12 super comfortable men's boots to help you survive winter

It feels like when winter decides to show up, it doesn’t let us off easy. Freezing temperatures, snow, slush and a layer of salt wherever we go are not only miserable, but they can also put a solid pair of boots to the test. During those winter months, boots are a requirement. Good pairs will keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable for those days when you’re left to clear the latest dusting of snow, or brave the walk to work.

Fortunately, there are boots out there for all walks of life. They can be outfitted in office-ready leather, lined with shearling or made of technical fabrics for the most challenging winter weather. So we rounded up some of the best and most comfortable boots to get you through the winter and beyond.

LACE UP BOOTS IN LEATHER WITH SHEARLING LINING BY HUGO BOSS

When the snow starts falling, reach for the boots with the shearling lining. These leather boots from BOSS are made in Italy of 100% calfskin leather, so they’ll break in over time and mold to your feet—leaving you with a comfortable pair of stompers made to handle sub-zero conditions. The super thick lug sole provides an extra inch of elevation, keeping you off the damaging layer of salt, but glued to any ice patches. With supple leather and a zipper at the ankles, you won’t dread slipping them on for any winter day. Head over to HUGO BOSS today to sign up for this weekend’s private sale or keep it locked on BOSS from 11/25 to 12/11 for up to 40% off select items across the site.

550 CHELSEA BOOTS BY BLUNDSTONE

The inimitable Blundstone boot has amassed something of a cult following. The Tasmanian brand’s rugged chelseas are the preferred choice of granola types and gardeners around the world. In particular, the 550 is Blundstone’s standard 500 chelsea boot with a full leather lining and bit of added cushion under the heel. Those small tweaks make for a boot you can wear all day without worry. In the winter, the rubber sole and easy, slip-on, slip-off style are a lifesaver when other boots have you up to your ankles in laces.

GARDENER BOOT BY RM WILLIAMS

Speaking of gardeners, Australian bootmaker R.M. Williams’ Gardener is another chelsea style made to take on the winter months—even if it’s a bit more buttoned-up overall. They’re a step up in terms of price and quality from Blundstones, but you get what you pay for. The wider ankle and toe box mean room for extra thick socks and the oiled leather ensures that a little snow or salt won’t leave a trace. Paired with the treaded rubber sole, they’ll take on whatever winter throws your way.

LACE-UP BOOTS IN SCOTCH-GRAIN LEATHER WITH CONTRAST LUG SOLE BY HUGO BOSS

It might not seem like it, but you can wear colors other than black in the winter months. If you don’t need the warmth of a shearling-lined shoe, these scotch-grain versions will do more than enough to carry you through. The brown is business-like and formal enough for work meetings, while the colorful contrast sole pops out in a season that’s defined by shades of gray. The scotch-grain leather starts rigid, but breaks in and the full leather liner is supple enough to cradle your feet as you’re walking through slush puddles and snowdrifts.

ITALIAN-MADE ZIPPED ANKLE BOOTS WITH SHEARLING LINING BY HUGO BOSS

Boot laces are long, cumbersome and frustrating, especially when you’re wearing winter gloves that leave you unable to tie even a simple knot. The best approach to dealing with them? Eliminate them altogether. These sleek ankle-zip boots do just that, so you can slide them on and off with ease and they still come with a shearling liner to keep you going when the temperatures drop to freezing and below. Gearing up a little late in the season?

DANNER LIGHT II HIKING BOOTS BY DANNER

A more traditional hiking boot, the Danner Light II is a perfect middle ground that’s ready to pull double duty from the winter months through the rest of the year. The Portland, Oregon-based company has built their reputation on durable boots that are so well-loved by customers that many send them back for repair and recrafting. These USA-made boots come with a waterproof GORE-TEX liner to keep your feet dry, a hearty Vibram sole for traction in any condition and a molded orthotic that supports your feet and ensures air flow within the boots.

NIKE SFB FIELD 2 8” BY NIKE

These might not be what comes to mind when you think of a classic winter boot. But they’re the favored style for the military because of their all-conditions capabilities, durable construction and signature Nike cushioning. The foam midsole is lightweight, but firm enough to handle heavy loads and the treaded sole offers flexible grip that some stiffer, heavier boots might not provide. They might not be as warm and cozy as others, but they’re a great winter workhorse.

ATLIS™ AXE WP BOOT BY SOREL

Sorel might be more well-known for their fur-trimmed ski resort-style boots, but the Atlis™ Axe WP mixes lifestyle with something more demanding. Most notably, the Atlis™ Axe WP’s cushioning system is four distinct layers of foam, each one softer than the last so those snow piles feel more like clouds. They’re also outfitted with waterproof full-grain leather and a paneled, ridged sole that’ll keep you from ice skating unnecessarily.

8” THINSULATE BOOTS BY L.L. BEAN

The Bean Boot is an all-American classic for a good reason. They’re known as the “original antidote for wet feet” and with an all-rubber midsole topped with full-grain leather, you’d have to go out of your way to get soaked wearing these. The unique foot shape might not be for everyone, but for those it does, it fits like a glove and the Thinsulate lining makes even the coldest days a bit toastier.

WALLABEE BOOT GORE-TEX BY CLARKS

Not all winters are mind-numbingly cold or stacked under feet of snow. For those milder climates, you don’t need the mightiest winter boots. Instead, you need something comfortable that covers your ankles. On these Wallabee Boots, Clarks swapped out the signature crepe sole for a more durable rubber outsole and dropped in a GORE-TEX lining for just enough waterproofing to get you through a winter.

ANDREAS HIKING BOOTS BY ROA

A balance between fashion and function, ROA takes the technical nature of hiking boots to heart. These black leather renditions are lighter than you’d expect and come with a sturdy Vibram sole at the base. The lacing system keeps your feet secure and the high-quality leather will break in and mold to your feet over time. In addition, the lack of paneling ensures that no seams cause undue pressure as you wear them.

XT-QUEST HI GTX ADV BY SALOMON

While most of the picks here have been somewhere on the spectrum between truly rugged winter boot and everyday wear, these Salomon XT Quest Hi’s are designed to be put through their paces. It blends the world of hiking boots and trail sneakers, is made primarily of high-tech textiles rather than leather and features a 4D chassis made to offer more forefoot flexion. Of course, it’s all rounded out with a GORE-TEX liner to keep your feet as dry as they can be all season.

KAHA BOOTS BY HOKA ONE ONE

Known for their comfortable running shoes, Hoka One One’s boots translate the support that runners need into the rugged, durable Kaha hiking boot that can weather any winter. It’s grounded by a Vibram Megagrip tread, layered with firm EVA foam, wrapped in full-grain leather and paneled with an eVent waterproof bootie to keep your feet dry and comfortable. When a boot feels more like a sneaker, but stays up to the toughest tasks of the season, that’s when you’ve got something worth investing in.

The post is sponsored by HUGO BOSS.