Mens Snow Boots

Snow boots are the ideal winter footwear, being both waterproof and insulated. When temperatures plummet and you need to keep your feet warm and dry they are specifically designed to deal with the snow, ice, and slush. Perfectly suited for Après ski fun in alpine resorts or the post snowfall chaos in the UK’s more temperate regions! Below we discuss some of the key characteristics to consider when shopping for snow boots:-

Insulated

Winter boots and snow boots are designed to work in sub-zero temperatures; in frosty and icy conditions where the ground is always cold underfoot. So both the sole and the upper material need to be sufficiently insulated to protect your feet from this numbing cold.

• Insulated upper (fleece or pile lining will help trap warm air as a thermal barrier)
• Insulated sole (thick rubber sole that will act as a thermal barrier).

Waterproof

Snow, slush and meltwater are part and parcel of winter conditions, especially in alpine, mountainous and upland areas. Therefore, any winter boot or snow boot must provide a decent level of waterproofing to prevent water intrusion into the body of the boot.

Waterproofing can come in a variety of forms. Firstly the sole must be impermeable – so rubber is used almost exclusively – leather soles being entirely unsuitable to icy conditions. The sole is usually augmented in mens winter boots with a thick rubber rand. This provides a waterproof barrier all around the body/sides of the boot. Additionally, the upper material might well be made from waterproof material, and/or treated with water repellent coatings. Winter snow boots will often also have a waterproof lining material to prevent any water ingress should it make it that far!

• Waterproof rubber sole
• Waterproof rubber rand on the side/body of the boot
• Waterproof / water resistant upper material
• Waterproof lining

Breathable

There is no point having highly insulated and waterproof boots if they cannot breathe – your feet will just get hot and bothered. So consider the balance between insulation, waterproofness and breathability when choosing your boots.

Grip

Snow boot are designed for slippery and precarious at conditions. The rubber sole compounds are generally selected for their performance in icy conditions, providing better grip than standard soles. Look for an aggressive tread that will give you grip and more assured footing. You also want a self-cleaning sole design - specifically designed not to compact snow into ice in the tread. If you need additional grip in icy conditions you can also attach slip-on ice spikes, a low cost accessory that can be attached to almost any type of boot.

Practical

How easy are winter boots to live with? Because the ground is most likely to be snowy you will be taking them off and on as you go in and out of your home or holiday ski chalet. So think about the fastening, size of the neck/mouth of the boot and how easy they will be to get on or off.