The 10 Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

The Keen Revel IV High Polar Boots for women and men nabbed our top spot thanks to the rugged construction, protective toe cap, and 200 grams of insulation under waterproof membranes that protect down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. We wore these boots through the woods and to shovel snow in temperatures into the low 30s with a biting north wind. And they performed fantastically, thanks to heavy laces, sturdy rubber outsoles, and just enough insulation to not feel the cold during harder sections of hiking or during the effort of snow shoveling. Keen’s Polar traction along the entirety of the outsole provided excellent grip on a variety of tread (including wooded trails and slippery snow), and the lugs are deep and have sharp edges to combat uneven terrain. 

These are a great blend of snow boot and hiking boot, and like any heftier pair of footwear, we recommend allowing a break-in period before committing to any walks longer than a few miles. And even though they felt comfortable, we do recommend a pair of moderate-to-heavy hiking socks (of at least crew height) to protect your ankles from the boot collar and ensure the sock doesn’t slide down.

The Details: Size 5-11 Women’s, 8-14 Men’s | Leather and synthetic | 2.25 pounds | Waterproof

With a somewhat sleeker look than other boots we tested, the Asolo Arctic GV Boots for men and women has a more modern silhouette that is stylish, warm, and reduces bulk for longer trail outings. We were equally impressed with the traction as we were with the breathability and warmth, and found them to be one of our warmest hiking boots without excess weight. Like other boots we tested, the Arctic GV took a few hours to break in, though they did feel more flexible than some of the beefier options. We wore them with moderate-weight socks and were impressed with the continued comfort throughout the testing period. We never felt cold during our winter hikes, and the hollow-fiber insulation gives these an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. Finally, Asolo uses top-of-the-line Vibram outsoles tailored toward icy, cold weather. 

The Details: Size 6-9 Women’s, 8-11.5 Men’s | 2.8 pounds | Leather and synthetic | Waterproof

Kamik makes a range of winter-ready boots both for casual outings as well as more hiking-oriented versions, and we were very happy with the support and comfort from the Trek Snow Mids for women and men. Everything from arch support to ankle support felt stable, and the reliable traction was confidence-inducing on everything from slippery rocks to loose dirt, gravel, and patches of snow. The fit was comfortable right out of the box, feeling more akin to a tennis shoe than a heavier winter hiking boot. That does create some downsides though, as we did experience some wet toes in deeper, slushier snow — these are best for icy or powdery conditions.

The Details: Size 6-11 Women’s, 7-13 Men’s | Leather and synthetic | 2.5 pounds | Water-resistant

The X Ultra Snowpilots for women and men are Salomon’s winter-ready boots in their popular X Ultra line. The brand’s expertise in technical trail outings is apparent in everything from initial comfort to the secure fit through the heel counter. These boots are very well insulated, so we recommend wearing them for true winter outings, and we found them to be ideal for anything around 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The outsole has excellent traction and was made for rugged trails, and the waterproof membrane was reliable. Our small nitpick about weatherproofing is that we did wish the gusseted tongue went all the way to the top of the boot, as it allows some failure points for water or deeper snow to seep into. But if you throw on a pair of gaiters over the boots, you can solve this problem fairly easily.

The Details: Size 6-11 Women’s, 8-13 Men’s | Leather and synthetic | 1.7 pounds | Waterproof

For those of us seeking extra durability and protection in cold weather, the Chilkat V for women and men is your answer. These boots have a classic hiking boot style with extra insulation — 400 grams in this instance — that traps heat, but allows moisture to escape so your feet don’t get clammy. That also means it’s important to pair these boots with moisture-wicking socks. And while you’re picking your socks, we did find these to fit somewhat snug, so if you want to wear heavier socks with these boots, we recommend sizing up a half-size to make sure there’s plenty of room for your feet. Otherwise, the deep tread proved reliable on a range of footings, and the extra insulation would be perfect for sitting out in the cold at a football game, going sledding, or taking shorter winter hikes.

The Details: Size 5-11 Women’s, 8-13 Men’s | Leather and synthetic | 3.13 pounds | Waterproof

Columbia’s range of affordable, stylish, and well-made footwear continues to impress us, and we loved everything about these boots from their cute quilted insulation to their lightweight and impressive warmth. The Firecamp Boots for women and men feature a light and flexible woven synthetic top material that is highly abrasion-resistant with good weatherproofing, and is a lot less stiff than comparable leather boots. We haven’t noticed any signs of wear and tear during out testing, and have stayed warm in our hikes where the temperatures got down into the 30s. The traction both uphill and downhill felt quite stable, and while we do hope they continue to break in, we will say the sizing feels a little small and people who are between sizes should consider sizing up a half-size. 

The Details: Size 5-12 Women’s, 7-15 Men’s | Textile and synthetic | 2 pounds | Water-resistant

Aside from the natural grit and grime of our test hikes, we were thoroughly impressed with how new these stylish boots continue to look and feel after weeks of wear. Forsake manages to toe the line between technical and town-ready footwear, and we felt comfortable wearing these both on the trail and into town after. These provide great ankle support during hikes, but were still one of the only pairs we didn’t feel like we had to carefully break in before wearing on a hike. The dense lining is soft and cozy, and the cross-over webbing along the outside adds just enough detail without looking busy.

These felt comfortable, warm, and dry in all temperature from 30 degrees Fahrenheit and snowing to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and rainy, making them a versatile, comfortable pair for everything from winter walks to moderate shoulder-season outings. Forsake does have some unique sizing (we’ve found their models to feel quite long and narrow), so we recommend reading their size charts carefully.  

The Details: Size 6-10 Women’s | Leather and textile | 1.8 pounds | Waterproof

These boots are sturdy, well made, and we saw almost no signs of wear and tear throughout our weeks of testing. The warm, high-pile lining has maintained its loft, too. We tested these boots with both wool socks and synthetic socks and felt comfortable and blister free during all of our hikes, and didn’t feel like we had to rush home to pull them off like stiffer or tighter boots. The sole is thick and well-insulated, and the lugs have excellent tread for a range of conditions. The only thing we’d change is perhaps more arch support, as people with high arches might consider adding a removable insole for more comfort and support. 

The Details: Size 6-11 Women’s | Leather and synthetic | 2.25 pounds | Waterproof

The Outchill Thinsulate Boots for men and women is a slightly more nimble shoe than Salomon’s Snowpilots, weighing almost exactly the same, but with slightly more flexion through the boot’s upper for longer days on trail. We were able to wear these comfortably in our standard size with a midweight pair of socks, and the waterproofing was top-notch. We walked through several inches of water on multiple occasions and never felt any extra chill or waterproofing failure. The arch support and traction were also impressive, and these felt comfortable for standing all day, as well as secure on both ice and snow.

The Details: Size 5-11 Women’s, 8-12 Men’s | Leather and textile | 2.1 pounds | Waterproof

There’s a lot to be said for an affordable pair of winter hiking boots that doesn’t compromise too much on comfort, material, and design. These Xpeti boots for women and men are a fraction of the cost of many others on our list, and while they may not hold up for as many seasons, theses boots do have 200 grams of synthetic insulation (similar to other boots we tested), and the flexible, abrasion-resistant Cordura upper helps bring the cost down compared to leather or suede models. These are still reliably waterproof and will hold up to moderate use throughout winter, and we never doubted their warmth during our tests. We did feel like they were somewhat narrow, and would recommend sizing up.

The Details: Size 5-12 Women’s, 6-14 Men’s | Cordura and synthetic | 3.2 pounds | Waterproof