11 Best Winter Boots for Men (That Are Actually Stylish)

Our experts vetted and tested the winter boots from Thursday Boot Company, Timberland, Sorel, Blundstone, and more.

A lot of guys will get nice leather shoes for the office, sneakers, or loafers for the weekend, but once it gets slushy and icy — like winter does here in New York City — a lot of guys just Google “winter boot” and wind up with some puffy, waterproof boot that’s not just unattractive, but totally unnecessary for their use case. After more than 7 years of writing about boots, we’ve seen them all.

There are a lot of misconceptions about winter boots. The big three that bug us the most are that good boots need to be expensive, that good boots can’t be beaten up, and that they need to be waterproof. All three are lies that we’ll deconstruct in the next section.

Our mission at Stridewise is to teach guys that there’s such a thing as boots and clothes that are casual, durable, and high quality all at once. Drawing on years of experience testing hundreds of boots, our Editor-in-Chief, Nick English, narrowed down his favorite winter boots that meet real-world demands without sacrificing aesthetics.

The best winter boot for you doesn’t need to be a puffy, rubbery, expedition-looking boot. Our top pick is affordable, stylish, water resistant, resoleable, made with full grain leather, durable, and will age beautifully.

Our Top Picks for Men’s Winter Boots

• Best Value Winter Boot: Thursday Boot Company’s Hero ($199)
• Best Value Waterproof Boot: Timberland’s 6-Inch Premium Waterproof ($200)
• Best Budget Snow Boot: Sorel’s Caribou ($200)
• Best Budget Winter Chelsea Boot: Blundstone’s Thermal 584 ($230)
• Most Versatile Winter Boot: Meermin’s Shearling-Lined Cap-Toes (~$280)
• Best Pull-On Winter Boot: Duckfeet’s Arhus Boots ($338)
• Best USA-Made: Rancourt Freeman Boot ($488)
• Best Western Winter Boot: Allen Edmonds’ Tompkins Shearling Boot ($495)
• Best Winter Work Boot: JK Boots’ Arctic No. 2 ($700)
• Best Winter Moc Toe: Russell Moccasin’s Backcountry ($750)
• Best Winter Dress Boot: Crockett & Jones’ Snowdon ($940)

Editor’s Note: On December 9th, 2024, we updated our top picks to provide the most accurate and helpful results possible.

How We Picked the Best

• Winter Performance: All these boots will keep your feet warm and stand up to deep snow. Our selections are more water-resistant or winter-friendly than the average Goodyear welted boot.
• Construction and Materials: We want full grain, thick leather, resoleable construction, and grippy soles.
• Value: The list is arranged by price, and the first four are under $250.
• Style: The boots need to look good.

“The standard construction for resoleable boots — the Goodyear welt — is both water resistant and hardwearing enough for almost any guy’s winter walking,” Nick says. “Especially If you pair them with some warm socks!”

But for this list of warm winter boots, we selected options that are even more water-resistant or more winter-friendly in other ways. Even though, to be clear, a boot like that with some thick socks is winter-ready enough for most guys.

“You only need waterproof boots if you’re wading through water or standing in it fishing,” Nick explains. “The storm Goodyear welts we’re highlighting in this list are water resistant enough for any slushy puddle — plus, they’re resoleable, unlike waterproof boots.”

We still included some waterproof boots anyway, so you’ve got options. So, any boot on this list is well suited to winter wear because of some combination of heightened water resistance, insulation, a grippy sole, and more.

This list is arranged from cheapest to most expensive, so let’s start off with the best-value winter boot for men. 

1. Best Value Winter Boot: Thursday Boot Company’s Hero ($199)

What we like:

• Value: The Hero is the best quality boot for under $200 that we tested.
• Construction: The resoleable storm welt kept our feet dry without sacrificing durability.
• Performance: The thick “StormKing” sole provides a good grip and solid base.
• Versatility: It’s a boot you can wear all year instead of a super warm, winter-only boot.
• Comfort: The combination of EVA, Poron, and cork underfoot adds cushioning and shock absorption. The shank increases stability and reduces foot pain.

What we dislike:

• Performance: It’s not an insulated snow boot. You’ll want thick wool socks.
• Style: They’re too rugged for the office but work well in casual environments.
• Materials: Some traditionalists may not like modern touches like shock-absorbing EVA foam. 

