The Best Winter Hikers of 2018

Walk on—no matter the weather.

Oboz Bridger 10″ Insulated Waterproof ($199)

Best For: Lasting forever.

Consider this boot if (a) you love to snowshoe and need 400-gram insulation for warmth and a heelpiece to keep straps in place, or (b) you work outside shoveling snow all winter. We challenge you to wear through its waterproof nubuck leather.

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The North Face Ballard Duck Boot ($145)

Best For: Owning après.

With the Ballard, the North Face put its unique spin on the classic duck boot. And it performs, with a waterproof build that fought off slushy puddles at a ski race and 200-gram insulation that kept us warm while clearing snow off our car in below-freezing temps but didn’t make us overheat in a coffee shop.

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Salewa Ultra Flex Mid GTX ($190) 

Best For: Early-winter hiking.

A mesh upper helps this kick breathe on still-warm fall days, while a Gore-Tex liner keeps things dry if you run into a storm. We loved the speed-lacing setup, which was a breeze to cinch and take off, as well as the rubber heel rand, which totally eliminated blisters.

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Salomon Snowcross 2 CSWP ($200) 

Best For: The committed runner.

If you hate the treadmill, look here. The Snowcross 2 is a waterproof running shoe welded to a zip-up waterproof gaiter, so there’s no chance of snow leaking in even if you’re breaking trail through a foot of fluff. Underneath, gnarly lugs gave us traction even at a full sprint.

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Hanwag Anvik GTX ($260)

Best For: Winter commuting.

Hanwag took a great Gore-Tex boot, then upgraded it for the city, with soft leather and zero insulation, which enabled us to wear them all day—inside and out—when paired with a midweight merino sock. Bonus points for the military-esque styling.

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Muck Boot Arctic Ice ($180)

Best For: Stupidly cold days.

There’s no better waterproof boot for those who like to ice fish, hunt, gelande quaff—you get the idea. Most of the warmth comes from a fleece-lined upper made of five-millimeter neoprene. Down in the midsole, sleeping-pad-like thermal foam keeps cold from creeping up. We also loved the Vibram Arctic Grip outsole, which clings to wet ice.

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