The 10 Best Women’s Winter Hiking Boots of 2024

When it comes to winter hiking choosing the correct footwear can make or break your hike. Your feet are usually the first thing in your body to get tired, cold, and fatigued when hiking. So having the proper hiking boots is very important. Below I have listed the ten best women’s winter hiking boots in the market. This list includes tall boots, great grip boots, extremely warm boots, and so much more! After getting through this list, you will hopefully find some awesome boots to keep your toes nice and toasty.

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Comparison Guide

Best Women’s Winter Hiking Boots

Best Womens Winter Hiking Boot: Oboz Bridger 7″ BDry Insulated Winter Hining Boots – Women’s

The OBOZ Bridger 7″ is my pick for the best womens winter hiking boots. This boot doesn’t have many negatives. This boot is warm, has great traction, has great arch support, and it is waterproof. What more can you ask for in a boot?

The Bridger has the comfiest insoles that hugs your foot comfortably and has excellent arch support. If you are looking for comfort, the Bridger wins in that category.

It also is the warmest shoe on this list. The Bridger uses 200g 3M Thinsulate synthetic fibers to keep your toes nice and toasty. It also uses a wool top collar to keep out the cold drafts. Plus, I am going to add that the wool top collar truly makes this boot stylish. Which a huge plus as you can wear this boot out in the town after your hike. I am always about multifunctional equipment!

The only negative is that this boot isn’t as tall as many other boots on this list. If you are hiking through deep snow, this can be a problem. You can quickly solve that problem by adding a gaiter to your bag. Luckily Oboz also added a nifty little gaiter holder to the Bridger to make it easier to attach the gaiter to your boot.

UGG Adirondack III Boots – Women’s

One of the most stylish boots on the list is the UGG Adirondack III Boots. It is so cute, warm, versatile, water-resistant, and has great traction. It insulates with 200 grams of wool so you can wear it during the coldest of days. That wool is also the reason why it is so comfy. The traction is pretty good so you can use this on steep trails but it is still cute enough to wear around town. What I love about these shoes is that I don’t have to buy two different boots for the winter. This can easily be used for walking around the city or hiking a hard trail.

The flaw of this boot is just how expensive it is. At over $200, the price is pretty astronomical but if you can use this boot in many different situations (not just hiking) it might be worth it.

Merrell Thermo Chill Mid Waterproof Boots – Women’s

The Thermo Chill boots are average rated boots that keep your toes nice and warm. If warmth and comfort is important to you and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, then these boots might be for you. Although the traction is not the best, you can always add crampons to fix that problem.

I also think the boots are not very attractive looking. Overall I would only buy these boots if you are looking for a cheaper version of the Oboz Bridger.

The North Face Shellista II Mid Winter Boots – Women’s

The North Face Shellista II is a versatile women’s snow boot that can be used in many situations. The beautiful style of this boot makes it a perfect boot for walking around the town. It is also great if you want to get on an easy short trail. It is extremely warm, comfortable, and easy to slip on and off.

The traction is only ok with this boot, and it doesn’t do well on steep snow. I recommend this boot for flatter easier hikes or for walking around the ski resort. Also, the waterproofing isn’t the best. Water can easily seep into your boot if you aren’t too careful. Overall it is still a fantastic super cute and comfortable boot for your winter adventures.

Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV XTM Omni-Heat – Womens

If you want a boot for long, hard, and difficult hikes, then this boot is for you. The Bugaboot has the absolute best traction on this list, which will help you on hard, icy hikes. It is also waterproof, and you can even use gaiters to improve quality.

Although this boot is excellent on the trails, I don’t recommend it for everyday use around the town. This boot isn’t as comfortable as the other boots on this list, and let’s be honest; it looks a little too aggressive to be wearing to the grocery stores or restaurants. I recommend this boot if you only need a boot for challenging trails.

Best Stylish Winter Boots: Sorel Joan of Arctic Boots – Women’s

The Sorel Joan of Arctic Boot is pretty stylish and warm. It can withstand harsh winter temperatures and it can be submerged in up to 10 inches of water! It is ideal for sloshing around in very deep snow and other wet conditions. I have walked around with this boot, in tall cold water so I can definetly attest to that.

However, the boot is hefty, making it a pain to wear all day. The inside of the boot has a lot of room, making it challenging to keep the right balance and stability when hiking hard trails. I only recommend this boot on straightforward, flat trails. The traction on it isn’t great, so it is probably best to add some crampons if you are hiking on a hill.

But even with all those negatives, this boot remains to be one of the most popular winter boots for women. It’s stylish design and ability to keep the snow out make this boot extremely popular.

Sorel Caribou Winter Boots – Women’s

The Sorel Caribou is similar to the Joan Of Arc as it is big, bulky, and clunky to use. If you want to do technical, hard trails, this is probably not the boot to do it with. Use the Caribou on extremely easy, beginner hiking trails. The support for this boot is just not there and leaves a lot of room for your foot to move around.

The boot is pretty warm though, and you can easily use it outside all day around town. It will keep your toes warm. The materials are also pretty durable and water-resistant. This is a great boot for someone that is constantly working outside in the snow, but I would hesitate to bring it on many trails.

Danner Weatherized Mountain 600 Hiking Boots – Women’s

The Danner Weatherized Mountain 600 is a great boot for difficult snowy hikes. It is waterproof, keeps your feet warm, and has great traction. This boot excels when it comes to great traction. You can easily control your feet on the icy trails. It is also pretty warm and comfortable.

The boot sizing is a little on the small end so I would size up if you want to wear those thick wool socks. The boot is also a bit short so there is a big chance of snow going into your boot if the snow is deep. But overall this is a great weatherproof, high quality winter boot.