Let’s start with Thursday Boot Company.

This brand changed the game for resoleable boots by offering them cheaper than pretty much anyone ever had before, and the Hero boot is extra tall, storm welted, hard-wearing, built with a chunky sole with tons of grip, and they come in at under $200.

Thursday Boot Company Hero Highlights

It stands out because it’s taller than your average 6-inch boot, and it’s made with a storm Goodyear welt, which is an even more water resistant version. If you look really closely, you can see the welt curls up onto the upper, making it even harder for water and much to penetrate the interior.

The Hero also comes with a really thick, chunky lug sole that’s great for tough winter terrain.

This “Cacao” leather is a waxed roughout, a super tough and scratch-resistant material that developed a cool aging effect as the wax wore away. But the boot comes in a host of other leathers, including a glossy black that makes for a great Dr. Martens alternative.

This boot is also differentiated from most heritage boots by the shock-absorbing poron in the insole (traditional boots use hard leather), and it’s built with a steel shank to improve stability and limit foot pain.

2. Best Value Waterproof Boot: Timberland’s 6-Inch Premium Waterproof ($200)

What we like:

• Value: This is a great value for an insulated boot that performs as well as pricier wool or shearling.
• Style: It’s an attractive streetwear staple compared to the throwback work boot look, and they come in a wide range of colors.
• Performance: It’s waterproof and insulated.

What we dislike:

• Repairability: These can’t be resoled, but then again, the sole will take an awfully long time to wear down.
• Style: Not everyone wants to potentially be associated with streetwear.

You can’t talk about cool winter boots without touching on Timberland’s hero boot. It’s not resoleable, so I don’t always recommend it, but you should know that it became famous not just because of its popularity among 90s hip hop artists but also because it is indeed both waterproof and insulated.

Timberland Premium Waterproof Boot Highlights

You might not have known about the insulation because your average insulated boot is very puffy and makes you think of ski lodges, but “Tims” have 400 grams of Primaloft insulation that’s mostly made from recycled bottles — which is cool.

Plus, unlike most non-resoleable boots, they have a steel shank. That’s a strip of steel (usually it’s steel) that goes between the heel and midfoot to help with stability and limit foot pain. (Note that this is not medical advice!)

3. Best Budget Snow Boot: Sorel’s Caribou ($200)

What we like:

• Performance: They are waterproof, insulated, and have a proven track record of shodding snow-ridden Canadians.
• Value: This is a very warm, budget-friendly boot.
• Function: We appreciated D-ring lacing’s ability to lace ’em up quickly.

What we dislike:

• Materials: We prefer natural materials to synthetic insulation.
• Style: These are classic insulated snow boots that look nothing but casual.

We knew we couldn’t do a winter boots list without a boot that looks like, well, a winter snow boot. It’s all too easy for snow boots to wind up overly puffy eyesores, but Sorel’s is our favorite for its good looks and its low price.

Sorel Caribou Highlights

Some people just want a boot that looks more like this than a classic leather work boot, and the Caribou is the best balance of good looks, low price, and actual functionality — there are many reasons it’s Sorel’s most popular boot.

“It’s not resoleable but it is waterproof and insulated,” Nick says. “But to be clear, I waterproof boots typically aren’t resoleable, so if a boot’s neither resoleable nor waterproof I tend to think it’s sub optimal.”

But Sorel balances out the lack of resoleability by being waterproof or insulated, so it gets a tick in our book — and the Caribou has both qualities!

A potential downside is that the insulation’s synthetic, so it’s not quite as great as wool or shearling for managing moisture, but the price is definitely right.

“I’m a big believer in taking price into account before lauding or condemning a boot,” explains Nick. “And the Caribou delivers what it should.

4. Best Budget Winter Chelsea Boot: Blundstone’s Thermal 584 ($230)

What we liked:

• Function: Fans of the brand who want a recognizable model that’s designed for winter.
• Value: Those on a budget; this is solid value and a lot of function for the price.
• Comfort: People who don’t love the hard-underfoot feeling of traditionally made boots.

What we dislike:

• Durability: We prefer resoleable boots.
• Style: Anyone who needs something versatile or smart casual; this is unusually stout and round for a Chelsea.

