The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Best men’s snow boots for winter walks and cold weather in 2024

Stay surefooted and free from frostbitten toes with these tried and tested pairs

Paddy Maddison
Thursday 28 March 2024 17:45 GMT
You don’t need a full-on blizzard to benefit from water-resistance, grip and warmth
You don’t need a full-on blizzard to benefit from water-resistance, grip and warmth (The Independent/ iStock)
Our Top Picks

Every year winter arrives colder than the last, and it pays to know that your footwear is up to the challenge of adverse weather. Attempting to traverse icy pavements in a pair of wellies can prove a slippery affair, and trudging through snow is no job for a pair of everyday trainers.

What you need is a pair of snow boots. But don’t let the name throw you off. While it’s true that the UK gets very little snow, Antarctic blizzards aren’t a prerequisite for wearing this type of footwear.

The term “snow boots” simply means any boots that are built with water-resistant (or fully waterproof) uppers, a grippy lugged outsole for traction and, sometimes, an added bit of insulation for protection against the cold. This could be anything from a pair of full-length, fleece-lined, rubberised duck boots to a simple commando-soled Chelsea boot.

With so much variation in styles, you may find it tricky to decipher the product descriptions and decide which pair of snow boots is going to be best for your individual needs. To help, we put some of the most popular boots to the test, covering a range of styles to suit all requirements.

From budget boots to investment footwear, scroll down to see which snow boots made it through to our final review.

How we tested men’s snow boots

A selection of the best men’s snow boots that we tested for this review
A selection of the best men’s snow boots that we tested for this review (Paddy Maddison)

Admittedly, it’s not easy to test snow boots in actual snow here in the UK due to its glaring absence. However, our tester in Northumberland is never short of cold, wet, muddy conditions to trudge around in.

If a boot is grippy enough to get some purchase on a muddy Cheviot hill path or a wet, cobbled street, then it will happily cope with whatever a British winter might throw our way. We wore each pair of boots extensively in typical seasonal conditions to see how they performed. We were looking for boots that offered a good mix of comfort, durability, warmth and grip, so those that couldn’t meet all of these requirements didn’t make the cut.

Value is also something we took into careful consideration. If a particular boot had a big price tag, it would need to be justified through durability, the quality of its materials and craftsmanship.

The best men’s snow boots for 2024 are:

  • Best men’s snow boots overall – Sorel men’s caribou waterproof winter boots: £132, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget snow boot – Trespass unisex’s dodo snow boots: £34.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best insulated snow boot – Danner Arctic 600 side-zip: £230, Danner.com
  • Best luxury snow boot – R.M. Williams rigger commando boot: £499, Rmwilliams.com

Sorel men’s caribou waterproof winter boots

best mens snow boots Sorel caribou
  • Best: Overall
  • Sizes available: UK6-16
  • Colourways: Four
  • Why we love it
    • High silhouette
    • Look great
  • Take note
    • Only suitable for particularly cold weather

Sorel’s caribou is the definitive snow boot. It’s insulated, waterproof, fleecy on the inside, rubberised on the toe, and nice and high for trudging through the powder. This pair is the benchmark for all other snow boots and winter boots to aim for, and boasts the added bonus of looking great, too.

The caribou is very much a cold-weather boot. This isn’t a piece of footwear you’re going to be able to rotate throughout the year – it’s really only suitable for the darkest depths of winter. As such, it has a cosy shearling collar, insulated felt liner (removable for easy washing), and a heavily lugged outsole for maximum grip.

It’s most at home in heavy snow, but equally useful in mud, rain, cold and general winter conditions.

Back to top

Trespass unisex’s dodo snow boots

best mens snow boot Trespass dodo
  • Best: Budget snow boot
  • Sizes available : Uk4-11
  • Colourways : One
  • Why we love it
    • Cheap and cheerful
  • Take note
    • Quite stiff so go up half size

From the most expensive pair of boots we tested, to the most affordable. These cosy snow boots from Trespass may not be made from high-end leather, nor are they Goodyear welted, but they’re warm, comfortable, rubberised where it matters, and about as waterproof as you can get for under £40. Nothing flashy, but if you’re seeking something cheap and cheerful for the occasional snowy school run or dog walk, they’re hard to fault.

