I don't have a good suggestion for what you can wear but I know what not to and that's Uggs. They may not even be something on your radar but if they are, I'd reconsider. First they run super large, so finding a good fit can be challenging; also what little tread they have does not work well in snow! I got some as a gift after moving to cold country and ended up very disappointed with them. Not only are they are huge looking but I was constantly slipping in them. The one plus is they are very warm, so I imagine their slippers are a pretty good option for indoors.

I love my Helly Hansen boots. Mine are an older model but very similar to these in black. I've trekked many miles around English villages with these warming my feet.

http://mshop.hellyhansen.com/us/item/w-skuld-4-10907/?COLOR=715%20CORNSTALK%20%2F%20SLATE%20BLACK&t_type=cat

Oooooh, those helly hansen's look really great! Hmmm...

Check out Icebug boots too.

AJ, those boots are really cool looking.

We love our muck boots ...they aren't the most attractive, but they are so warm and comfortable...I have walked far in them comfortably, they are waterproof and, with stretchy tops, they close tightly around the leg to keep the snow from getting in.

I am a tremendous fan of Frye boots and Smartwool socks. The winters here are very cold, I tend to have very cold feet, and that combination works well for me. You can get thin liner socks to go under the thicker wooly socks. I find that more comfortable and warmer than heavy boots like Sorels. Of course Fryes are not insulated or made for rugged hiking, so they may not be what you're looking for. I think they're great for winter walking, and they look nice. They have very thick, sturdy soles, which helps keep the cold out.

Aquatalia, but they are pricey.

After an exhaustive search, I just got these La Canadienne Cathy Mid-Shaft Buckle boots. I was looking for something that would look cute with jeans, warm, comfortable, waterproof & mid-shaft. I didn't want a knee high boot for everyday wear. I love them. Pricey but I did manage to hit a sale at Bloomingdale's & got 33% off.

http://www.lacanadienneshoes.com/us/boots/mid-heel/cathy-72201.html

I agree that most Uggs aren't intended for snow and rain but they do make some which are... good tread, arch support and good looking as well. I live in a snowy area and wear them all winter for hours at a time and love them. OTOH, DH and I have each had a pair (not the sturdier ones but the more traditional Uggs) which didn't hold up well and wouldn't be able to recommend.

Whatever you get make it real leather, because that can actually be waterproofed. Also hand sewn upper onto the tread, not glued which can come unglued and leak. Then, like JLC says, silk liner socks and then wool oversock. Room for your toes to wiggle. Good Vibram type soles. You'll probably have to order online and order a few pairs before you find a fit you like. I use Zappos a lot, great service. Try them on with the socks so you know how they'll fit in the worst conditions.

How about the authentic English Le Chameau Wellingtons? You can get the Vierzonord style at Orvis.

Also, Aiglers. Can also get these boots on eBay.

Make sure you know the widest measurement of your calf for these.

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_search_tnail.aspx?keyword=le+chameau

One tip about Smartwool socks: LLBean makes the same wool socks (also sells Smartwool brand). I bought a bunch of both. the LLBean wool socks far outlast the Smartwool socks.

So many great options, I'll have to start playing the lottery so I can afford all the styles that attract me.

Agree about Uggs. I love mine but they are glorified slippers for me- just casual wearing. The lack of arch support and fact that they allow you foot to move around a bit make them just comfy warmers to me.

Patti Steger's Mukluks. I LOVE my Arctic muks! They always keep my feet warm and are so comfortable.... like wearing marshmallows on your feet. :)

Mukluks

ETA: they're made in the USA!!!

Sorel Conquest Carly is my choice!

http://www.sorel.com/womens-conquest-carly-boot-NL2033.html

Can't speak about boots but I highly recommend Smart Wool socks.

Another La Canadienne fan here. You can’t go wrong with their boots. I was raised in the north country, (Lake Placid, NY), and it’s known for it’s frigid temperatures. I bought my current pair of La Canadienne boots while visiting Lake Placid a few winters ago, wore them the entire time I was there, and love that their style stays current and they are so comfortable. I’m sure they would have a style that would suit you.

