10 Best Insulated Pac Boots for Winter Cold & Snow


When the winter snow sets in, insulated pac boots can provide you the warmth and waterproof protection you need. Most modern winter pac boots combine a rubber bottom with a leather or canvas shaft. There can be exceptions, including options that are made entirely of rubber.

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These are my choices for best insulated pac boots for winter:

  1. LaCrosse Men’s 12″ Insulated Pac Mid-Calf Boot (click here to view)
  2. Kenetrek Cowboy 400g Insulated Pac Boots (click here to view)
  3. L.L. Bean Men’s Insulated Winter Bean Boots (click here to view)
  4. Carhartt Men’s 10″ Waterproof Insulated PAC Composite Toe Boots (click here to view)
  5. Rocky Men’s Blizzard Stalker Waterproof Pro 1200g Insulated Boots (click here to view)
  6. Kenetrek 13″ Rancher Insulated 400g Winter Pac Boots (click here to view)
  7. *Women’s* Eddie Bauer Women’s Insulated Pac Deluxe Boots (click here to view)
  8. *Women’s* L.L. Bean Women’s Insulated Winter Bean Boots (click here to view)
  9. *Women’s* Kenetrek Cowgirl Insulated 400g Pac Boots (click here to view)
  10. *Women’s* L.L. Bean Women’s Rangeley Insulated Waterproof Pac Boots (click here to view)

Most winter pac boots will use a combination of insulations to line the boot. Synthetic insulation like 3M Thinsulate or PimaLoft is often use to insulate the bottom rubber portion of the boot. Some boots, like the Lacrosse pac boots on our list, will use foam insulation around the foot.

The type of insulation used around the shaft of the boot can vary dramatically based on the type of boot. Some will also use that synthetic insulation around the shaft, but you can also find flannel, fleece, and shearling-lined shafts.

The weight of synthetic insulation used will affect the warmth of the boot. In Kansas, I usually wear either a 200g or 400g boot. For most US climates, 200g and 400g of insulation will do the trick, but there can be exceptions. Your activity level will also impact the amount of insulation you need.

In this article let’s take a closer look at the best winter pac boots so you can find an option that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss several things to consider when buying these types of boots. For general information on warmth, visit our article about rubber boot warmth.

Best Insulated Pac Boots for Winter Work

LaCrosse Men’s Insulated Pac 12” Rubber Boots

Lacrosse is a well known rubber boot company, and I have owned these Lacrosse Insulated Pac Rubber Boots for several years. As you can see, they are 100% rubber boots. I like 100% rubber boots in sloppy wet conditions because it provides a dependable waterproof barrier.

Here’s what these Lacrosse winter pac boots look like:

This is the current price of these Lacrosse insulated pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

  • Design – Unlike other Pac boots, these boots are made with 100% rubber. They lace up near the calf, making it easier to tighten them to your preferred fit. This can be particularly important if you’re working in wet, slippery conditions. This boot is 100% waterproof.
  • Warmth – These winter pac boots have foam insulation that extends from the bottom of the boot to the ankle to provide you warmth on those cold winter work days. These boots also have a 9mm wool-felt midsole.
  • Toe Type – This is a plain toe boot, but Lacrosse does offer this boot in a steel toe version as well. Click here to view the steel toe version of this boot available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

As I mentioned above, I have worn these LaCrosse Insulated Pac Boots for several years. Here’s a look at my Lacrosse Pac Boots:

lacrosse-boots-sizing-top-mud
lacrosse-boots-sizing-bottom
lacrosse-boots-sizing-front
lacrosse-boots-sizing-top-wood

Again, the thing I really like about these Lacrosse Pac Boots is they are 100% rubber and provide me with a reliable waterproof barrier when I need it. The laces around the calf allow me to tighten the boot securely to my leg in wet work conditions.

Click here to buy these Lacrosse insulated pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, Lacrosse boots fit true to size. To read more, visit Lacrosse Boot Size Guide.


L.L. Bean Men’s Insulated Winter Bean Boots

L.L. Bean’s Insulated Bean Boots work perfectly as winter pac boots and the cool thing is L.L. Bean offers these insulated pac boots in a wide range of insulations so you can find the type that fits your climate.

