The Best Snowmobile Boots (Review) in 2023 | Autance

Sometimes if you want the best, you have to swallow your pride and go to the folks with the best experience. When it comes to winter clothing – especially to winter boots – who knows better than the Canadians? If they can make the kind of clothes and apparel that can survive the Canadian winter, you’ve got to pay attention.

Baffin are one of the most respected Canadian outdoor wear manufacturers, and if you live south of the border but want to take advantage of the experience of our northern cousins, you should definitely check out this boot. The stand out feature is the construction, where we have an excellent mix of molded outer with multi-fiber foam based inner boot systems.

That hybrid construction is going to provide a boot that is incredibly tough on the outside, really comfortable and warm on the inside. In fact these are hardcore boots, rated for use in temperatures as low as -72C / -95F. These snow boots are also extremely practical to put on, with two straps that are easy to operate even with cold hands. The top drawstring makes a snug close to keep snow out, whilst the aggressive tread pattern on the sole will provide excellent grip.

These boots are so Canadian they should come with a voucher for a free plate of poutine, and they are stuffed full of useful, carefully thought out features.

This snow boot has the appearance of a pretty traditional style of boot. However look a little closer, and you see that it is actually packing a number of very interesting – and pretty modern – features.

The big stand out has to be those synthetic rubber soles. This material has been used here to provide boot soles that are just as strong but also 50% lighter than natural rubber versions. That weight saving can feel very valuable when you’re plodding along loose, powdery snow. The upper is 600 denier Nylon, so it’s very thick and also waterproof, again another useful feature.

The boot opening is neatly closed with a drawstring, whilst the boot itself is held in place with a single strap above the ankle. The drawstring should provide a tight seal to keep moisture out; the strap will be easy to manage with cold fingers. Internal padding is 8mm thick, and Kamik claim the boot can be used in temperatures up to -40F. This is a well-designed boot in the traditional style with some useful modern upgrades

If you want a pair of snowmobile boots that actually don’t really look like snowmobile boots, consider this pair from SOREL. Just look at them – that is a fine looking pair of winter boots that will look equally at home on the slopes or in a bar. But it’s not just looks with this pair of boots – there is a lot under the hood too.

Those beautiful uppers are made of real leather. The soles meanwhile are rubber, and have very aggressive, multi-directional tread for supreme grip in even the most slippery conditions. Where the two materials meet the seams have been sealed to provide a pair of boots with excellent waterproof properties.

The features continue to roll when you look inside too. The standout has to be the 400 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation. This is a pretty high weight of extremely good quality insulation that is one of the reasons the manufacturers state the boots can be worn in temperatures as low as -40F. A built in bootie with drawstring closure is also included in the design, helping to achieve a snug and secure fit.

This set of Winter Boots from Klim combines easy, low – key styling with modern materials for a well-made, very protective boot. The Gore-Tex construction is a big attention getter of course, as anyone who has ever purchased outdoor suited clothes or apparel will know this is a premium material.

Inside the boot, we find an incredible 600 grams of Thinsulate insulation material. That is really going to do a job of keeping your feet toasty and warm, whilst a moisture wicking plush liner helps keep them dry. The insole can also be removed for easy cleaning, keeping the dreaded boot-foot smell at bay after a hard weekend in the wilderness.

Ankle cut outs provide a higher degree of flexibility than you expect with a shoe of this type, whilst the soles boast an aggressive tread for excellent grip. This is not a cheap product so do bear that in mind. But it does have a range of very impressive features in a well though out design.

So far we’ve looked at a range of high quality winter boots that provide sufficient protection and insulation to make them suitable for use when snowboarding. With this product from FXR however, we’re taking a bit of a different tack. What we have here is a boot designed specifically for use when snowboarding.

That means that we see a lot of the features we’ve seen already on previous products. We have a rugged sole with aggressively styled treads for grip. We have a phenomenal 600 grams of insulation, leading to footwear rated for use in temperatures as low as -40C. We also have a snug fur lining, and a styling that is more eye catching, and clearly more “sporty” in its inspiration than some of the previous models.

We have some features unique to a snowmobile boot too, and not just that sporty design. Chief amongst them are the protected kick toe that is built into the design. It is essentially an extra thick part of the sole at the front of the boot. It protects the foot from impacts whilst riding, and also allows you to kick surfaces to knock snow and ice off them quickly without damaging your delicate little toes.