The last boot under $250 is what one might call the best Chelsea boot for winter.

“It’s not resoleable, and Thursday Boot Company has Chelseas with storm welts for less,” Nick explains. “I include the Blundstone for a similar reason I included Timberland and Sorel: it’s simply a very iconic, recognizable style, and I want you to know the best winter version of that style you might already love.”

Blundstone 584 Highlights

Blundstone’s 584 is also called the Thermal Chelsea, and it’s the number they give the model made with the brand’s most popular leather: Rustic Brown. It’s also sold in Black and a more uniform Antique Broen.

It excels beyond the brand’s standard slip-ons by being waterproof, lined with Thinsulate for insulation, and sporting a shearling footbed. Just one of those makes it a great winter boot; all three make for something very special, especially when you consider the brand’s fantastic shock absorption and its unmistakable cultural cachet. Everyone loves a Blundstone Chelsea!

5. Most Versatile Winter Boot: Meermin’s Shearling-Lined Cap-Toes (~$280)

What we like:

• Stylish: These are the dressiest winter boots on the list. You can pair them with a tie. 
• Performance: They held up in cold environments we benefited from the shearling lining and double rubber sole. 
• Materials: They’re made with some of the highest quality leather from the famed Tannerie d’Annonay.
• Construction: They’re lighter boots than traditional Goodyear welts; many of these models swap cork for foam to make a less heavy, more flexible boot.

What we dislike:

• Versatility: These are winter footwear; they can not be worn when it’s warm.
• Origin: Some people prefer not to buy Chinese-made boots.

Meermin is a Spanish shoe company that makes extraordinarily high quality boots for the price: they’re Goodyear welted, made with leathers from the world’s top tanneries, and usually cost under $300.

They have tons of experience making quality and attractive footwear (we wear their loafers a lot) but what we really like for this article is their shearling lined offerings.

Meermin’s Shearling Boots Highlights

They’re fully lined with shearling, which is sheepskin with the wool still on it. That’s a famously warm material that’s well known as the basis for the world’s warmest leather jackets, worn by old timey fighter pilots in uninsulated cockpits.

With the shaft, vamp, and the footbed covered in shearling, you certainly won’t need to double up on your socks — but if you want a little less warmth, you can just remove the footbed.

They have plenty of leather options in different shades that range from the very rugged kudu made from wild antelope (something of a specialty of Meermin) to smooth and dressy calfskin boots that can easily be worn to the office.

Combining name-brand leathers with shearling lining, storm welts, and a price tag under $300 is a jaw dropping feat. “Just note that they use UK sizing,” Nick warns. “I’m 11.5 on a Brannock device, 11 in most American boots, and 10.5 in these.

[Related: The 10 Best Dress Boots]

6. Best Pull-On Winter Boot: Duckfeet’s Arhus Boots ($338)

What we like:

• Performance: We like thick wool lining swaddling their toes all the way to the top of a 10-inch shaft.
• Materials: The leather is as sustainable as it gets, the ingredients are all natural, plus it can be resoled.
• Comfort: The softer sole is nice break from hard, all-weather lugs.
• Style: These are easy to style, with seven colors to choose from.
• Fit: They’re “barefoot” shoes and have wide toes like, well, a duckbill.

What we dislike:

• Style: These are as casual as casual gets.
• Performance: The laceless design means it won’t be secure enough on the feet for, say, winter hiking.

When you’re bundled up against a storm, don’t want to futz with laces, and need something seriously warm — so an unlined Chelsea won’t do — Duckfeet has your answer.

Duckfeet’s Arhus Boot Highlights

Think of this as a grown-up Ugg boot. (But don’t, because Duckfeet probably wouldn’t want us naming their competitor.) Seriously, though, these are the mature, masculine, and minimalist boots your frosty feet have been waiting for.

Hailing from the Scandinavian brand Duckfeet — so named because they handle water well and have a nice wide toe box — the Arhus has a natural crepe rubber sole, all-natural 100% wool lining, and a high-quality leather upper that has its own story to tell. 

Crafted in Germany by the folks at “Terracare,” the leather is made to be extra waterproof, tearproof, breathable, antibacterial, and eco-friendly. Relative to conventional leather, the unusual tanning process produces 30% fewer carbon emissions, zero chromium III, and uses 40% less water consumption.

