4 Best Waterproof Insulated Hiking Boots in 2023

Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto on
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For a savvy outdoor adventurer, wearing a reliable pair of waterproof insulated hiking boots is a smart thing to do. During a good solid hike, you’ll probably be trekking over snow, getting caught in a rainstorm, or crossing creeks. You need the boots you’re wearing to be able to withstand such challenges along the way.

Although they’re specifically designed for trail escapades where snowy surfaces, puddles, and water are a threat, the versatility of these selections still allows wearers like you to be able to do a lot more outdoors. Whatever your preferred style is, mid-cut or high-cut models, we present you with hikers that protect you from inclement weather conditions.

To help you find the perfect pair, we’ve collected and tested waterproof insulated hiking boots. We subjected them to various hurdles that eventually made us learn about their characteristics. To make everything much more interesting, we also chose outstanding pairs during our long method of testing. Check out our top picks.

Best waterproof insulated hiking boots overall

What makes it the best?

Wearing the Lowa Hunter GTX Evo Extreme to conquer the great outdoors is a sound idea as it offers stellar warmth and waterproofing. It also doesn’t require too much break-in time. However, owning this boot might be an uphill battle for some as it costs an arm and a leg. To sum up, the Lowa Hunter GTX Evo Extreme comes out swinging thanks to its synergy of defining traits.

Pros

  • Effective waterproofing
  • Zero break-in period
  • Impressively warm
  • Extremely durable build
  • Dependable ventilation system

Cons

  • Too pricey
  • Heavy
Full review of Lowa Hunter GTX Evo Extreme

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Any color
Antique Brown (2108940492)

Best lightweight waterproof insulated hiking boots

What makes it the best?

The Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat Boot is well-touted for its quality comfort, protective features, durability, flexibility, and toasty insulation. What has delighted customers, even more, is its amazing price tag. This boot, however, falls a little short on waterproofing.

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Amazingly comfortable
  • Offers plenty of protection
  • Zero break-in period
  • Stylish design
  • Quality construction
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • The strong chemical smell didn’t go away
  • Too narrow
  • Lack of waterproofing
Full review of Columbia Fairbanks Omni-Heat Boot

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Any color
Black (1746011010)
Green (1746011384)
Brown (1746012288)
Graphite/Dark Moss (1746011054)

Best waterproof insulated hiking boots for urban hiking

What makes it the best?

Users love the top-notch comfort that the Danner Arctic 600 Side-Zip offers, along with the roomy fit, quality build, and toasty insulation. While a few people render the side zipper useless, this boot still makes a great footwear choice for your trail and city adventures on cold winter days.

Pros

  • Very comfortable to wear
  • Toasty insulation
  • Gripy sole
  • Stylish design
  • Well constructed boot

Cons

  • Useless side zipper
Full review of Danner Arctic 600 Side-Zip

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Brown/Red (67338)

Best cozy waterproof insulated hiking boots

What makes it the best?

Outdoor lovers looking for a warm, comfy, and supportive boot may very well take a chance on the Oboz Bridger 9” Insulated BDry. The gear’s winter-ready outsole and sufficient ankle support were also commended. Unfortunately, the boot’s stiffness isn’t suitable for everyone.

Pros

  • Comfortable to use
  • Thermal insulation
  • Excellent grip on snow and steep slopes
  • Excellent ankle support
  • Runs true to its size

Cons

  • Lack of stiffness
  • Lack of water protection
Full review of Oboz Bridger 9" Insulated BDry

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Any color
Brindle (82802L)
Black (82802K)

Comparison of the 4 best waterproof insulated hiking boots

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How we test hiking boots

For this list, we’ve double-checked each pair inside our independent RunRepeat testing lab, focusing on the materials and technologies found in all the footwear. We then proceeded to our tasks to put the boots to the ultimate test on the snowy trails and challenging terrain.

During the selection process, we perform these steps:

  • We first buy insulated waterproof hiking boots from various brands. We use our own funds for this to avoid brand loyalty.
  • As wear-testers, we hike 30+ miles wearing a particular model. We keep a journal of the journey, especially about the boot’s comfort, insulation and waterproofness, stability, traction, protective capability, and other features.
  • After putting in the mileage, we also take into account the science and math behind a shoe's performance in different aspects. We use our calibrated tools to find out about the shoe's level of breathability, durability, grip, and more. We also bust the shoes in half to get more data about their technologies.
Author
Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto

Over the past 20 years, Paul has climbed, hiked, and run all over the world. He has summited peaks throughout the Americas, trekked through Africa, and tested his endurance in 24-hour trail races as well as 6 marathons. On average, he runs 30-50 miles a week in the foothills of Northern Colorado. His research is regularly cited in The New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, etc. On top of this, Paul is leading the running shoe lab where he cuts shoes apart and analyzes every detail of the shoes that you might buy.