If you are facing brutally cold winter work conditions, it might be time to turn to an insulated logger boot to help tame the cold. Many logger boots use 3M Thinsulate (or some other type of synthetic insulation) to provide warmth without being too bulky.
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These are our choices for the best insulated logger boots for winter:
- Irish Setter Men’s Mesabi Steel Toe Insulated 600g Logger Boots (click here to view)
- Chippewa Men’s Waterproof Steel-Toe EH Insulated 400g Logger Boots (click here to view)
- Carolina Composite Toe 600g Insulated Birch Logger Boots (click here to view)
- Danner Men’s Logger 8″ 400g NMT Work Boots (click here to view)
- Timberland PRO Mens Rip Saw 9 Inch 400g Composite Toe Logger (click here to view)
- Thorogood Men’s Logger 400g Insulated Waterproof Safety Toe Boots (click here to view)
- Carolina Men’s 8″ Waterproof 600g Insulated Soft Toe Logger Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Chippewa Women’s Waterproof Insulated Steel Toe Logger Boots (click here to view)
The first thing you need to understand about insulated logger boots is that not all insulation is the same. The weight of insulation used can vary boot to boot, and have a significant impact on the overall warmth of the boot.
As you can see from the list above, there are options for 400g and 600g of insulation. One challenge when buying winter logger boots is most companies, due to legal reasons, do not attach a warmth rating to their products. This can make it difficult to find a boot that makes sense for your job.
While we certainly can’t offer a warmth guarantee either, let’s start by discussing the different types and weights of boot insulation. Once you understand that, you might have a better idea what type of insulated logger boot makes the most sense for your job.
Most insulated loggers have laces, but there are a couple pull on loggers that offer 400g of insulation. To read more, visit our article about the best pull on logger boots.
What To Consider When Buying Insulated Logger Boots
Disclaimer: We cannot make guarantees about the temperature ratings of the boots mentioned in this article. Our recommendation is to contact the companies directly for more information. We also cannot make any guarantees about the suitability of these boots for your job. All jobs are different, and all boots are different.
Not all insulated logger boots are the same, and they will provide varying degrees of warmth. The type, but especially the weight, of insulation used will greatly impact the warmth of a boot (explaining types of boot insulation).
Many boot companies like to use 3M Thinsulate as an insulation. Thinsulate is very thin and lightweight, and does an excellent job at trapping heat. Thinsulate delivers warmth, without being heavy or bulky. Here’s a look at a pair of my insulated Danner boots that use Thinsulate:
All the logger boots on our list use Thinsulate as the insulation except for the Timberland PRO loggers, which use Thermolite. Thermolite is another synthetic insulation and is very similar to Thinsulate.
Although you can find insulated work boots with anywhere from 200g of Thinsulate all the way up to 2000g of Thinsulate, for logger boots, the range is much smaller. In my experience, I have only been able to find logger boots available in 400 or 600 grams on Thinsulate.
The industry standard for work boots is usually 400 grams of Thinsulate, and this is what you will find in most logger boots. Although 400 gram boots will work just fine for many situations, if you work in the severe cold, you might need the 600g logger boots instead.
And it’s important to remember, there are other factors in a work boot besides insulation that can affect warmth. As I said earlier, most companies do not assign a warmth rating to a boot for legal reasons, so trial and error may be what it takes to find a boot that fits your needs.
I personally use a lot of 400 gram insulated boots here in Kansas. That’s what fits my comfort level the best. I also own some 200g boots that I will wear from time to time, but I mainly rely on 400 gram insulation:
The least amount of Thinsulate you will see in a work boot is usually 200 grams, but I’ve personally never found a logger boot with 200g. Work boots with 200g of insulation are for more mild winter climates and active jobs.
The takeaway here is that if you’re looking for an insulated logger boot for winter, you’ll need to decide between 400g and 600g work boots. In general, these boots should be warm enough to handle most situations (and may be too warm for some).
Some jobs in the northern US may need insulation beyond 600g, but as I said earlier, I personally have never been able to find a logger boot above 600g. But, they may exist.
If you work in severe conditions, and think you may need something beyond 600g, I do have articles on general work boots for those conditions (but they aren’t loggers). To read more, visit our article about the best 800g insulated work boots. For some extreme jobs, you may even need a 1000g insulated work boot, or beyond.
Best Insulated Logger Boots
Irish Setter Men’s Mesabi Steel Toe Insulated Logger Boots
Irish Setter boots are owned by Red Wing Shoe Company, which has been making premium footwear since 1905. Red wing Shoe Company is based out of Red Wing, Minnesota. The Irish Setter brand was formed in the 1950s and has established itself as a premium boot brand for both outdoor boots and work boots (source).
Here’s what these Irish Setter Mesabi Logger Boots look like:
This is the current price of these Irish Setter winter logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots have that traditional logger boot style.
- Insulation – These boots have 600g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. Again, in my experience, it’s very hard to find logger boots that have more than 600g of insulation.
- Toe Protection – These are steel toe boots.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots are made with waterproof full-grain leather uppers. They also have Ultra Dry™ moisture management system to help keep your feet dry during work.
- Comfort – These boots have a padded collar and tongue, and they have removable footbeds that you can replace, or clean, when needed.
Click here to buy these Irish Setter logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, Irish Setter boots fit true to size. To read more, visit our article about Irish Setter Boot Sizing.