One thing to note is that these boots are quite stiff, which is largely because of the rubberised lower portion. As a result, they can rub on longer walks. To combat this, we’d suggest going up a half size from your usual and wearing them with a pair or two of thick socks.

Back to top

Adidas terrex free hiker 2 Cold.Rdy

best mens snow boots Adidas terrex free hiker 2 Cld.Rdy
  • Best: Sporty snow boot
  • Sizes available : UK5.5-12.5
  • Colourways : Two
  • Why we love it
    • A solid defence against the elements
  • Take note
    • They’re not supportive enough for serious hiking
    • They’re expensive

If you’re looking for a comfortable sneaker boot to keep you warm on winter walks, then this admittedly quite unusual-looking option from Adidas terrex might fit the bill. It has a dual closure system, which consists of an inner quick-lace cord and an outer zip-up flap. Together they create a solid barrier against the wet and cold, with a Gore-Tex membrane helping to seal out the worst of the weather.

These are extremely warm boots that perform well in wet and muddy conditions, thanks in part to the deep, aggressively patterned lugs to the outsole that allow the shoe to bite into mud and snow for traction. The springy foam midsole is excellent for comfort, and while it doesn’t provide enough support for serious hiking, it’s perfect for everything else.

For us, the only downsides are the rather large terrex branding to the sides and the price tag. If neither of those things bother you, then this is one of the best options out there.

Back to top

Red Wing roughneck moc toe work boots

best mens snow boot Red Wing roughneck
  • Best: Casual snow boot
  • Sizes available: Uk6-12
  • Colourways: One
  • Why we love it
    • Very robust design
    • Resistant to water, stains and scuffs
  • Take note
    • We’d recommend going at least half a shoe size down

American heritage brand Red Wing is famous for tough-as-nails work boots, and these particular ones are robust even by its signature standards. The roughneck is essentially a beefed-up, winterised version of the brand’s famous moc toe work boot, which, instead of the classic white wedge sole, features a heavy-duty commando outsole, courtesy of the biggest name in the game: Vibram.

The uppers are cut from thick yet supple oil-tanned leather, which is incredibly hard-wearing and resistant to water, stains and scuffs. This, combined with the grippy outsole and gusseted design of the tongue, makes this boot an excellent choice for winter conditions, including use in snow.

We’d advise pairing them with a shearling insole for a bit of added warmth. It’s also a good idea to go at least half a size down from your usual shoe size, as these boots fit large, and the leather softens and stretches slightly with wear.

Back to top

Danner Arctic 600 side-zip

best mens snow boot Danner Arctic 600
  • Best: Insulated snow boot
  • Sizes available: US7-14
  • Colourways: Seven
  • Why we love it
    • The zipper makes them easy to put on
    • One of the most comfortable we’ve tried

Warm, waterproof, supremely comfortable and as grippy as they come – in terms of sheer winter-readiness, it’s impossible to fault these Primaloft-insulated snow boots from American boot brand Danner. Our tester has spent several winters trudging around various Alpine ski resorts in these boots, as well as their fair share of muddy British fields and icy footpaths, and they’ve never put a foot wrong.

One of the details that makes the Arctic 600 unique is the waterproof zipper that features on the inside of each boot. These make getting the boots on and off incredibly easy, which is appreciated when your fingers are tender from the cold or you’re in a hurry to get out of the house.

However, the major selling point is the comfort. This boot is one of the most comfortable we’ve tested. The gusseted tongue is soft and padded, and it hugs the foot gently when the laces are pulled tight. The insulated padding inside adds to this feeling, resulting in a warm and cushy boot that’s perfect for traipsing around in unpleasant weather.

