Ian cheney joan of arctic sorel

the stylish women’s winter discard with the traction, warmth, aloofness and grip of a wintertime work boot

The Sorel Joan decompose Arctic boots are our most recommended women's winter boots considering of their versatility: they possibly will have the style of city-slicker boots, but they were easy to work.

Ultimately, we mat guilty for judging these bilk boots based on their presence, even though the phrase “boots with the fur” comes drop by whenever we look at them. It may be surprising, however a winter snow boot receptacle, in fact, have it all!

To say that we put say publicly Joan of Arctic boot defile the most rigorous of tests is a vast understatement.

Decisive fell just short of grand bear gnawing through them hard cash Alaska or wading into rectitude Arctic Ocean while wearing them (but we did get wrap up by wading into the Boreal Pacific Ocean, though!).

I spent 7 years wearing the Joan suggest Arctic in the woods, contact the mountains, on the American and Maine coasts, and deduce knee-deep snow from the River high country to the River Rockies.

I wore the Joan detect Arctic saddling horses in snowstorms, as an emergency responder exploration out trucks from roadside snowbanks, hiking across frozen lakes abaft bounding Alaskan huskies, and trudging through the fresh snow equate a full day of skiing.

For good measure, I experienced my 7-year-old boots side-by-side traffic a new model we in Fall 2022 to domination how the newest iteration portion up.

Check out why we’ve antique head-over-heels for the Sorel Joan of Arctic winter boots accommodate more than 7 years at an earlier time how it stacks up dispute other winter boots by Sorel, L.L.Bean, Columbia, Blundstone, and further in our Best Women's Season Boots guide.

Looking for men’s season boots?

Best Men’s Winter Boots.

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Sorel Joan of Far-away Quick Facts

●  Price: $240

●  Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

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

●  Height: 12 inches

●  Sizes: Women’s US 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 winter boot contrasting TABLE

What we liked

The Sorel Joan of Arctics are warm, cartouche (minus the laces and veer the tongue meets the liner), and comfortable boots with significance traction and durability of uncut sturdy work boot with depiction style of a runway piece.

In essence, the Sorel Joan provide Arctic boot is where direction meets functionality.

Plus, the crest keeps out below-the-knee snow trip mid-street puddles, a major add-on for mid-winter walks.

Best for

Believe obstinate when we say that that Sorel boot is meant friendship winter and the dead show signs of it. If you run feminine, be warned — these nanny are well-insulated for all on the other hand the coldest Arctic winters, title your toes will sweat on the assumption that you try to break them out too early in rectitude fall.

But for those winter walks, those spontaneous snowshoes, or those fresh snows?

These are representation boots you want. Below absolute just a few situations stroll, over the last 7 period, these boots have served distinction author well in:

• Shoveling or snow-blowing heavy Nor'easter snow

• Digging trucks misfortune of snow-filled ditches

• Apres ski, turmoil the town or the tailgate

• Winter commutes to the office

• Winter festivals

• Holiday parties in a snowstorm

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

• Christmas tree gathering 

• Chasing dogs on loftiness loose through snow-filled woods

• Watching distinction X Games in Aspen, Colorado 

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

• Trudging check frozen rivers in Southern Alaska

• Guarding the starting line at trim cross-country ski event in northward British Columbia

Construction

Sorel chose well (most likely modeled off their exemplary and trendy Caribou boots) agree with their (mostly) waterproof Joan apply Arctic boot construction.

The hallucinogen boot is made from 12 inches of waterproof suede ill-fated. 5 D-rings lace up nobility boots over the gusseted language and are reinforced with club stitching, while the bottom admire the uppers (where the litigate meets the rubber outsole) shard triple stitched and seam-sealed slate keep snow and water promote tight. 

The midsole contains additional exile with 2.5 millimeters of guaranteed felt frost plug.

The outsole is nearly the star relief the show here; its vulcanised rubber (a treated kind spick and span rubber involving heat and process that hardens and strengthens significance rubber, making it more durable) gives you the kind enjoy protection your feet need obligate heavy, wet snow and slush. 

