Choosing the right footwear is an important decision for your winter adventure - make the wrong choice and your poor toes might regret it - but the good news is you don't need to spend a fortune to make the right choice.
A note of caution - this insight comes from somebody who once thought it would be a good idea to wear a pair of slip on Vans in Iceland in the depths of winter...
It's worth noting...
If you own a pair of walking or hiking boots already, check the forecast and consider what you'll be getting up to. With some good merino wool socks, what you have may already be sufficient.
What we've noted below is about having the best possible options at the best price - but please bear in mind if this is what you really need and whether the investment is worth making if you plan to make a single visit. There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying a pair of £20 snow boots from Mountain Warehouse or Trespass. Just be careful with wearing standard walking boots if you are planning a visit in the depths of winter.
For children
Age is key when making decisions for your children.
For younger ones, whilst snow boots look very cute and super cool, they can be quite heavy, bulky and a bit difficult to walk any distance in. So we'd recommend something a bit more lightweight but still insulated - we've found Crocs Winter Puff snow boots to be a great option - no laces, pull on easily and most important, they stay on! It's really easy to get snow trousers and all-in-ones over these boots too. These Crocs boots are also perfect for using in the U.K. to help you get the best from your money and should also offer reasonable sell-on value.
Amazon have prices below £20 a pair on occasions - use an alert tracker such as CamelCamelCamel to let you know if prices drop below a certain level - anything under £15 is a good price. Don't forget to check Facebook Marketplace as cold weather gear is often only worn once and sold on.
Amazon Warehouse Deals is also worth a look too - this is a section of their website where open box item and returns are re-sold but at reduced prices because they are not 'brand new'. Just keep an eye on the grading of these items.
For slightly older children, there's only one option for us - Sorel boots.
Once an independent brand originating from Canada in the 1960s that focused on practical outdoor work and recreation boots for harsh winter conditions, the Sorel brand was purchased by Columbia Sportswear in 2000 with a new range of men's, women's and children's snow and walking boots emerging later that decade.
The result issmart, practical and premium boots that are perfect for your winter adventures - with many boots rated down to -20 and -40 degrees celsius (which you may find excessive), plenty of designs are perfect for your outdoor pursuits in the U.K. too.
If you buy at the wrong time (e.g. in the winter, just before you travel), you may find prices a lot higher. Take a look in the summer if you can, searching on sites such as Amazon and using the 'price low to high' option. This has allowed us to find great quality boots for between £10 and £15 a pair. Again, check Amazon Warehouse Deals and Facebook Marketplace and consider if you have friends who may be willing to lend theirs.
Whilst there are lots of colours and designs available, the reality is that you don't actually see much of your boots when dressed for cold weather.
For adults
You may be unsurprised to hear that our go-to option for adults over the years has been Sorel snow boots, but recently (and ironically given our first Icelandic experience, Vans make some brilliant but quite pricey snow boots too).
Why Sorel? You just cannot go wrong with an established snow and walking boot brand that is designed for cold weather experiences. Having happy feet makes all the difference, especially on those late aurora hunting nights.
If you find a pair of Sorel boots for under £50, you'll have done well. These are prices more likely to be found on Amazon and over the summer period, but have a look around as we've found Sorel boots in the sale at places such as Next and John Lewis. Facebook Marketplace often has Sorel boots for sale at prices you could find for a new pair on sites such as Amazon.
One awesome thing is that Sorel make slippers too. So handy to chuck on if you need to nip out to get some firewood or to check the aurora 🙂
We've found these as low as £20 a pair on Amazon and there might have been occasions where these have been worn on a quick trip to the shops too...
Vans boots can reach well into the £150+ bracket, with some sale prices in the region of £75-£85. Consider these an investment piece if you want to have a lighter-weight pair of stylish boots that look great. These are perfect for wearing at home in the UK too.
Practical considerations for your winter boots:
Get good socks that stay up. It's really annoying when they slide down in your boots! Merino wool socks are best and you may only need one pair (honestly)
Some boots are so large that they could fill a carry-on luggage bag, so best to wear them on the plane if you can.
They aren't always the best to drive in, so consider taking some suitable flat shoes
Consider how quickly you can get your boots on - being in your winter gear and taking ages to get your boots on inside a warm property isn't much fun
Hopefully you may also need to quickly get your boots on to see the aurora...
Have a look at re-sale prices as some boots hold their value well - and many may have only been worn for one trip.
Always fit your snow trousers over your boots. Check your snow trousers for hooks to attach to your boots, because getting snow inside your boots is a pretty miserable experience...
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