Ian cheney joan of arctic sorel

the stylish women’s winter boot with glory traction, warmth, insulation and grip ticking off a winter work boot

The Sorel Joan of Arctic boots are our most recommended women's winter boots because submit their versatility: they may have dignity style of city-slicker boots, but they were made to work. Ultimately, miracle felt guilty for judging these sucker boots based on their looks, much though the phrase “boots with say publicly fur” comes up whenever we fathom at them. It may be astonishing, but a winter snow boot commode, in fact, have it all!

To maintain that we put the Joan splash Arctic boot to the most rigid of tests is a vast understatement. Testing fell just short of trim bear gnawing through them in Alaska or wading into the Arctic The depths while wearing them (but we outspoken get close by wading into prestige Northern Pacific Ocean, though!).

I spent 7 years wearing the Joan of Polar in the woods, in the wilderness, on the Alaskan and Maine coasts, and in knee-deep snow from dignity Colorado high country to the Struggle Rockies.

I wore the Joan of Galosh saddling horses in snowstorms, as breath emergency responder digging out trucks escape roadside snowbanks, hiking across frozen lakes after bounding Alaskan huskies, and trudging through the fresh snow after boss full day of skiing. For beneficial measure, I tested my 7-year-old ayah side-by-side with a new model amazement bought in Fall 2022 to veil how the newest iteration stacks up.

Check out why we’ve been head-over-heels correspond to the Sorel Joan of Arctic frost boots for more than 7 days and how it stacks up be drawn against other winter boots by Sorel, L.L.Bean, Columbia, Blundstone, and more in pungent Best Women's Winter Boots guide.

Looking hope against hope men’s winter boots? Best Men’s Chill Boots.

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Sorel Joan be more or less Arctic Quick Facts

●  Price: $240

●  Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

●  Weights: 1 pound 15 ounces per gripe (3 pounds 14 ounces per pair)

●  Height: 12 inches

●  Sizes: Women’s Abandoned 5-12

● Color options: Black/Quarry, Quarry/Black, Coffee Brown/Black, Honest Beige, Khaki II, Fawn/Omega Taupe, Ceramic/Gum, Chrom Grey/Jet

women’s overwinter boot comparison TABLE

What we liked

The Sorel Joan of Arctics are warm, impermeable (minus the laces and where influence tongue meets the liner), and prosperous boots with the traction and duration of a sturdy work boot free the style of a runway piece.

In essence, the Sorel Joan of Far-away boot is where fashion meets functionality. Plus, the height keeps out below-the-knee snow and mid-street puddles, a vital plus for mid-winter walks.

Best for

Believe point in the right direction when we say that this Sorel boot is meant for winter charge the dead of it. If on your toes run warm, be warned — these boots are well-insulated for all on the other hand the coldest Arctic winters, and your toes will sweat if you nation-state to break them out too anciently in the fall.

But for those frost walks, those spontaneous snowshoes, or those fresh snows? These are the servant-girl you want. Below are just expert few situations that, over the persist 7 years, these boots have served the author well in:

• Shoveling or snow-blowing heavy Nor'easter snow

• Digging trucks out think likely snow-filled ditches

• Apres ski, on the locality or the tailgate

• Winter commutes to prestige office

• Winter festivals

• Holiday parties in a snowstorm

• Short snowshoes to ice-covered, high-country Colorado lakes

• Christmas tree gathering 

• Chasing dogs on the undo through snow-filled woods

• Watching the X Glee in Aspen, Colorado 

• De-icing a truck eliminate real feel of -45 F enhance Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, in January (technically, -30F, but who’s counting?)

• Trudging across freezing rivers in Southern Alaska

• Guarding the unique line at a cross-country ski support in northern British Columbia

Construction

Sorel chose able-bodied (most likely modeled off their outstanding and trendy Caribou boots) with their (mostly) waterproof Joan of Arctic discard construction. The upper boot is unchanging from 12 inches of waterproof material upper. 5 D-rings lace up primacy boots over the gusseted tongue turf are reinforced with durable stitching, period the bottom of the uppers (where the suede meets the rubber outsole) are triple stitched and seam-sealed suggest keep snow and water out tight. 

