Vasque Pow Pow UltraDry II Hiking Boot

Warmth

“They feel like my sheepskin slippers,” one tester. Credit the soft shearling fleece lining and 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, which kept her toes cozy down to 0°F during winter camping trips in Colorado. (Sorry guys, these are women’s only.)

Protection

Because the suede and textile upper is packed with insulation, it has some structure and stiffness, so we could crank down snowshoe bindings without feeling any pinching. The unusually thick rubber toecap prevented scuffing and stubbing, the waterproof membrane kept us dry when the snow turned to slush, and the high ankle cut (5 inches from the top of the heel cup) reduces the need for gaiters in deep snow.