7. Best USA-Made Winter Boot: Rancourt Freeman Boot ($488)

What we like:

• Materials: Rancourt uses high-quality boot leather. Horween’s Chromexcel is unmatched.
• Performance: These boots have a water-resistant storm welt, a Merino wool lining, and the Arctic Grip soles provide extra grip and traction on ice.
• Style: They have a classic American work boot aesthetic; but don’t look too bulky or utilitarian.

What we dislike:

• Versatility: A great winter boot but will be too warm for other seasons.
• Price: These are expensive boots.
• Ordering: You’ll have to wait months for your order to arrive.

This boot, made in a Maine factory I’ve personally visited, is uniquely awesome. It might be my favorite on the list, but there’s a catch: you have to wait months for them to be made for you.

Rancourt Freeman Boot Highlights

The Rancourt Freeman Boot is built specifically with the winter season in mind. They use a waterproof version of Horween’s Chromexcel atop a storm welt, and you’ll be kept toasty warm with the Merino wool shearling lining. 

The real highlight, though, is something hard to find on any boot, anywhere: the very rare sole called Arctic Grip, which is designed to limit slipping on ice.

“I’ve heard that it loses its powers after a couple of seasons as the sole wears down, but it’s still a really cool invention,” says Nick. “I can personally attest that it made a difference when I wore them hiking and traversing frozen lakes in British Columbia.”

It’s very versatile for a boot that can combat such harsh weather, and the good news is that the $488 price tag is relatively cheap for what it is. (Remember that it’s made in the United States.)

The bad news is that part of why they’re cheap is their boots are made to order and will take 2 or 3 months to be made for you. Sorry!

[Related: My list of The Best Leather Briefcases for Men]

8. Best Western Winter Boot: Allen Edmonds’ Tompkins Shearling Boot ($495)

What we like:

• Style: These are great casual winter boots with some Western DNA.
• Design: We liked the convenience of side zips.
• Performance: The shearling lining keeps your feet warm and toasty.
• Origin: It’s nice to know they are American-made.

What we dislike:

• Style: The eye-catching style isn’t appropriate for all situations.
• Price: Allen Edmonds isn’t cheap, but they do regularly go on sale.

You might be surprised to learn that the most Western style boot on this list is from Allen Edmonds, a brand better known for making some of America’s favorite dress shoes, like the Park Avenue. “This is a very casual boot with a very casual leather,” Nick says. “I think it will appeal to a lot of guys who haven’t looked at the brand before.”

Allen Edmonds Tompkins Highlights

This aviator style leather is a waxed roughout from CF Stead, widely considered the best suede producer on Earth. “It’s a great example of a casual leather that’s high quality and has tons of character,” Nick explains. “Plus the layer of wax makes it effectively waterproof and brings a ton of patina potential.”

For winter benefits: it’s shearling lined, it’s storm Goodyear welted, and do not underestimate the utility of a side zip winter boot. In winter, more than ever, you’re taking boots off at the door (and wearing them in the first place), and this ability to quickly take them on and off, even when wearing gloves, might convert you to the side zip style.

9. Best Winter Work Boot: JK Boots’ Arctic No. 2 ($700)

What we like:

• Performance: These are great for doing hard work in brutally cold outdoor environments.
• Materials: We like the extra protection of the 10-inch shaft and thick insulation.
• Durability: JK Boots makes old-fashioned, ultra-longlasting footwear; even among PNW brands, they have a reputation for using the thickest and toughest leathers and construction methods.
• Repairability: We love being able to resole our boots time after time.

What we dislike

• Ordering: These will take a few months to get made for you.
• Price: These are $700 boots that are worth it in the long run, but you might not be able to swing it.
• Performance: We don’t actually need a 10-inch boot to brave blizzards; this might be overkill if you don’t.

We’ve reviewed JK Boots before with a one-month test by a sheet welder, and we can attest that this nimble Pacific Northwest brand knows how to make seriously tough footwear.

JK Boots’ Arctic No. 2 Highlights

The Pacific Northwest boot is its own genre: they tend to be made with thicker leather, taller shafts, and more robust construction (like stitchdown instead of Goodyear welt) than any other work boot you’re likely to find. Historically built for lumberjacks, linemen, firefighters, and first responders, these extreme cold boots are made for environments where your footwear’s resilience can make the difference between life and death.

