In the past, using snowshoes in the winter was simply a way of life for anyone who needed to travel during the winter. Snowshoeing has become a popular activity for recreation in recent years.
People like to be able to get out and hike in the snow without worrying about actually being waist-deep in the snow as they walk. Many also use them for hunting after it has snowed, because it makes it so much easier to traverse the area. You might be using the snowshoes for having fun and hiking during the winter. Maybe you are a hunter, or you need them where you live.
Regardless, you need to be sure you are getting the right boots that will work with your snowshoes. There are many different types of boots available on the market today, but that does not mean that all of them will be a good solution for those who are looking for a boot to use with their snowshoes. Because there is a glut of boots available, it can be difficult to know which ones to consider choosing. We’ve made things easier by collecting the 15 best boots for snowshoeing below.
Best Boots for Snowshoeing - Our Top Picks
Columbia Women’s Ice Maiden II Insulated Snow Boot
The women’s Ice Maiden II features leather and textile with a rubber sole, which provides excellent traction to ensure movement without slipping. The heel of the boot measures approximately 1”, and the shaft is 9” from the arch. The boot has a Techlite lightweight midsole, which helps to provide more cushioning and comfort.
The boots are insulated and will help to keep you warm even in freezing weather, making them an excellent choice for boots for snowshoeing. The boot is lightweight and waterproof, and it has a lace-up closure to ensure a secure fit. They are durable, comfortable, and could be an excellent choice for those who need a quality snow boot. Since you can find these in many different colors, it will also be easy to find a selection that will work well for your aesthetic sensibilities.
KEEN Women’s Revel III Cold Weather Hiking Boot
Available in two different color schemes, the Revel III from KEEN offers a snow boot that is as stylish as it is comfortable. The boot is made from leather and synthetic materials, and it features a rubber sole. The shaft of the boot is approximately 5” from the arch, while the heel height is 1.5”. The boots are also waterproof, so they can keep you warm and dry when you are out in inclement weather conditions. They have high-quality laces along with speed hook eyelets and a diamond-quilted collar.
The midsole is compression-molded EVA, which can provide shock absorption, as well as padding. This translates to comfort that can last all day, which is highly important when you are out and snowshoeing. The boots are durable and rugged enough to stand up to the environments that you plan to visit.
Columbia Women’s Bugaboot LII Mid-Calf Boot
The Bugaboot LII is a mid-calf boot option that is made from leather and synthetic materials. It features a rubber sole that helps to reduce slipping on the snow and ice. This is due to the use of the Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber. The heel for this boot measures approximately 2”, while the shaft measures about 7” from the arch.
As with the previous option from Columbia, this boot has a Techlite lightweight midsole, which provides a high energy return, as well as excellent cushioning and comfort. The boot has a waterproof leather upper and waterproof seam-sealed construction. The boots provide plenty of insulation, and they will help to keep your feet warm and dry even when the temperatures start to drop below freezing. You can choose from three different color selections with this pair of boots.
XPETI Women’s Thermator Mid High-Top Waterproof Hiking Outdoor Boot
The Thermator boots are made from fabric and synthetic materials, and they also feature a high-quality rubber sole. The shaft of these boots measures approximately 8” from the arch. These hiking boots have a molding rubber toe cap, as well as molding TPU at the heel. This provides comfort and protection while you are out hiking or snowshoeing. Thanks to the insulation, these boots will be able to withstand frigid temperatures and will continue to keep your feet warm.
The traction grip on these shoes is an excellent choice for those who are hiking on regular terrain, rough terrain, and on the snow. They work very well as boots for snowshoeing. They have a moisture-wicking mesh lining, which also helps to keep the feet dry on those long days.
Columbia Women’s Minx Shorty Omni-Heat Snow Boot
Columbia made the list again with the Minx Shorty boots. These are leather and textile boots with a synthetic sole. The platform is about .05”, while the shaft measures approximately 6.25” from the arch. The outsole is made from Omni-Grip non-marking traction rubber to provide you with quality traction when you are walking across various surfaces. The boot has a removable insole and an adjustable circumference.
The boot is waterproof and breathable, and it will work well to keep your feet warm, protected, and dry. The boots are stylish, and they can work just as well as boots for snowshoeing as they can for walking around town or resting at a ski lodge.
Sorel Women’s Snow Angel Lace Boot
The Snow Angel from Sorel has a leather exterior, as well as a liner and trim made from synthetic fleece. The heel for the boot measures 1.25”, while the shaft is approximately 6” from the arch. The lace-up boot has a faux fur cuff and lining, while the outer shell is fully waterproof. The insulation in the boot can ensure that your feet stay nice and warm up to -25 F. The rubber sole provides plenty of traction, and this could be a good option to use as boots for snowshoeing.
The boots are highly durable and able to stand up to even the harshest of weather. The suede upper leather is water-resistant, and it can work quite well when you are out in the snow. The boot is available in several different color choices.
Columbia Minx Mid II WP Snow Boot
These are children’s boots, and if you have little ones that are going to be learning to snowshoe, these could be a great choice. They are a good option for kids who are between four and eight years old. They are made from synthetic textile with a faux fur collar. The shaft of these boots measures about 9.5” from the arch.
The boots are waterproof but breathable, which means they will end up being very comfortable to wear. They have enough insulation to rate them for up to -25 F. The Omni-Heat reflective lining helps to ensure this. They could be a great option for a child’s first boots as they are heading out to snowshoe with you.
