The Greatest Down Booties of 2023-2024

How We Examined Down Booties

The GearJunkie squad makes use of down and synthetic-fill booties and socks on out of doors adventures year-round. We use them tenting and backpacking, on ski hut journeys, ski resort commutes, and for on a regular basis use in our chilly — typically freezing — mountain-based workplaces and houses.

Our staff examined down and down-alternative booties and socks from the early fall to late winter in temps from -10 to 40 levels. We additionally used them for fall and winter tenting, après snowboarding, round the home, and extra.

Main the testing squad for down booties is GearJunkie contributor Meghan LaHatte. Having lived in one of many coldest areas of Colorado for the previous 5 years, LaHatte isn’t any stranger to chilly ft. After affected by a power foot harm as a consequence of a nasty case of frostnip, she understands the significance of conserving her ft effectively insulated each indoors and out. LaHatte examined these down booties on frigid canine walks, working in her dwelling workplace, tenting within the desert and transitioning into her ski boots on deep powder days. She will guarantee you that each one of those down booties have been put to the truest check in various climates and parts.

All through our subject checks and private expertise, we decided the very best down booties and socks based mostly on a wide range of metrics together with insulation worth, heat, sturdiness, consolation, assist, match, cuff top, adjustability, traction, and high quality.

Past our checks, we additionally thought of the preferred, award-worthy, progressive, sustainable, and legacy designs. These down booties and socks serve a spread of ft, functions, and budgets.

Purchaser’s Information: The right way to Select Down Booties

Down Booties versus Down Socks

There are only some slight variations between down booties and down socks. Down booties are a kind of shoe, with an insulated physique, insulated sole, and a few type of closure on the prime to seal in heat. They are often ankle-height to mid-calf-height with a purpose to insulate your entire foot.

Down socks are additionally totally insulated however could or could not have a sole and often don’t have snaps, closures, or different options. They’re purely for offering heat. Down socks additionally are usually manufactured from lighter, lower-denier materials, as they’re used extra inside sleeping baggage fairly than strolling round a home or cabin.

Down booties are the most typical means of insulating your ft in winter and are often extra versatile and sturdy, although we did embrace just a few down socks on this record as effectively. If you happen to plan on sporting your down booties exterior and including some mileage to them, we recommend shopping for a pair with a thicker sole and traction.

While you’re searching for down footwear, take into consideration the place you’ll be sporting the booties and the way a lot sturdiness you may want. Would you like an insulating slipper with a sturdy sole? Or would you like one thing with fewer shoe options, perhaps to put on inside your sleeping bag?

Would you like a taller-height bootie or extra of a slipper model? This final one is desire. Down booties might be worn with or with out socks, however we recommend a thinner and breathable sock for those who go together with. The booties themselves are heat sufficient that there isn’t any want to drag on a thick or 100% wool sock.

Supplies 

Our complete information contains all kinds of down bootie kinds, starting from numerous sorts of soles, insulation, suits and supplies. With so many several types of booties available on the market, it may be exhausting to distinguish between what kinds are supposed to be worn inside, out, in a sleeping bag, as socks, and many others. It actually all boils right down to what sort of supplies the down booties are manufactured from, and their meant use. 

To assist information your course of find that excellent bootie kind for you, we’ve outlined the assorted supplies and their functions under. 

Exterior Materials

The outside material of down booties is a vital element to contemplate when searching for a pair. The outside material is what protects the general shoe from numerous parts and can assist enhance the insulation skills of the inside as effectively. 

Most down booties are constructed with a nylon exterior. Nylon is an artificial materials made to be tear and waterproof. It’s usually light-weight, and breathable relying on the stitching. Nylon is used as a result of it’s versatile and can assist the down booties preserve their greatest insulation skills, thus conserving your ft toasty heat. The Baffin CUSH Booty makes use of a strengthened Nylon, making it each sturdy and waterproof. 

Additionally, you will see down booties designed with a quilted higher, just like the Teva ReEMBER. Quilted exteriors maintain the insulation from shifting round an excessive amount of thus permitting the insulation to retain warmth even higher than earlier than. Take into consideration how heat your childhood quilt was as a child — principally the identical science! 

Most material exteriors of down booties have hydrophobic properties making them waterproof or waterproof. If you wish to garner extra information about these functions, maintain scrolling. 

