Gone are the days of looking high and low for a shoe that will let you get outside in winter cold and slop in comfort. Virtually every brand has introduced multiple snow-, cold-, and water-shedding running shoes this year.
The season’s top picks range from impressively comfortable, cushy neutral road runners lined with protective Gore-Tex, to super burly, toothy, waterproof snow hogs with built-in ankle gaiters. With so many options available, this guide no longer includes water-resistant models—just fully waterproof road and trail shoes.
Why Winter Running Shoes?
Winterized shoes help keep feet warm as they block wind and cold with their thicker, less-breathable uppers—a benefit even in dry cold-weather conditions. Despite improved, somewhat breathable materials, most runners find their feet overheat in winterized shoes in temperatures higher than about 30 degrees. But the best ones vent just enough to not get clammy inside, and they don’t feel stiff and buckle at the toe flexion point due to waterproof layers or treatments. (That’s the worst.)
Waterproof shoes also keep feet dry by blocking out snow, rain, splashes and slop. Besides reducing cold and wetness, winterized shoes are hydrophobic, meaning, they don’t hold water and add weight.
Granted, if you run in the rain, or through puddles or snow deep enough, waterproofing becomes rather moot due to that big hole in the top of the shoe—you know, where your foot steps into it. In these conditions, a high-top, built-in gaiter will make a world of difference in keeping you dry and comfortable.
How We Tested Winter Running Shoes
During the late months of fall, I vetted and tested this year’s offerings in a variety of Colorado terrains and winter conditions to find the best of the bunch and compared them to what I and a small fleet of testers landed on as the best of last season. I then made sure the good ones from last year are still available. (Sadly, some are not—I’m hanging on to my discontinued carbide-spiked La Sportiva Blizzards for life.) Here are our favorites in four categories. We also listed several other available models in each category that may work better for you, especially if you are a fan of the non-waterproof version of the shoe.
At a Glance
Winterized Road Running Shoes
Winterized Road to Trail Shoes
Winterized Trail Running Shoes
Shoes for Deep Snow
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Winterized Road Running Shoes
Roadies who get after it no matter the weather have more options than ever to help keep their feet from turning into painful blocks of ice.
Saucony Triumph 22 GTX
Some Gore-Tex running shoes can feel stiff and uncomfortable, a sacrifice for warm, dry feet. Not these. The Triumph 22 GTX is the most plush, comfortable weatherproof shoe we’ve ever run in. The PWRRUN PB (engineered PEBA) midsole foam feels ample, smooth, and springy. The upper—weatherized via a Gore-Tex Invisible Fit construction that integrates the waterproof material directly into the upper—felt seamless. 10.6 ounces (men’s), 9.1 ounces (women’s); 10 mm drop
Hoka Clifton 9 GTX
This is the lightweight, smooth-running, highly cushioned Clifton you know and love—but with a fully waterproof upper constructed with comfortable Gore-Tex Invisible Fit and an outsole built for winter conditions. What Hoka is calling “Traction Pods” on the Durabrasion rubber outsole create more ground contact and extrude a tad (not as much as trail shoe lugs), doing a decent job of gripping on snow. This is a good choice for roadies needing a little extra traction through winter, without going the full trail running shoe route. 9.6 ounces (men’s), 8.3 ounces (women’s); 5 mm drop
Other Winterized Road Running Shoes Available this Season
Winterized Road To Trail Running Shoes
For messy roads or minimally technical trails, these shoes provide secure footing and smooth rides while keeping feet comfortable and protected from the elements.
