3 Best Snow Hiking Shoes in 2024

How we test hiking shoes

For this guide, we’ve subjected each model to a battery of hiking tests, clocking up 30-50 miles of chilly outdoor jaunts. We’ve also brought all the shoes inside our RunRepeat shoe lab for closer inspection and analysis of the materials and technologies integrated into the models.

Our ranking process involves:

• Putting in the time, energy, and our own money to buy the snow hiking shoes for our wear tests. This ensures the 100% objectivity of our assessments.
• Taking each pair on actual hiking excursions to get a personal experience of its fit, comfort, insulation, traction, and overall performance. We test all the models further to see how they perform during moderate to extreme winter conditions.
• Dissecting the shoes to see and measure all of their components. We also quantified the properties of the shoes. One example is the midsole and outsole hardness which we record by pressing our durometer to the said parts, displaying the hardness level in the HA unit of measurement.

3 things to prioritize in snow hiking shoes

Hiking in snow means you need protection from the cold weather and from the wet weather (snow). Based on all the tests we’ve done out on the trails and in our lab, here are our recommendations on what to look for in snow hiking shoes:

1. Warmth. The colder the weather, the warmer the shoe should be. Some are even insulated so look for that. If not, look for the less breathable shoes. In our lab, we rate them with ⅕ or ⅖, meaning they are not breezy and the warmth will stay inside. 
2. Waterproofness. Snow melts and you don’t want your hiking shoes to be completely soaked and to let the water inside. There are many waterproof membranes present on the market with Gore-Tex being the most popular one. 
3. Grip for snow. The hardness of the rubber, the depth of the lugs and the tread pattern all play a significant role when it comes to traction. For snow, we recommend deep lugs (deeper than 4 mm) and a pattern that does not allow for snow to get stuck. 

We describe every one of these features below.

Why you should trust us? Not only do we test all the hiking shoes out on our test hikes, but we also tear them apart in the lab. This allows us to perform dozens of lab tests. One of them is freezing the shoes in our freezer. This allows us to simulate very cold weather conditions and then repeat some of the tests to anticipate how the shoes will behave in such weather. 

However, if the snow is deep and you don’t like wearing gaiters (they also come with a GTX membrane, in case you did not know), consider getting snow hiking boots instead. With their mid or high cut, they are more likely to keep your feet warm and dry. 

Look for warmth in your snow hiking shoes

Here, we suggest looking at the breathability of the shoe. Hiking shoes can be insulated, and insulation makes them even less breathable, and, therefore, warmer. 

Non-waterproof vs waterproof hiking shoe on the breathability test

In our lab, we test for breathability by pumping the smoke inside the hiking shoe. We pay attention to where the smoke comes out and at which pace. This way, we’re able to rate the breathability of the shoe on a 1-5 scale, 1 being the least breathable. 

Because snow hiking shoes also ask for waterproofness, this bad breathability rating is almost a given because waterproof hiking shoes never get flying colors for breathability. 

We also check these uppers under the microscope and it's easy to see why non-waterproof materials breathe better. They don't only lack the lamination but are also looser in structure and might even have ventilation holes. 

How to recognize waterproof materials 

All waterproof hiking shoes have a waterproof membrane laminated to the upper material.

The shoe name itself can tell you whether the shoe is waterproof. It usually contains the words Waterproof, WP, or GTX for Gore-Tex. Other membranes are also available and that depends on what the brand has chosen to work with. Some brands develop their own waterproof membranes. 

Gusseted tongue keeps the snow out 

Having a waterproof upper is great because it can keep the snow out. But, when hiking in deeper snow, one that covers the eyelets, it is possible for the snow to sneak in. Having a gusseted tongue comes to the rescue. 

A gusseted tongue is a tongue that is attached to both sides of the shoe, just below the eyelets. Many hiking shoes have gusseted tongues, but it does not hurt to check this. In all of our reviews, we always take note of what kind of tongue gusset we found. 