Most of these boots will use a combination of insulations. For example, some boots may use sheepskin shearling to insulate above the ankle, but use synthetic insulation in the rubber portion of the boot. The synthetic insulations used will be either 3M Thinsulate or PrimaLoft, which are both very good at trapping heat while still being lightweight and non-bulky.

The weight of insulation can greatly affect the warmth of the boot. One thing I really like about L.L. Bean is they will assign a comfort rating to some of their boots so you have an idea of what temperature range the boots fit. I’d advise you to learn more about their comfort ratings by clicking here. Here’s what you need to know about your options:

  • Men’s Shearling Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with sheepskin shearling and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. L.L. Bean assigns a comfort rating of +25 degrees Fahrenheit for light activity with these boots, and a comfort rating of -20 degree Fahrenheit for moderate activity with these boots. These are handcrafted in the USA. Waterproof leather shaft with rubber bottoms. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean shearling-lined boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
  • Men’s Thinsulate Gore-Tex Bean Boots – This is probably their most popular men’s Bean Boot. This boot uses 3M Thinsulate for insulation and has a waterproof Gore-Tex lining. Although this boot is insulated, it won’t be quite as warm as some of their other options. These boots are handcrafted in the USA. Classic design with waterproof leather shaft combined with rubber bottom. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean Thinsulate boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
  • Men’s Flannel Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with 100% cotton flannel and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. This is one of the few insulated boots on the market that use flannel lining above the ankle. Classic design with leather shaft and rubber bottom. These are 8-inch boots and they are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these men’s L.L. Bean flannel-lined insulated pac boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
  • Women’s Shearling Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with sheepskin shearling and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. L.L. Bean does assign a comfort rating to these boots so you can match the temperature range to your activity level to get a better understanding of how warm they are. These are handcrafted in the USA. Waterproof leather shaft with rubber bottoms. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean shearling-lined winter pac boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
  • Women’s Flannel Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with 100% cotton flannel and the rubber bottom is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. Just like with the men’s boot we discussed earlier, this is one of the few women’s insulated boots on the market that use flannel lining above the ankle. Classic design with leather shaft and rubber bottom. These are 8-inch boots and they are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean flannel-lined insulated pac boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).
  • Women’s Fleece Lined Boot – The upper for this boot is insulated with fleece to provide a cozy feel above and around the ankle. Just like the flannel-lined boot above, this boot uses 200g of PrimaLoft for insulation to line the rubber portion of the boot. Just like 3M Thinsulate we’ve discussed above, PrimaLoft is a synthetic insulation that is very good at trapping heat but is also non-bulky. Classic design with leather shaft and rubber bottom. These are 10-inch boots and they are handcrafted in the USA. Click here to view these women’s L.L. Bean flannel-lined boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).

As you can see, L.L. Bean has a wide variety of winter pac boots. I personally like the shearling-lined boots. These boots have PrimaLoft insulation around the foot, then use shearling to line the leather shaft of the boot.

Here’s what mine look like:

insulated-duck-boots
ll-bean-insulated-duck-boots
insulated-ll-bean-boots

These boots use a thick shearling lining to keep my ankles and lower legs warm. As you can see below, the lining on my boots measures at almost 7mm thick. My size 11 boots weigh 1.91 pounds per boot:

insulated-ll-bean-boots-lining
insulated-ll-bean-boots-lining-thickness
insulated-ll-bean-boots-weight

I typically wear a size 12, but sized down to 11 for these boots and they fit perfectly, so I would recommend that you size L.L. Bean down. Click here to buy these L.L. Bean men’s insulated pac boots that I own (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).


Eddie Bauer Women’s Insulated Pac Deluxe Boots

These Eddie Bauer women’s insulated pac boots have more of a casual design, and will be perfect snow boots for brutal winter weather.

Here’s what these boots look like:

This is the current price of these Eddie Bauer women’s insulated pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

  • Material – These boots are made with suede leather uppers in combination with a rubber vamp area for waterproof protection against rain and snow. These boots use a faux-fur trimmed collar for style and added warmth.
  • Warmth – These women’s winter pac boots use 200g of ThermaFill insulation for warmth. They also have a gusseted tongue which not only helps to keep water and debris out, it also helps trap in heat.
  • Design – These boots have more of a casual design, but the insulated, seam-sealed construction provides the warmth and moisture protection needed in winter weather. These boots have removable footbeds that can be cleaned or replaced when needed.

