The 6 Best Hiking Boots of Winter 2020
Bust through snow, crust, and slush with this warm, toothy footwear.
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You could take your summer hiking boots out on the trail when it’s snowy out. But winter-specific hikers come packed with features to help support snowy-season loads while keeping the weather out of your socks. Our testers pick the six best hiking boots of the winter.
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Best Features: Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range BOA
Managing your comfort level is key on winter hikes, and the ShiftPlus Polar Range offers a plush refuge for your feet. Its warm, cushy lining, padded-yet-firm footbed, low-density PU midsole, and easy-to-use BOA lacing system are all designed with trailhead-to-summit comfort in mind. Buy the Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range BOA Now / Read the Full Review
Best Ounce-for-Ounce: Dolomite Tamaskan 1.5
The Tamaskan cribs its standout feature set from a brawny mountaineering boot, then tweaks the package for less-technical pursuits. It kept us moving quickly and comfortably over snowy or muddy terrain at a weight that belies its utility. Buy the Dolomite Tamaskan 1.5 Now / Read the Full Review
Best for Snowshoeing: Vasque Breeze WT GTX
Keeping foot soreness at bay throughout a 12-mile day in the Washington Cascades with snowshoes strapped to your feet would be a struggle in many boots, but the new Breeze WT impressed us straight out of the box. Read the Full Review
Best for Mountaineering: SCARPA Manta Tech GTX
On snowy objectives in the Rockies and summer glacier ascents in the Cascades, the Manta Tech kept us feeling secure and confident due to a build that expertly balances support with flexibility. During a lap on Colorado’s Skyscraper Glacier, it was stiff enough to frontpoint up steep, firm snow thanks to a fiberglass- and polymer-stiffened insole board. Buy the SCARPA Manta Tech GTX Now / Read the Full Review
Most Versatile: Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Winter GTX
Winter adventuring isn’t all about slogging through the snow. Thanks to a do-it-all midcut height, ample flex, and moderate insulation, the MTN Trainer 2 carried one Jackson, Wyoming tester from steep, snowy hikes in the Tetons to fat bike rides around the valley to leisurely walks in the woods. Buy the Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Winter GTX Now / Read the Full Review
Warmest: Oboz Sawtooth II 8” Insulated B-DRY
Boots insulated enough for the coldest winter days usually feel like moon shoes—good for warmth, bad for precision. The Sawtooth II is a standout exception: Its stellar warmth-to-bulk ratio comes courtesy of a lean layer of 200-gram 3M Thinsulate insulation, which hoards heat without adding too much volume. Buy the Oboz Sawtooth II 8” Insulated B-DRY Now / Read the Full Review
Read More: Readers Review Merrell Hiking Shoes
Looking to move fast on dry ground? Look no further with these supportive-yet-featherweight models from Merrell.
More: Get gear reviews straight from readers like you with Gear 360.