Another vote for SmartWool socks and silk liners. I've never bought the LLBean version, but can attest that I've had SmartWool hiking socks for almost 20 years and they still look and wear ALMOST like new.

Bloomingdales is having 25% off. I highly recommend La Canadienne.

I went to Australia for my last big birthday 8 years ago. One of the tour guides stated that he was puzzled that Americans were wearing UGGS outside, as they were originally intended for indoor use as slippers. Now, these were the original models, but I still shake my head when I see them, especially when they have been worn out and run over.

I just ordered a pair of La Canadienne booties, I'll let you know if I like them. Thanks for the recommendations, and the hints on socks, too!

That's so weird, auntjen, because I didn't get even one season out of the Smartwool but still have the LLBean wool socks!

4Heidesign,

The bigger problem is they have many styles that suit me. Narrowing it down to one is the challenge.

eta:

marlene, I'm bad at math but if I bought four pairs at 25% off wouldn't that mean the 5th pair would be essentially free? Think I can convince my math major husband that's how it works? I can narrow by choice down to 5 pairs.

My daughter swears by the smartwool socks too...but seems to need new ones every year. OTOH, I bought some just like them at Costco in a pack of 4 or 6 a couple of years ago and they've held up great.

hhireno, it's even better than that. If you buy 5 pairs at $350 per pair, with the 25% discount you save $437.50 so you'd have $87.50 left over for dinner. Try that on your DH :-).

I love this shopping math! Buying things on sale means you're saving money, right?

My SmartWools have lasted many years, and I confess to still wearing the ancient ones that are developing holes. They are my favorite. I love their thin dress socks and wear them almost everyday.

I wonder if they aren't making Smartwools like they used to. Like I said, mine are nearly two decades old ... I'm thinking I bought them in 1998 ... And with entirely too many things these days, perhaps they now make them so they don't last "forever", thereby increasing sales.

I'm not a fan of wool but I sure love my Smartwools. I always air dry them, it seems to give them longevity. Darn Tough Vermont are also nice socks.

This is a bad, bad thread. I just bought two pair of booties.

Bloomingdale's - free shipping on returns. Buy as many pairs as you like.

So many of the boots on here are super cute but don't look like they'd be warm or really water/salt/muck resistant -- or at least I would hesitate to take them out into the salt and muck given what they cost! I like my winter boots warm and cheap enough that I won't think twice about whether they're getting mucky or salty. I just bought a pair of Khombu Arctic boots for $54 on clearance at Marshalls. They have a very similar one at Costco for $40. They are rated down to -20 degrees supposedly. They were comfortable (at least in the store -- I have foot issues so the true test will be what they feel like after I wear them for a few hours.) And they are cute! (The ones at Marshall's were cuter IMO). I hope they last -- some of the online reviews I found said they fall apart after a season or two.

These are the ones I got:

And these are the costco ones (I didn't care for the gray stripes on the rubber part):

I went to college in the early 80s and one of my friends was from Australia. She wore short Uggs as indoor slippers. We teased her about them because of the silly name and the giant puffy shape. Who knew they would be fashionable thirty years later?

Pay a lot of attention to the sole of the boot. Standing, cold seeps up from the ground and will chill you bottom to top. I stand on cold earth a lot on the sidelines of football games in the cold, damp Maine fall and at skiing and snowboarding events all winter.

The advice about SmartWool socks, and silk liners is all good. I have bought the LLBean wool socks and they are fine too. Great buys on SMartWool can often be found at SIerra Trading Post and Campmor- I but seconds/irregulars with no issues. A sheepskin liner in the base of your boot is also lovely.

