Whether you have recently moved to a cold location or you are planning a vacation to a snowy destination, you are probably curious about what types of shoes are best to wear in the snow. Well, do not worry because we have done all the research necessary to provide you with the perfect kind of shoes to wear on the snowiest of days!
The best shoes to wear in the snow have great traction, are waterproof, keep your feet warm, and support your ankles. The best shoes to wear in snow include the following:
- Leather
- Faux Leather
- Fleece-Lined
If you still feel like you need more information on which shoes to wear, keep reading. We will even provide you with links to specific shoes so you can start shopping. We'll also cover more snow shoe-related questions, so you don't want to miss out.
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What Shoes To Wear In Snow
The most important thing that a pair of snow shoes should do is keep your feet warm, dry, and supported. There is absolutely nothing worse than wearing a pair of cloth tennis shoes in the snow and ending up with freezing cold and wet feet - it will wreck your whole day.
Do not make the rookie mistake of wearing any kind of cloth shoes or rain boots in the snow. You will quickly regret this when your feet are frozen. You also do not want to wear any "fashion shoes" such as flats, as they typically do not have any traction and you will risk falling and hurting yourself.
It is essential that your shoes are waterproof so that your feet stay dry in the snow. Many winter boots and shoes typically come with waterproofing technology, but you can also purchase a spray to waterproof them yourself. Even if your shoes or boots come waterproofed, it does not hurt to put an additional coat on them.
Click here to see this waterproof spray on Amazon.
Leather And Faux Leather Boots
Leather is a fantastic material to wear out in the snow as it is typically highly waterproof and does not allow any room for snow or water to creep in and soak your feet. However, you should still spray your shoes with a waterproofing spray just to be safe and give them an extra layer of protection.
You can purchase full-grain leather shoes, top grain leather shoes, or even faux leather shoes, as all will protect your feet from the wet snow. The only problem with leather shoes and boots is that while they protect you from the wet snow, they may not necessarily keep your feet warm from the cold air. You should invest in a good pair of winter socks to wear inside your leather boots.
Let's take a look at some great boot options.
Women's Boots
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Men's Boots
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Insulated Shoes and Boots
In addition to leather shoes and boots, there are many great pairs of waterproof shoes and boots that are insulated. The advantage of choosing a pair of insulated shoes or boots is that they have an additional heating component. These shoes are designed to be worn in frigid temperatures and will do their best to keep your toes feeling toasty.
A good pair of insulated shoes or boots trap in the heat that your feet naturally generate and keep this heat close to your skin. Let's look at some great options.
Women's Boots
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Men's Boots
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Other Important Tips
You may want to consider choosing a pair of boots instead of a pair of shoes to wear in the snow. Because snow and ice are extremely slippery, you will want to ensure that your ankle is as supported as possible. Boots are a better option because they give your ankles the support that they need to walk safely in the snow.
In addition, you will want to make sure that the shoes or boots that you choose have great traction. If the bottom of the shoe or boot is completely flat and without ridges, it does not have traction and is not safe to wear in the snow or on the ice. Traction will help keep you from slipping and facing a possible injury.
Warm Socks
No matter what pair of shoes or boots you decide to go with, you will want to consider wearing some nice warm socks to help keep your feet comfortable. Even the best snow shoes and boots struggle to keep feet warm in the most frigid of temperatures. While great snow shoes and boots will definitely keep your feet dry and supported, you will still want to purchase some warm socks to aid in heating.
Click here to see this pair of socks on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of socks on Amazon.
Is Gore-Tex waterproof or water-resistant?
All of Gore-Tex's products are either waterproof or water-resistant. There is a clear difference between waterproof and water-resistant products. If a shoe is waterproof, it means that it can be worn in constant, heavy water. If a shoe is water-resistant, it is great for getting caught in a surprise rain shower or on a windy day.
All of the original Gore-Tex products, as well as the Paclite and Surround lines, are completely waterproof, which means they would be perfect for the snow. All of the Gore-Tex Infinium line are water-resistant, which is not the best option for the snow.
What materials are snow boot linings?
There are many different materials that are utilized as snow boot linings. Companies often use fleece, fur, sheepskin, and many other synthetic materials to line winter boots in order to keep feet warm. Many of these materials use insulation in order to guarantee that the owner's feet will stay warm in frigid conditions.
Fleece may be the best option for snow boots specifically as it is especially soft and cozy and works hard to retain the heat that is already generated from your feet.
How can you insulate your boots?
You can insulate your boots yourself. However, it is often just easier and better to purchase a pair of insulated boots. If you insist on doing it yourself, you have a few different options. You can purchase an insulated sock to sew inside your boot. Be sure that it will truly fit correctly before you do this.
You could also take out the sole of your shoe and wrap foil around it in order to have a cheap and quick insulation fix. However, as mentioned before, it is often much more effective and easier to just purchase a pair of boots that is already insulated.
What can you put on your shoes to stop slipping on ice?
There are a few different ways that you can add traction to the bottoms of your shoes or boots to keep yourself from slipping on ice. You can purchase non-slip grip pads that easily stick to the bottom of your shoes or boots.
Click here to see these grip pads on Amazon.
You could also purchase a pair of snow grips. These slip on top of your shoe or boot pretty easily and are a quick fix to your lack of traction problem.
Click here to see this pair of snow grips on Amazon.
If you do not have the time or money to purchase a remedy for your lack of traction problem, there are a few quick DIY fixes that you can try at home. You could spray hairspray on the bottom of your shoes or boots in order to form a sticky surface that often helps to create a little bit of traction. However, this is just a short-term solution. You could also try scuffing up the bottoms of your shoes or boots. But again, this will only help for a short amount of time.
Can you wear leather boots in the snow?
As mentioned above, leather boots are a fantastic option for wearing in the snow and on the ice. Leather is wonderful material and is usually already waterproof. That being said, it does not hurt to spray your leather boots with waterproofing spray as a double layer of protection.
Are Uggs good for snow and ice?
Uggs are an incredibly popular option for snow and ice. However, only some of their products are truly effective in the snow. You do not want a cloth material for your snow shoes, so avoid Uggs that have cloth material. Ugg carries some wonderful boots that are the ideal option for wearing in the snow and ice.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
Click here to see this pair of boots on Amazon.
In Closing
We hope that this article helped you to find a great pair of shoes or boots for the snow and ice! You should look for a pair of shoes or boots (ideally boots!) that are weatherproof, insulated, with a strong form of support and a lot of traction. Although this sounds like a lot, a pair of boots like this will keep you feeling toasty in the cold and keep you safe from slipping and getting hurt. As always, have fun in the snow, and remember to be safe.
Before you go, be sure to check out some of our other articles here on StyleCheer.com:
