How to Choose the Best Winter Boots for Women p1

A good pair of winter boots can help make winter exponentially better. Whether you shovel feet upon feet of snow every winter or you spend time outside in cold temperatures, we're here to help you choose the footwear that will best suit your needs. In this article, we will discuss such topics as Fashion vs. Function, Tall vs. Short Boots, and Performance & Comfort. Throughout each of these sections, we will touch on the different types of products available. You can read more about how each of these models compared in our head-to-head tests by reading our full review. Check out all the latest eBay coupon codes, promo codes & discounts for 2016

Fashion vs. Function

Footwear plays a major role in a person's overall look and since many women purchase winter boots for use around town, we're going to start off with a debate about fashion vs. function. As with most products, it is important to first consider how you plan to use your boots and what the weather in your region is like. If you live in an extremely cold and snowy area, it may be critical to purchase a tall, burly boot like the Sorel Joan of Arctic that has super warm insulation. On the other hand, if you are looking specifically for a winter hiker, the Vasque Pow Pow II will certainly do the trick. In the case of a hiking boot, style is probably not at the top of your priority list; however, if you are on the hunt for a boot for general around town use, it is often important to balance function with style.


Luckily, we tested a number of products that offer just that balance. As we mentioned above, the Sorel Joan of Arctic was the warmest in our review, but it's also one of the most stylish according to our social media poll of over 50 women! However, this bulky boot is not very comfortable and we don't recommend it for long walks in town. On the other hand, the Editors' Choice winning Sorel Tofino is comfortable to walk in and is cute for around town use, but it isn't as warm as some of its competitors.


Additionally, we reviewed several pieces that performed well while hiking and still earned decent scores in our style metric. The UGG Adirondack II was one such model. This boot offers a fair amount of water resistance and warmth, and it is comfortable on moderate hikes. The Ahnu Northridge was similarly versatile in its performance and style. Alternatively, if you are simply seeking out a fashion boot and are not concerned with its performance, a piece like The North Face Nuptse Purna is a cute option that would work well in dry, mild winter climates.


Once you've determined how you want to balance function with style, be sure to consider your personal look. In this review, we tested many winter boots with faux fur and several without. Figuring out whether or not you like the faux fur look is important since it can be challenging to find winter boots without it. Keep in mind that boots with faux fur can somewhat limit versatility. On cool days in late fall, our testers didn't feel ready to bring out the fur just yet; instead, they preferred to wait until it was a little colder and later in the season. Finally, remember to just be yourself! If you love the Tecnica Moon Boot then go for it!

Tall vs. Short Boots

In this review, we tested five boots whose shafts measured less than 10 inches (from the ground to the top of the shaft) and nine boots that were taller than 10 inches. There are pros and cons to both of these designs; let's break it down. The most obvious benefit of taller boots is that they offer additional protection from rain and deep snow and they provide extra warmth up the calves. Even the tall boots that didn't do too well in our puddle test proved to be essential when schlepping through snow drifts.


On the other hand, most of the tall boots we tested (with the exception of the Ahnu Northridge) were not suitable for hiking. They are typically more difficult to take on and off and don't offer the mobility of boots like the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium - Women's that are designed specifically for winter hiking. In fact, we were able to hike in three of the five pairs of short boots in our review. While they did not provide as much protection from the snow, many of them still offered significant water resistance in puddles and slush. Moreover, if you live in a region that only gets a few inches of snow at a time, short boots will almost certainly provide all the snow protection that you would need. That said, if you do expect snow and you do decide on a shorter boot, be sure to opt for one that has a shaft that cinches closed, not a boot like the Merrell Dewbrook Zip that has a wide opening.


We found it more difficult to tuck our pants into the short boots in our review (even skinny jeans bunched up a bit with some of the short boots)…you could also say we found it easier to wear our pants on the outside of our short boots, depending on which way you want to look at it. In wet conditions, tucking your pants in can keep them dry; however not everyone likes this look. One final consideration is that short boots (especially the ones we tested without faux fur) are a bit easier to wear in late fall and early spring when you may not want a huge winter boot.