It is the time of year when you start to think about what boots you should be wearing to keep your feet warm. Traditional clunky, stiff winter boots are often designed with heavy features that can lead to pain in your ankles, knees, and hips. And I can’t stand wearing the big heavy boots for winter. Barefoot minimalist winter boots, on the other hand, are zero drop, lightweight, flexible, and have a wide toe box, a warm lining, and a waterproof exterior.
The best way to find out which boots are the warmest and most minimalist is to read reviews from other people who have worn them in cold weather. However, it takes time to find and read all reviews and the information needed.
Don’t worry though. We have performed thorough research on the various minimalist winter shoe models available in the market to narrow down on the best ones. Read on for the best warmest barefoot minimalist winter boots.
My Favorite Minimalist Winter Boots for men and women
Vivobarefoot Tracker
Super comfortable, lightweight, yet warm and waterproof, these are solid barefoot winter boots, especially for hiking lovers.
The boot’s lightweight, breathable build does not compromise its winterproof ability. Tracker FG boots are treated leather with water-resistant outer treatment, recycled plastic breathable liner, and recycled membrane to make them waterproof.
These boots also have a removable thermal insole that you can swap out for a thicker insole in a really cold climate. You will also want to remove them in hot weather to avoid the moisture problem.
The construction of the chevron lugs on the sole of the shoe helps out in snow, rock, gravel, and even wet conditions. But once you walk on ice, the outsole’s grip isn’t as reliable.
It’s worth noting that the boots have no cushioning and arch support, which might not suit everyone.
Vivo says the second version of the Tracker FG is wide width, but we found that these boots are a medium width and won’t fit similarly, so it was suggested to order one size up. Also, if you do have wider than average feet or plan to use thicker socks, you may need to order two sizes up or try the men’s version for extra width in the front.
Get the look: Men’s Tracker II FG || Women’s Tracker II FG
Tadeevo winter brown minimalist shoes
These shoes are for everyone who wants to wear minimalist shoes in winter. They correspond to the foot’s natural shape, offer high flexibility, and have no artificial stabilization and no heels – but they deliberately look like they do. The shoes are designed for Canadian winters to give barefoot hikers freedom for their feet. Tadeevo winter shoes provide thermal comfort down to -18 °C. The shoes are made of high-quality soft leather and have a 6mm thin Ultraflex rubber sole. On the inside of the shoe, there is a zip fastener to be able to put them on and take them off quickly. The shoes are lightweight, weighing under 300g each.
Get the look: Tadeevo Winter minimalist shoes
Lems Boulder Boots
The soles are in the thicker range (9 + 2 mm) and that can be an advantage if standing still a lot because it isolates from the ground cold better, it can also be a plus with thicker soles if you have any kind of fracture in the feet that are under healing. Another occasion is when commuting biking if you prefer to distribute the pressure over the pedals, also here is the sole isolate good.
The traction is actually not very good but there aren´t any lugs to talk about so it delivers what you can expect from what you see. The heel counter is a bit stiffer than many other barefoot shoes so when I now used them again for some occasions I could feel a bit chafing, maybe because I´m not used to that, I remember the same feeling when new but after a while, it disappeared.
This is the waterproof version and so it was under a quite long time but I wear these types of boots a lot so after a while, it lets water in during the upper seams and also in the transition between sole and upper. I have tried to impregnate it with different fats and waxes and the leather remains sealed. I like that the tongue is gusseted almost all the way up to keep water and dirt out. If you are used to traditional boots you will probably love them and these can be nice transition boots, but if you are a more experienced user of foot-friendly minimal shoes these might not fulfill all your wishes.
Get the look: Men’s Boulder Boot || Women’s Boulder Boot
Alpine Snow Boots: Great Minimalist Winter Boots for Snow – Vegan, water-resistant & Good Traction
Alpine is a flexible, insulated, zero-drop boot that is made specifically for cold and snowy conditions.
Luggy tread features V-shaped lugs about 1/8th in (3 mm) deep that provide extra traction. Boots have good grip in the snow but if you plan to wear them in super slippery conditions, use ice grips, just in case.
The boots are lightweight which makes walking easier in heavy, wet snow. These boots have quite an inflexible sole and feel slightly stiffer than other barefoot shoes, but that can be acceptable due to their 200g of insulation. Note that 200g refers to the thickness of the insulation, not the weight of the insulation in the boot.
As mentioned, Alpine has 200g (7.05 oz) insulation and is lined inside with a comfortable fleece to provide enough warmth. Rated to -25°F/-32°C, but I don’t think they’ll see more than -20°F from me.
With a fully seam-sealed inner bootie and a water-resistant membrane in the boot’s upper, boots are stated as water-resistant according to Xero shoes. However, Alpine boots did seem slightly less waterproof than some of my previous barefoot winter boots leading me to apply a waterproof spray the next day.
Other great features of these boots are flexibility and comfort, huarache inspired strap system, and plenty of room for two pairs of heavy socks.
Overall, Alpine barefoot boots are lightweight, comfortable, and warm as can be. These boots provide warmth and great traction that you can expect from barefoot winter shoes. Especially, if you’re looking for a pair of barefoot winter shoes with vegan-friendly materials, look no further.
Get the look: Men’s Alpine Snow Boot || Women’s Alpine Snow Boot
For all minimalist/barefoot shoes, check out our page.
