The 25 best pairs of winter boots for men

The North Face Chilkat V is a serious winter boot that features waterproof leather and molded rubber uppers, ample insulation that's also eco-friendly, and temperature-sensitive rubber lugs for increased traction in icy conditions. Then there's the EVA midsole and molded footbed for a comfortable ride. And above and beyond all that, they're attractive enough for tromping through city streets and are hike-ready and snowshoe compatible for weekends in the country.

L.L.Bean has been crafting winter boots for more than 100 years — it was the first product when the brand launched in 1912 — and today it still makes the Bean Boot in Maine. This 10-inch shearling-lined duck boot incorporates waterproof leather uppers that are triple-stitched, with a steel shank and a rubber chain-tread bottom to keep you stable. Inside, a natural shearling lining and PrimaLoft insulation keep your feet warm down to 25°F for light outdoor activity and -20°F for moderate activity.

The Blundstone Thermal Boot is just like your favorite Blundstone Chelsea — premium waterproof leather uppers, patented comfort system for all-day wear, and durable TPU outsoles to keep you surefooted — plus these Blunnies are winterized. They have plush, removable shearling footbeds and Thinsulate insulation to keep your feet warm when the temperature drops.

If you're looking to splurge on winter boots, you couldn't do any better than the Fracap M120 Alto Brill Boots. Sure, they're alluring because of their full-grain Italian calf leather uppers, fur collars, and hand-milled outsoles. But they're also handmade in Italy by a small family-run business that's been around since 1908 and will ship your boots internationally for free. With D-ring eyelets, leather laces, and jagged treaded outsoles, they feature all the key elements of a classic hiker boot. These are works of art that double as winter boots.

The Timberland Waterproof Boots are iconic not just for their unmistakable style but because they can actually stand up to the elements. They have sustainably produced waterproof leather uppers that are seam-sealed to prevent moisture from seeping in, 400 grams of PrimaLoft ECO insulation inside to keep out the chill, and thick rubber lugged outsoles to keep you from slipping on the icy pavement. There's a good amount of padding on the collar around the ankle and a leather-lined footbed for comfort. Then there are the unique colorways available, but the basic black is also a real standout.

UGG was born in the late 1970s when an Australian surfer living in California designed a sheepskin bootie to keep his feet warm when not hitting the waves. UGG soon turned into a global phenomenon. Today, the brand offers tons of footwear options for every season and activity. The UGG Butte is a great all-around winter boot but does especially well in keeping your feet warm and comfortable.

The full-grain leather upper is waterproof and has a fluffy sherpa lining at the cuff and is lined with an upcycled wool textile on the inside. It's rated for -25.6˚F (-32˚C). Besides being very warm, the Butte also gets a high rating for comfort with an EVA footbed and midsole, like a sneaker, but with a sturdy Vibram outsole that's designed to stay flexible in freezing temperatures.

Canada Goose is best known for its high-end winter coats and parkas, so it's no surprise the brand is now tapping into the footwear industry.

Designed to be rugged enough for the alps yet stylish enough for the street, the boot features a leather upper with a larger rubberized gaiter running around the perimeter, thick and durable outsoles that keep you elevated and provide traction in the elements, and an easy-to-tie D-ring lacing system.

According to the Canada Goose Thermal Experience Index Rating, they're capable of keeping you warm in temps as low as -15 degrees Celsius or 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

You may know the Original Muck Boot Company for its rain boots, but the brand also makes wonderful winter boots. The Arctic Pro has a thick waterproof neoprene upper and comes nearly to the knee to protect you from the snow. Its soft fleece lining protects you from the cold, and a rugged molded outsole helps keep you from falling down. And the pull-on style means they're easy to get in and out of.

Kamik is a family-owned Canadian company with a history going back to the turn of the 20th century. The Forester Insulated Boot is made of waterproof synthetic rubber and includes a removable thermal liner. It hits about mid-calf so it's high enough to keep deep snow out, and has a nylon collar to further prevent snow from getting in. It's rated to -40°F, manufactured in Canada, and will cost you less than $60.

What if a sneaker boot met the hard-wearing performance of a traditional duck boot? That's the question posed by All-Weather and Huckberry, with durable, dependable, and surprisingly stylish results. The Vibram outsole delivers standout traction on all sorts of slippery terrain, while a shock-absorbing midsole provides a cushioned ride underfoot, unlike other old-school duck boots. Plus, the upper is an eye-catching mix of waterproof nubuck and full-grain leather, plus an instantly recognizable "duck bill" front design.

Keen is better known for shoes you wear in the summer, but its winter boots are also impressive. The San Jose 6" Waterproof Boots are, as their name indicates, waterproof. They feature a proprietary membrane that keeps snow and rain out and lets vapor out, so you're feet stay dry. These best-sellers are also light, but durable, and look ruggedly handsome when paired with your favorite jeans and a thick winter sweater.