Here’s what different gussets look like in running shoes to get a clear picture. 

Look for lugs that bite through the snow

In hiking, shallower lugs usually mean more versatility and nothing too demanding, while deeper lugs mean your shoes are ready to tackle challenging terrain. For snow, we advise getting hiking shoes with lugs that are at least 4 mm deep. 

The hardness of the outsole also plays a role in traction. Softer rubber is usually stickier, while harder rubber is more durable and offers more protection.

How durable are snow hiking shoes?

In our shoe lab, we do 3 durability tests. First, we press a dremel against the upper to see how durable the toebox is. This is very important in hiking shoes where toe bumpers are of great value - they keep our toes injury-free when encountering debris and all sorts of obstacles on the trails. 

Toebox durability test done in RunRepeat lab 

Based on the damage done by the dremel, we rate the durability on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most durable. 

Heel padding durability test done in RunRepeat lab

The second durability test we do follows the same methodology: press the dremel but, this time, on the inside of the heel counter, and rate it on a 1-5 scale, with 1 being the least durable. 

Outsole durability test done in RunRepeat lab

Last but not least, we test the durability of the outsole. In this case, we’re able to precisely measure the dent made by the dremel, and we do it with a tire tread depth gauge. The deeper the dent (more millimeters), the less durable the outsole is. 

Shoes getting firmer and stiffer in cold weather is a no-go

Some shoes feel great at room temperature, they can be comfortable, maybe even soft. But, what if such midsole firms up 70% when it’s snowing? Would you still consider it for hiking in cold weather?

To anticipate how the hiking shoes feel in cold weather, we put them in a freezer. 

Before and after the freezer, we check the softness of the midsole and the flexibility of the shoe. 

The change in softness and flexibility tells us how the shoe will perform in cold weather. Because of this, we recommend getting shoes with the smallest change in those measurements because such shoes will feel more similar to how they feel at room temperature. 

Socks and gaiters for snow hiking

To level up on the protection, we suggest using the gaiters, ideally the waterproof ones. They will prevent the snow from getting inside your hiking shoes, and they are usually easier to wash than the shoes, socks and pants together. 

For very cold weather, merino wool socks have shown to be great. They wick away the moisture (if you happen to sweat), keep the feet warm, and don’t get stinky. There are thicker socks available for harsher weather conditions. 

How to find a perfect fit in snow hiking shoes

If this is your first time buying hiking shoes, here are our guidelines on how to avoid common mistakes: 

1. Go hiking-shoe shopping in the afternoon or in the evening. Our feet are a bit swollen then, which is the same thing that happens on the hikes and best to try the shoes in such condition. 
2. Take the hiking socks and orthotics with you and use them in the shoes you’re trying out. 
3. Put the shoes on, lace them up, and try to sense the hotspots and pressure points. Hikers prefer having 1 thumb width at the front/back. It’s easier to test this by pushing the foot to the front of the shoe and then sticking a thumb behind your heel inside the shoe. 
4. Test the shoes on the ramp, go up and down. Look for a comfortable lockdown. There should be no heel slipping or sliding to the sides. 

Keep in mind that some hiking shoes need to be broken in. Don’t go on a long hike immediately.

Understanding insulation in snow hiking footwear

Insulation sets snow hiking shoes apart from regular hiking shoes. Therefore, insulation is one of the most important components of snow hiking shoes. Ironically, insulation in hiking shoes can be somewhat convoluted to understand.

Shoe insulation specs do not refer to the total weight of insulation inside the shoe. Instead, insulation ratings refer to the thickness of the insulation used inside the shoe.

Let us explain more. A shoe with an advertised 600g of insulation does not weigh an additional 600 grams because of the insulation on the inside. That would be a lot!

Instead, the 600g insulation rating tells you that the insulation weighs 600 grams per square meter. Grams per square meter is the standardized unit of measurement for hiking shoe insulation.