The Best Winter Boots for Women (New England Tested)

If there’s one thing New Englanders have figured out, it’s cold-weather gear. Sure, our blood thickens up a bit in the colder months, so you might see us outside in just a fleece when it’s late March, but at the start of the season you can be sure we’re prepared for those cold days!

There are three pairs of casual winter boots that have stood the test of time in my closet. If you’re new to the Boston area, or you’re just visiting and want to know what you should pack, here’s what you’ll see a lot of locals wearing.

The must-have boots for women in New England:

1. The Bean Boot

The iconic LL Bean duck boot is a best-seller for a reason. I finally got a pair of these a couple of years ago, and I don’t know why I waited so long. I went with the 6″ tumbled leather (for a softer leather- I didn’t want to have to break them in). They’re waterproof, you can get them with a Thinsulate (read: warmer) liner, and they’re much more trendy in recent years.

2. The Warm Boot

I got my first pair of UGG boots back in high school, and I wore them until there were holes in them. When I found a pair of Minnetonka boots to replace my UGGs, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like them – and I ended up liking them so much that I replaced those with another pair. I wear these all winter long, either with jeans or leggings, running errands or out on a walk. They’re just the coziest pair of boots, and they’re not bulky like snow boots can be! (Sure, it may date me when I go out in these and leggings, but when it’s literally 0 degrees outside I don’t really care that much. Though this year I may get a shorter pair to wear with wider leg pants.)

3. The Rain Boot

I bought my first pair of Hunter boots a while back when they became “the” boot to get for rainy days. I wear these in the fall and spring rain, but I also have the warm liners to wear them in the colder weather, too. The only downside is that they’re not great for traction, so I don’t wear them if it’s icy. I do want to see the packable boot in person, because these can be bulky to travel with.

4. The Casual Everyday Boot

The other boots I wear constantly are a short bootie (mostly with jeans, similar to this pair). They’re casual but still perfectly appropriate for an office setting, if you work in tech like I did.

5. The Heavy Duty Winter Boot

And last (but certainly not least), the boots I wear every winter are my Sorel winter boots (much clunkier than the Minnetonka boots but more practical in the snow and ice). These come with me to the ski mountain, when I’m out shoveling the walkway, and when I’m out playing in the snow with my kids!

Fellow New England women, what did I miss? What boots are you wearing constantly in the winter months?

If you’re looking for the best winter boots for kids, I have a post on that too!