Walking boots or anything leather look great, but need more looking after - cleaning, leather care, waterproofing - and often have a deep tread which holds a lot of mud, and er other substances. Waterproofing: We started with requiring a waterproof sole, but we also chose boots that had tall shafts, about 8 to 10 inches.

Advertised temperature ratings are a guess, not gospel: They don’t account for the activity you’re doing, for how long you’re doing it, or for your individual metabolism. This boot comes equipped with the heel-stabilizing Counter Lock System which provides a more stable, comfortable fit. A nearly identical boot, the North Face Shellista II, didn’t grip as well because the foot was looser.

They’re treated to be weather-resistant, and lined with real wool that will not stink after a few uses. But almost everything else—the entire middle swath of proprietary “winter rubbers” we tried—grip about the same. However we wouldn’t take them out in deep snow—at least not without layering a tall waterproof gaiter over the cuff. But our testers’ subjective opinions (out in the cold they went, with no idea how warm the boots were! You can see how tough these boots are on the outside, but there's a lot more to them than what meets the eye.

Think of this as a modern moccasin—the snug foot and flexible ankle make walking through snow, and walking in general, light and easy.

The rugged brown leather extends up your calves, while the lower black shell creates a weather-resistant barrier of strength.

That said, the lugs on the women’s boot are better, able to bite into and around ice that has a lot of texture. The easiest way to measure is to trace your dog's paw while they are standing with their weight-bearing on the paw. conditions":[{"key":"isRegisteredUser","condition":"equals","value":"N"}]},{"message":"Join Now to Earn Points with Purchases! If you’re willing (and able) to pay a lot for a boot, you’ll get something lighter, cozier, and more flexible than anything else we tested.There’s a snow slipper, for winter driving or air travel, and a plush, wool-lined leather boot that functions better, overall, than anything else we tried.