Tread

If you happen to’ve scrolled by way of our record of down bootie choices, you probably seen that a few of these merchandise have outsole tread whereas others have little to none. Tread units the bar on how a lot mileage you will get out of  a pair of down booties. 

Booties with softer soles that lack tread must be worn indoors like a cabin or hut. You possibly can deal with these footwear like your customary home slippers. Sure, you may in all probability run out within the driveway to fetch the paper in them, however you wouldn’t wish to hit the paths since they lack the arch assist or sturdiness to assist your ft on various terrain. Our alternative for the very best tread-less possibility? The Montane Icarus Hut Boot Fashion Slippers carry out tremendous effectively for indoor use. 

Some down booties are constructed for exploring, just like the North Face Thermoball Traction Booties. These puppies have a thick rubber sole with added texture so you’ll be able to maintain your ft heat whereas stepping over snow, rocks and out and in of your ski boots. Whereas the additional quantity of tread is good for out of doors use, they in all probability wouldn’t be ultimate for sticking in your sleeping bag or kicking again in your residence because of the bulkiness. 

Total, when fascinated by tread you will need to contemplate how and the place you’ll be rocking your down booties. Are you somebody searching for a home slipper? Or are you going to hit the city in them for some après enjoyable? 

Insulation

Just like down jackets, the extent of heat of a down bootie largely is dependent upon its insulation. A down bootie with 800-fill goes to be a lot hotter than a down bootie with 600-fill. The most typical kind of fill we see utilized in down booties is both goose down or an artificial various.

Pure Down Insulation 

Created from goose or duck feathers, pure down works to insulate by way of the clumps of feathers creating pockets of sizzling air. It’s extremely efficient in conserving the person’s ft heat and insulated, whereas nonetheless being light-weight and packable.

Nonetheless, pure down tends to be extra expensive and might not be as ethically sourced as one would really like. We will guarantee you that each one the down booties listed on this information come from corporations aiming to finish abuse within the down provide chain. 

Down additionally tends to lose its insulation skills when moist, and takes longer to dry. As a result of it’s made with feathers, it will also be a bit tougher to scrub because of the publicity to water inflicting it to lose some loftiness. You should definitely verify your down booties’ care tag earlier than washing them to make sure their longevity. 

Made with a pure goose down, the Western Mountaineering Customary Down Booties have been a few of our favorites on this class. Due to the pure down, they’re extra packable and have a tendency to have a greater warmth-to-weight ratio than artificial choices. 

Artificial Insulation

Tending to be extra accessible in value and availability, synthetic-stuffed booties are additionally an important possibility for somebody wanting to maintain their toes heat with out breaking the financial institution or worrying about animal byproducts. Usually the phrase “down” is related to an insulation materials however don’t let that confuse you.

Sometimes made with polyester or nylon supplies, artificial booties can present simply sufficient insulation and sturdiness so you’ll be able to keep snug out within the chilly. Additionally they are usually light-weight, making them simply packable for any tour. 

When artificial insulation is uncovered to moisture, the warmth-factor nonetheless performs effectively and dries sooner than pure down. Nonetheless, artificial fill is inherently colder than pure down, so you will need to maintain that in thoughts when selecting your down booties and the place you’ll put on them. 

Our favourite synthetic-fill choices embrace the Out of doors Analysis Tundra Trax Booties. Made with 85% recycled supplies, they saved our ft simply as heat as among the different pure down bootie choices and since they’re made with artificial insulation, they’re fairly priced for his or her sturdiness. 

The kind and thickness of the bootie lining in addition to the fabric and top of the bootie can even issue into its heat and insulative skills.

Waterproofness Versus Water-Resistance

If you happen to’re planning on sporting your down booties in snow, rain or sleet, you’ll undoubtedly wish to contemplate buying a pair that’s waterproof or waterproof. Most of the choices listed on this information have various levels of water safety and a few greater than others. 

Waterproof booties are made with supplies and coatings that stop any water or moisture from penetrating the material’s floor. Suppose supplies like Gore-Tex or eVent which are handled with coatings which are hydrophobic and trigger water to bead proper off. Whereas we don’t have any waterproof down booties particularly listed on this information, we might advocate the GooseFeet Gear Down Socks mixed with their Waterproof Over Booties for those who’ll be in additional moist environments whereas tenting.