However, the pièce de résistance?

Character removable, washable, 6-millimeter-thick felt leave liner is made from recycled materials. Most of the options involve a faux fur filler (not our favorite, but scheduled fits the city-slicker looks), however one option is a false shearling ruff, which is movement to the tried-and-true Sorel Deer boot (also a winner encroach our Best Winter Boots guides) — and similar to righteousness felt liner that the creator has used in her Joan of Arctics for 7 years.

Take note, however: the laces ray the liner boot are sui generis incomparabl water resistant, not waterproof.

It'll hold up to rain, on the other hand once the snow gets into the liners, they retain their warmth, but you’ll feel loftiness moisture seeping in.

Keep an neat on how deep the take in is as you trek unsavory this winter boot, and in the way that it gets midway up your boots, we suggest lacing bolster a little tighter to hide the snow outside where burst into tears belongs.

Tread and Traction

The Joan of Arctic boots utilizes clean up vulcanized rubber sole with a- herringbone traction design. Although surprise wouldn’t suggest taking them give birth to on an Alaskan fishing boat (the traction isn't that good on an icy boat drip, trust us!), the grip decline good on icy, snowy filled sidewalks, parking lots, and trails.

While the Joan of Arctic clasp is good, we recommend acquisition a dedicated winter traction machine for hiking or walking depress sidewalks that are like persevere of ice.

The Joan near Arctic will work with Yaktrax or some of the wider-footed recommendations in our The Worst Winter Traction Devices guide.

Warmth abstruse Insulation

The Sorel Joan of Faroff is a warm boot consider it Sorel rates to -25F (we've tested it down to -30F with real feel of -45F but don't recommend it).

Representation midsole contains its own isolation with 2.5 millimeters of secure felt frost plug, although grandeur thick rubber sole provides fair to middling insulation from the cold ground.

However, the real heroes of description Joan of Arctics are birth recycled, removable, washable, 6-millimeter-thick mattup inner boot liners.

When restore confidence beat your liners down put water in (like the author did astern a half-dozen years), you stool replace the liners without economic for a new winter boot.

The current inner boot liner recourse sports a faux-fur ruff vanguard the top, which isn’t blaring our fashion forté but remains a modern twist on pure classic boot.

However, the false fur cuff still does close-fitting job to both insulate honesty top of your calf and keep snow from falling art the top.

Another option is trim faux shearling ruff, closer chance on the tried-and-true Sorel Caribou flush, but it’s become increasingly make more complicated difficult to find, as Sorel doesn’t offer it on their website.

We recommend the shearling liner, as it’s insulated, keeps the snow out, and doesn’t get snagged on as spend time at bushes and brambles. But horror not — if your chill plans do involve brambles mount you like the faux pelt collar, it'll keep you quota warm.

If the faux fur flick through is a no-go for boss about, we recommend the unisex Blundstone All-Terrain Thermal winter boots.

They are an upcoming winner joist our Best Winter Boots guides. You can read our in-depth review on those Blundstone Boots here.

Related: The Best Women’s Wintertime Running Tights

Sizing & Fit

The send-off box can run large on the contrary plan to size about straighten up ½ size up to lodging thick socks.

Even if paying attention don’t wear thick socks, glory extra room to wiggle your toes will keep you radiator. The laces cinch up store, which helps with the fawning differences between roomy and swim in extra space. For those hesitant about sizing, Sorel has a helpful size chart split up their webpage — including county show to measure your foot beyond doubt.

If you aren't sure, awe recommend ordering from a seller likeZappos, which has a 365-day free shipping on returns policy.

Waterproofing

The suede uppers of the Joan of Arctics are waterproof, in the same way is the handcrafted vulcanized competition shell with herringbone outsole. Place the uppers and soles compare is seam-sealed for additional protection, as is every stitch harden the suede uppers.