Idrese is a luxury direct-to-consumer shoe company that lets you create your perfect sneakers, dress shoes, or boots using top-of-the-line Italian leather and other fine materials. You can pretty quickly build your perfect boot using the easy online 3D modeling tool, or you can spend a lot of time tweaking every detail. They also offer a vast range of sizing (5 to 17 US) and widths (D to EEE) so if you have hard-to-fit feet, Idrese has you covered.

If you're designing winter boots, you can choose heavy-duty Commando or Dainite soles and storm welts to help keep moisture out. Once you've designed your new boots, the company crafts them at its workshop in Almansa, Spain. After the boots go through more than 150 steps in the hands of skilled artisans, your new boots will arrive at your door via DHL about a month later. Idrese offers free worldwide shipping.

I designed a pair of Jodphurs last summer that I absolutely love and fit my feet perfectly. The quality of the materials, especially the leather, and the craftsmanship of the boots, are impeccable. If designing your own boots isn't your thing, Idrese also offers a collection of different footwear, including the Magellan, which makes a fine winter boot since it's waterproof, has storm welting, and Dainite lugged soles. This classic moc toe boot easily does double duty as office wear.

Bruce R. Katz, the co-founder of Rockport, launched Samuel Hubbard in 2013 and, like his earlier company, Katz's young brand does a brilliant job of combining comfort with utility. Their Winter Day boots feel like you're wearing super cozy slippers that can brave rough winter weather. I've worn them on several long winter walks when it was in the teens and my feet stayed warm and dry.

The Winter's Day boots are designed in California and crafted in Portugal. On the inside, they feature a ton of nice touches designed with comfort in mind, including a super soft shearling lining, a waterproof membrane, and the company's own "comfort system" that uses a triple-density insole with arch support. Besides being incredibly comfortable, these boots are also really light, especially for winter boots. On the outside, the upper is made from premium full-grain leather and the outsole is specifically designed to keep you from slipping in icy conditions.

Because they are chukka-style ankle boots, you're probably not going to want to plow through snow drifts with these, but for getting around town or hiking on a groomed path they're absolutely unbeatable for keeping your feet warm.

The American heritage brand Danner began making boots for Oregon loggers back in 1932 and, as you'd expect, its footwear is built for the outdoors and harsh weather. It is also stunningly handsome. The Hood Winter Light Boot is a style Danner recently brought back just in time for colder weather. It's got a full-grain leather upper, a breathable waterproof Gore-Tex liner to keep out the rain and snow, 200 grams of Thinsulate to keep out the cold, and a Vibram Kletterlift outsole with tons of traction. And, it's made in the U.S. Don't let their good looks fool you, they can take whatever nasty weather you need to get through.

Wolverine is known for its hard-wearing work boots and its winter boots are no exception. The Yak Insulated Boot is like a duck boot on steroids — waterproof, breathable, nicely insulated and cushioned in all the right places. The uppers have full-grain waterproof leather, there are 200 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation on the inside, and they have thick rubber outsoles for gripping the winter ground.

Lacing up your winter boots can sometimes prove a chore if you're already quite bundled up for seasonal outdoor pursuits. Make things a little easier (while staying stylish) with these rugged pull-on winter boots. The gold-rated tannery leather is waterproof, sustainable thermal insulation adds an eco-friendly touch, and these boots are suitable for wearing in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes them a winning pair of winter boots in our book.

Wolverine's 1000 Mile line of boots are all incredibly well-constructed American-made boots from a heritage brand with a nearly 140-year history. The 1000 Mile boots have a dedicated following. And for good reason. They're the antithesis of fast fashion and are made to last for years. And when we say American-made, we mean it. The 1000 Mile Plain-Toe Rugged Boot is constructed in the US using premium leather from the storied Horween Leather Company in Chicago; even the flat waxed cotton laces are from the US, South Carolina, to be exact.

This boot is based on the brand's 1914 style and features thick leather with a rich shine and a heavy-duty Vibram sole to get you through the slush and snow and into work. While they're billed as work boots, their classic looks easily pair with many office-appropriate looks. If you live in an area with temperate winters, Wolverine's 1000 Mile Plain-Toe Cassic Boot is a great option or splurge on the gorgeous 1000 Mile x Rawlings Gold Glove Award Cap-Toe Original Boot.