Nike Trail Pegasus 5 Gore-Tex
This winterized version of the Trail Pegasus 5, with its lively ReactX foam midsole that delivers a versatile ride on road or trail, features a Gore-Tex-lined upper, high-ankle cuff, and reflective detailing. We wore this shoe on sloppy gravel roads four days after a snowstorm and loved it for its comfort both underfoot and around the foot. The waterproof upper flexes easily with the foot while protecting from cold, snow, and general muck. 10.5 ounces (men’s), 8.9 ounces (women’s); 9.5mm drop
Merrell Morphlite Gore-Tex
One hundred thirty dollars is a steal for a pair of Gore-Tex shoes, and the fact that the Morphlite Gore-Tex can transition between road and trail makes it even more of a value. We found that the wide outsole of this shoe paired with concave sections underfoot made us feel stable and successfully “morphed” over obstacles like small tree roots in the Maryland woods. The midsole foam felt a bit firm, especially under the forefoot, which made us lean more trail than road in this shoe. Still, it’s capable of both, well waterproofed, and lightweight, to boot. 9 ounces (men’s), 7.6 ounces (women’s); 6.5mm drop
On Cloudsurfer Trail Waterproof
On’s CloudTec Phase midsole technology runs soft and smooth on roads yet isn’t too mushy on light trails, making this a versatile shoe. The outsole’s rubber compound and tread design gripped a smooth gravel road with occasional patches of ice and provided sure footing on a road-to-trail route. The upper delivered enough support for rocky singletrack while flexing enough to run comfortably on roads, even with its waterproofing layer (seam sealed Cosmo Hydroguard). 11.3 ounces (men’s), 9.2 ounces (women’s); 7mm drop
Other Winterized Road to Trail Running Shoes Available this Season
Winterized Trail Running Shoes
These trail running shoes are designed for wet muck, packed snow, and sloppy terrain in general, with their traction adding necessary grip and rugged uppers protecting from punctures and penetrating cold and moisture.
Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 WP
The Terraventure 4 WP has stellar traction thanks to its entire outsole, made out of tacky, rock-grabbing Vibram Megagrip. The four-and-a-half-millimeter lugs take hold in snow, and the somewhat firm cushioning, low stack height (25mm/22mm), and wide forefoot base (a design feature of all Topos) add stability on all surfaces. A full bootie construction made out of eVent is meant to be both fully waterproof and breathable; I found the upper to effectively block out snow and moisture but my feet felt a little clammy at times. Still, I’ll be reaching for this versatile, protective shoe often this winter. 12 ounces (men’s) 10.1 ounces (women’s); 3 mm drop
Icebug Arcus 2 BUGrip GTX
With an outsole equipped with carbide spikes that provide solid grip on ice and retract on hard surfaces (like rocks), Icebug running shoes are in a class of their own. The grip on the Arcus 2 GTX allowed us to tackle the slickest of surfaces, like a north-facing, ice-covered singletrack that doesn’t see the sun all winter (a trail we happily had to ourselves), as well as riding nicely on the slippery road to and from the trail. This shoe’s Gore-Tex Invisible fit upper proved comfortable around the foot, and the cushioning is ample. One ding: Our 125-pound tester found it rode a bit stiff and wished it flexed more. Heavier runners may have more luck. 12.9 ounces (men’s), 10.3 ounces (women’s); 6mm drop
Other Winterized Trail Running Shoes Available this Season
Shoes for Deep Snow
With protective booties that seal out moisture and major traction that grips even in unstable terrain, these shoes are ready for winter fun.
Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G
Underneath a winterized outer softshell hides a low-volume, mountain-capable Scarpa Ribelle Run trail shoe, letting this shoe handle all kinds of winter adventure. Testers appreciated the ability to secure the inner shoe without having to dig inside the shell, thanks to an external BOA dial that tightens and loosens with precise clicks, and found the water-resistant softshell gaiter cut cold, biting winds and shed moisture. The interior shoe is lined with a waterproof membrane to ensure nothing gets in to freeze your toes. The outsole’s sticky rubber grips rocky sections of trail for confident maneuvering, and a band of rubber-like TPU wraps the shoe’s perimeter both for durability and to allow you to “smear” (climber talk for pressing rubber against rock for traction) should the need arise. 13 ounces (unisex); 4 mm drop
La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX
Like the Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra G, the Cyklon Cross GTX features a stretchy, breathable softshell gaiter that extends past the ankle bone for charging through deep snow and slop. Underneath sits the La Sportiva Cyklon running shoe which was built for speedy mountain scrambles. The shoe’s BOA lacing, accessible from outside the shell, effectively secured our feet on off-camber terrain and slippery trails. The Cyklon Cross GTX has a 28-20mm offset for a slightly more cushioned ride, while the Ribelle Run GTX sits at a svelte 26.5-22.5. Another difference: The Scarpa’s gaiter has a Velcro-adjustable closure around the ankle above the angled zipper, while the La Sportiva’s zipper at the front of the ankle goes all the way to the top (and some find the fit too tight for their lower leg). Both shoes proved capable in burly winter running conditions. 12.5 ounces (men’s), 10.5 ounces (women’s); 8 mm drop
Other Winterized Trail Running Shoes for Deep Snow Available this Season