Help me find good winter boots!

AprilH81

I'm looking for a nice pair of basic winter boots.  I live in the midwest where we get a lot of snow but I also work from home so I will only need these boots to run errands in or if I go out to play in the snow. I will probably wear these boots if it is really cold to keep my legs warm too, so a knee high boot would be nice.

Needs:

-wide calf fit

-waterproof

-flat boot (minimal heel/wedge)

-insulated

-basic/neutral in design so I don't have to replace them as the trends change.

lyndausvi

I have these by Sorel. I love them.  Might even get another pair just so I have some variety.  

ThxSugar

I bought these a couple years ago. I love them because I hate undoing cold, wet laces.

sunflower0592

I bought these from The North Face last year and I love them- they're the Shellista II Mid boot. I live in an area that is notorious for its extreme winters, you may have heard about the 8 feet of snow we got last November over a 2-day period. They keep my feet warm in single digit temps, they're waterproof, and stylish enough to pair with most casual outfits since you're basically in snow boots from November-April here.

lovesclimbing

I know tons of people who have Sorels. Those are some good boots. I have LL Bean-brand boots. The particular boot is the "wildcat." I've had them for a good six years now and they've served me well. Warm, waterproof, fairly light weight. They had several colors back when I got them including black and a grey, which is what I have.

TrixieJess

I would suggest Sorels as well. I know that my boots are rated up to -10*C and FI's up to -40*C.

banana468

I love my Uggs but I'm really hearing great things about Sorel.

cupcait927

I love my Sorels. I have Uggs that I wear if I'm going to work, since they're easier to slip on and off, but my Sorels are the best. 

These are the ones I have - Sorel Joan of Arctic Knit:

I know that the Sorel Tofinos are very well-liked as well, and are a little less bulky

jenna8984

Mine are exactly like @cupcait927 's except with some fake fur around the top. I think they are Sorel Toffino. I live in MA and can't rave enough about them. I even wore them in Iceland last winter and they held up perfectly on 12 hour day tours walking through snow!

thisismynickname2

For something in a different price range, I've picked up Bare Traps at DSW and they held up very well for a midwestern commute.

http://www.dsw.com/browse?Dy=1&Nty=1&Ntt=bear+trap

simcal18

So I have recently become a huge devotee of Cougar boots.  I think they would meet your requirements pretty well--I have gigantic (seriously, gigantic) calves and these are some of the only boots that will fit me mid-calf.  They are seriously warm and comfy, and they have the bonus of coming in a classic design and performing like snow boots while not LOOKING like snow boots.  I have them in brown and black and have worn them literally almost every day for the past two winters:

http://www.cougarboots.com/products/vienna/# 

kvruns

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

simcal18

kvruns said:

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

I tuck my dress pants into them for the commute and then change into dressier shoes at work.  Occasionally if it's a really cold day and/or I don't have any big meetings, I can get away with wearing the boots over leggings all day.

sunflower0592

bostonbride2015 said:

kvruns said:

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

I tuck my dress pants into them for the commute and then change into dressier shoes at work.  Occasionally if it's a really cold day and/or I don't have any big meetings, I can get away with wearing the boots over leggings all day.

Ditto. Or I'll even wear my snow pants over my dress pants, and change into nice shoes at work.

lyndausvi

kvruns said:

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

I live in the mountains and  I work from home. So my attire is mostly jeans or leggings.  They just sit by my door to put on to take out the dogs or to go out.   Last year I pretty much wore them every single day in the winter, just not all day long.

wandajune6

I have wide calves too. I bought a pair of Sorel's last year and they're wonderful. Plus, they adjust nicely around my calf because of the lacing but without looking odd (sometimes relying on the laces make the boots look really awful).

I adore them.

TrixieJess

bostonbride2015 said:

kvruns said:

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

I tuck my dress pants into them for the commute and then change into dressier shoes at work.  Occasionally if it's a really cold day and/or I don't have any big meetings, I can get away with wearing the boots over leggings all day.

