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When your daily routine requires trudging through sleet and snow, you don’t want to wing it with sub-par footwear. You need the best men’s winter boots to stand up to the elements and prevail. We like a sleek, dressy boot—something you can wear in the winter, but have to be careful with to keep in good shape—as much as the next guy. More than the next guy, probably. Same goes for high-top sneakers, or a trusty pair of chukkas, or anything else that can (kind of) pinch hit for an all-weather shoe in the winter if you live somewhere mild. They’re all good. But there comes a time every winter when these pinch-hitters won’t do. You need to bring out the big guns.
Problem is, most boots with that kind of attitude and all-weather performance cred tend to leave a lot to be desired in the style department. That’s where these boots shine: durability at their core, with good looks as an added bonus. They’re like luxury SUVs for your feet, outfitted with the finest winter tires money can buy. Whether you need a pair for dominating the trails or the boardroom or shoveling your driveway, we’ve got the right all-weather men’s winter boots for you. Here are our 26 favorite pairs for every budget, style, and need.
Looking for even more boot options? Don’t miss our round-ups of the best boots under $200, the best boots on Amazon, the best Chelsea boots, and the best rain boots.
The Best Hip-Hop-Approved Winter Boots
Decades of rap videos might have convinced you that Timberland’s iconic six-inch work boots are a thing best kept box-fresh and pristine, steered clear of the elements altogether. But that’s doing your Timbs a massive disservice. Fact is, those nubuck uppers you’re being so precious about are fully waterproofed, lined with PrimaLoft insulation, and built to combat much more extreme conditions and strenuous environments than you probably ever encounter on a day-to-day basis. Spray ‘em down first if you must, give them a quick wipe every once in awhile, but don’t be afraid to treat them like the true-blue winter boots they are.
The Best Anytime, Anywhere Winter Boots
We’ve sung the praises of Blundstones many, many times before. Here’s a quick recap, though, for the TL;DR crowd: Blunnies are comfier than that memory foam mattress you just bought through a podcast, impervious to wetness and chill, easy to slip on and off, and strangely, implausibly fashionable. If you’ve never owned a pair, this is the year to take the plunge—all the hype will make total sense the moment you slip them on.
The Best Practical Winter Boot
This is basically the Hummer of winter boots. The waterproof nubuck upper extends to your calf, giving you fuller protection for stepping through snowbanks and such, and it’s been sealed at the seams for greater weather resistance. And the duck boot-style rubber on the outer foot ensures that your socks will stay bone dry, no matter how wet and snowy the conditions are, while also giving the boot added grip around the footbed. And here’s the best part: the sherpa lining. It’s not real wool shearling, unfortunately, but Sorel’s synthetic stuff is still exceptionally warm and comfortable, cushioning your ankle as you slog your way through the backwoods, slush-covered city streets, or anywhere in between. And the whole sherpa-lined inner is removable and washable, so you can toss it in the washing machine once every couple weeks to keep it fresh throughout the season.
The Best Winter Hybrid Boot
If you still aren’t sure about duck boots, Diemme will change your mind with this slick hybrid. The Balbi has Chelsea-boot-like elasticated side panels and lush textured suede up top, with impenetrable, element-conquering rubber encasing the full length of your foot below. It’s kind of like a centaur for your feet, only there’s nothing mythical about it—aside from how Greek-godly the fits you’ll get off will be.
The Best Pamper-Yourself Boot
They’re comfy, they’re warm, they’re what you deserve after surviving the last couple years. Like Crocs and Birkenstocks before them, Ugg boots have gone through a gauntlet of lazy jokes and emerged on the other side as a certified classiqué. And before you protest that Uggs only look right on soccer moms, we’d remind you of their original purpose—keeping the toes of Australian big-wave surfers toasty on frigid early mornings—and also point you to these excellent shots of two opposite-spectrum style kings, Shia LaBeouf and Tom Brady, pulling them off with aplomb. They look cool, trust us. And even if they didn’t, it wouldn’t matter, because slipping on these shearling-lined, heat-regulating icons is the ultimate act of self-care. If you’ve never experienced the sheer physical pleasure of a day in Uggs, it’s time for that to change.
The Best Dressy Winter Boots
With a storied history that stretches back over 150 years, John Lobb ranks among the most legendary shoemakers on the planet. These handsome waxed boots were originally designed for skiing in the 1940s, and while we wouldn’t recommend hitting the slopes in them today, they’re more than sturdy enough for a dressy night out in January. The silhouette is refined enough to pair with a flannel suit, while the heavy lug soles will keep your cuffs free of any slush or salt stains.