Vasque Coldspark UltraDry Winter Hiking Boots – Women’s

The Vasque Coldspark is a durable shoe that can be worn out in the snowy trails or in the city. The traction is good enough for both but it is not great on icy trails. One of the key features is the comfort, due to the boot being very flexible. The problem with this is that the stability of the shoe suffers. Another negative of the flexibility is that you can’t wear microspikes comfortably. Since the boots are extremely flexible you can feel the rubber of the microspikes pressing down on your toes.

Although this shoe is waterproof, it doesn’t mean your feet won’t get wet. The ventilation of the boot is not great, and when your feet start to sweat while hiking, there is nowhere for the sweat to go, so you get stuck with soggy, sweaty feet. I suggest bringing extra socks on the trail.

Oboz Bridger 9″ Insulated BDry Winter Boots – Women’s

I am a huge fan of Oboz hiking shoes and these winter hiking boots are not an exception. This women’s winter boots are warm, have great traction, are waterproof, stylish, and have great support. Out of all the boots on this list, this would be my number two choice. My number one choice is the 7″ Oboz Bridger. I only put this at number two due to the cost because it more expensive than the 7″. But you honestly can not go wrong with either one of these two shoes.

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Important Information On Snow Boots For Women

Warmth and Insulated Hiking Boots

Most winter boots do not have a temperature rating, and even if they did, it is usually inaccurate. Also, keep in mind that everyone’s body is different. Some people might run colder than others, so a boot might be warm for one person but not the other.

My best advice is to try out your new boot in multiple winter conditions. I highly suggest getting the boots from REI as they have an excellent return policy for members.

Insulation Types

Synthetic

Synthetic is what most winter hiking boots use for insulation. The great thing about synthetics is that they still insulate well even when wet, which is always a possibility for your boots when you are hiking in the snow.

Usually, the indicator for synthetics are from 200 grams to 600-gram fill with 600 grams being the warmest.

Felt, Sheepskin and Wool Linings

This type of insulation is also a great choice as it still insulates even when wet as well. Another great feature of this type of boot is that you can usually remove the linings. You can get them nice and warm by the fire before a long hike through the snow.

One of the negatives is that this type of insulation tends to be bulky.

Down Fill

This type of fill is not recommended for winter hiking boots. Down is typically not a good insulation for wet situations. Your boot will probably get wet when hiking in the snow, and you need something that can insulate exceptionally well. I recommend staying clear of down fill boots.

Boot Outsoles

Most winter boots use winterized rubber for grip. The rubber is specially made to not harden at low temperatures compared to the regular summer hiking boots. I still use crampons even though winter hiking boots are made to grip better with snow. Crampons are just more comfortable to walk with (I cover crampons below).

Boot Height

Usually, winter hiking boots come in two different heights, over the ankle or mid-calf. The positive on mid-calf boots is that they help prevent snow from getting in your shoe if you are hiking in really high snow. I also feel like they look super fashionable and cute in your pictures.

But you can always use gaiters(covered below) with the over the ankle shoes to help prevent the snow from getting in your shoes. Also, mid-calf shoes are usually clunkier and have a harder range of motion.

Gaiters

Nothing is more annoying in the world than having cold slushy snow get into your boots while hiking. Trust me, it has happened to me before. I do want to note that my boots are waterproof, but the hole that you put your foot in at the top? Yeah, that area is usually not waterproof. So gaiters are an awesome way to help prevent snow from coming into your nice and dry boots. >Check These Out Here<

Winter Hiking Boot Care

It is always a great idea to keep your boots nice and clean after a hike. The dirt and grime after your hike can help breakdown your new boots slowly. Warm water with soap and a brush is an effortless way to keep the grime away.

You can also get this awesome footwear care kit that comes with footwear water repellant finish, footwear cleaner, footwear brush, and a tube of Leather Conditioner/Waterproofer. >Check It Out Here<

Traction Systems

Even with good winter hiking boots, I still tend to slip and slide on trails. So I do use crampons in addition to my hiking boots. I mainly use them where there is consistent snow because taking your spikes on and off can be a bit annoying. It is not advised to wear the spikes where there is no snow as it will slowly damage the spikes. >Check Out My Crampons>

Socks

Having good socks is crucial to your enjoyment when hiking in the winter. If you are doing pretty easy strolls then I might not worry about good hiking socks.

But if you are doing a regular hike getting the correct type of socks will keep you nice and warm. You won’t be thinking about how cold your toes are, and you won’t be getting horrible blisters.

Wool is probably the best material when it comes to good hiking socks. My favorite hiking socks brand is Smartwool. In the winter, I use these extremely thick warm socks (I tend to run cold). I love these socks. But keep in mind that since they are on the thicker side, they might fit uncomfortably if your hiking boots are a tight fit.

Regular Hiking Boots VS Women’s Snow Boots

I am not going to lie, I use regular hiking boots on some trails in the winter. I get some really warm socks, some crampons and I hit the trails! But if I am going to be out in the snow for a long time and the trail is strenuous, I tend to take my winter hiking boots instead. Winter hiking boots are specifically made to keep your toes warm while regular hiking boots are not.

Final Thoughts On Best Winter Boots Women

Thanks so much for reading this review! I hope this helped you decide on picking out the perfect boot! I have a ton more buying guides for you to look over, so here is a list of some of my favs:

• The Hiking Essentials
• Winter Hiking Gear
• What To Wear Snowshoeing
• The Ultimate Guide To Hiking In Snow

Pin For Later: Best Snow Boots For Women