It’s getting to be that time of year when the snow starts to gather on the soil of several states across America. We don’t want you trudging through the icy slush in tennis shoes and Ugg boots.
Instead, you should be prepared with the best possible cold and snow protection for your toes and soles in the form of USA-made snow boots. To help you pick the perfect boots for the winter season, we’ve put together a list below of all snow boots made in America.
Full List of Snow Boot Brands Made in the USA
Softstar isn’t usually known for its boots (they typically make sneakers), but the Softstar Phoenix boot is designed for roaming around the city in the snow. Made from soft leather that allows great flexibility, these boots are said to make you feel like you’re going barefoot – unusual for a snow boot – and plush sheepskin lining the inside of the Softstar Phoenix boot. For continued comfort throughout the season, these also include a replaceable sheepskin innersole.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about your feet getting too warm and sweaty after extended wear. The sheep skin’s natural moisture-wicking qualities will keep your toes and soles dry and comfortable for as long as you’re wearing these Phoenix boots (which may be for quite a while, thanks to the lightweight zero-drop Lightning Vibram soles).
If you’re looking for something similar to Uggs that are made in America, these boots from Softstar could be a good replacement.
While most snow boots prioritize functionality over looks, this L.L. Bean pair touts both. Authentic Maine handcrafting is readily apparent in the boot’s unique construction.
Distinctive stitching separates the upper and lower portions of the boot, complemented by the intricate patterning lining the sole, visible from the sides even when the foot is flat on the ground. One look at the sole design shows why L.L. Bean refers to it as the “chain-tread bottom.”
The premium full-grain leather comprises the outside of the boot in two subtly different shades, the bottom, darker than the top. The Sherling-Lined boots are aesthetically pleasing from all angles, including from behind, where the triangular shaping continues in the durable triple-stitching.
You don’t have to sacrifice functionality for looks, as they are equipped with natural sheepskin shearling and 200-gram Thinsulate insulation to keep you warm, no matter what.
Designed to resist the coldest of winters is the Schnee Extreme. Equipped with 600g of Thinsulate ultra insulation, these boots will protect your vulnerable toes from the most extreme chill and lowest temperatures.
For further protection, the Extreme boots come with a removable 400g Thinsulate liner to ensure that your feet remain protected even after your first innersoles wear out. The upper portion of the shoe is enveloped in handcrafted Bozeman top-grain cowhide to keep all snow and water out of the shoe.
These are rated to be comfortable at temperatures as low as -20°F for inactive wear and -40°F for activewear.
These boots will transport you back to simpler times with the throwback design, including both leather and canvas on the boot’s outer surface, and lace-up front.
Yet, the materials are not the only source of their value. The design is rooted in a major part of world history, specifically World War II. The full-height lacing and cap toe are reminiscent of the Paratrooper’s boots in this war, helping to embody Americans’ fighting spirit both then and now.
Directly inspired by Indigenous North American shoe designs, the Mukluks are crafted for adventurers embarking on “major expeditions.” They are made of all-American materials, including moosehide, weather-treated canvas, and 9mm wool that lines the inside of the shoe and comprises the insole.
Steger bootmakers kept adventurous North Americans at the forefront of their minds while crafting these boots. They are specially made to withstand the extreme environmental conditions of Alaska, Canada, and several more locations around the globe.
Whether you’re cycling, riding horseback, ice fishing, or sledding, the snow-proof, water-repellent moosehide are designed to keep your feet warm and dry, no matter how cold it may be.
YouTube Video: How to Find Snow Boots Made in the USA
How To Find Snow Boots Made in the USA
Snow boots keep your feet warm and dry in cold and snowy weather, so investing in good quality boots that will last a long time and keep you warm is essential. Snow boots made in the USA are typically made of higher quality and last longer than imported boots.
If you are struggling to find snow boots made in the USA, this guide is for you.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
The first step in finding snow boots made in the USA is understanding what “made in the USA” means. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that for a product to be “made in the USA,” “all or virtually all” of the product, from the sourcing to the manufacturing, must take place in the USA.
To get a better understanding, check out our helpful guide.