Chippewa Waterproof Steel-Toe EH 400g Insulated Logger Boots
Chippewa’s beginnings date back to 1901, and to a small factory in the lumber town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Since then, they have grown to become one of the most trusted names in premium work boots (source).
Present day, Chippewa boots are part of Justin Brands, a premium brand of western and heavy-duty, functional work boots and other types of footwear. Chippewa is famous for their logger boots.
Here’s what these Chippewa 400g Insulated Logger Boots look like:
This is the current price of these Chippewa Logger Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots are made here in the USA.
- Insulation – These boots have 400g of 3M Thinsulate insulation.
- Toe Protection – These are steel toe boots.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots are made with waterproof leather uppers. They also have a Chip-a-Tex waterproof bootie and a Dri-Lex lining to help keep your feet dry during work.
- Origin – These boots are made here in the USA. To see more USA options, visit our article about the best insulated work boots made in the USA.
- Premium – These are premium logger boots, and may not fit everyone’s budget. But sometimes paying up for quality does help you save money in the long run.
- Comfort – These boots have a padded collar and tongue, and they have removable footbeds that you can replace, or clean, when needed.
- Outsole – These are logger boots with Vibram Soles. They use a Vibram Tacoma outsole, which has rugged lugs for harsh terrain, but is designed to help discourage mud build-up.
Click here to buy these Chippewa 400g logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots. To read more about sizing, visit our article about Chippewa Boot Sizing.
Carolina Waterproof 600g Insulated Elm Soft Toe Logger Boots
Double-H boots was founded by H. H. Brown in Pennsylvania in the 1950’s. Double-H boots specialized in western boots and eventually became the first company to ever manufacture a steel-toe western boot.
Eventually, the safety division of the company grew to the point where it developed its own brand, and was called the Carolina Shoe Company.
Here’s what these Carolina insulated logger boots (CA4823) look like:
This is the current price of these Carolina 600g logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots are soft toe boots, but they do have a steel toe version as well.
- Insulation – These boots have 600g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. As I mentioned earlier, in my experience, it’s very hard to find logger boots that have more than 600g of insulation.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots have a waterproof “SCUBALINER” membrane to help keep your feet dry during work.
- Toe Protection – These are soft toe boots, but there is a steel toe version style CA5823.
Click here to buy these Carolina Elm logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Danner Men’s Logger 8″ 400g NMT Work Boots
Danner boots is based out of Portland, Oregon and has a long-rooted history with logger boots. Danner was started when founder Charles Danner ventured to the Pacific Northwest to build premium work boots for loggers in 1932.
Here’s what these Danner insulated logger boots look like:
This is the current price of these Danner 400g logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots are made with Nubuck Oiled Leather Uppers.
- Insulation – These boots have 400g of 3M Thinsulate insulation.
- Toe Protection – These are composite toe work boots. Danner often lists their composite toe as “NMT”, which means non-metallic toe.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots are protected with a Danner Dry lining which helps prevent water from entering the boot.
- Fit – One thing I love about Danner is they publish the last type. A last is used to form the shape of the boot. This boot uses a 607 last, which generally fits true to size, and has a broad toe box.
- Outsole – These boots have Vibram Soles. They use a Vibram 360 Logger outsole, which has rugged lugs for harsh terrain.
Click here to buy these Danner Logger Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots. To read more about sizing, visit our article about Danner Boot Sizing.
Timberland PRO Mens Rip Saw 400g Composite Toe Logger
Timberland is a leader in creating comfortable and dependable boots. The Timberland PRO line of boots are premium boots built to handle some of the toughest jobs. The Timberland PRO line does have an insulated logger boot.
Here’s what these Timberland PRO winter logger boots look like:
This is the current price of these Timberland PRO logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These are composite toe work boots.
- Insulation – These boots have 400g of Thermolite insulation. Although this is different than Thinsulate, you can still expect it to provide warmth without feeling too bulky.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots use premium waterproof leather and also have a waterproof lining for extra protection.
- Odor Control – One thing I like about Timberland PRO boots is many of them (this boot included) have anti-microbial treatment applied to the lining to help kill odor.
- Outsole – These boots do have Vibram outsoles.
Click here to buy these Timberland PRO logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots. To read more about sizing, visit our article Timberland Boot Sizing.
Thorogood Men’s Logger 400g Insulated Waterproof Safety Toe Boots
Thorogood boots are made by Weinbrenner Shoe Co., an employee-owned company based in Wisconsin that has deep roots in American culture.
Weinbrenner Shoe Co. started manufacturing shoes in the late 1800’s and was a significant contributor of boots for the US Army in both WWI and WWII.
They still make some of their boots here in the USA, including an insulated logger boot. Here’s what these Thorogood 400g Logger Boots look like:
This is the current price of these Thorogood winter logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots have that traditional logger boot style.
- Insulation – These boots have 400g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. As I mentioned earlier, 400g is sort of the industry standard for insulated work boots, including logger boots.
- Toe Protection – These are steel toe boots.
- Waterproof Protection – These boots do have a waterproof membrane.
- Origin – These boots are made here in the USA. If you like your logger boots made here in the states, visit our article about the best logger boots made in the USA.
- Outsole – These are logger boots with Vibram Soles. They use a Vibram Street Warrior outsole, with tip stitching for extra durability.
- Comfort – These boots have a padded collar, and they have removable footbeds that you can replace, or clean, when needed.
Click here to buy these Thorogood insulated logger boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots. To read more, visit Thorogood Boot Sizing.