This pair of boots are big, black and kind of look like what you could imagine Darth Vader wearing on a winter sports vacation. But whilst they may not be the most eye catching design in the world, they certainly pack in a whole heap of useful features.

First and foremost is the removable Thermolite fleece liner. It provides enough insulation for these boots to be rated for wear in temperatures as low as -68F, whilst the fact they are removable makes for easy cleaning. Turning to the outer materials and we have a durable synthetic leather upper with rugged plastic soles. There are also built in toe caps for a little extra protection and the boots are either waterproof (lower section) or water resistant (uppers).

The soles have chunky, “Chisel-Tooth” style tread for great grip, whilst the laces run full length for a tight and secure fit. With a price tag of around a hundred bucks, they are from the lower end of the price range, but they are still bursting with useful features.

Well, they state right there that they are Hi-Viz – and they certainly aren’t lying! These are a pair of snow boots that people will see you in from a long way away. Whilst that may be something that not everyone wants, it does add a useful element of safety. There’s also a lot more to recommend these boots than the styling.

The stand out feature is the insulation, or more accurately, the insulation material. It is a 3-layer blend of Marino wool. This all-natural material has incredible wicking properties, and will help to keep your feet dry (and warm) for extended periods of time.

Looking at the outer sections and there are some impressive features here too. For example the upper is 1000 denier Nylon with leather trim in strategic locations. The soles are molded and include a high abrasion toe. A simple but effective buckle and strap installation will both keep you feet secure whilst being easy to operate with cold, numb hands. A drawstring is the final cherry on top, allowing a close and secure fit designed to keep moisture out.

If you’re going to name your boot Wolf it better be very good – luckily Baffin don’t disappoint. This is the second entry from the Canadian manufacturer to make our list and, just like the first, this product is packed with useful features.

From the outside, the most eye-catching features are probably those dual buckle straps. They are nice and big to provide both a secure and comfortable fit, but also frankly massive buckles that will be easy to use in all weathers and with freezing fingers. The outsole is rubber with slightly less aggressive tread, whilst the boot top boasts a drawstring collar for a snug closure.

Take a look at the internal features and you can see that the boot contains a highly impressive 7 layers of insulation – yes, 7! Not only that, but all the layers are removable for easy cleaning. These boots are very lightweight too, and have been designed by Baffin mainly for walking on deep but powdery snow – that is why they have such a tall, waterproof construction without very aggressive tread. If those are the conditions you snowmobile in most frequently, definitely take a look at these very well designed snow boots that are a credit to their name.

Our second product from Kamik and it is more of an everyday winter boot, especially when compared to some of the more hardcore models we’ve looked at. This is especially highlighted when you look at the insulation layer provided, with 200 grams of Thinsulate material in this product. That is the lowest level of insulation of any product on the list.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing however. We don’t all go snowmobiling on the Arctic Tundra, and 200 grams of insulation is ok for pretty cool temperatures. In addition, because of the low insulation, Kamik are able to build a boot with a far more everyday appearance too – you can wear them around town without a second glance. 

They still have some useful features too. The upper is leather for waterproof protection; the sole is 100% rubber so it will provide both waterproof protection and good traction. The lining is moisture wicking and can be removed for easy cleaning. All in all, don’t wear these in the coldest conditions – but for more inclement winter weather these are very well designed snowmobile boots.

Our last product on the list, and pretty much the Polar opposite of the snow boot we just looked at (pun very much intended there by the way). Whilst the previous product were very much everyday boots lacking the insulation for deep winter wear, this beast from Baffin (their third product to make the list) is very different.

The big standout here is the phenomenal 8 layers of insulation. This multi foam layer provides the heat retention and protection sufficient for these boots to be rated for use in temperatures as a low as -148F. That makes them very much the hardiest boots on this list, so if you are looking for the ultimate protection from cold weather, these are the boots for you.

In addition to that incredible insulation, we also have an all Nylon and Rubber construction – Nylon upper and Rubber soles. They combine to provide a very useful waterproof construction, whilst the soles also boast excellent tread for increased traction. Two oversized buckles are designed for easy use in cold weather, whist a drawstring collar keeps out moisture.