Brand Model Final Thought Snow Performance Ice Traction Waterproofing Warmth Heel Lift/Foot Fit Weight/Clumsiness Driveability On/Off Liner Price/Sale Price Fixed liner, with UGG can be such a sythetic lower polarizing brand, style tongue and wise. So I was surprised This boot fits better than anything else I've tried. It On the better end of average. The lugs underfoot Good. There is some lift with the These not only feel warm, they provide the This is more shoe like. The laces bootie lining, with how much I loved fits like a shoe. As such, walking on and through are a lot like the heavenly, and they grip chunky hell, and a toe and hell bumper, experience of feeling warm, if that makes any are round and fit through the but upper these plush, light boots. If I snow is light and easy. The shaft can be folded up or ice really well. Not a lot of purchase on smooth but it doesn't have the aggressive sense. The wool lining is very plush against the eyelets easily, but the plush lining tongue/shaft/an Adirondack III could keep only one, I'd down depeding on how tall you want it, and it laces ice. I do not know why the men's version of this rubber wraparound of some other feet, and feels cozy. It helps the boot fit snugly as grips and so you have to work it on d sock lining is UGG (W) keep these. tightly to the leg. boot has Vibram sole and the women's does not. models. well. No reflection tech. Rated to -32C None These feel light. Full flex in the ankle. more thoughtfully. 100% wool . $250 Though it appears as though there's nothing remarkable going on here, the Nation Plus edges out all other products. The Our tester was comfortable, and there is a shaft is higher. The price is All the pieces are there. What reflective panel under the liner for additional lower. The insulation you'd expect from a snow boot, warmth. Rated to -40F/-40C. The insulation is 200g includes some basic with a big rubber outer and thick 3B, which is Thinsulate's specific insulation for More articulated fit with speed Removeable Nation Plus reflection tech. The heel A tall shaft with a good snow collar and good mobility In the functional category, this boot had average base, that is somehow less clunky footwear (it comes "already compressed" but I'm laces, but still able to tighten and synthetic felt Kamik (M) stays in place. in snow. grip in icy conditions. than the Sorel. not sure what that means.) None Average TBD loosen easily. liner. $85 The #1 snow performer. A really unique boot, that These are clearly waterproof, but fits the foot like a moccasin, making it more nimble On the higher end of the average group. The they lack any lift off the ground and than any other woman's boot we tested. That snug lugs on the bottom made some difference when don't have any rubber that goes up The #1 snow performer. foot-fit really made this excel in snow, because of dealing with chunky bits of ice, it was noticeable the sides. These are the last boots The design of this boot is how light it was. I found myself wishing it was just an in a side-by-side test with the slippery Ice I would want to wade through Extremely lightweight, to the point unique. A moccasin-like inch or two higher, like the Shellista, for really kicking Maiden. And the snug foot fit gave a lot of surety water and ice with (though I do It has omni-heat reflective lining, but my feet feel that I noticed a performance This boot has laces that go through snow boot, which makes it ass in large snow drifts. But the fur snow collar on ice. It will still slip though... the rubber doesn't believe they would perform). I think colder in these boots than others. Rated -25F/- difference. Feet didn't get bogged eyelets, but the slick round laces Fixed liner, Columbia Heavenly (W) really nimble in the snow. worked to keep snow away from the inside. do anything special. it would make my feet cold. 32C. None down in snow drifts. Very driveable. move through them easily. synthetic fur. $140 ($80) The major flaw with the snow performance of this What I would rate as the #2 best grip on ice. This boot is the wide top opening. If you step in snow is one of two boots that had Vibram Arctic Ice The #2 ice performer. This deeper than the boot, you get a foot full of snow, and rubber, which was the only rubber that we Warm. This is a neoprene construction, instead of may be the most durable you can't get it out without taking the shoe off. It's not genuinely though made some sort of grip a typical fabric insulation, so it's hard to compare. boot. It's built like it will the worst of the bunch, however, because the shaft differnce on icy patches. The reason it's not the Insane (ly good). It's a pure rubber These are also loose around the foot, so thick Slip on. I believe this feature to be a Thin fleece Arctic Ice outlast our time here on is really tall, and available in even knee-height best is because of the looser fit around the foot, thing top to bottom, with an socks can be worn more easily than other boots. big advantage in this case (though ironed to the Muck Boot (M&W) earth. models to help overcome that. which robs it of some of it's traction power. achilles heel: the top is open. There is no temperature rating. Some, but typical of rain boot fit. Average Some slight restriction in the ankle. it compromised it's traction ranking). neoprene. $185 ($130) Nothing will get into this boot. There is a snow collar, it laces At times these boots feel clumsy. On the better end of grippy. I still slipped on snug, and the sole not only lifts The sole feels wider and heavier Removeable A durable, functional, smooth ice, but felt more secure in these boots you almost an inch above the than any other boot, and though These are the most restrictive of the liner, synthetic great-looking boot that The surface area of the bottom of the boot is very than some other options. The lugs easily gripped ground, but the rubber siding is These felt warm. There is no