Best Boots for Alaska
Last Updated on March 1, 2024
If you’re looking for the best boots for Alaska, winter or summer, hiking or fishing or just walking around town, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re a visitor or planning a move to Alaska, I’ve got you!
I lived in Alaska for seven years and I still spend several weeks there each year. I’ve lived in the super rainy parts and the super cold parts and visited most places in between, so you can trust me to recommend boots that are amazing and truly the best for Alaska.
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Best Winter Boots for Alaska
The best winter boots for Alaska vary quite a bit depending on where you’re going. Interior Alaska, including Fairbanks and Denali National Park are extremely cold (way below zero) in the winter and very warm boots are an absolute necessity. This is overkill most of the time in Southeast Alaska, where winters are quite wet and rubber boots or snow boots that are waterproof are most important. Anchorage can be somewhere in between, not as wet as Southeast but not as cold as the Interior.
If you’re visiting Alaska in winter, make sure to bring some other shoes as well, since you may need a break from boots, especially in indoor spaces. Check out my winter packing advice here.
Best winter boots for Fairbanks and Denali National Park
The most important thing in the best boots for Interior Alaska in winter is WARMTH. I think waterproofness is still helpful, because you take your snowy boots inside and then they get wet as the snow melts, but that is not as important as warmth.
Another really important factor is traction, since you’ll be walking on ice and snow you want to have some good tread on your boots. If it’s really icy you might also consider some microspikes like these on Amazon or these from REI (like studded snow tires for your feet).
I love Sorel Boots, both how they look as well as how comfortable they are and they are super warm. I am super comfortable in mine down to about -20 degrees F. The one downside of these is that the liner comes out every time you take them off which I find really annoying, but not a huge deal given how amazing they are overall.
OK, but what if it’s going to be, like, REALLY COLD?
If you’re going to be in temperatures colder than -20 (the coldest I experienced was -56 F, but as a visitor you’re not likely to have it be that cold!), then go big with Baffin snow boots. This is the brand I had when I lived in Fairbanks and they were absolutely amazing. Highly recommended for crazy cold weather! But this is totally overkill unless it’s going to be super cold.
Best winter boots for the Anchorage area
Anchorage can be a little tricky because it’s not as cold as the Interior, but it can still be QUITE cold (still below zero). I recommend the same warm snow boots above for Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, but make sure they’re waterproof too. The Sorels described above are a great option.
Best boots for winter in Southeast Alaska
Southeast Alaska is definitely cold and snowy in the winter but it’s also quite wet and at times it’s warm enough for cold rain instead. You can still go with the snow boots I recommend above BUT it’s super important they are waterproof because wetness is a much bigger issue in Southeast Alaska.
Many people, including myself, wear the extremely popular XtraTuf rubber boots (you will literally see them everywhere) and they are plenty warm with a warm pair of wool socks. Most of the time it’s not cold enough in Southeast Alaska for me to need something warmer. I love the gorgeous prints on the Salmon Sisters ones, that turn a boring rubber boot into a piece of art! In addition to the Octopus ones I have, they also have ones with fish, puffins and more fun designs!
Best Boots for Alaska Summers
Yep, in Alaska people wear boots all year. You’ll probably want boots even if you’re visiting in the summer, but the right kind depends on your preferences and also what your plans are.
If you are visiting Southeast Alaska or the Kenai Peninsula in the summer I highly recommend bringing rubber boots that are comfortable to walk in. This is also a good idea in other parts of Alaska like Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali although they are somewhat less wet parts of the state.
Alaskans all around the state wear XtraTufs (mentioned above for winter in Southeast also) and you will see them everywhere in Southeast Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula in the summer.
XtraTufs are completely waterproof as well as having good traction if you’re on slippery wooden boardwalks (there are a lot of those!) or muddy trails. I wear mine hiking in Southeast Alaska, that’s how comfortable they are. I often wear them hiking in the Pacific Northwest in the winter too. If you’re not convinced, my husband worked for many years as a field archaeologist in Gates of the Arctic National Park and this is what he (and all of his colleagues) wore for many miles of backpacking for weeks on end!
You’ll want thin wool socks to wear under them so your feet don’t get too hot and stay comfortable.
If you’re visiting Alaska, make sure to bring some lighter shoes in summer, because it can get warm and sometimes you just don’t want to wear boots anymore! A pair of sandals, running shoes or casual shoes is a good addition along with boots.
Best Hiking Boots for Alaska
As I said above, I like to wear my XtraTufs for hiking in Southeast Alaska, but if I’m near Anchorage, Fairbanks or Denali National Park in the summer where it’s often a bit drier and less muddy, I usually opt for the same hiking footwear I wear in Seattle. I prefer hiking shoes which I’ll talk about below. If you prefer hiking boots, any hiking boots you already have will work great for Alaska.
If you are buying new hiking boots for your trip to Alaska, make sure they are waterproof. That’s the most important thing because your feet are likely to get wet. Ideally, it’s worth it to go to a store and get fitted for the best hiking boot for you. This is a lot more important than a specific recommendation I would have.
While each person’s preferred boot varies, if you’re in a pinch and need to order them online, I recommend Merrell Moabs because they’re a great company and make wonderful waterproof boots that perform well for most people. Make sure to get the waterproof version!
I personally prefer to wear waterproof hiking shoes. I once again recommend the Merrell Moabs, the only difference from the boots is they are shorter and lighter.
When it’s wet or snowy, I often wear the shoes with gaiters, which keep water from going in over the top of the shoe. They are basically a waterproof layer that goes over your lower legs. They’re not necessary but can be really helpful staying dry.
Make sure to wear them with wool socks so it won’t be completely miserable if your feet get wet (and bring plenty of extra dry pairs along!)
Related: What I wear for a hike in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, What to pack for Alaska
By now I hope you feel confident that you have the best boots for Alaska or you know where to get them if you’re shopping for a new pair!