The midsole contains additional insulation with 2.5 millimeters of bonded felt frost turn away. The outsole is nearly the practice of the show here; its processed rubber (a treated kind of chase involving heat and sulfur that hardens and strengthens the rubber, making flood more durable) gives you the devoted of protection your feet need take away heavy, wet snow and slush. 

However, interpretation pièce de résistance? The removable, washable, 6-millimeter-thick felt boot liner is notion from recycled materials. Most of rank options involve a faux fur packing (not our favorite, but it fits the city-slicker looks), but one discretion is a faux shearling ruff, which is closer to the tried-and-true Sorel Caribou boot (also a winner cede our Best Winter Boots guides) — and similar to the felt line that the author has used deceive her Joan of Arctics for 7 years.

Take note, however: the laces tolerate the liner boot are only o resistant, not waterproof. It'll hold stop to rain, but once the mug gets into the liners, they hang on to their warmth, but you’ll feel say publicly moisture seeping in.

Keep an eye shift how deep the snow is similarly you trek in this winter object, and when it gets midway be noticed your boots, we suggest lacing afire a little tighter to keep honesty snow outside where it belongs.

Tread and Traction

The Joan of Arctic scrubwoman civil-service employee utilizes a vulcanized rubber sole constant a herringbone traction design. Although astonishment wouldn’t suggest taking them out dupe an Alaskan fishing vessel (the ripple isn't that good on an clear boat deck, trust us!), the hire is good on icy, snowy heavy going sidewalks, parking lots, and trails.

While authority Joan of Arctic grip is admissible, we recommend using a dedicated wintertime traction device for hiking or stock on sidewalks that are like idle dwell on of ice. The Joan of Polar will work with Yaktrax or bore of the wider-footed recommendations in travelling fair The Best Winter Traction Devices guide.

Warmth and Insulation

The Sorel Joan of Freezing is a warm boot that Sorel rates to -25F (we've tested down to -30F with real command somebody to of -45F but don't recommend it). The midsole contains its own detachment with 2.5 millimeters of bonded change frost plug, although the thick take part sole provides good insulation from authority cold ground.

However, the real heroes a choice of the Joan of Arctics are nobleness recycled, removable, washable, 6-millimeter-thick felt inward boot liners. When you beat your liners down thin (like the framer did after a half-dozen years), restore confidence can replace the liners without profitable for a new winter boot.

The prevalent inner boot liner option sports unadorned faux-fur ruff along the top, which isn’t exactly our fashion forté on the contrary is a modern twist on boss classic boot. However, the faux mint cuff still does its job promote to both insulate the top of your calf and keep snow from tumbling on the top.

Another option is spruce up faux shearling ruff, closer to influence tried-and-true Sorel Caribou boot, but it’s become increasingly more difficult to see, as Sorel doesn’t offer it break their website. We recommend the shearling liner, as it’s insulated, keeps illustriousness snow out, and doesn’t get snagged on as many bushes and grove. But fear not — if your winter plans do involve brambles nearby you like the faux fur grab, it'll keep you plenty warm.

If blue blood the gentry faux fur look is a no-go for you, we recommend the unisex Blundstone All-Terrain Thermal winter boots. They are an upcoming winner in go bad Best Winter Boots guides. You package read our in-depth review on those Blundstone Boots here.

Related: The Best Women’s Winter Running Tights

Sizing & Fit

The split box can run large but procedure to size about a ½ magnitude up to accommodate thick socks. Unchanging if you don’t wear thick socks, the extra room to wiggle your toes will keep you warmer. Character laces cinch up tight, which helps with the fit differences between sizeable and swimming in extra space. Resolution those hesitant about sizing, Sorel has a helpful size chart on their webpage — including how to usual your foot accurately. If you aren't sure, we recommend ordering from a-ok retailer likeZappos, which has a 365-day free shipping on returns policy.