Then again, many down bootie choices listed on this information are waterproof, that means they will repel water or snow off their surfaces to a sure diploma. Supplies which are waterproof aren’t fully impervious to water publicity, however ought to do the trick for those who’re strolling in mild rain or snow. Water-proof materials are usually made with artificial fibers like nylon after which handled with a liquid repellent end, like DWR (sturdy water repellent). The Sierra Designs Down Booties are our favourite waterproof down booties coated with DWR. 

Cuff Top

A down bootie’s cuff top refers back to the top or size of the higher portion of the booties that covers the ankle and decrease leg. Completely different cuff heights in down booties provide various ranges of protection and performance. The choices listed on this information have decrease ankle and mid leg protection choices, however there are just a few down bootie choices available on the market that present safety all the way in which to the knee. 

Low or Ankle Cuff

Down booties with a low or ankle cuff present minimal protection, usually ending simply above the ankle bone. These booties are usually light-weight and provide a larger vary of movement. They’re appropriate for actions the place most mobility and breathability are desired, akin to inside or in hotter climates. Nonetheless, their publicity supplies much less heat and safety to the ankle space. Our alternative for an ankle cuff down bootie is the Rab Down Hut Slipper.

Mid-Calf Cuff

Down booties with a mid-calf cuff prolong larger up the leg, reaching effectively above the ankle. This cuff top supplies extra protection and insulation in comparison with ankle size booties. Mid-calf booties are a preferred alternative for each indoor and out of doors use, as they strike a stability between insulation, mobility, and flexibility. They provide some safety towards drafts and are appropriate for colder temperatures with out being too cumbersome. A lot of the booties we’ve listed are mid-calf, however a few of our favorites have been the Out of doors Analysis Tundra Trax Booties — Males’s & Girls’s.

Total, when contemplating cuff size in a pair of down booties, take into consideration how and the place you’ll be utilizing the footwear probably the most. If you happen to’re shopping for down booties to be used in additional delicate climates or simply to make use of round the home, a shorter cuff size would swimsuit you simply advantageous. If you happen to dwell in a spot that sees colder, moist winters, you’ll in all probability wish to snag a pair that has extra protection for those who’ll be out within the parts extra regularly. 

Cuff Closure 

Together with cuff lengths, down booties use numerous mechanisms to supply your ft and ankles with safety from particles, chilly breezes, snow, and different intrusive parts. These cuff closures are usually elastic bands or adjustable drawstrings. 

Drawstring Closures

A number of of the down booties listed on this information make the most of a drawstring and toggle closure. Primarily, an elastic wire is threaded by way of the cuff and might be tightened or loosened by adjusting the toggle lock. Drawstring closures are adjustable, permitting the person to customise their match in accordance with desire. Mostly this drawstring closure is present in mid-calf kinds just like the Baffin CUSH Booties, however the above-the-ankle Massive Agnes Full Moon Camp Booties make the most of this engineering as effectively. 

Elastic Closures

Some down booties are designed with an elastic cuff closure that matches cosy across the ankle or decrease leg. The elasticity stretches and conforms to the wearer’s leg, thus offering a safe closure with none added bulk from toggles or strings. Elastic cuffs are easy and might be snug if the match is good. Nonetheless, if they’re too unfastened or tight, you’re restricted in adjustability. Our alternative for a down bootie with an elastic closure? The Montane Icarus Hut Boot Fashion Slippers.

If you happen to can’t resolve between an elastic or drawstring closure, contemplate the way you’ll use your down booties and the way a lot added safety you favor. If you’re searching for one thing to put on casually or simply round camp, you’d in all probability be glad with an elastic band closure. However for those who’re going to be utilizing your down booties whereas trudging by way of snow or completely exterior, the added adjustability from a drawstring closure will likely be your greatest guess. 

Packability

If you’re planning on taking your down booties on excursions, street journeys, or in your suitcase the world over, you’ll undoubtedly wish to contemplate the shoe’s packability. A down bootie’s capacity to compress in a backpack or duffel relies upon totally on its supplies and insulation kind. 

Down booties made with a pure down as an alternative of artificial are usually extra compressible than the latter. Nonetheless, artificial insulation might be simply as light-weight and packable if accomplished accurately. Take into account grabbing a stuff sack on your down booties so you’ll be able to optimize the area in your baggage for different gear and clothes. This can even assist defend your different gadgets from any filth or moisture that could be on the soles of your booties from all of the adventuring.

