Best Boots For Snowshoeing: 9 Cozy Boots for Winter Wandering

Choosing the “best in class” of any product is always a tricky business. Different people and different conditions, after all, always call for different attributes and qualities in your outdoor gear. We chose the Keen Revel IV (click here for women’s version) as our top pick, therefore, because we believe they’ll be the best snowshoeing boots for most people.

And how did we come to that conclusion? Well, simply put the Revel IV tick all the boxes. They’re relatively lightweight, warm enough for frigid climates, waterproof, agile, supportive, and fairly priced. Importantly, we also found these the most comfortable of the bunch after several hours of traipsing on the trails.

The Revel IV Polar uses 400g of KEEN.WARM recycled insulation and are comfort rated to -40°F/-40°C by the brand. While we believe this rating might be a bit of a stretch (and will vary from person to person), we found them to be among the warmest options on our list, after the Baffin Impact.

The Revel IV also have a KEEN.DRY waterproof-breathable membrane to complement the all-leather uppers and a PFC-free DWR coating, so they’re standout performers in slushy snow or otherwise wet conditions.

These aren’t the most lightweight boots on our list, granted, but they’re a great pick if protection and warmth are higher on your list of priorities.

The Oboz Bridger (click here for 7” women’s version) are perhaps the most versatile boots on our list. In addition to being a great snowshoeing boot, they’re stylish and agile enough to wear around town or as winter boots on regular hikes in the cold season.

The upper material of the Bridger is made from a classy-looking nubuck leather, 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation, and an Oboz B-DRY waterproof/breathable membrane sandwiched in between. This combo makes them waterproof, supportive, and warm enough for temps of 15-35 °F. There’s also a burly rubber toe cap to protect your tootsies against the binding mechanism of your snowshoes.

Underfoot, things are equally impressive. A single-density EVA midsole provides a cushy feel and plenty of arch support, while the OFit Thermal wool-topped insoles insulate the bottom of your feet. The Granite Peak outsole, meanwhile, is made with special winterized rubber that is infused with silica to improve your grip on icy surfaces (ideal for the approach!).

If you tend to do your snowshoeing in extremely cold weather, the Baffin Impact (click here for women’s version) is the best boot in the biz.

The Baffin Impact are comfort-rated down to -148°F, making them the warmest boot on our list by a long way. Given the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -128.6°F, these should have you covered for all eventualities unless you’re planning a spot of space travel.

Warmth aside, the Impact has a shedload going for them. The upper and outer boot reaches about ¾ of the way up the shin, providing added insulation for your lower legs. This part of the boot is made with a combo of ripstop nylon and leather, too, so it’s tough as nails.

The Baffin also has nice, springy EVA midsoles and nylon shanks that support the arches and help to prevent foot fatigue, and an aggressive outsole that will keep you upright when slogging over ice and slush before and after putting on your snowshoes.

And the downsides? Well, with all that insulation, the Baffin are sure to be overkill for some, and their 7.42 lbs. weight means they’ll give your legs a serious workout.

If you plan on racing or simply tend to move fast when snowshoeing, the Basque Breeze (click here for women’s version) are an excellent pick.

The Breeze are blessed with 200g of Thinsulate insulation, so are warm enough to keep your feet toasty in temps down to around -20°F. However, courtesy of a waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex membrane and air-mesh panels in the uppers they breathe better than any other boot on our list.

The Breeze WT’s lightweight insulation and ventilation also make them highly versatile. When you’re not wearing them on snowshoeing trips, they’ll serve you well on cold winter hikes or days around town.

The Vibram® Contact Grip Megagrip outsoles also mean the Breeze provides plenty of traction and grip in sketchy underfoot conditions, while the all-terrain EVA midsoles provide plenty of cushioning and the more rigid PU shanks provide more support and underfoot protection when moving in rougher terrain.