Click here to buy these Eddie Bauer winter pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, Lacrosse boots fit true to size. To read more, visit Lacrosse Work Boot Sizing.


Other Winter Pac Boots to Consider

  • Kenetrek Cowboy 400g Insulated Pac Boots – These Kenetrek Pac Boots are made specifically for cowboys and ranchers who need a riding boot. They have a raised, stirrup-friendly heel and also feature a steel shank for under-foot support. Yes, these boots are insulated with 400g of 3M Thinsulate and 3mm of wool felt. They also have a removable liner for extra warmth above the ankle. Click here to view these Kenetrek cowboy winter pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
  • Rocky Men’s Blizzard Stalker Waterproof Pro 1200g Insulated Boots – If you need a winter pac boot for more extreme conditions, these Rocky Blizzard Stalker Boots use 1200g of 3M Thinsulate for added warmth. They have a rubber vamp for protection against rain and snow, and feature textile worked into the upper to help reduce the overall weight of the boot. Click here to view these Rocky Blizzard Stalker Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
  • *Women’s* Kenetrek Cowgirl 400g Insulated Pac Boots – Just like the men’s version we discussed earlier, these Kenetrek Women’s Pac Boots are made specifically for women who need a riding boot. These boots have a raised, stirrup-friendly heel and also feature a steel shank for under-foot support. Yes, these boots are insulated with 400g of 3M Thinsulate and 3mm of wool felt. They also have a removable liner for extra warmth above the ankle. Click here to view these Kenetrek cowgirl winter pac boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

6 Things to Consider When Buying Insulated Pac Boots

Height of Winter Pac Boots

The height of the boot can affect many things, mainly protection. Obviously, the taller the boot shaft, the more water, wind, and abrasion protection you get above the ankle.

But a tall shaft can also add weight to the boot, and usually increases price. It also affects the look and wear of a boot, so shaft height may just come down to your personal preference on style.

You can find winter pac boots usually in the 8-12 inch shaft range, with exceptions. For example, the Lacrosse rubber pac boots that I own are taller boots that use a 12 inch shaft, but the L.L. Bean boots that I own use an 8-inch shaft.

Lace vs Slip On

When most people think of winter pac boots, they imagine lace-up winter duck boots. The large majority of snow pac boots have laces. These laces can be very important in wet environments because they obviously help you secure the boot to your foot.

If you are searching for slip on pac boots, L.L. Bean does have a nice option. Click here to view L.L. Bean slip on insulated pac boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).

My Lacrosse Pac Boots lace around the calf which allows me to tighten the rubber boot securely on my leg, but still have a pull-on style. Those laces help secure the boot and also allow me to tighten the boots around the collar to keep the weather out.

Raised Heel

Most winter pac boots have a raised heel, but usually it is about an inch in height. As we discussed earlier in the article, Kenetrek makes raised-heel insulated pac boots for both men and women who spend time in the saddle and need a stirrup-friendly option.

If you are looking for a winter riding boot, logger boots are another good option. They have the raised heel that works well with stirrups. To see options, visit our article about the best winter logger boots.

Not only do these boots have a raised heel, most types of riding boots will also use a steel shank for extra support under the foot. A shank is a supportive piece in the midsole of a boot that help provide form and structure to the boot, and also offers some underfoot pierce protection.

Other Insulated Boots

There are a wide range of insulated boots on the market today, and if you are not happy with your winter pac boot options, then maybe one of the options below will give you the fit you need:

Pac Boots Made in the USA

Unfortunately today, most insulated pac boots are imported. If you prefer to wear USA-made winter pac boots, then I would recommend the L.L. Bean boots we discussed earlier in the article.

L.L. Bean has a wide range of their iconic “Bean Boots” that are still handcrafted here in the USA at their Maine facility. Click here to see L.L. Bean’s wide variety of USA insulated pac boots (affiliate link takes you to llbean.com).

Paul Johnson

Paul is a lead content creator for Workwear Command. He has had several blue-collar jobs which have provided him a wide range of experience with tools and gear. He also has a business degree and has spent time in business casual office settings.

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