Snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain, puddles from rapidly melting slush that freeze up again the next day only to cause a slippery, icy mess. Welcome to winter in Canada. Naturally, we Canadians need functional yet stylish footwear to protect us from the elements. We’re talking boots that not only keep our feet toasty and dry, but that don’t necessarily make us look like we’re going on an Arctic expedition either. Did these five pairs of boots — from Hunter, ECCO, Dr. Martens, Roots and UGG — pass our rigorous team testing? Read on to find out.
We tested 5 stylish pairs of boots in the harsh winter snow
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Hunter
I already have a number of (too many) pairs of winter boots: Sorels, Timberlands, Bogs and a few randoms, but my new Hunters have replaced them as my winter boot of choice. They’re warm (lined with faux shearling), weather-proof and tall and they look good with everything, to say nothing of the fact that they slide on and off with ease. (Seems like a little thing, but it’s up there at the top of my list.) I wear them every day. Good looking boots that are warm, water-proof and easy to wear? What else is there?
Score (out of 5)
Style: 5
Warmth: 4
Grip: 4
Waterproof rating: 5
Hunter Original Insulated Tall Wellington Boots, $215 at Hunter.Hunter
ECCO
When it comes to winter boots, I have a laundry list of requirements right out the gate. I get cold easily so they have to be REALLY well insulated, I have knee problems that are aggravated by the cold so they need to be lightweight and I do a lot of walking so they need to be durable. Fashion usually comes last, but I obviously want to be able to look at my own footwear without a feeling of revulsion. Despite my skepticism (they certainly don’t look warm), these boots took my criteria and ran with them. Ha.
At the beginning, I wasn’t sure these boots were my style, but as we’ve mounted snow banks, almost slipped down my driveway and braved slush piles together, they’ve really grown on me. They look like some form of delicate dress sneaker but don’t be fooled; they’re warm (I’ve stayed comfortable at temps of minus 25 degrees Celsius) and waterproof as far as I can tell. Plus the zipper on the side means you don’t have to tie them up every time you head out!
Would I wear these snowshoeing? No. But around a cold/snowy/slushy city? Totally.
Score (out of 5)
Style: 4.5
Warmth: 4
Grip: 3.5
Waterproof rating: 4.5
ECCO Womens Soft 7 TRED GTX Hi, from $149 at Ecco. Ecco
Dr Martens
When it comes to style, no boots are quite as reliably fashion forward as Dr. Martens. These vegan leather Jadon boots are no exception. They're comfy, durable and most of all, add a little bit of edge to any outfit. While I can vouch for how stylish and waterproof these boots are (puddles, be damned), their warmth isn't exactly ideal for when the weather reaches frigid minus 20 Canadian winter levels. Add a thick pair of wool socks though and they just might work on your morning commute. The upside? You can probably get away with wearing these during all four seasons.
Score (out of 5)
Style: 5
Warmth: 2
Grip: 4
Waterproof rating: 4.5
Vegan Jadon II, $230 at Dr. Martens.Dr Martens
Roots
These sneakers look so far removed from your traditional winter boot, that I was wary about performance. Luckily, they proved me wrong. Lined with fleece, they kept my feet warm (though I did have to wear thicker socks for those extra frosty days), and they were sufficiently waterproof. I really like how they aren't at all heavy or clunky, and the rubber grip made me feel pretty agile and confident in my ability to jump across slush without falling on my face.
Score (out of 5)
Style: 5
Warmth: 3.5
Grip: 5
Waterproof rating: 4
Women Rideau Mid Winter Sneaker, $80 at Roots.Roots
Ugg
Listen people, I have finally found a winter boot that has it all. And when I say “it all,” I mean ever-y-thing. I’m usually hesitant to even look in the Ugg boot section because I despise the look of their classic boot (don’t @ me) but I happened to glance over there this year and TA-DA! This boot is waterproof, insulated AND has good treads on the bottom, while also being super stylish with an adorable wedge heel.
I haven’t slipped once in these babies (knock on wood) and they’ve withstood some downright insulting temperatures. They also look great with skirts (something few boots can boast) and skinny jeans tuck right in. I wouldn’t recommend wearing bottoms with a wider leg, since the fur lining will likely cause a weird bunchy look, but other than that, they’re very versatile in the style department.
If you want a heeled boot without compromising on grip and insulation, these might just be perfect.
Score (out of 5)
Style: 5
Warmth: 4
Grip: 4
Waterproof rating: 4
Women's Jeovana Boot, $140 at Ugg.Ugg
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