Which Winter Boots 2025
Still deciding which winter boots to try? We have more options this year than ever before, so we wanted to break them down for you to compare.
We took a look at all of our winter boot options with the following in mind:
- Are they warm and insulated? Or unlined for use in multiple seasons?
- What is their water protection like?
- What is special about this model?
- What environments are they suited for based on the outsole tread?
- Are they zero drop?
- If we're sold out of your size, will they be restocked?
Remember, we prioritise restocking sizes and colours that have been requested via "Notify me when available" on the product page. Don't leave it up to chance!
Personalise Your Research
People have different priorities when it comes to winter footwear. You might not find a boot that does everything, but you will probably find a few options that meet your top priorities.
The considerations we hear most frequently for winter are:
Water Protection
Do you want something that can blast through slushy puddles downtown stress-free, or would you stay warmer in a breathable boot that has some water-resistance, but lets moisture escape? Very cold climates tend to do fine with water resistant options whereas places that fluctuate between below and above freezing may prefer a fully waterproof option.
Insulation and Warmth
People run hot or cold, and are looking to do different amounts of activity in their winter wear. It’s generally warmer if you have insulation, lining, thermal insoles, a roomy fit, and you’re off the ground a little with a higher stack height. But let’s say you run hot and you are mostly using your winter boots indoor and outdoors, in that case you may want something to keep the windchill off, but without added warmth retaining features.
Grip and Traction
What kind of tread is on the outsole of your winter boots? Is it focused on maximising surface area contact with a grippy rubber material for grip on hard flat surfaces? Or is it focused on digging in with spiky lugs into soft terrain like snowy, muddy toboggan hills? Most boots we carry offer a little of both but some lean more one way or the other.
Traction on Ice
Important note: none of the boots we carry are ice-proof, you could slip and fall. Navigating ice can be done by changing your gait, but if it’s very icy where you are or you’re at higher risk of falling injury, we recommend attaching ice grips to the bottom of your shoes. These are readily available online and at sporting good stores or everything stores.
General Style, Fit and Feel
These factors, in combination with your overall barefoot shoe preferences (how much cushioning do you like, what kind of fit do you look for?) will help you decide what’s most important when reading about the different models below.
How to Use This Blog Post
Use this list as a jumping off point: pick out a model or two that look interesting based on your unique priorities, and then use the links to go to their product page and read about them in further detail.
We have a lot of info on our product pages about every model: the features, sizing and fit, whether they’re good for beginners and what their groundfeel is like, how to care for them, and their best uses. It’s like having access to our expertise from the comfort of your home!
Jump to...
Lems
Lems will be the best choice if you want a little bit more cushioning and support in your winter boot, as their boots have a stack height around 2cm. Lems boots tend to fit triangle footprint shapes best, so they’re great if you have a wide forefoot that tapers to a narrower heel.
They're Lems's most winter-ready model to date! Brand new this season.
- Insulated for the cold
- Completely waterproof
- Durable materials and construction
- All terrain tread
- Optional insole has a 3.5mm drop, otherwise zero drop
-
Not currently restocking, current stock only (Lems is sold out)
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Completely waterproof
- Stylish moc-toe design and slightly narrower fit
- Anti-slip sole for the city
- Optional insole has a 3.5mm drop, otherwise zero drop
- Not currently restocking, current stock only
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Completely waterproof
- A year-round best-seller with a nice roomy toebox
- All terrain tread
- Optional insole has a 3.5mm drop, otherwise zero drop
-
Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size, some sizes sold out at Lems
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Completely waterproof
- Nature-inspired colour palettes with a mix of materials for a sneaker look
- All terrain tread
- Optional insole has a 3.5mm drop, otherwise zero drop
- Not currently restocking, current stock only
Xero
Xero Shoes have a rectangular shape, so they work best for people who have average to wide feet from front to back. Widths vary by model, but overall they’re great for affordable zero drop shoes that accommodate average to high volume feet well.
Alpine men's and Alpine women's
-
Insulated for the cold
- Completely waterproof (2025 production run was updated so the waterproofing will last even longer!)
- A best-seller every year, they're vegan and one of the highest volume models we carry!
- All terrain tread
- Zero drop
-
Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Scrambler Trail Series
- Low men's and Low women's
- Mid men's and Mid women's
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Completely waterproof
- Wider toebox than previous Scrambler series, vegan waterproof hiking boot alternative
- All terrain tread
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts are available for some models, Xero is low in stock on others
Ridgeway Chelsea men's and Ridgeway Chelsea women's
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Leather offers some natural water resistance and can be sprayed with waterproofing
- A high volume Chelsea boot with a deeper tread, the most similar design we carry to conventional masculine Chelseas like Blundstones. Easy slip on/off for leaving at the office.
- All terrain tread
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts are available for men's sizes only
Pagosa Fireside men's slipper and women's slipper
- Honourable mention: cozy slippers!
-
Insulated for the cold
- Not water resistant
- Grippy sole for good walking mechanics indoors, and quick chores in the yard like picking up the mail. Not for everyday street wear though.
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Belenka & Barebarics
Be Lenka has a triangular footprint shape like Lems, but they’re lower volume and feel more barefoot. Their sister brand Barebarics offers a firmer sole with a supportive insole.
- Fuzzy lining for the cold
- Completely waterproof
- Classic lace-up leather boot style with more groundfeel and mobility than most winter boots
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
- Fuzzy lining for the cold
- Water resistant
- Stylish retro chic with more groundfeel and mobility than most winter boots
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero drop
- Not currently restocking, current stock only
- Insulated for the cold
- Fully Waterproof
- Sneaker style winter boot alternative, firmer and more supportive feel
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
- Insulated for the cold
- Fully Waterproof
- Zipper style winter boot for easy on/off, firmer and more supportive feel
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
- Thin fuzzy lining, versatile for year-round use
- Leather offers some natural water resistance and can be sprayed with waterproofing
- Soft and flexible unisex Chelsea boot with medium volume. Easy slip on/off for leaving at the office.
-
Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Shapen
Shapen is new to winter footwear, but they started off strong with the Stormis. The quality and attention to detail is stunning and we’re loving these boots. Worth every penny if you want a soft, flexible, wide, waterproof boot. Slipper-like feel with grip for city sidewalks in winter.
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Fully Waterproof
- High ground feel and a roomy barefoot fit with a grippy, flexible sole
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero Drop
- Not currently restocking, current stock only
Vivobarefoot
Vivobarefoot has a big difference in fit style between men’s and women’s sizes: men’s sizes fit average to wide feet and average to high volume, but women’s styles fit average to narrow and average to low volume best. If you want to be as close to barefoot as possible this winter, try them out!
Coming Soon: Tracker Winter III SG (new version)
- Insulated for the cold
- Fully Waterproof
- Best for high groundfeel in natural terrains like muddy trails
- Soft Ground outsole has long spiky lugs for mud, slush, snow, and grass.
- Zero drop
- ETA Early 2026
Gobi Hiber in men's sizing or women's sizing
- Insulated for the cold
- Water resistant
- Elastic laces for easy on-off, and cool puffer jacket look for mild or dry winter days
- Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero Drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Explorer Mid JJF in men's sizing or women's sizing
- Insulated for the cold
- Water resistant
- Easy on-off Chelsea style with a futuristic style, puffy neoprene-like uppers
- All terrain outsole design a mix of lugs, contact surface area with grippy material, and water channels- good on hard and soft terrain
- Zero Drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Primus Trail III FG AW in men's sizing or women's sizing
- Not insulated, versatile for year-round use
- Water resistant
- The trail runner out outdoor winter runners love
- Firm Ground Outsole doesn't wear down quickly on paved surfaces, provides a little traction
- Zero Drop
- Restock alerts can currently be placed if we're out of your size
Magical Shoes
We only carry one adults' cold weather option from Magical Shoes, the Alaskan! It fits narrow rectangular feet best, with average to low volume.
-
Fuzzy lining for the cold
- Leather naturally has light water resistance
- Perhaps the thinnest soled option, so if getting as close to bare feet is your goal you would like these! However they are not as warm since you can feel the cold ground.
-
Outsole best for casual use in city conditions
- Zero Drop
-
Not currently restocking, current stock only
For Kids
- Be Lenka Ailo Preschool and Ailo Kids
- Winter boot for outdoor play
- New this season, they are warm and waterproof! Sizes available from EU20-34, in three fun colours.
- Be Lenka Snowfox Kids 2
- Winter boot for outdoor play
- Warm and water resistant, sizes EU26-31
- Magical Shoes ZiuZiu 2
- Wool lined bootie
- So cozy! Currently in clearance so only a few sizes are left.
Accessories
These are the accessories we can barely keep in stock this season!
- Alpaca Time Insoles: adjust the volume of your shoes or switch out regular insoles for these cozy ones.
- Alpaca Time socks: so very warm and soft. Available in medium and thick weights.
- Polarfeet Tabi socks: easy to take care of and polar fleece warm for cozy vegans. Plus, tabi style is easy on your big toe.
- Injinji Outdoor five toe socks: for winter sports and trails, trust the best.
- Warm 5 toe generic socks: for everyday wear, affordable comfort that works with correct toes
- Correct Toes Stabletoe: can’t fit your original correct toes in your winter boot? Try a stable toe to help your big toe this season.
- Correct Toes Sport is also new for us! This is the option you'll want to go with for use while running and playing sports; they're made from a softer material than the original.