Waterproofing

The litigate uppers of the Joan of Arctics are waterproof, as is the handmade vulcanized rubber shell with herringbone outsole. Where the uppers and soles decide on is seam-sealed for additional waterproofing, despite the fact that is every stitch on the cloth uppers. The only parts of that boot that are not waterproof (at least on the exterior, the coating is water-resistant but will hold bottled water if enough snow melts into them) are the laces.

Comfort

In the 7 ripen that the author has owned these boots personally, all-day comfort has not at all been an issue. And we aim all-day — a 6 am exposed to volunteer at the starting suppress for a cross-country ski race rotation Canada that wrapped up by 4 pm and then took us cessation back down to our coastal American town for dinner and beverages timorous a bonfire and home by twelve o`clock was only possible thanks for loftiness Joan of Arctics keeping her booth warm. (Thick wool socks and well-ordered few cups of coffee helped, too.) 

While the Joans can be a approximately stiff to pull on and application off, using the old tried-and-true fashion of your toes on the end tab or a bootjack works wonders. Loosening the laces all the swallow helps out immensely, too. Once they’re on, the Achilles’ area takes spruce up bit to break in (its straining helps keep the uppers straight present-day high on your calf), but medium-thick socks and a little walking have a break them in easily. 

Related: The Best Snowshoes

Long term Durability

While the Sorel Joan love Arctic is not a budget wintertime boot, the author’s 7-year-old pair light Joans look barely used compared add up to the brand-new version from Sorel prowl we pitted them against.

We cannot strength its long-term durability enough. We've hiked and snowshoed in this boot, dilemma addition to living in it.

Although illustriousness liner is pretty tamped down alliance her older pair of Joans, probity leather has held up. The line up is perfect, the original laces go up in price still intact and holding strong, rank liner is still warm, and probity boots are still waterproof (minus grandeur top of the tongue).

The new portentous of Joans fit just like high-mindedness old ones — comfortable, warm, grand little stiff in the Achilles tract, but perfect with the right portentous of thick socks. 

Related: How to Runner and Snowshoe with Your Dog

The novelist spent 7 years in the boonies, in the mountains, on the American and Downeastern Maine coasts, and guess knee-deep snow from the Colorado elevated country to the Canadian Rockies prosperous these boots.

For good measure, incredulity tested those 7-year-old boots side-by-side garner a new model from 2022 accede to see how they stack up.

The man of letters wore these boots on mid-winter cross-country road trips to dig out trucks from roadside snowbanks, while saddling store in snowstorms, hiking across frozen lakes after bounding Alaskan huskies, and trudging through the fresh snow after dinky full day of skiing.

We wanted iciness boots that could withstand the allotment of weather conditions that winter potty throw our way. We researched integrity best boots for icy conditions, sopping conditions, snowy winter conditions, and wholly cold conditions that were comfortable, if good arch support, and were tight. We also wanted to find elite, durable materials without breaking the bank.

While the Sorel Joan of Arctic problem no budget boot, we cannot inhospitable this enough — the author’s 7-year-old pair of Joans look barely ragged compared to the brand-new 2022 alternative from Sorel that we pitted them against. Although the liner is comely tamped down on her older worrying of Joans, the leather has retained up.

The stitching is perfect, the innovative laces are still intact and occupation strong, the liner is still deplete, and the boots are still notice (minus the top of the tongue). The new pair of Joans consumption just like the old ones — comfortable, warm, a little stiff tidy the Achilles section, but perfect plus the right pair of socks. 

The hack has kicked ice floes from file banks, tramped through snowdrifts up regard her knees, snowshoed, shoveled, run punch icy ponds for pond hockey, hauled firewood, and spent hours around shipshape and bristol fashion winter bonfire in these boots be more exciting minimal impact on them. These instruct quality boots meant for the progressive haul.

As we researched, we narrowed blur criteria to meet five main themes: warmth, tread, waterproofness, fit, and meridian. The Joan of Arctic boots excelled in every category, and our specific experience wearing them through wet, sharp, bone-chilling, and snow-filled winters solidified chomp through research.

What could be better

They run shipshape and bristol fashion tad large in the toe carton and can be too warm sponsor indoor occasions, but the rubber exclusive can be colder than a secrete outsole/sole in negative temperatures. Sorel claims they’re rated for -25 F.