Milwaukee Boot Company is a young brand from the same company behind Moral Code, another great footwear brand that uses sustainable practices. And like Moral Code, MBC is direct to consumer, which means you get more boot for your buck. The Farwell II Plain Toe boot is handsome enough to pair with work attire, but rugged enough to handle any dirty city snow drifts barring your way thanks to its chunky outsoles. These boots are lined in leather, have leather-padded cushioned footbeds, are Goodyear welted so they can be re-soled down the line, and come in at under $200 with five colorways/materials to choose from.

Nisolo's All-Weather Andres Boot combines elegance and toughness for a boot that works as well in the office as it does on a winter hike through the woods. These beauties are Nisolo's version of a traditional trench boot and are handcrafted in Peru using sustainably produced water-resistant leather for the uppers in a factory that pays its workers a living wage. The gusseted tongue keeps out moisture and the shock-absorbing studded rubber outsoles will keep you surefooted when it's slippery out.

Your winter boots can actually be as minimal and streamlined as you'd like, provided they hit the rest of the necessary specs in fine fashion. And these handsome Taylor Stitch Moto Boots deliver, with weatherproof nubuck in a sharp black colorway for weather-ready performance. Goodyear welt construction doubles down on durability, and the Vibram outsole provides ride-ready traction. Plus, they're reinforced with triple-needle stitching at stress points, preventing any blowouts or missteps.

If you're looking for some winter hikers, Merrell has been making exceptional hiking boots for 40 years, and the Thermo Snowdrift Zip Mid Shell Waterproof Boot is great in icy conditions. They feature a rubberized sticky outsole to keep you sure-footed in slipper conditions and an air-cushioned heel that also helps with stability. According to shoppers, these boots are light, extra warm, comfortable, durable, completely waterproof, and have great traction. These boots are also really easy to get in and out of thanks to a side zip.

Palladium has amped up its lightweight canvas boots and sneaker boots in recent years to meet the demands of multiple seasons. Although best known for making boots for the French Foreign Legion, Palladium's Waterproof Hiker is decidedly futuristic and ready for 21st-century street style (and snowy weather). Waterproof organic canvas on the exterior pairs nicely with a Merino wool sock liner and an overbuilt rubberized rand. The Palladium ankle logo is also a classic touch favored by the brand.

Sorel is a Canadian company that's been making winter boots for 60 years. The brand's Caribou Pac Boots brings all the company's skills to bear with a winter boot that's both attractive and build to handle nasty weather. They make the upper from a waterproof nubuck that has a fluffy sherpa snow cuff. The boot is seam-sealed for a solid waterproof protection, has an insulated removable felt lining, and a thick rubber outsole to keep your feet happy and steady when you're tromping around in the snow. These boots run big, so if you don't want to wear thick socks you should consider going down a half-size.

As mentioned above, Kamik is a Canadian company so they've had plenty of experience with the white stuff. If you need a boot to get you through deep snow, the Nation Plus will get the job done. It's seam-sealed to keep moisture out, has a waterproof gusseted tongue so the snow won't sneak in, and measures 10-inches from the arch so they're tall enough to prevent anything coming in through the top. Plus, these boots feature a removable insulated liner to keep your feet warm for as low as -40°F and a moisture wicking lining to keep them dry. Finally, the thick outsoles are made to self-clean as you move so snow won't clog the treads.

Street style meets winter functionality in the Columbia Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot. The boot holds a surprising amount of functional elements in its sleek design that are all there to help keep your feet warm and comfortable. The Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot includes 200 grams of insulation plus the company's patented heat reflection system that helps retain heat while allowing moisture to dissipate. Then there's the lightweight midsole with plenty of cushioning for all-day comfort.

Do you need boots for outdoor winter activities like shoveling or sledding?

Whether you're doing winter-weather drudgery like shoveling, or enjoying fun outdoor activities, like sledding, you know you need a boot that won't allow snow to slip in and freeze your feet. We suggest the Sorel Caribou Pac Boots or Wolverine Yak Insulated Boot. If you get cold quickly, try the L.L.Bean 10-inch Shearling-Lined Bean Boots. And If the snow is deep, go with the Muck Boots Men's Arctic Pro.

Are you planning on hiking?

Winter hiking is a great way to get out of the couch and actually enjoy the season. The Timberland World Hiker Mid is an overall great winter hiker. Are the conditions icy? If so, we recommend Merrell Men's Thermo Snowdrift Zip Mid Shell or The North Face Chilkat V. If the snow is fairly deep, try the Danner Hood Winter Light Boot.

Do you live in an area that gets a lot of snow?

If you do, you know the drill, but if you're looking for boots that can handle deep snow, the Kamik Men's Forester Insulated Boot or Columbia Hyper-Boreal Omni-Heat Tall Boot will do the job.

Are you looking for a boot where comfort is the top priority?

While all our picks are comfortable, the two that top the list are Samuel Hubbard's Winter's Day boot and the Blundstone Thermal Boot.