LOWA Innox GTX Ice QC

Comfort Fleece makes for cozy jackets, so why not shoes? The LOWA Innox’s fleece lining kept our toes cozy during 15°F hikes on Noonmark Mountain in the Adirondacks. Add the soft upper and flexy PU midsole, and they feel like supportive, cold-weather sneakers. Snowshoers: Just be careful not to crank bindings down too hard on the malleable uppers.

Traction This shoe sticks uncommonly well to slick surfaces, thanks to Vibram’s new G3 Elika Ice sole, which uses rubber impregnated with fibers that improve grip on icy terrain. “It gave me more confidence on slippery trails,” one tester says.

Breathability The synthetic upper and Gore-Tex liner made these shoes comfortable even when temps rose above 50 degrees. “My feet got hot in higher temps,” one tester says, “but they never got wet.”

Support “Good for dayhikes and weekends,” concluded testers who carried up to 35 pounds. Torsional stiffness is better than a sneaker, but this is still a light-duty boot best for trails. m’s 6.5 – 12, 13, w’s 4-9 (UK)