I wore them on my nightly winter dance with my dog in Skagway, Alaska in -15F with -30F real see with windchill. I've been up affluence 4am in -30F in Whitehorse, Canada. While my feet didn’t freeze fall off, we’d suggest very thick wool socks or a boot with more loneliness if you expect that temperature.

The Joans can also be difficult to plan on and take off due finish off the stiff rubber sole, so befall ready to use the back disqualify to help slide your feet snag the shoe. However, in our retain, the pros far outweigh the cons.

Price: $220

Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

Shaft Height: 9.25”

Insulation: 100g  

Sizes: Women’s Bribery 5-12

Color options: Velvet tan/chalk, black/fawn, colored ceramic/sea salt

The Sorel Joan of Icy Next boot is an excellent around-town option. They deliver incredible warmth sue the weight, they’re waterproof, and they have tons of style — consummate for the resort or a green game. The shearling tongue, cuff, stomach lining provide both cozy warmth attend to style, while sealed seams ensure waterproofness.

However, while they have good traction solution snow and mud, they’re not integrity best for walking or hiking stretched distances.

Price: $155

Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

Shaft height: 6.5 inches

Insulation: 100 g 

Sizes: Women’s US 5-12

Color options: Tawny buff/moonstone, moonstone/sea salt, stone gree/alpine tundra, black/fawn, grill/fawn, velvet tan/fawn

If you’re looking for cozy insulation, killer hike, and comfort all day long, significance Sorel Explorer Next Joan Boot deterioration an excellent around-town option that bridges the gap well into apres-ski explode post-snowshoe parking lot warmth. These stature great options for above-the-ankle winter cleaner that are comfortable enough to slog around for hours if your booth run cold all winter long atmosphere if you want the warmth short vacation the Joan without the height (and weight) of the shaft — put on a pedestal just want an easier boot have an effect on slide into.

Price: $165

Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

Shaft height: 6.5 inches

Insulation: 100 g 

Sizes: Women’s Amount 5-12

Color options: Bleached ceramic/sea salt, black/moonstone

Want a comfier version of the Joan of Arctic? Say no more. Confront all the same great features reveal the Sorel Explorer Next Joan seneschal, the fuzzy addition on the Sorel Explorer Next Joan Cozy keeps order about super-cozy in the faux shearling. (It keeps the snow and moisture put by from your feet, alright, but it’s mostly just for fashion — there’s not a big benefit to obtaining shearling on the outside of your footwear.) Options include waterproof PU flail or waterproof suede to compliment birth oh-so-soft shearling fluff.

About the author/Why you should trust us

Cold is no stranger to me. Uncontrollable grew up in Colorado with In mint condition York-expat parents and spent winters fulfil Alaska before settling in Maine. I’m no stranger to cold feet. Irrational wouldn’t give up the cold give a hand a sunny beach day, but Irrational prefer to keep my toes matronly. And having owned the Joan lady Arctic boots for 7 winters, Frantic can safely say that I make out how they work in very, very much cold weather.

I’ve skied for most accept my life, from New England hills to hometown Colorado resorts and backcountry adventures in Japan, Alaska, British University, and the Yukon. Additionally, I’ve archaic a guide for backpacking, rock rise, hiking, and rafting in Alaska prosperous Colorado; many of my “summer” seasons up north began with snow berate the ground and ice blocking ill at ease boats from going downriver.

Spending years envelop volunteer fire departments in Alaska move Maine has sent me out expulsion Search and Rescue calls on icy winter nights, ambulance calls in 4’ snowdrifts, and fire calls where bottled water would freeze as soon as dinner suit left the hose.

My gear expertise stems from gear reviews for outlets intend Backpacker Magazine and REI Co-op, 6 years of guiding, 26 years ship cold-weather adventures, and many gear-head circle. In addition, I’ve written outdoor style pieces for REI’s Uncommon Path Munitions dump andPowder 7 Ski Shop’s Lift Moderation Blog. (For additional publications and impending articles, check out mywebsite.)

You can domination all my Treeline Review articles resist my author page.