If you’re an occasional snowshoer looking for an affordable boot that can moonlight as a winter hiking boot, the Columbia Bugaboot III (click here for women’s version) is a great option. This isn’t the warmest, tallest, or toughest boot on our list, but its versatility, combined with its all-around, high-quality construction, makes it an absolute steal.

This is one of the only boots on our list that doesn’t have a waterproofed membrane, but the all-leather uppers and injection-molded shell provide robust enough waterproofing for excursions in all but extremely soggy snow.

The Bugaboot III use 200g of synthetic, Omni Heat insulation and we reckon they’d be good in temps down to around -25°F if moving slow, and a little lower if you run warm or tend to move fast. They also have a cushy Techlite midsole and a beefy rubber outsole that provides great traction.

At 24.5 oz per pair (size 9), the Bugaboot is also one of the lightest insulated boots on our list.

If you’re looking for a good winter boot that won’t break the bank, it’s hard to go wrong with the Merrell Thermo Chill Mid.

The Thermo Chill boasts enough insulation to ensure your feet stay warm in very cold conditions but weigh a mere 2 lbs. 4 oz. per pair (men’s size 9). A waterproof-breathable membrane ensures wet feet won’t be a problem, with a beefy EVA midsole, contoured insole, and lightweight synthetic upper making them feel more like trail runners than a winter boot.

The grippy snowshoe-compatible outsole on the Thermo Chill is also great for approaches or days around town in the cold season.

We found the Thermo Chill to be a little less supportive than some of the other boots on our list, and have doubts over the synthetic upper’s long-term durability. However, given their modest price tag, a few (potential) shortcomings are to be expected.

We’ve been big fans of the Greta Chelsea from Keen for as long as they’ve been on the market.

At first glance, these waterproof boots look more like a burly summer hiking boot or even something you’d wear on a night on the town (depending, of course, on the town in question!). On closer inspection, however, and after a few trial runs on the trails, they’re way more technical, trail-ready, and snowshoe-appropriate than first impressions suggest.

At 2 pounds per pair, these are among the lightest boots on our list – surprising, given that they’re packing a waterproofed membrane, tough leather uppers, a dual-density midsole, and 200g of KEEN.warm insulation.

The thing that first made us unsure about the Greta was their slip-on style. For snowshoeing, after all, don’t you need lacing to ensure the boot doesn’t get pulled off your foot by the weight of the snowshoe? The Greta prove not! We took them for a spin in damp snow, hard-packed, and then fresh snow, on each occasion the elastic ankle gores provided a very secure fit.

Interested in the men’s version? Check out the Keen Anchorage III.

If you’ve ever wandered the streets of cities and towns as diverse as Denver, NYC, Vancouver, Sante Fe, or Moab in winter, the chances are you’ve clocked the Chilkat 400 (click here for men’s version) on many a passersby’s feet. These are, without doubt, one of the most popular winter boots out there.

But are they any good for snowshoeing? The response from our testers was a resounding ‘yes.’

The Chilkat 400’s main selling point is their plush insulation – 400g PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco, which is not only toasty warm but feels crazily comfortable against your feet. The Chilkat are comfort rated to -40°F, so areideal for extremely cold conditions.

The Chilkat doesn’t have a waterproofed membrane but does have waterproof nubuck uppers and a huge, impermeable rubber rand. Their 7.5-inch height also means it’s unlikely that any snow will sneak in at the cuff, even if you’re hiking in deep snow and don’t wear gaiters.

Looking for low-cost winter boots that make very few compromises in the important metrics? If so, pencil in the Columbia Ice Maiden II on your shortlist.

The Ice Maiden pack 200g of cozy insulation and are comfort rated to -25°F. They have a waterproof membrane and are tall enough to keep your feet dry even if hiking or snowshoeing in deep powder. While not as warm as the Chilkat 400, they weigh around 10 oz. less, so are a great pick if you’re prone to leg fatigue or simply don’t expect near-Arctic temperatures.

In terms of comfort, the Ice Maiden II are up there with the best of them. They have a lightweight but super-springy midsole, and that fluff insulation feels great even after hours on the trails.