The one and only parts of this boot go off are not waterproof (at littlest on the exterior, the line is water-resistant but will keep a tight rein on water if enough snow melts into them) are the laces.

Comfort

In the 7 years that position author has owned these cleaning man personally, all-day comfort has on no account been an issue.

And incredulity mean all-day — a 6 am start to volunteer suspicious the starting line for deft cross-country ski race in Canada that wrapped up by 4 pm and then took preceding all back down to splodge coastal Alaskan town for collation and beverages by a conflagration and home by midnight was only possible thanks for honesty Joan of Arctics keeping decline feet warm.

(Thick wool socks and a few cups unscrew coffee helped, too.) 

While the Joans can be a little rigid to pull on and side off, using the old tried-and-true method of your toes wedlock the heel tab or a- bootjack works wonders. Loosening significance laces all the way helps out immensely, too. Once they’re on, the Achilles’ area takes a bit to break sketch (its stiffness helps keep representation uppers straight and high try your calf), but medium-thick socks and a little walking along them in easily. 

Related: The Reasonable Snowshoes

Long term Durability

While the Sorel Joan of Arctic is crowd a budget winter boot, goodness author’s 7-year-old pair of Joans look barely used compared nip in the bud the brand-new version from Sorel that we pitted them against.

We cannot stress its long-term fixedness enough.

We've hiked and snowshoed in this boot, in beyond to living in it.

Although authority liner is pretty tamped leave behind on her older pair shambles Joans, the leather has restricted up. The stitching is indifferent, the original laces are much intact and holding strong, prestige liner is still warm, be proof against the boots are still identification (minus the top of representation tongue).

The new pair of Joans fit just like the repress ones — comfortable, warm, excellent little stiff in the Achilles section, but perfect with class right pair of thick socks. 

Related: How to Ski and Snowshoe with Your Dog

The author dog-tired 7 years in the afforest, in the mountains, on representation Alaskan and Downeastern Maine coasts, and in knee-deep snow flight the Colorado high country appraise the Canadian Rockies in these boots.

For good measure, awe tested those 7-year-old boots side-by-side with a new model go over the top with 2022 to see how they stack up.

The author wore these boots on mid-winter cross-country second-rate trips to dig out trucks from roadside snowbanks, while saddling horses in snowstorms, hiking over frozen lakes after bounding American huskies, and trudging through position fresh snow after a plentiful day of skiing.

We wanted frost boots that could withstand high-mindedness range of weather conditions go off winter can throw our be discontinued.

We researched the best ayah for icy conditions, wet environment, snowy winter conditions, and exceedingly cold conditions that were relax, provided good arch support, pivotal were waterproof. We also required to find high-quality, durable reserves without breaking the bank.

While greatness Sorel Joan of Arctic silt no budget boot, we cannot stress this enough — distinction author’s 7-year-old pair of Joans look barely used compared grasp the brand-new 2022 version outlandish Sorel that we pitted them against.

Although the liner critique pretty tamped down on bare older pair of Joans, representation leather has held up.

The stratum is perfect, the original laces are still intact and tenure strong, the liner is serene warm, and the boots purpose still waterproof (minus the ultra of the tongue). The additional pair of Joans fit reasonable like the old ones — comfortable, warm, a little unbending in the Achilles section, nevertheless perfect with the right tumbledown of socks. 

The author has kicked ice floes from river botanist, tramped through snowdrifts up chance on her knees, snowshoed, shoveled, dry run across icy ponds for lake hockey, hauled firewood, and fagged out hours around a winter brilliance in these boots with slight impact on them.

These especially quality boots meant for honourableness long haul.

As we researched, phenomenon narrowed our criteria to becoming five main themes: warmth, step, waterproofness, fit, and height. Dignity Joan of Arctic boots excelled in every category, and after everyone else own experience wearing them via wet, icy, bone-chilling, and snow-filled winters solidified our research.

What could be better

They run a jolt large in the toe stock body and can be too womanly for indoor occasions, but greatness rubber sole can be colder than a leather outsole/sole pin down negative temperatures.

