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Like it or not, the sludge-y, snow-y, sleet-y season is coming, and when it finally descends, you’re gonna want a pair of the best men’s winter boots in the game to keep your feet dry and your rear-end from hitting the pavement. A cool pair of sneakers will always be an option on a more mild winter day, but sometimes you’ve gotta come to grips with the fact that your kicks were designed for polished hardwood—or, at best, closely-mowed grass—not a bona fide Nor’easter. Here’s the good news: Winter boots certainly lead with function as their primary purpose, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on form. In fact, a great pair of winter boots delivers on all fronts—good-looks, grip, warmth, and as a nice bonus the occasional extra dose of sherpa-lined coziness.
The Best Winter Boots Shopping Guide
- The Best Ultra-Practical Winter Boots: Sorel Caribou winter boots, $200
- The Best Suitable Winter Boots: Tricker’s Stow boot, $640
- The Best Certified Platinum Winter Boots: Timberline 6″ waterproof boot, $210
- The Best Anytime, Anywhere Winter Boots: Blundstone 550 boot, $220
- The Best Hybridized Winter Boots: Diemme Balbi boots, $399
- The Best Pamper-Yourself Winter Boots: Ugg classic mini boots, $150
Even better news: those kind of boots are everywhere right now. Like the market explosions we’ve seen in the worlds of stylish rain boots, hiking boots, and even technical outerwear, functional menswear’s stock as a widely accepted swerve is currently at an all-time high. Naturally, you’ve got the staple outdoors-y brands churning out winter boots that are completely BS-free, but even designer labels are delivering runway-ready options that can still hold their own in a winter dusting. Hell, there are even winter boots out there that we can endorse wearing with a suit, saving you the added baggage of towing an extra pair of office-ready lace-ups on your morning commute. So with all that in mind, we rounded up 25 of our favorite pairs—the very best men’s winter boots on the market—to meet every formality, price, and need.
Looking for even more boot options? Don’t miss our round-ups of the best boots under $200, the best boots on Amazon, the best Chelsea boots, and the best rain boots.
The Best Ultra-Practical Winter Boots
Sorel Caribou winter boots
The Caribou is basically the Hummer of winter boots. The waterproof nubuck upper extends to your calf, giving you fuller protection for stepping through snowbanks and such, and it’s been sealed at the seams for greater weather resistance. And the duck boot-style rubber on the outer foot ensures that your socks will stay bone dry, no matter how wet and snowy the conditions are, while also giving the boot added grip around the footbed. And here’s the best part: the sherpa lining. It’s not real wool shearling, unfortunately, but Sorel’s synthetic stuff is still exceptionally warm and comfortable, cushioning your ankle as you slog your way through the backwoods, slush-covered city streets, or anywhere in between. And the whole sherpa-lined inner is removable and washable, so you can toss it in the washing machine once every couple weeks to keep it fresh throughout the season.
The Best Suitable Winter Boots
Tricker’s Stow full-grain leather brogue boots
If you can’t stomach the idea of pairing your freshly-tailored tweed suit with a pair of chunky, rubberized stompers, then at least do yourself the solid of getting wingtips with a little extra insurance against the elements. Tricker’s makes of some of the best dress shoes money can buy, and the brand’s spin on a winter boot boasts all the Savile Row styling cues of traditional brogues, but with a high-top design that delivers just enough coverage to keep your ankles from freezing over. That said, the real key here is the sturdy rubber Vibram sole, which not only looks badass, but ensures you avoid taking a spill in a nasty post-storm puddle.
The Best Certified Platinum Winter Boots
Timberland 6-inch premium waterproof boot
Decades of rap videos might have convinced you that Timberland’s iconic six-inch work boots are a thing best kept box-fresh and pristine, steered clear of the elements altogether. But that’s doing your Timbs a massive disservice. Fact is, those nubuck uppers you’re being so precious about are fully waterproofed, lined with PrimaLoft insulation, and built to combat much more extreme conditions and strenuous environments than you probably ever encounter on a day-to-day basis. Spray ‘em down first if you must, give them a quick wipe every once in awhile, but don’t be afraid to treat them like the true-blue winter boots they are.
The Best Anytime, Anywhere Winter Boots
Blundstone 550 boot
We’ve sung the praises of Blundstones many, many times before. Here’s a quick recap, though, for the TL;DR crowd: Blunnies are comfier than that memory foam mattress you just bought through a podcast, impervious to wetness and chill, easy to slip on and off, and strangely, implausibly fashionable. If you’ve never owned a pair, this is the year to take the plunge—all the hype will make total sense the moment you slip them on.
The Best Hybridized Winter Boots
Diemme Balbi boots
If you still aren’t sure about duck boots, Diemme will change your mind with this slick hybrid. The Balbi has Chelsea-boot-like elasticated side panels and lush textured suede up top, with impenetrable, element-conquering rubber encasing the full length of your foot below. It’s kind of like a centaur for your feet, only there’s nothing mythical about it—aside from how Greek-godly the fits you’ll get off will be.