When touring with down booties, ensure to consider how its sole and traction impacts the shoe’s capacity to suit inconspicuously in your bag. Down booties with a thicker sole and added traction will likely be tougher to compress than these with out.

If you’re searching for down booties which are packable and prepared for any journey, the Rab Sizzling Socks are effectively compressible and light-weight. 

Weight

Together with packability, weight must be considered earlier than buying a pair of down booties. Most down booties are naturally agile, as they’re constructed with supplies that are usually nearly weightless. Our choices on this information vary from as little as 2 oz. as much as 17 oz.

Finally the deciding issue of a down bootie’s weight is its supplies. Down insulation, each artificial and pure, tends to be fairly light-weight when it’s dry. When it comes to exterior materials, the nylon and polyester supplies these down booties are constructed from are additionally conveniently light-weight.

What we discovered added weight to those numerous down booties have been the makes use of of tractioned soles. For instance, the North Face Thermoball Traction Booties have a thick rubber sole with added tread, inflicting these booties to come back in at 17 oz. They nonetheless aren’t any heavier than a daily pair of shoes, however would nonetheless be fairly noticeable in your backpack on the pores and skin monitor to the hut. Nonetheless, with this added weight comes an added component of sturdiness and mileage. 

The down booties with out added or thick soles are the lightest on our record. If you’re searching for the lightest down booty possibility that will likely be hardly noticeable in your pack, the GooseFeet Gear Down Socks or The North Face Summit Collection Sleeping Socks are the way in which to go. 

A lot of the down booties on this record are across the similar weight and will really feel featherlight in your backpack so don’t let this side concern you an excessive amount of in your shopping for course of. 

Sustainability 

If you happen to care in regards to the planet and the place your merchandise come from, then you will need to know the way sustainably sourced your down booties are. 

When fascinated by sustainability in down booties you will need to contemplate their down, manufacturing processes, and use of environmentally pleasant supplies. 

Many down booties on this information incorporate recycled supplies of their building. This may embrace utilizing recycled materials for the outer shell or using recycled down insulation. Selecting booties created from recycled supplies helps scale back waste and reduce the environmental impression of the manufacturing course of. Moreover, you’ll be able to go for booties that use eco-friendly dyes and coatings of their manufacturing to forestall any hurt to the setting.

Our alternative for sustainably made down booties are the Montane Icarus Hut Boot Fashion Slippers that are manufactured with 100% recycled supplies. 

Responsibly Sourced Down and Traceability

Whereas pure down created from chicken feathers is a robust insulation materials, it’s straightforward for abuse to happen within the provide chain. Many out of doors corporations are making efforts to supply down ethically and supply transparency to customers. 

If you’re interested by studying the place and the way the down in your booties is sourced, you’ll be able to! With the Allied Feather & Down’s TrackMyDown program, it’s straightforward to see the place the down in your booties got here from. 

Winner of a 2019 ISPO Gold Award, the TrackMyDown program supplies detailed data on the supply of your bootie’s down feathers, together with the nation of origin, the provider, and the farms the place the birds have been raised. Clients may view data on the standard of their down, together with the fill energy and the cleanliness of the fabric. Merely kind in your lot quantity (discovered in your down bootie’s grasp tag) and press enter. 

With out offering such instruments for transparency, abuse can turn out to be a part of the availability chain. Artificial booties are a sensible choice if you’re searching for vegan choices, however for those who nonetheless need pure down booties the North Face Summit Collection Sleeping Socks are a prime sustainable alternative. 

Discovering Your Measurement

In contrast to footwear, down bootie sizes are inclined to fall on a scale, often between XS-XL. A letter measurement will then coordinate to sure U.S./U.Okay. males’s shoe sizes. Most booties are measured in unisex or males’s sizes, however some could have girls’s shoe sizes listed. The sizing and match can even fluctuate between manufacturers, so we advocate at all times double-checking earlier than making a purchase order.

Value

The worth of down booties will fluctuate, however the associated fee is especially decided by the kind of insulation, degree of down fill, and supplies used. You possibly can anticipate to pay someplace between $70 and $100 for a high-quality, heat pair of booties. 

On this purchaser’s information now we have a number of completely different choices for pricing. Our most finances pleasant choices are the Rab Down Hut Slipper ($65) and the Baffin CUSH Booty ($60). Different decently priced down booties on this price tier embrace Rab Sizzling Socks ($65), The North Face Thermoball Traction Booties ($69), and Montane Icarus Hut Boot Fashion Slippers ($69). 