My go to boot for standing are my tall, sheepskin lined Bean boots. They are good for walking in deep snow too, mud, muck, etc and get much use trekking in the yards and fields all winter. That said, I do not like them on pavement, the cobbled streets of Portland, or on anything that may be icy or wet. The chain tread bottom of the boot doesnt give enough traction and I have slipped many many times.

For winter walking in woods, I use my leather hiking boots.

If you live in a climate wear you will get use of the boots in the future, I would really get two pair. One for the streets when you want to be a bit dressier- and I LOVE LaCanadienne boots for this purpose, and one more utilitarian for the woods. Wear one on the plane if you are worried about packing.

Wuhoo, GW math! I'll sweetly say "honey, I want to treat you to dinner tonight, name the place. No, no, don't worry about all those shoeboxes."

I'm going to need an extra suitcase to bring all my new boots on my trip. For muck, for style, for lounging - a complete wardrobe of boots.

to help a pair of boots feel warmer, I second the llbean sherling insoles-- they're awesome!! they're also super nice for footwear that you would prefer not to have to wear socks with, like clogs! (I'm not a huge sock lover!)

lkplatow - I think those cute Khombus will serve you well. I put many miles on my Khombu boots before they finally died, and trekked through a good deal of snow, rain, and slush in the UK.

Heads up about your feet: I was just at a store called Plow & Hearth (or maybe Hearth & Plow, that sounds better to my ear) and they had some of the Darn Tough socks on clearance (about $5 off the regular price). Check it out if you're near a store. Never heard of the socks before today and BAM accidentally found them in a new-to-me store. I bought two pairs.

REI has some great options including these Sorel Tivoli high snow boots, and Sorel Joan of Arctic ll, and Sorel Conquest Carly, and, and I really like these Teva Figueroa boots.

I love my La Canadienne boots. I got a nice pair for church/going out with a wedge heel. They have held up very well. Have Sorels for shoveling, playing outside with kids, etc. Might invest in another pair of La Canadiennes this winter.

A question for those with La Canadienne boots. I ordered a pair in black leather 3 yrs. ago. They were a simple riding boot style, zipped up the side, 1" heel. Gorgeous and well-made! But I couldn't zip them up over my muscular calves :(

I'm wondering if any here have had a similar issue. Maybe it was just that style, but I've been reluctant to order LC boots since then.

amck, the 2 pairs of lined winter LC boots I bought didn't have that problem, but I have had that issue before with other brands (my calves aren't muscular, just fat :)

Thanks, daisy. I ended up buying a pair from a British company called Duo when they were offering free international shipping. Duo was recommended to me because you could order by calf size. Often boots sold in wide widths have wider boot shafts but I don't have wide feet. Within the past couple weeks I've received notices that Duo has changed its name - not sure if it's a merger or buyout, but they claim they'll offer the same quality & service. It's a two-name name like "Muffy & ........" (Can't think of it right now)

My calves really are pure muscle - I got them from my Dad. My thighs, well, that's a different story...

I was so impressed with the quality of the La Canadiennes I'd like to try them again. Maybe a style that isn't knee high could work.

ETA The new name for Duo is Ted & Muffy

I've worn Dubarry boots for years - the Country Boots are Gore-Tex lined which makes them waterproof and breathable and the foot bed has an extra lining to protect from the cold.

http://www.dubarry.us/shop-by-product/womens-footwear/country-boots

I received my La Canadienne booties, they are lovely. However, when I took them out of the box, I immediately knew that the shaft would be too narrow for my calves. I was right. There is no gusset at the top of these, so back they will go. I love the leather and the construction, and the foot fit was perfect, even with socks. Much sadness. I will continue the search, and will check out Ted and Muffy. Thanks everyone.

Since you are back to looking again, I thought I'd mention that UGG does have some really nice boots that are not typically what you expect UGGs to look like. I have a pair I bought a few years ago and I have to be careful when & where I wear them because they can almost be too warm.

Thanks. I'll take a look, but the last time I tried a pair of Uggs (the short bootie), I couldn't even get my foot into one of them. My mother, on the other hand, loves hers.