Back to top

R.M. Williams rigger commando boot

best mens snow boot R.M. Williams rigger
  • Best: Luxury snow boot
  • Sizes available: UK6-12
  • Colourways: Two
  • Why we love it
    • The leather will develop character over time
  • Take note
    • Pricey

It’s a shame these beautifully made, round-toe boots from R.M. Williams are so brilliantly suited to winter conditions, because they’re almost too nice for trampling through ice and mud. At a shade under £500, this is not a cheap piece of footwear by anyone’s standards, but for those who appreciate real quality and craftsmanship, there might be a case to be made for the boot as an investment piece.

What makes it so well suited to winter is the addition of a heavily lugged commando sole unit, which contrasts nicely with the boot’s smart looks and provides ample grip and traction in wintery weather.

Handmade in Australia, the rigger boot is Goodyear welted, which means the upper is stitched to the sole in a way that makes it easily replaceable and repairable. In other words, if you look after these boots for life, they may very well look after you for life, too. Couple that with the beautiful Horween leather, which develops character and patina as it ages, and you’ve got a boot for the long haul.

Back to top

Mountain Warehouse arctic thermal snow boots

mountain warehouse boots .png
  • Best: Warm snow boot
  • Sizes available : 7
  • Colourways: One
  • Why we love it
    • Warm
  • Take note
    • Not very grippy

Snow boots aren’t the comfiest things in the world, but when we slipped our feet into Mountain Warehouse’s arctic snow boots, oh boy, did we enjoy them. Tested in the Norwegian mountains, these boots kept our feet warm, toasty, and best of all – dry.

There’s a really soft lining on the inside that kept our feet cosy, and we didn’t want to rip our feet off after a long day out in the snow, like we do with most snow boots. The only real issue is that they aren’t the most grippy. We had a few falls on particularly icy days, so watch your step if you opt for these.

They are a lot cheaper than some of the competition, however, and for the price, they’ll do the job. And they look pretty stylish to boot, with no maximalist functional hooks and ribs that will cause you to look away in disgust.

Back to top

Hoka kaha 2 Gore-Tex

best mens snow boot Hoka One one kaha 2 GTX
  • Best: Gore-Tex snow boot
  • Sizes available: UK6.5-13.5
  • Colourways: Six
  • Why we love it
    • Cloud-like feel underfoot
    • Gore-Tex membrane seals out the elements
  • Take note
    • Not the most stylish

Let’s address the elephant in the room right from the off: no, these are not the prettiest boots in the world. The thing is, that’s basically Hoka kaha 2’s USP. The French brand designs maximalist footwear with lots of cushioning. It’s built for comfort above all else, often at the expense of streamlined, low-key aesthetics. If you’re looking for a stylish, casual boot to go with your jeans and shirt, this is probably not it. However, if you’re more into function over fashion, then you’ll appreciate what Hoka has to offer on this one.

The boot features an extremely wide outsole and midsole, with an enormous footprint that gives it a stable and planted feel whatever the terrain. The midsole is springy, spongy and responsive too, which means the Kaha 2 offers a cloud-like feel underfoot and is extremely comfortable to wear. This is because it’s a hiking boot first and foremost, but one that will perform exceptionally well in cold, wet, muddy and snowy conditions.

The outsole features specially designed lugs with rough, knobbly patches that bite into any type of terrain, ensuring a good grip whatever the weather. In the uppers, a Gore-Tex membrane seals out water and keeps the foot warm, even in cold conditions. This is bolstered by heavy padding throughout the boot and a durable nubuck leather outer that shrugs off scuffs and scrapes and helps to keep the cold out.

  1.  £190 from Hoka.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

The verdict: Snow boots

Sorel’s caribou boot is the original and best when it comes to footwear for heavy snow. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the white stuff, then it’s a difficult one to beat. However, if you’re looking for something more versatile to get you through the cold and wet UK winter, we’d highly recommend Danner’s Arctic 600 as a nice toasty option, or Red Wing’s roughneck for something a little more casual.

Fend off the UK winter with the best men’s waterproof jackets

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£250 off a 7 night stay with the deal of the week - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on orders with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Get 15% off + Extra 5% on select products with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in