Wearing insulated zipper boots for winter work can provide you with something that is both warm and easy to take off after a hard day of work. Unfortunately, not a lot of major boot brands make insulated zip up boots. The good news is, you do have a few options to choose from.
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These are our choices for the best insulated zipper work boots:
- Bates Men’s Gx-8 200g Insulated Zip Up Boots (click here to view)
- Propet Men’s Blizzard Mid Insulated Zip Up Boots (click here to view)
- L.L. Bean Men’s Storm Chaser 200g Insulated Zipper Boots (click here to view)
- Guide Gear Silvercliff II 400g Insulated Zip Up Boots (click here to view)
- RefrigiWear Barrier 200g Pull On Insulated Zip Boots (click here to view)
- Rocky Men’s Alpha Force Insulated 400g Zip Tactical Boot (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Bates Gx-8 Gore-Tex 200g Insulated Boots (click here to view)
***Here’s my advice. If you want a quick understanding of what type of insulation may be best for your insulated zipper boots, then watch my short 45 second video posted below that quickly explains what you need to know. Also, please subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the button below. Thanks!
As you probably know, not all insulated work boots offer the same warmth. The weight of insulation used can greatly impact the warmth of a boot and its suitability for a certain climate.
Many boots use 3M Thinsulate as insulation. Thinsulate is very useful in boots and outdoor gear because it is extremely warm despite being non-bulky and lightweight. The microfibers trap in heat, but don’t take up a lot of space and don’t add much weight.
Although many of the options on our list use 3M Thinsulate as insulation, it’s important to note that the L.L. Bean boots use PrimaLoft, a similar but different type of boot insulation.
Many insulated work boots use 400g of 3M Thinsulate as insulation, but both the weight and type of insulation can vary boot to boot. Although 400 grams of insulation is quite common, that doesn’t mean it makes sense for all jobs.
Let’s start by discussing the different weights of insulation that may be used in a work boot, and what to expect. In this article we discuss work boots. If you are shopping for casual boots, visit our article about the best insulated chukka boots.
Insulated Zip Up Work Boot Options
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.
The most common weight of insulation in a work boot is 400 grams, but you can find work boots anywhere in the 200g-2000g range.
Anything beyond 2000g is quite rare, and likely used for high country living, or extreme work conditions in dangerous temperatures.
Unfortunately, because there isn’t a wide selection of insulated zipper boots on the market, your choices in our list at the top are limited to 200g and 400g of insulation.
The good news is, I personally use 200g and 400g where I live (Kansas). The bad news is, that doesn’t mean those weights will work for your climate.
For the continental US, 400g boots will often be the best option for most workers, but I must emphasize, there will be exceptions.
For mild winters in the deep south, 400g may be too warm. And for some more extreme US climates, 400g may not be warm enough.
And let’s not forget, insulation isn’t the only thing that will determine the suitability of a work boot for winter.
Other materials on the boot can affect warmth, and of course your own personal comfort level will play a large role in determining what weight of insulation is best for you.
How Warm Are These Boots?
Unfortunately, most boot companies (for legal reasons) do not assign a temperature rating to their boots (are leather boots good for winter?).
This can leave you confused when every company tells you their boot “is the warmest out there”. Well, how warm?
As I mentioned above, 400g tends to be the most common type of insulation, although some jobs will need something warmer. It can vary dramatically by climate, and activity level.
What I wear
Ultimately, trial and error is the method I used to find a boot that works for me. In Kansas, I use both a 200g and a 400g work boot.
We get moderate winters here, and can have severe conditions. But we also do experience periods of mild winter temperatures.
So I personally rotate from 200g to 400g as the weather turns. I can’t make that a standard recommendation because I don’t know your job, climate, or personal comfort level, but that is what has worked for me.
Here’s a look at one of my 400g boots:
Most insulated work boots fall in the 200g – 600g range, which should give you a decent idea of maybe what you need.
Start with 200g if you work in mild conditions. Moderate conditions might need 400g, and severe conditions will probably need 600g or higher.
Extreme Weather Work Boot Options
As I mentioned earlier, our list at the top only includes 200g and 400g boots. Overall, the selection of insulated zipper work boots is limited.
If you need something beyond 400g (for more severe conditions), I’d recommend visiting our articles here:
The main takeaway is if you’re looking for an actual temperature guarantee, for most companies those basically don’t exist, and we certainly can’t give one either.
Most companies won’t make themselves legally vulnerable by placing a temperature guarantee on a product. Unfortunately, as I have learned, sometimes it’s just trial and error to find the boot that best fits your winter needs.
***In this article, we discuss only insulated zip work boots that have a soft toe. If you need steel toe, visit our article about the best insulated steel toe work boots. For comp toe, visit our article about the best insulated composite toe work boots.
Best Insulated Work Boots with Zipper
Bates Men’s Gx-8 200g Insulated Zip Up Boots
Bates has been producing uniform service footwear for well over 100 years. They have a long tradition of making dependable boots, even supplying the US Army during WW2.
Tactical and service boots are the most common types of work boots that have a side zipper. If you are looking for insulated zip up boots, considering service boots increases your options significantly.