The Best Pamper-Yourself Winter Boots
Ugg classic mini boot
They’re comfy, they’re warm, they’re what you deserve after surviving the last couple years. Like Crocs and Birkenstocks before them, Ugg boots have gone through a gauntlet of lazy jokes and emerged on the other side as a certified classiqué. And before you protest that Uggs only look right on soccer moms, we’d remind you of their original purpose—keeping the toes of Australian big-wave surfers toasty on frigid early mornings—and also point you to these excellent shots of two opposite-spectrum style gods, Adam Sandler and Bella Hadid, pulling them off with aplomb. They look cool, trust us. And even if they didn’t, it wouldn’t matter, because slipping on these shearling-lined, heat-regulating icons is the ultimate act of self-care. If you’ve never experienced the sheer physical pleasure of a day in Uggs, it’s time for that to change.
Plus 19 More Winter Boots We Love
Bogs classic high waterproof boot
Stepping outside this time of year ain’t exactly fun, and laces on your boots is just another reason to keep your ass at home. But there will be times when you simply have to suck it up and brave the slush. Bogs’ classic boots are waterproof, cozy, and easy to slip on even when you’re wearing gloves.
L.L.Bean 10″ tumbled-leather shearling-lined Bean boots
Bean boots have a habit of selling out the way hot Nikes do, so we’d advise getting your mitts on this extra-cozy shearling version while you still can. And while you’re at it, round out your stylish purchase with a pair of thick corduroy pants and your brightest puffer jacket.
Merrell Moab 3 Thermo mid waterproof boots
Sure, you could just wear thick socks with your Merrells. But why fork over more money on socks when you can just buy a pair of shoes with insulation built right into them? These Moab 3 Thermo boots are like their flagship counterpart in almost every way—waterproof, super grippy, and engineered for tough terrain. The only difference is the added Primaloft insulation which ensure your little piggies feel like they’re being tucked into a warm blanket.
Blundstone 566 thermal Chelsea boots
Our favorite all-around all-weather boot, winterized.
Red Wing classic moc Gore-Tex boots
Red Wing’s perennial workwear bestseller was never questioned on its quality nor its toughness. When it came to rain and snow, however, they were never the best option. Thankfully, they’ve stepped into modern times and are now available in a waterproof Gore-Tex version so you can keep wearing your trusty heritage boots (and crunchy raw denim) all winter long.
ROA CVO boots
The whole wearing white after Labor Day nonsense is just that—nonsense. Winter is bleak enough, so don’t be afraid to lace up this creamy boot from Roa which is essentially a stylish snow plow for your feet.
Vans Sk8-Hi MTE-1 shoe
So you’re not exactly a boot guy, huh? You may not be a drop day-roving sneakerhead, but you sure as hell don’t see a reason to lace up a pair of beefy boots. You’re used to your trusty sneakers! We get it. Thankfully Vans understands that their customer base isn’t made up entirely of SoCal residents. These kicks take after the classic Sk8-Hi sneakers that helped launch Vans into skate god status. The big difference is that they’re part of the MTE line which means they’re water-resistant, warm, and have got more traction than their famed waffle-soled brethren.
Dr. Martens 1460 Wintergrip boots
A fur-lined, winterized upgrade on every Brooklynite’s favorite boot.
$120
Dick’s Sporting Goods
The North Face Nuptse Après booties
These insulated boots are like stuffing your weary dogs into a down comforter. They’re toasty as hell and comfy enough to make you want to stay put, but of course they can handle a quick jaunt for a caffeine pick-me-up in the middle of freezing day.
Danner Mountain Light boot
The hiking boot that begat all others.
Columbia bugaboot celcius
Columbia’s lightweight winter boots use the brand’s proprietary Omni-Heat technology to literally recycle your body’s natural warmth, and frankly, that’s fire.
Mr P. Olie shearling-lined suede boots
When retailers venture to make their own line of clothes, the results are often mediocre. Mr P., the in-house label for luxury retailer Mr Porter, is the exception. Their Olie boots feature luscious suede uppers lined with even cozier shearling, tough lugged Vibram soles, and a made-in-Italy pedigree that can all but guarantee you’ll have ‘em in your closet a decade from now. Oh, and they’re pretty damned handsome if you ask us.
Salomon Snowcross mesh and rubber boots
We have yet to verify this claim, but we’re fairly sure these are the exact shoes that Frozone wears to fight crime.
Moncler Genius Trailgrip GTX sneakers
These monstrous boots strike the delicate line between hiker and big honkin’ sneaker. That massive, deep tread Vibram sole gives the Trailgrip some serious curves while the alpine-inspired uppers ensure your feet will stay warm and dry thanks to the premium Gore-Tex lining.
Duckfeet “Arhus” boots
Winter boots don’t need to look like a sci-fi experiment to stave off frostbite—tried and true blizzard-busting flourishes like thick leather, wool linings, and grippy crepe soles can get the job done with just as much flair.
R.M. Williams Gardener commando leather Chelsea boots
R.M. Williams, like their fellow Australian bootmakers Blundstone, are well-known for boots that take on the rigors of the Australian outback. Though if you’re looking for something with top-tier craftsmanship that’s easy to re-sole, R.M. Williams is what you want to step into. The Gardner is the brand’s most popular styles and this one features a hardy lug sole that belies the dressy upper.
Suicoke bower-evab rubber trimmed quilted shell boots
The drawstrings on these boots will help you lock in warmth, but their stouter shape has the added benefit of on-and-off action during peak “shoveling the driveway every 3 hours” season.
Camper “Traktori” boots
Real stormtrooper hours.