Columbia Men’s Bugaboot Plus III Omni Cold-Weather Boot
The men’s Bugaboo Plus III are made from leather and textile materials, and feature the same durable quality expected from Columbia’s boots. The shaft measures approximately 7” from the arch. The Techlite midsole helps to keep the weight down on these boots, while still providing plenty of long-lasting comfort and cushioning. This makes these an excellent option as boots for snowshoeing.
The boots are comfortable and stylish, and they can work well for any outdoor activity in cold weather, this includes snowshoeing. You can choose from three different color schemes with this boot.
Danner Men’s Mountain 600
You will find that these boots are different from many of the other options on the list in appearance and material. There are two different options that you can choose from with these boots. There are waterproof suede options, as well as full-grain leather options. Different materials offer different colors.
The boots feature a Vibram Fuga outsole along with Megagrip technology. This helps to ensure that you have excellent traction whether the surface happens to be dry or wet. The shaft on these boots measures around 5.25” from the arch. The boots are waterproof and have plenty of cushioning thanks to the open-cell OrthoLite footbed. The Vibram SPE midsole offers excellent rebound, as well as support and comfort. The TPU heel frame adds more support and stability to the boot.
The boots are rugged, high-quality, and have a modern aesthetic that many find appealing. They can make an excellent boot for snowshoeing, as they will help to keep you warm and dry.
Columbia Men’s Fairbanks Omni-Heat Hiking Shoe
The Fairbanks is another fine option for boots for snowshoeing. They have a great look and plenty of colors from which to choose, as well as durable construction and excellent features. The boot features Omni-Grip to ensure that you have plenty of traction no matter what the weather might decide to do.
It is water and stain repellant, and it can provide you with thermal protective warmth. It also wicks away moisture, which will help your feet to feel comfortable and dry. The boots are highly comfortable and made from leather and textile materials. They are rated to ensure that your feet stay warm even at temperatures down to -25 F.
Kamik Men’s Nationplus Boot
The boots are made from 100% leather, and they feature a durable and reliable rubber sole. The shaft of the boots measures approximately 10” from the arch, while the platform measures 0.75”. The cold weather boot features high-quality insulation that can help to keep your feet warm up to -40 F. It also features a moisture-wicking lining and a rustproof speed-lacing system.
XPETI Men’s Thermator Mid-Rise Boot
The boot has a waterproof mesh upper, as well as a Hydroshield Membrane, to ensure that your feet can keep nice and warm. The 200g insulation also ensures that your feet will stay warm even at temperatures approaching -25 F. The shaft of the boot measures approximately 8” from the arch.
The boots are very comfortable and can provide you with great support, no matter what you are doing. Whether you are hiking, using the boots for snowshoeing, or you use them all year long, they are an excellent choice. They have a modern and rugged appearance that many will appreciate.
Sorel Men’s Conquest Boot
The Conquest Boot from Sorel has a rugged and almost aggressive appearance to it. It is 100% leather and synthetic textile, and it features a quality rubber sole with excellent traction. The shaft measures about 4” from the arch. The boot is an excellent choice for cold-weather activities, such as snowshoeing. It is rate to -40 F, and it has waterproof leather. This ensures that your feet are going to stay warm and dry in these boots.
The boots also feature a built-in gaiter booty with a drawstring and barrel lock snow collar. This is yet another reason that these can make such an excellent choice for snowshoeing. They are rugged and durable, and they are available in a range of color options. You should be able to find one that appeals to your style with no problem.
KEEN Men’s Revel III Hiking Boot
The Revel III is made from 100% waterproof nubuck leather, and it features a rubber sole that can provide excellent grip and traction. The boots are lace-up, and they feature breathable waterproof “KEEN Dry” material along with a padded collar for added comfort. The shaft measures about 6” from the arch on these boots.
These winter boots are a good option for all-terrain and weather conditions. They have 200g of insulating material like many of the other options on the list, so you can be sure that they are going to keep you warm. The fact that they are also stylish helps to make them a solid choice for many buyers.
Vasque Men’s Snowblime Ultradry Insulated Snow Boot
The Snowblime Ultradry snow boot is made from 100% leather, and it has a shaft that measures approximately 6” from the arch. It offers 200g of insulating material to ensure that your feet stay warm no matter how long you are out in the cold.
The rubber sole of the boot uses a dual-density rubber compound with ColdHold Technology. This allows it to better adhere to cold surfaces. The lugs on the outside are harder, while the lugs on the inside are softer. The boot is highly comfortable and provides plenty of support. The heel pull-on loop is large enough that you should be able to use it even when you have your hand in a glove.
These boots can help to keep you warm and safe while you are out and hiking with your snowshoes.
Choosing the Right Snowshoe Boots
When you are choosing your boots for snowshoeing, you want to make sure that you are selecting an option that is right for you. Naturally, one of the first things that you will want to think about is the size of the boot. You need to make sure that you have a boot that fits you properly, and that will be comfortable to wear. The fit should be secure, so your foot and ankle are not moving around in the boot, which could end up causing sores.
Of course, you will also need to think about waterproofing and warmth. The boots should use at least 200g of insulating material, as you will find in the boots above. This helps to ensure that you are going to have toasty feet when you are out snowshoeing.
Some of the models above even have reflective liners. You should also check for high-quality soles, so you can be sure you will have plenty of traction when you need it. Even though you might be using these with your snowshoes, there still may be times when you are wearing them in other locations. A reliable grip is always important.
Conclusion
You can see that there are plenty of options out there for everyone who would like to start snowshoeing. Take some time to look at these options and determine which ones would be the best for your needs.
Make sure you have a great pair of snowshoe boots that you can pair with your snowshoes to have a great time out in the snow no matter how far you travel and no matter how cold it might get.