If you live somewhere cold, insulating your feet in the winter is essential. Sure, you could drop a few bucks on a pair of house slippers. But if you’re looking for truly reliable warmth in a light and portable package, down booties are the way to go. Whether you’re taking your first ski hut trip, ski mountaineering, road-tripping to the slopes, need an indoor office shoe, or your house has wood floors, these booties are top-notch for protecting your feet when it matters most.
We tested a slew of these to narrow in on the best down booties on the market. To learn more about the details of down booties, be sure to check out our comprehensive buying guide, FAQ, and comparison chart below.
Otherwise, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for:
The Best Down Booties of 2023
Best Overall Down Booties
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Tread allows for heavy outdoor use -
Durable in terms of structure and quality -
ThermoBall Eco technology allows for warmth to be retained even if wet -
Mostly made of recycled materials
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Not as packable or light as the other down booty options -
More exposure to the ankle area due to low profile design
Best Budget Down Booties
Rab
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Down
Recycled goose down -
Fill
700-fill recycled down -
Weight
198 g or 7 oz./pair -
Country of Origin
“USA or Imported”
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Eco-friendly design -
Grippy sole for safer steps indoors -
Soft fleece lining for maximum comfort
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Ankle height might not be the coverage you need -
Opening is not adjustable
Runner-Up Best Down Booties
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Down
Fixed PolyWool -
Fill
Nylon filled with wadding, cotton, and a PolyWool footbed insulation -
Weight
11 oz. per pair -
Country of Origin
China
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Sticky sole adds slip-resistance for walking around smooth surfaces -
Excellent loft -
Closing the ankle cinch helps keep warmth in -
Water-resistant
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A bit bulky when on your feet -
Wide fit might not be ideal for everyone -
Not super for extended outdoor use due to lack of underfoot structure
Best Down Alternative Booties
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Down Alternative
PrimaLoft Aerogel with 85% synthetic recycled insulation -
Fill
200g iVerticalX ECO polyester (85% recycled), plus a 1.5mm Aerogel insert -
Weight
264 g or 9.3 oz./pair (men’s), 255 g or 9 oz./pair (women’s) -
Country of Origin
Bangladesh
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Taller cut -
Synthetic insulation provides warmth even when wet or damp -
Ankle cinch tops
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Down fill sets the bar for warmth
Best Down Socks
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Down
Premium goose down -
Fill
850-fill (standard), up to 1,700-fill (custom) -
Weight
58 g or 2 oz./pair (size small) -
Country of Origin
U.S.
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Customized warmth, durability, and look -
Size run includes XS to 2XL
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Husky aesthetic -
Custom down socks require an average 2-week turnaround to process and ship -
The down socks alone are not ideal for outdoor use (but the Waterproof Over Booties should do the trick)
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Goose down provides top-of-the-line warmth -
High warmth-to-weight ratio -
Internal heel elastic strap for a stable fit and improved insulation
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Down is less resilient to moisture compared to synthetic fill -
Higher price
Down Booties Comparison Chart
Why You Should Trust Us
The GearJunkie squad uses down and synthetic-fill booties and socks on outdoor adventures year-round. We use them camping and backpacking, on ski hut trips, and for everyday use in our chilly — sometimes freezing — mountain-based offices and homes.
We’ve tested down and down-alternative booties and socks in the early fall and winter in temps from -10 to 40 degrees. We also used them for fall and winter camping, après skiing, around the house, and more.
Throughout our field tests and personal experience, we determined the best down booties and socks based on a variety of metrics including insulation value, warmth, durability, comfort, support, fit, cuff height, adjustability, traction, and quality.
Beyond our tests, we also considered the most popular, award-worthy, innovative, sustainable, and legacy designs. These down booties and socks serve a range of feet, applications, and budgets.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Down Booties
Type of Insulation and Warmth
Similar to down jackets, the level of warmth of a down bootie largely depends on its fill. A down bootie with 800-fill is going to be much warmer than a down bootie with 600-fill. The most common type of fill we see used in down booties is either goose down or a synthetic alternative.
Down booties are going to have a better warmth-to-weight ratio and be more packable, though synthetic insulation booties can be fairly light, too, and more accessible in terms of price.
The type and thickness of the bootie lining as well as the material and height of the bootie will also factor into its warmth.
Style and Durability
There are only a few slight differences between down booties and down socks. Down booties are a type of shoe, with an insulated body, insulated sole, and some sort of closure at the top to seal in warmth. They can be ankle-height to mid-calf-height in order to insulate your whole foot.
Down socks are also fully insulated but may or may not have a sole and usually don’t have snaps, closures, or other features. They’re purely for providing warmth. Down socks also tend to be made of lighter, lower-denier fabrics, as they’re used more inside sleeping bags rather than walking around a house or cabin.
Down booties are the most common way of insulating your feet in winter and are usually more versatile and durable, though we did include a few down socks on this list as well. If you plan on wearing your down booties outside and adding some mileage to them, we suggest buying a pair with a thicker sole and traction.
When you’re shopping for down footwear, think about where you’ll be wearing the booties and how much durability you might want. Do you want an insulating slipper with a sturdy sole? Or do you want something with fewer shoe features, maybe to wear inside your sleeping bag?
Do you want a taller-height bootie or more of a slipper style? This last one is preference. Down booties can be worn with or without socks, but we suggest a thinner and breathable sock if you go with. The booties themselves are warm enough that there is no need to pull on a thick or 100% wool sock.
Finding Your Size
Unlike shoes, down bootie sizes fall on a scale, usually between XS-XL. A letter size will then coordinate to certain U.S./U.K. men’s shoe sizes. Most booties are measured in unisex or men’s sizes, but some will have women’s shoe sizes listed. The sizing and fit will also vary between brands, so we recommend always double-checking before making a purchase.
Price
The price of down booties will vary, but the price is mainly determined by the type of insulation, level of down fill, and materials used. You can expect to pay somewhere between $70 and $100 for a good, warm pair of booties.
FAQ
Down booties are a type of footwear. To put it simply, their whole job is to provide insulating warmth during the winter months. Just like a down jacket would keep your core warm or puffy pants would keep your legs warm, down booties keep your feet warm.
You’ll commonly see them worn in places like winter huts, inside four-season tents, or on trips for ski mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and touring, winter camping, and more.
After a lot of wear, your down booties may need to be washed. You can do so by spot cleaning, soaking, or machine washing on a gentle setting. Make sure to use a down-friendly or delicate detergent to keep your booties in their best shape.
To dry, you’ll want to make sure you use a low-heat or no-heat setting and add dryer or wool balls to the dryer basin in order to help break up clumps of wet down. We also like to set them out in a sunny place for a few hours to ensure they are fully dry before packing them back up into a stuff sack or storage.