Yep, this. I keep a pair of Mary Janes at my desk.

cupcait927

kvruns said:

This might be a silly question but do you guys just wear these boots for the commute or all day at work too? What pants do you wear with them - do you tuck pants in or have jeans or whatever over them?

I wear my Uggs to and from work, since they're easy to slip on and off and aren't bulky. I usually keep all my dress shoes at work during the winter because I'm terribly about remembering to grab them and bring them with me. The Sorels I have are strictly for walking the dog, shoveling snow or when it's seriously cold/snowy/wet.

jenna8984

I work in a casual manufacturing plant so I leave mine on for work all day over skinny jeans/ skinny black pants.

sarahufl

I love my Sorels. I forget which ones they are- maybe the Tofinos? They look kind of like this (http://www.sorel.com/womens-tofino-boot-LL1846.html?cgid=winter-boots&dwvar_LL1846_variationColor=011#prefn1=genderGroup&prefv1=Women&start=10) but a different color.

I wear them mostly with tights/leggings (I find them uncomfy with jeans tucked in). I leave regular shoes at work.

GoldenPenguin

LL Bean is the BEST. LINK

madamerwin

This is awesome timing for this thread! An old coworker who works at Columbia now just gave me a guest pass to the employee store there, so I have been looking at Sorel boots (owned by Columbia) online...  I'd been leaning toward the ones @cupcait927 has, so I am glad to get some real-life reviews!

WinstonsGirl

I usually change into runners, but if I'm in jeans, I might stay in my fake uggs for the day, especially if I'm not doing anything major in Phys-Ed classes 

jenna8984

WinstonsGirl said:

I usually change into runners, but if I'm in jeans, I might stay in my fake uggs for the day, especially if I'm not doing anything major in Phys-Ed classes 

Canadian for sneakers? I've never heard that lol

kimmiinthemitten

jenna8984 said:

I work in a casual manufacturing plant so I leave mine on for work all day over skinny jeans/ skinny black pants.

I'm similar.  I work in industrial sales so most of my day is spent bouncing between manufacturing plants so I wear mine all day with leggings or skinny black pants:).  I have hunters with wooly socks right now which I love because they are easy on and off and clean very easily, but am probably going to buy a pair of Sorels this winter for the colder days.

NowIAmSyp

I wear Keen boots- this pair, actually.  Waterproof, grippy soles, and warm fleece lining.  Love them!

WinstonsGirl

@jenna8984 - I guess.  Running shoes.  

vikinganna87

I will second the Sorel and LLBean recommendations.  I have a pair of Bean boots that are relatively light (though Bean makes a full range).  They're warm, easy to slip on, decent to drive in and not too heavy to walk long distances in.  In New England I'll wear them Oct - Apr.  I usually take them off inside but it's not necessary unless I'm wearing a skirt.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43281?feat=506697-GN2&page=women-s-l-l-bean-boots-10-shearling-lined&attrValue_0=Brown/Brown&productId=732934

I also have a pair of Joan of Arctic Sorel boots that are amazingly warm.  I wear them for snowmobiling in the North, North Country and any day there's a lot of snow.  They go higher up on the calf than the Bean boots and yes, my calves are enormous.  The warmest boot I have found.  They're a bit heavy for more than one hour of walking but on any supercold day with deep snow this is the best boot I can find.  I usually wear my ski pants (same as my snowmobiling pants) over the boot and my feet stay dry.

http://www.sorel.com/womens-joan-of-arctic-boot-NL1540.html

With this combo I'm covered for winter.

lovemesomemonster

I am all about my Sorel boots, I have multiple pairs and wear them all winter. When I worked in an office I would tuck my slacks into them to walk through the snow in the parking lot and change to dressier shoes in the office. I have everything from wedge boots to snow boots by them that I wear for snowmobiling and they last forever! 

lovesclimbing

The jobs I've had where I had to wear them to work I usually would just wear them under jeans. But I don't have a dress-up job. Or, what I usually do is just where my danskos to work and have my boots in the car if I need them. And this is when I lived where it was -20 in the winter.

QueenOfGlitz

I really love my Uggs but they aren't really for playing in the snow. They do hold up well throughout our WI winters, though!