JK makes two winter boots: the Arctic No. 1 “for freezing temperatures,” and the Arctic No. 2 “for sub-zero temperatures.” The difference is in how much insulation you get, and the Arctic No. 2 is packed with neoprene on the lining and the footbed for both insulation and waterproofness. Plus it’s completely rebuildable to last you decades.

10. Best Winter Moc Toe: Russell Moccasin’s Backcountry ($750)

What we like:  

• Durability: We love that they are durable and long-lasting boots. (There are reports of these boots lasting 20+ years).
• Construction: Russl specializes in making boots with traditional moc construction and water resistance of a double vamp.
• Origin: These are handmade in America.

What we dislike:

• Price: These are not cheap boots.
• Style: They are more suitable for the lodge than the office.
• Performance: If you need extra insulation, you’re out of luck. Russell used to offer this as an option but no longer does.

This is pricy, but the Backcountry is a real wild card with some unique properties. It could be argued that the small, 125-year-old Wisconsin outfit of Russell Moccasin is the king of America’s moc toes, and the brand has been seen on the feet of iconic Americans like explorer Earl Shaffer, actor Harrison Ford, and Presidents Eisenhower and Bush Senior.

Russell Moccasin’s Backcountry Highlights

While this boot isn’t insulated, there are two very cool, old fashioned, rare, and dare-I-say artisanal shoemaking methods on display here.

The first is your foot is not in contact with any seams underfoot because they use genuine handsewn moccasin construction. See our look at Rancourt’s mocs to see it being made, but in short: instead of the leather going over your foot and stitched to the sole under it, imagine standing on a piece of leather and having it pulled up over your foot and together atop it. No seams on the sole or side of the foot, see?

“Many people prefer that for comfort because of the lack of seams and the speed with which this build molds to your foot,” Nick said. “I can tell you from experience: there’s no break in with this boot.“

The other element here that’s even more rare is the one that makes them practically waterproof: it’s two boots in one. The Backcountry is made with what they call a double vamp: instead of one piece of leather encircling your foot, you get two!

“You basically get a water repellent leather booty that lines the boot from the ankle down,” Nick explains. “This offers amazing water resistance in addition to great side-to-side support that I experienced myself — and without a synthetic inside.”

11. Best Winter Dress Boot: Crockett & Jones’ Snowdon ($940)

What we like:

• Construction: Crocket & Jones built a resoleable boot that’s practically waterproof, full of tradition, and free from synthetics.
• Pedigree: We like the history and heritage of a British shoemaker with a Royal Warrant.
• Style: It’s great to have a winter Balmoral boot, considered the dressiest of boot styles.
• Culture: We get a kick out of buying boots from James Bond’s shoemakers.

What we don’t like:

• Price: We love paying $940 for a pair of boots.
• Performance: These are not insulated for sub freezing temperatures, but that does make them more versatile.
• Style: The Commando-style sole on the Snowdon isn’t very dressy.

The last and most expensive and fancy winter boot comes from the esteemed British brand Crockett & Jones. This company makes the shoes for James Bond himself.

Crockett & Jones Ross Highlights

You couldn’t call the luggy sole “dressy,” but the Snowdon is a very impressive Balmoral style boot from Britain’s celebrated shoemaker Crockett & Jones. Known as one of the UK’s premier brands in the space — they received a Royal Warrant from His Royal Highness himself — this is the only boot from this company and on this list that’s made with the very rare construction called veldtschoen.

“It’s crafted in a nice oak wax hide with a sturdy commando rubber sole using Veldtschoen construction, which is to say it makes the boot almost 100% waterproof,” said Jonathon Colon, the manager of their NYC store when we visited them. “So it is a great winter boot, something that holds up to all the tough conditions.”

Wrapping Up

This is a list I’ve spent the entire 7+ year lifespan of this website building and tweaking, and I’m confident that there’s a boot for you here — whether you need something for insulated lumberjacking or something to wear to a board meeting in London.

I’ll leave you with one boot care tip: while slush and snow are primary concerns, salt can stain leather boots, and you’re likely to walk through some, so it’s worth keeping a rag and a little container of pre-mixed water and vinegar by your door so you can wipe down your boots when you get home.