: a ridged strap-holder on the heel makes them just as good for snowshoeing as they are speed-hiking.

Best Everyday Hiker

Scarpa Moraine Polar GTX

$199 at Amazon (Men’s) $199 at Scarpa (Women’s)

Sizes: Men’s 7-14, Women’s 5-10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Mid cut is perfect for everyday use
⊕ Easy to wear
⊗ Not insulated enough for frigid weather
⊗ No color choices

Overbuilt design is a real issue for winter hiking boots. Do you really need a boot with crampon compatibility? Do you need enough support to haul a dead elk on your back off-trail? The Moraine Polar GTX counters this trend by being just supportive and warm enough for taking the dogs for a winter walk or heading out for a weekend hike in the cold without feeling like you’re suiting up for Everest. The Moraines are not the sturdiest or most technical offering because of the lower cut and less-rigid leather upper, but fill an important niche for everyday winter adventures that require more precision and support than a duck boot.

New Mexico-based tester Gabe Zambello climbed all over houses and apartments to fix roofs, service air conditions, and deliver lumber wearing these boots. The Moraine Polar kept his feet totally happy, even while working for hours on-end in 20-degree temps, thanks to 200 grams of Primaloft insulation. A PFC-free Gore-Tex membrane also kept his feet dry, whether working in sleet or standing in construction site puddles.

I put in well over 50 miles just by walking my dogs around the open areas in Albuquerque, New Mexico in early spring and late fall and loved that there was zero break-in required. A TPU shank makes the Moraine Polars stiff enough for hiking, but the medium-density EVA midsole was much cushier than on other winter boots we tested, which added to the comfort and ease of use. Proprietary Scarpa outsoles on the Moraines performed well in all conditions—mud, packed snow, ice—and we liked the mid-high ankle height, which provided just enough support for hikes where we weren’t carrying a heavy pack or scrambling over technical terrain.

If anything could be improved on the Moraines, it might be the color choices. The black is understated, but for everyday wear, a little flair wouldn’t hurt.

Best for Big Days

Hoka Kaha 2 Frost GTX

$280 at REI (Women’s) $280 at Zappos (Men’s)

Sizes: Men’s 7-15, Women’s 5-11

Pros and Cons
⊕ Cushy midsole
⊕ Very warm
⊕ Impressive grip
⊗ Expensive
⊗ Too bulky for some traction devices

Hoka is well known for helping kick off the chunky midsole trend in hiking boots and trail runners. With the Kaha 2 Frost GTX, you get all the cush of your favorite warm-weather boot, along with the giant heel brake, but pumped up with gobs of insulation to keep your feet warm on the coldest days.

Thanks to all the cushioning, these boots were great for long, demanding miles. I clambered over chunky scree, across manky snow, and through sticky mud on several nine- and 10-mile mixed-terrain hikes in the Sandia Mountains outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even though my quads were worked from the distance, my feet were totally unscathed thanks to a squishy, dual-density, compression-molded EVA midsole and the signature forked, extended heel, which saved energy and helped with downhill braking. The only downside to that jumbo heel? It makes compatibility with traction devices, like microspikes, iffy. We had to go up a full size just to fit them over the front and back lips of the Frost GTX.

Unlike most active winter boots, which use a lighter 200 grams of insulation, Hoka stuffs its Kaha Frost with 400 grams—a mix of synthetic insulations from Gore and Primaloft—plus a layer of aluminum lining in the sole. The tongue, too, has 400 grams of Primaloft Gold. I wore these boots on a five-degree day gathering firewood outside El Valle, New Mexico, and my feet were plenty warm. In temps above freezing, you’ll quickly overheat in these Gore-Tex-wrapped ovens.

At nearly $300, the Hokas are an investment. But if you live in a perpetually-cold part of the world, these boots are your ticket to pain-free miles in the snow.

How to Choose Winter Hikers

The first question to ask about buying winter hikers: Where and how will I use them? Do you live in Colorado and love to snowshoe, or are you down in Georgia and just in need of something waterproof and warmer than a three-season boot? Will you be running and fast-packing in the boots, or carrying an elk over rough terrain and sitting around a campfire? Narrowing down your use-case is absolutely necessary because winter hikers are more specific in their design than normal hikers—you don’t want to get stuck with a boot that’s too warm, heavy, or stiff, or one that lacks adequate insulation and support. To help you make the right choice, here are the factors you’ll want to consider.

Insulation

In our testing, most synthetic insulations are similar in terms of warmth. Pay less attention to the type of insulation and more to the amount. Hikers that will keep you warm in the snow but not overheat your foot often come with about 200 grams of insulation. Some boots also use reflective liners or threads, similar to space blanket material, to bounce heat back at the wearer. Others use air or gas-filled aerogels, particularly around the toe area. Unless you’re heading for very cold climates or doing a lot of standing around, be aware that boots with heavy and varied insulation can cause sweaty, blistered feet.

Traction

Just like winter tires that are designed to perform on snow and ice, some winter hikers come with outsoles made of soft rubber compounds that remain flexible in cold temperatures. Vibram’s Artic Grip outsole, for example, has a proprietary compound that makes a noticeable difference in terms of traction on wet ice. Lug design is a factor, too: tiny, biting teeth for gripping snow and large voids for evacuating slush can make all the difference. Be aware that no outsole can provide sure-footedness on ice, no matter the compound used, and traction aids, like microspikes or crampons, are often necessary.

Waterproofing

If you’re serious about winter hiking, your boot should have a waterproof membrane. We’ve seen folks head out with treated leather boots, and they never perform as well as a tried-and-true Gore-Tex (or similar) membrane. We’re sticklers about moisture, because wet, cold feet can mean the end of your hike—or worse.

Fit

Like all boots, winter hikers will tear your feet to pieces if they don’t fit well. Even if you can’t try on your preferred boots at a local store, go ahead and order them, wear them around your house for a couple days, and make sure your foot isn’t screaming to get out. You’ll want to pay attention to things like heel slippage (which causes blisters), toe space (too little can cause bruising on the downhill), overall width, ankle support, and how easy they are to pull on and off.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 11
• Number of products tested: 50
• Coldest temp while testing: -20 F (Copper Center, Alaska)
• Hours spent standing in icy rivers: 3 (El Rito, New Mexico)
• Miles hiked: 500+ (Anchorage, Copper Center, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Seattle, Bavaria)
• Highest elevation reached: 14,004 feet (Huron Peak, Colorado)

To put these boots through their paces, we set out to the coldest, snowiest places we could find, from Alaska to Bavaria, Germany. Testers ran the gamut from carefree van dwellers who were criss-crossing the country to winter athletes to moms and dads with just a few hours to burn off steam. During the test we clomped through fresh snow, tried our best to slip in icy parking lots, post-holed on late-winter hikes, and stood around in snowbanks to see how long it took for our feet to go numb. But most importantly, we put in miles. If a boot wasn’t comfortable, supportive, and reliable, it didn’t make our list.

Meet Our Testers

Jakob Schiller

Category manager Jakob Schiller is a gear columnist for Outside. Over a decade of footwear testing, he guesses that he’s worn over 250 pairs of hiking boots. Winter is his favorite season by far, so he’s happiest when spending time on the snow and in the woods.

Charlie Ebbers is a long-time Outside contributor and an avid runner and hunter who lives in Alaska and works for the BLM. For the past year he’s been building a cabin in rural Alaska and frequently tests shoes in temps that are well below zero.

Kip Malone has tested footwear for Outside for the past seven years and is known as the team’s resident crank because of his hard-to-please feet. As a Seattle, Washington native, he is the authority on waterproof boots.