Materials
When looking for snow boots made in the USA, you must get to know the materials used in making the product. Understanding where these materials come from is key to finding snow boots made in the USA.
Leather
Leather is used for snow boots as it is durable, breathable, and insulating. When looking for leather snow boots, we always recommend full-grain leather. Full-grain leather is of the highest quality. But if full-grain leather is out of your budget, the next step down is top-grain leather. Make sure to avoid genuine leather when looking for leather snow boots, as this type of leather is anything that is “technically leather.”
China is the world’s largest leather producer, but the United States also has a substantial leather industry. Most leather made in the USA will be cowhide, so look for that specifically instead of more exotic leathers. All in all, finding leather snow boots made in the USA shouldn’t be too difficult.
Nylon
Nylon is used in snow boots as it helps to keep the shoes water-resistant – which is important for keeping your feet dry. The USA ranks fourth in nylon production worldwide, making around 2.4 million tons of the material annually. So, finding nylon boots sourced in the USA should be pretty easy. However, China still takes the number one spot as the largest producer and exporter of nylon in the world.
Rubber
The soles of snow boots are usually made from synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber is a common form of rubber that is made artificially rather than extracted from trees. The USA produces around 35 million tonnes of rubber every year, with two-thirds of that being synthetic. While the USA produces natural rubber, they only make up a tiny percentage of worldwide production. Thailand is the world’s largest producer of natural rubber, while the USA, China, Japan, and a few other European countries are the top producers of synthetic rubber. So synthetic rubber is your top choice if you are looking for snow boots made in the USA.
Labeling
The last step in finding USA-made snow boots is looking at the label on the product. All imported products must be labeled as such according to Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US code.
When looking for snow boots made in the USA, you must look for the “made in the USA” label. Pay close attention to the labels, as many companies use tricky and confusing phrases to make consumers think a product is made in the USA.
For example, if a product is labeled “made in America,” it does not necessarily mean the product was made in the USA, as America includes Canada and Mexico as well. Other products can be labeled with words like “manufactured” and “designed,” which means not every part of the manufacturing process took place in the United States.
The “made in the USA” label is protected by the FTC. However, there is no pre-approval process for products to have this label. Instead, it is up to the companies to determine whether their product meets the requirements to use the label. So, as a consumer, you are responsible for reporting any companies misusing the label.
Other Tips
Here are a few more ways for you to double-check that your snow boots have been made in the USA.
Don’t Let The American Flag Fool You
Just because a product shows the American flag does not necessarily mean it has been made in the USA. Companies are allowed to use the flag on anything they are selling, as its usage is not protected in the same way that the “Made in the USA” label is. If you spot an American flag on a product, do some due diligence to ensure it isn’t a cheap trick.
Check the Website
When buying your snow boots online, there are a couple of ways to check the country of origin on a company’s website.
Read the company’s “About Us” page. Any American company would be proud to advertise the fact that their products are made in the USA, so you’ll likely find this information clearly posted on their site. Conversely, if there is no such information about where the snow boots were made, it is more than likely that they have been made elsewhere.
It is important to remember that companies are not legally required to list their products’ country of origin on any advertisement or online listings, only on the actual product itself. So if you have access to the physical product, you can easily check its country of origin directly.
Call the Company
If you are still unsure about the product you want to purchase, phone the company or supplier directly. A representative should be able to give you all the information you need.
Snow Boots Not Made in the USA
Check out the popular brands that aren’t making their snow boots in the USA that we came across in our research. We’ve included information about where their boots are being made and will update this list as we find more.
- The North Face – Mostly made in Vietnam and Cambodia, but also in India, Bangladesh, China, Romania, and Italy.
- Columbia – Footwear made in Taiwan, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Cambodia, India, and Mexico. Their Supply Chain Map provides more information.
- Hunter – Mostly made in China, but also in Indonesia, Italy, Myanmar, Turkey, the UK, and Vietnam.
- Baffin – Made in China, unless it specifies “Made in Canada” on the product page.
- Sorel – Made in Vietnam (85%), and China (10%).
- Kamik – Made in Canada using domestic and imported materials.
- Bogs – Dominican Republic and China.
- Muck Boots – Made in China.
