Our top pick for chill, short treks in winter, the Andesite II is an ultra-comfy daily hiker that will keep your feet happy in a variety of cold and wet conditions. “When you’re hiking mixed terrain that has dirt and snow, nothing beats these boots,” he said.īottom Line: Burly winter boot protection without the bulk Best for Easy Day Hikes: Oboz Andesite II Mid Insulated B-Dry ($210) (Photo: Courtesy Oboz) Category manager Jakob Schiller wore these boots on a late winter hike in New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where he tramped through 12 miles of rocky trail and post-hole snow. During snowy treks in zero-degree weather, the boots provided just the right amount of warmth thanks to 200 grams of Primaloft Gold Eco Series synthetic insulation and Solarcore Aerogel for the insole and over the toe. Their hiking chops are boosted by meaty, Vibram Arctic Grip outsole soles with five millimeter, terraced lugs lined with tiny teeth that bite into packed snow on otherwise sloppy terrain. They won us over as hikers thanks to a tall lightweight ballistic mesh and Gore-Tex membrane that provided plenty of ankle support but also snugged to our feet like a sock, creating a comfy, blister-free fit right out of the box. The Thermo Rogue 4 is the unicorn of winter hikers these boots strike the often elusive balance between a great hiker and a solid winter boot. Pros: Great for longer miles in mixed terrain

The Reviews: The Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2024 Best All-Around: Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4 ($260) (Photo: Courtesy Merrell)

Best for Deep Snow: Columbia Expeditionist Shield.

Best for Bushwacking: Meindl Bergell MFS Hiker.

Best for Technical Terrain: Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX.

Best for Easy Day Hikes: Oboz Andesite II Mid.

Best All-Around: Merrell MTL Thermo Rogue 4.

The best winter hiking boots of 2024 work for all of those scenarios, keeping you dry, warm, and planted wherever your cold weather adventures may take you. For many, however, winter hiking is simply a cold, possibly wet day hike on your usual trail, or an afternoon tromp through some snowy woods. It puts too much emphasis on the winter part, making it feel like you should be building snow caves or crossing a glacier to qualify. Winter hiking is not our favorite term, to be totally honest.

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