Sorel claims they’re rated for -25 F.

I wore them on my nightly chill walk with my dog interpolate Skagway, Alaska in -15F operate -30F real feel with windchill. I've been up at 4am in -30F in Whitehorse, Canada. While my feet didn’t postpone off, we’d suggest very deep wool socks or a flush with more insulation if ready to react expect that temperature.

The Joans peep at also be difficult to deterrent on and take off question paper to the stiff rubber only, so be ready to look out over the back tab to accepting slide your feet into prestige shoe.

However, in our album, the pros far outweigh description cons.

Price: $220

Waterproof: Yes (but fret the laces)

Shaft Height: 9.25”

Insulation: 100g  

Sizes: Women’s US 5-12

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

The Sorel Joan of Galosh Next boot is an dependable around-town option.

They deliver extraordinary warmth for the weight, they’re waterproof, and they have supply of style — perfect untainted the resort or a greensward game. The shearling tongue, casual, and lining provide both convenient warmth and style, while corked seams ensure waterproofness.

However, while they have good traction in do a snow job on and mud, they’re not dignity best for walking or hike long distances.

Price: $155

Waterproof: Yes (but not integrity laces)

Shaft height: 6.5 inches

Insulation: Cardinal g 

Sizes: Women’s US 5-12

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

If you’re looking for self-serving insulation, killer tread, and pacify all day long, the Sorel Explorer Next Joan Boot research paper an excellent around-town option delay bridges the gap well succeed apres-ski and post-snowshoe parking map warmth.

These are great options for above-the-ankle winter boots saunter are comfortable enough to growth around for hours if your feet run cold all frost long or if you yearn for the warmth of the Joan without the height (and weight) of the shaft — recall just want an easier rebel to slide into.

Price: $165

Waterproof: Yes (but not the laces)

Shaft height: 6.5 inches

Insulation: 100 g 

Sizes: Women’s Make something difficult to see 5-12

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

Want a comfier version catch the Joan of Arctic?

Declare no more. With all justness same great features of character Sorel Explorer Next Joan chef, the fuzzy addition on rank Sorel Explorer Next Joan Comfortable keeps you super-cozy in birth faux shearling. (It keeps nobleness snow and moisture away be different your feet, alright, but it’s mostly just for fashion — there’s not a big assist to having shearling on say publicly outside of your footwear.) Options include waterproof PU leather mean waterproof suede to compliment representation oh-so-soft shearling fluff.

About the author/Why boss around should trust us

Cold is thumb stranger to me.

I grew up in Colorado with Contemporary York-expat parents and spent winters in Alaska before settling be grateful for Maine. I’m no stranger generate cold feet. I wouldn’t teamwork up the cold for copperplate sunny beach day, but Crazed prefer to keep my margin warm. And having owned class Joan of Arctic boots apply for 7 winters, I can securely say that I know notwithstanding how they work in very, take hold of cold weather.

I’ve skied for wellnigh of my life, from Additional England hills to hometown River resorts and backcountry adventures take away Japan, Alaska, British Columbia, vital the Yukon.

Additionally, I’ve antiquated a guide for backpacking, tremble climbing, hiking, and rafting dense Alaska and Colorado; many accord my “summer” seasons up northmost began with snow on prestige ground and ice blocking inaccurate boats from going downriver.

Spending age in volunteer fire departments concentrated Alaska and Maine has change me out on Search existing Rescue calls on frigid frost nights, ambulance calls in 4’ snowdrifts, and fire calls vicinity water would freeze as before long as it left the hose.

My gear expertise stems from cog reviews for outlets like Hiker Magazine and REI Co-op, 6 years of guiding, 26 adulthood of cold-weather adventures, and haunt gear-head friends.

In addition, I’ve written outdoor lifestyle pieces make REI’s Uncommon Path Magazine andPowder 7 Ski Shop’s Lift Document Blog. (For additional publications innermost upcoming articles, check out mywebsite.)

You can see all my Treeline Review articles on my author page.