Here’s what these boots look like:
This is the current price of these Bates insulated zipper work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work boots:
- Material – This boot is constructed of 100% full-grain leather and performance nylon uppers. The nylon is durable, but also helps keep weight down.
- Zipper – Yes, these boots have a side zipper with hook-and-loop strap to secure the zipper.
- Insulation – This boot is insulated with 200g of 3M Thinsulate™.
- Waterproof – A moisture-wicking, breathable GORE-TEX membrane offers superior waterproofing, ensuring your feet always stay dry and protected.
- Women’s Version – These boots are also offered in a women’s version. Click here to view at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Comfort – A padded collar and cushioned removable insert add next-level comfort while the lightweight EVA midsole lends itself to increased flexibility.
Click here to buy these Bates insulated zip up work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Propet Men’s Blizzard Mid Insulated Zip Up Boots
Propet has been around since 1985, and they have always been focused on providing comfortable, easy-to-wear footwear, and they do have an insulated zip up boot.
Here’s what these boots look like:
This is the current price of these Propet insulated zipper boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work boots:
- Material – The 100% leather construction of this mid-cut boot is treated with Scotchguard®, making it damage- and tear-resistant for the utmost in durability. A molded rubber toe gives it increased protection against the elements.
- Zipper – Yes, this boot has a front zipper which adds convenience and ease of wear.
- Insulation – Designed for warmth when the temperatures drop, this boot utilizes the Vaporex® heat-retaining insole system in addition to a 3M Thinsulate™ insulation to help keep your feet warm.
- Comfort – Your foot will stay supported throughout your workday with the EVA, cushioned, lightweight midsole.
- Waterproof – Yes, this boot is also waterproof. The SealTex® waterproof construction will protect your foot against the wettest days.
Click here to buy these Propet insulated zip up boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
L.L. Bean Men’s Storm Chaser 200g Insulated Zipper Boots
L.L. Bean is a well-known name in outdoor performance and casual wear. They have a wide selection of clothing built for cold environments, including a pair of insulated zip up boots.
Click here to view these boots at llbean.com (affiliate link). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:
- Material – These boots are made with full grain leather in combination with a rubber half shell, made for harsh, wet environments.
- Zipper – Yes, this boot has a zipper for convenience.
- Insulation – This boot uses waterproof, 200-gram PrimaLoft® for insulation. The lasting board (located under your foot) is also insulated with “SolarCore” insulation for extra warmth that’s bulk-free.
- Comfort – This boot is the ideal combination of utility and comfort. The leather pull-on loop on both the front and back of the padded collar along with a full-length side zipper makes them a cinch to get in and out of.
- Waterproof – Yes, this is a waterproof boot. It is also salt- and stain-resistant. The waterproof and windproof membrane keeps the water and cold out while keeping your feet dry and comfortable.
As I mentioned earlier in the article, these L.L. Bean boots use PrimaLoft for insulation instead of 3M Thinsulate. In my experience, these two types of insulation are very similar. I personally think PrimaLoft feels a bit “fluffier”, but both are warm.
Rocky Men’s Alpha Force Insulated 400g Zip Tactical Boot
Rocky Boots is an Ohio-based shoe company that opened in the 1930’s and makes several different types of boots. Rocky makes work boots, outdoor boots, hiking boots, and tactical boots.
Here’s what these Rocky insulated zip up work boots look like:
This is the current price of these Rocky insulated zipper work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work boots:
- Material – This 100% full-grain leather boot also features 900-denier combination nylon that is abrasion-resistant. The nylon helps keep the weight of the boot down.
- Zipper – Yes, these boots have a side zipper.
- Insulation – The 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate™ Ultra insulation helps keep your feet warm when the temperatures get cold.
- Comfort – The Rocky Air-Port™ footbed is a cushioned, high-performance footbed that helps keep you comfortable by circulating air with each and every step.
- Waterproof – Yes, these are waterproof boots. Made with the Rocky Waterproof System, this boot keeps your feet dry and comfortable by allowing the air to flow in while making sure the water stays out.
Click here to buy these Rocky insulated zipper boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Guide Gear Silvercliff II 400g Insulated Zip Up Boots
Guide Gear is known for making dependable outdoor gear, including a pair of insulated zip up boots. Here’s what these Guide Gear Silvercliff II 400g Insulated Boots look like:
This is the current price of these Guide Gear insulated boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work boots:
- Material – A suede leather and sturdy nylon upper effortlessly combine comfort and functionality. The rubber toe and heel caps provide added durability that lasts.
- Zipper – The full zipper on the top of the foot makes getting in and out of these boots quick and easy. The zipper also features an anti-slide tab, keeping it locked into place to avoid sliding.
- Insulation – These boots use 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate ™ Ultra for insulation.
- Comfort – Designed for easy all-day wear, the cushioned, removable insole of this boot supports the foot while the steel shank supports and protects your arch. The padded tongue and collar keep the cold air out.
- Waterproof – Yes, these are waterproof boots.
Click here to buy these Guide Gear insulated zipper boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
***These boots are all soft toe boots. If you need steel toe, please visit our article about the best steel toe boots with side zipper.