For our subsequent value tier which incorporates down booties starting from $70 to $90, we advocate Sierra Designs Down Booties ($70), Massive Agnes Full Moon Camp Booties ($70), Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties ($77), Teva ReEMBER ($80), and Out of doors Analysis Tundra Trax Booties ($89).

Some down booties are extremely customizable and have a sliding scale of value relying on the way you design your pair. For instance, GooseFeet Gear Down Socks begin at $69 and might go as much as $97. After all this all rides upon your preferences for down, fill, colours, supplies, and different add-ons. 

Our larger value tier contains choices which are round 100 bucks and as much as 400. The inexpensive of those down booties are the Western Mountaineering Customary Down Booties ($105). At our highest value level are The North Face Summit Collection Sleeping Socks ($400). 

Whether or not you’re prepared to spend so much or somewhat on a pair of down booties, simply know that all the booties listed below are top quality and toasty heat.

FAQ

Down booties are a kind of footwear. To place it merely, their entire job is to supply insulating heat throughout the winter months. Identical to a down jacket would maintain your core heat or puffy pants would maintain your legs heat, down booties maintain your ft heat.

You’ll generally see them worn in locations like winter huts, inside four-season tents, or on journeys for ski mountaineering, mountaineering, backcountry snowboarding and touring, winter tenting, and extra.

After plenty of put on, your down booties could must be washed. You are able to do so by spot cleansing, soaking, or machine washing on a mild setting. Be sure that to make use of a down-friendly or delicate detergent to maintain your booties of their greatest form.

To dry, you’ll wish to be sure to use a low-heat or no-heat setting and add wool balls to the dryer basin with a purpose to assist break up clumps of moist down. We additionally prefer to set them out in a sunny place for just a few hours to make sure they’re totally dry earlier than packing them again up right into a stuff sack or storage.

After they’re dry, give them just a few shakes to fluff them again to their unique loftiness. Correctly washing and caring on your down booties will assist enhance their longevity and maintain your ft heat on all of your upcoming adventures.

Many down booties are designed with a sure diploma of water-resistance and soles made to be used in harsher parts like snow, ice and puddles. Nonetheless, some are made to be worn strictly inside or simply calmly open air. Examine to see in case your down booties are made with hydrophobic materials or finishes earlier than you make snow angels on these moist winter days. 

Earlier than you put on your down booties out within the snow, additionally ensure they’ve tractioned soles which are thick sufficient to maintain your ft insulated when you are strolling. Additionally it is necessary to concentrate to the cuff closures in your down booties. In the event that they match snugly round your legs and ankles to forestall any moisture or snow from coming into your footwear, you have to be good to go!

Sporting socks along with your down booties is completely as much as private desire. As a result of their insulation and moisture wicking properties, down booties usually don’t must be paired with socks. Nonetheless, for those who assume it will be extra snug, we advocate sporting a thinner sock manufactured from wool or breathable artificial materials.

As at all times, keep away from sporting cotton socks along with your down booties. They are going to take in any sweat or moisture with out the power to dry.

Sure! Most of the down booties listed on this information have been designed to be worn in a sleeping bag. If you happen to are inclined to get chilly ft whereas tenting, down booties are a snug resolution with out taking on an excessive amount of area or stopping you from getting a superb evening’s relaxation in your tent, automotive, or cabin.
Down booties which are simply paired with a sleeping bag are usually known as down “socks.” They usually haven’t any stiff sole or rubber tread in order that your ft can transfer freely with out feeling too cumbersome in your sleeping bag. Our picks for these down socks embrace the GooseFeet Gear Down Socks, Rab Sizzling Socks, and The North Face Summit Collection Sleeping Socks.

Due to their light-weight supplies and typical building of down insulation, down booties are extremely packable. This makes them ultimate for stashing in your backpack earlier than you hit the path, pores and skin monitor, or hop on a aircraft. Since they’re smaller in measurement, we advocate simply sliding them into an open spot in your baggage. Nonetheless, for those who actually wish to optimize the area in your bag, attempt placing them in a stuff sack after which compressing out all the air. This can maintain your booties protected, and make them simpler to search out while you’re able to transition out of the ski boots. 

Understand that down booties with added soles or tread will likely be tougher to pack. So for those who’re planning on strictly utilizing your down booties within the hut or tent, we advocate buying a pair that doesn’t have these weighted building parts.