In 2010 I spent a month at Mount Everest’s Base Camp in Nepal. As part of a summit-expedition team, my assignmentwas to write news, both for ϳԹԻ , from the comfort of a tent pitched at the terminus of the Khumbu Icefall.
Say what you will about Base Camp,but I was there to do a job, and I found my work space to be stunningly beautiful and surreal. Where else can you wake to the rumble of an avalanche at dawn,check out expeditionsetups straight out of James Bond,Ի stumble acrossartifacts (like a human arm) emerging from the melting glacier? Some mountaineering companies stake down absurdly luxurious glamping spreads, but ours wasn’t one of them. That’s why I grew attached to my Ugg boots. It getscold at 17,500 feet elevation, and thoseboots kept my feet warm.
LastJanuary, my old Uggs died, their suede uppersworn so thin that it finally slit at the seam. I was eager to buy the exact same pair,butsoon learned that my had been out of circulation for years. To my dismay, I discoveredthat the soles on the latest Uggs seemed more suited for an airport frequent-flyer lounge than the snow and ice at my homein northern Minnesota, where temperatures frequently dip below zero.SoI went on a hunt to find a replacement. Of course, not everyone lives in a polar vortex, which is why I tested boots in temperatures rangingfrom 25 degrees to minus 20. Ultimately, I found four that will keep anyonewarm and upright in harsh winter weather.
Best for New Snow
Steger Mukluks Klondike ($250)
Weight: 2 poundsper pair
Temperature Rating: Minus30 degrees
In 1985, Patti Steger started sewing mukluks in her Ely, Minnesota,home after a ten-month Arctic expedition with herhusband, polar explorer Will Steger. She modeled her lightweight, 11-inch-tall, moose-hide after the footwear their Inuit friends wore. The warmth is the result of aflexible rubber sole.Because your feet can flex easily in theseԻ more constantly stay in motion, blood flows better to thedistantappendage than it might otherwise in a stiffer structure, creatingheat. Insidethe boot is a polypropylene-lined wool felt liner, and it comes with an extra felt insole so you can double up onthecoldest days. Steger wears her boots without socks, because she swears they’re warmer this way,so I tried that on a minus-18-degree morning walk to watch the sun rise over Lake Superior. The Klondikekept my feet cozyfor an hour. This particular model lacks an aggressive sole, so it can be slippery on icy surfaces. For a grippier versionthat also works in deep powder, try the higher ,the go-to boot for nordic-skiing Olympic champion Jessie Diggins.
Best for Hiking on Hardpack
Muck Women’s Arctic Ice Nomadic Sport ($180)
Weight: 2.25 poundsper pair
Temperature Rating:Minus 20 degrees
I gravitate toward boots that I can slip on in a second, so I was thrown at first to see that Muck’s new has laces. Thankfully, arear pull tab means they’re still cinch to yank on without untying. I quickly learned that this boot is a lightweight hiker fit for Antarctica, with a 100 percent waterproof fabric upper, a thermal fleece lining, and a chunky Vibram outsole. My longest and coldest test in them was a six-mile hike up a frozen river north of Duluth when it was minus four degrees out. With the help of two pairs of ski socks, my feet stayed toasty without getting sweaty (an included antimicrobial, wicking footbed insert helped). The deep-lugged outsole, which is made from a rubber compound specially designed to grip on slipperysurfaces, crushed it on the icy hardpack.
Best for Doing Chores in Above-Zero Temperatures
Bogs Whiteout Fleck ($150)
Weight: 3.2 poundsper pair
Temperature Rating:Minus 58 degrees
The beauty of Bogs is how easy they are to pull on, thanks to big dual handles on the uppers. They’re an efficient, sturdy companion for everything from grocery store runs to mucking stables. Since through the bottom of our feet, and the is meant to wear in cold weather, Bogsoutfitted it with a thick, amply cushioned insole that acts as an extra barrier to ground chill. Its 100 percent waterproof, 13-inch-high upper, which is insulated with seven millimeters of neoprene insulation, creates additional warmth and protection in high snow. I wore the Whiteoutover several days, including on afive-mile, snow-packed, occasionally icy trail through the woods in temperatures that ranged from 25 to minus 5degrees. The heavilylugged, slip-resistant outsole handled the terrain like a boss, but on thenegative-five day, my feet started to numb, makingme a little suspect of the generous minus-58-degrees rating.
Best for Icy City Sidewalks
Icebug Metro 2 Women’s Bugrip ($190)
Weight:2.1pounds
Temperature Rating: 15 degrees
If your nemesis is ice, look no further than Icebug. This Swedish company is known for itstraction technology in a range of kicks,from running shoes to hefty winter boots. Because I walk on icy city sidewalks every day, I opted to test itsbestselling . With an ankle-high,water-repellent, fleece-lined suede upper and a recycled polyester insole, the urban “shootie” is ideal forsharply dressed urbanites who don’t want to break a hip. Thestudded versioncomes outfitted with 16 carbide-steel studs. They’re positioned evenly throughout a special rubber compound that’s flexible enough to allow each stud togripindependently, depending on where you weight your foot with each step. After testing the studded version over multiple days on an ice-packed city creek trail with steep ups and downs, I found that the shoes gripped as well as hiking crampons. My toes froze after about a half-hour on a subzero day, but the shoe isn’t rated for subzero temperatures.