reflection stuff inside, they fit snugly enough to give some boots when they lace up, and I've It uses the classic, wide D-rings and felt. There is a Caribou might be undone by how wide, like the Columbia Bugaboot, and it felt like it chunky ice. The boots fit snugly enough to give bomber. The tonge is gusseted to and no information on the site about what it's Very small amount, but not enough traction, they are the most had other people mention they're is as good as is expected from a tall model with wool Sorel (M&W) stiff they are on the feet. gave me a lot of stability while walking over snow. some stability. right under the snow collar. insulated with. Rated to -40F/ -40C. that I would consider a flaw. restricting of everything I've tried. hard to drive in. lace up boot. available. $160 ($135 wool) Typically, the bogs are a little loose around the foot, contributing to some unsteadiness on ice. The fur lining in this boot However, these boots are fur lined, and that solves one of the problems Really wonderful. Easy enough to move around in lining was so soft and cushiony, it turned this into The only place water could maybe with slip on boots––it snow, and amazing for drieway shoveling because of a well-fitting boot. That didn't make the rubber get in would be the top or the side Fixed liner, makes them more snug how easy they are to get on and off. The downside any more grippy, but I wore these boots all handles, but it would be hard plentiful around the foot, and would be the looser fit around the top, but I found week, because they were so comfortable and because of all the fur standing Top notch. The slip on feature is synthetic fur therefore gives them some myself forgiving that because I could get them on functional. The big snow lugs were nice on guard. Lots of lift off the ground The fur lining goes all the way down over the toes. what made them my go-to for a that works in its Bogs Arcata (W) better traction. and off easily. rougher ice. and fully rubber. These feel warm. Rated to -58°F/-50°C. None Average Very driveable. week straight. favor. $160 There is something off about the foot feel of this boot. The heel lifts a Good. No lift off the ground, this little, in a way that feels like a bad boot mimics the style of the fit, and the way the sole connects to I like the tabs along the shaft that Though it has some nice Also on the slippery end of the average group. Heavenly, but has a rubber the shaft leaves the ankle somehow help you pull this boot on, but the features for snow, the fit of This is the boot with snowflake tread. I surround. The bottom appears to My feet feel cold in these boots. There is no squishy and unfitted. It's subtle, but Ok. Laced all the way up, these are eyelets, combined with wide fat the foot is not as good as remember that tread because I looked at it when be one solid piece of rubber and reflective technology. There is no temperature I notice it when compared to the more restrictive around the ankle laces, take a little more work to lace Fixed synthetic North Face Shellista 2 (W) other options. Great. This laces high and snug along the leg. it wasn't gripping anything. nothing will get in the top. rating that I could find. heavenly. Fairly light. than other options. than D rings. liner. Out of stock The ankle buckles strangely on these boots, in a way that doesn't Sublime, marshmallow-like limit their function but does feel Removeable interior. But these are huge These have great grip on the chunky stuff, the Like the Uggs, these not only feel warm, the distraction. The heel lifts a bit These are less restrictive than the synthetic foam boots with a loose-fitting The work fine, but the looseness in the ankle is a usual inability on the smooth stuff. Comparable "experience" is warm because the liner is so cloud because of this, but it's not a caribou, but feeel clumsy. The sole If they're laced up they're restrictive Easy with D rings and slippery liner that is so Lacross Outpost II ankle. liability here. to the Caribou. Yes. like! It's really nice. Rated to -40F/-40C. dealbreaker. is just massive! around the ankle. laces. squish. $110 The liner is I don't know what it is, but this boot stuck fast to removeable, These feel nice and warm, the chunky ice-- better than anything. I was made of felt and and I think that's probably The shaft of these boots is quite loose. Even when I gripped on! It has similar lugs to both the I don't forsee any water proofing My heels lift out of these in a way coated in what Baffin is best at: but lace it down fully, there's extra liner that bunches up heavenly and Ugg boot that I've noticed do well issues. These have lift off the These have lots of reflective elements, on both the that makes me crazy. It feels like I don't know if they're heavier, but The shifty ankle makes them alright These have the big D rings and reflective Canada the heel doesn't fit and it and it never grips around the ankle. So it walked fine on chunky ice. Average (slippery) performance ground as well as a full rubber outside of the bootie and on the footbed. They feel they don't fit. The toe fits so I think because of the heel they feel in a car, but I don't know if that can everything, yet it is somehow material on the Baffin (M&W) makes me crazy! on snow, but the ankle fit was a bit shifty. on smooth ice. wrap around. warm all the way through. Rated -40F/-40C. they're the right size. clunky. be considered good. difficult to get my foot in here. outside. $160 A completely average, completely functional boot that is bested by some These are lace up boots, and the other models in price and Fucntional, but average. There are larger shaft laces slide easily through the speed functionality. They have heights on some other models that made them better lacing -- the shorter shaft also some hiking functionality -- for snow drifts and piles that tumble on you while These feel warm in the toes. There is no temp Pretty good because of the shorter makes them easy to get on in off. a D ring for gaiters and a shoveling. It does have a D-ring if you wanted to Functional and average. Nothing remarkable Good. Thick rubber base that is rating on the site. The women's Chilkat comes in a height. Slight restriction if I lace They come in a slip on version as Fixed synthetic North Face Chilkat 2 (M) lip for crampons. wear gaiters with it. here, nothing terrible either. seam sealed. 400g insulated version. None Average them all the way up. well. liner. $110 ($77) Yes. Felt warm. No reflective elements. Rated +10 The foot is a bit one-size, a bit squish on this boot. to -45C, depending on activity level. I'm not sure These feel a bit loose and galosh These are waterproof and So they had traction in snow but none of the nimble- Poor. These don't have a lot of nubby traction you could do the kind of activity in these boots A loose foot feel, but one that's true like. It could be the sizing but I Snow Boot warm, but don't excel in fit ness that some other boots do. They do lace down underfoot, and they slid on both smooth ice and because of how loose fitting they feel that would to the design. It feels like an suspect the foot feels that way on Removeable LL Bean (M&W) or traction. tight at the top and are nice and tall. textured ice in a way the nubby boots don't. Yes make them warm in -45. intentional rain boot fit. all sizes. Possible! Easy synthetic liner. $140 ($70) This boot falls on the lower end of good traction, though it definitely wasn't the worst, and it's still This worked great in snow drifts. The traction of the better than the group of boots that were rubber and heel doesn't really matter in soft snow, legitimate hazards. The narrow foot and lifted I thought these were cute. I and in addition, this boot laced up higher along the heel don't give it a lot of surface area, and wore them a lot the week leg, and outside of the pants, than a lot of others we though the bottom is textured it didn't provide a they arrived. But they don't looked at. The top however doesn't lace snugly, and lot of grip on ice chunks, the way some of the Again, no missing features. Average to cold. No reflective tech. My toes got Laces only, but they loosen and Fixed synthetic Kamik Sienna 2 (W) offer much grip. you can get snow in the top if you really go for it. heavier lugged boots did. Nothing special, but functional. cold sitting at work one night. Temp rated to -4. None Light Very good. tighten easily. liner. $120 Average. There are no glaring issues, but the foot is a little shifty and the calf a little hard to lace up becuse this is cut very much like a one-size-fits- On the slippery end of the average group. The I disliked the one-size-fits- most-boot, making it more difficult to snug down lugs were shallow -- and so even though it has Ice Maiden all cut of this boot, and the around the foot and leg (and therefore get good the same rubber as the Heavenly, it felt much Light, but not in a good way. In a Columbia (W) bottom was slippery. purchase). more slippery on all types of icy surfaces. way that felt like lower quality. Flat laces. The traction pattern is different on this boot than the women's. I'm worried it won't be as UGG Butte (M) functional. Warmth ratings are tricky, because they're not apples to apples. So we wore each boot and rated how it felt, subjectively, without having any idea what the temp rating was supposed to be –– How we tested We walked on both rough ice, dry smooth ice, All boots got slogged through interestingly, testers perceptions (and mine) lined and wet smooth ice. Nothing grips wet smooth puddles of ice and slush. In up with the ratings, relative to one another (boots We walked on snow and paid attention to how ice. Everything else performed similiarly. The Alaska, Lisa also did a submersion reated for lower temperatures felt warmer, boots mobile our feet were when they were in deep drifts, takeaway: Overall, snow boots are not the best test on several models previously rated for higher temps felt cooler). and how stable they felt on crunchy day-old crust. ice boots. tested. Observation Observation Drove in 'em. Tried them all on! Observation In Alaska, Lisa also performed a heat gun test on several previous models.

All of these boots are waterproof. These boots go over your pants to protect them from Yet some of them give you It's nice to be able to get in and out How we picked snow, though there is leeway if you're wearing confidence 3 inches deep in water All of the boots we chose are meant to keep you of a boot easily, or quickly. Round snowpants with wide bottoms. This also includes and slush, and some seem like warm during light activity, and are commonly Literal weight matters, but more slick laces and D rings are easier to We are taking the features like how tall the shaft of the boot is, whether This includes features like how snugly the shoe they'd let cold pentrate through. insulated with 200g insulation. However, the I'm unsure if this goes away upon significant has been the how clunky loosen than eyelets and flat laces. I stance that everything or not it has a snow collar or can fit snugly around fits, how wide the base is, whether or not the Features that are beneficial are a addition of wool on the interior or reflective breaking in a boot. But I noticed boots feel. Big heavy bases and You can drive in anything, but some see a lot of people who leave their goes on sale, always. the leg to keep snow out, and general mobility in lugs are grabby on the chunkier pieces of ice, small lift off the ground, gusseted elements often makes them feel warmer and some fit better out of the box than rubber outer shells don't all wear are much more accomodating than laces loose or hanging to drive or This is more for snow. and how sticky the rubber feels. tongue, and welded rubber bases. lighter. others. the same. others. slip their boots on. reference.