Best boot brands to invest in for this winter and beyond

A fashion editor rounds up the best boot brands to shop for style, comfort and longevity

Black riding boots, black heeled ankle boots, brown cowboy boots with embroidery
(Image credit: Duo, Russell & Bromley, Ariat)

The best boot brands offer more reassurance that you're investing in a reliable product. One of the larger purchases of any given winter season, you'll naturally want your final choice to last you several seasons and selecting from a reliable source means that you're buying into quality. 

With such a huge selection on offer, when adding to your shoe capsule wardrobe, you want to ensure the basics are covered and the best boot brands will often have a wide selection of staple styles alongside more fashion-led pieces to choose from. To begin, ensure you have a pair of the best winter boots - and while these have no set style, cuts such as a riding boot - knee high, low heel and fitted are considered some of the best to invest in as they work with everything from dresses to jeans. After this, you may want to consider ankle or mid-calf designs, as well as heeled options, depending on your wardrobe and lifestyle.

"When it comes to buying boots, it’s important to invest in your purchase to get the best quality and comfort. Usually, a more expensive purchase, think of your new boots in terms of cost per wear," explains fashion stylist and editor, Antonia Kraskowski. "If you’re looking for a pair of outdoor boots, brands such as Sorel and Grenson are a good choice with tractor soles and thermal linings to keep your feet warm on long walks. If you’re looking for a smart pair of knee-high boots, fit is key - pinching or flapping boots are not a good look but luckily Duo offers a range of calf fits and even a bespoke service, meaning you can find a pair that hug your leg perfectly," 

 

Best boot brands to invest in

1. Duo Boots

Best for wide and petite fits

Specifications

RRP: from £175
Sizes: Sizes 2-10 / Calf 30cm-50cm

Reasons to buy

+
8 different calf sizes
+
Shoe sizes 2 to 10
+
Petite and wide fits

Reasons to avoid

-
No next day delivery

Hands up if you have ever struggled to get boots to fit your calves. Whether you're looking for the best wide fit boots, or have problems getting boots to sit flat on very slim calves, the outcome of disappointment is the same. Until now. One of the best boot brands for fit has to be Duo Boots who offer a staggering selection of eight different calf widths, as well as shoe sizes 2 to 10, giving the majority of shoppers the opportunity to buy premium leather boots that will feel custom made. 

With all the classic styles you might expect - riding boots, lace-ups and cowboy-inspired numbers, the brand also has sections of petite-fit boots and ankle boots to cover most bases. 


2. Marks & Spencer

Budget concious shoppers

Specifications

RRP: from £28
Sizes: 3-8

Reasons to buy

+
Great price points
+
Mix of trend-led and classic styles

Reasons to avoid

-
Standard widths

One of the best British clothing brands, Marks & Spencer is an automatic go-to for many shopper's wardrobe essentials. One of the best boot brands, M&S offer a mixture of classic staples, alongside more direction designs at a price that your bank balance will be happy with. Maintaining quality is still key at M&S and this high street brand delivers here. From the best knee high boots, to trend stompy styles, you can find it all in any given season, but you need to shop fast, as designs tend to sell out quickly. 

"I love M&S boots selection as it helps shoppers nail the trends without breaking the bank," shares senior fashion & beauty writer, Amelia Yeomans. "While its staple offering of riding boots is something I can guarantee I will see at the start of each autumn - in all the classic colourways. It's the brand's embracement of top trends at pocket-friendly prices that win me over every time. And if a trend is set to last, I know that next year I'll be able to wear my M&S purchase again, for excellent cost-per-wear."


3. Sorel

Specifications

RRP: from £110
Sizes: 3-10

Whether you're hitting the slopes or just trying to navigate the pavements, the best snow boots are a must during the winter, and with late February and early March still likely culprits for the white stuff, it's still worth investing this deep into boot season. Sorel makes some of the best snow boots for women - even the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton gets her snow boots here, and the brand's fashion-forward designs come in at quite a range of price points too. With grip soles, cosy liners and waterproof outers, its selection of snow boots will ensure you stay dry, warm and stylish - and stay upright. 


4. Ariat

Specifications

RRP: from £135
Sizes: 3-8.5

Makers of some of the best cowboy boots, Ariat delivers that Western flavour straight to your boot drawer. Although this is often a look more associated with spring and summer trends, there's nothing to stop you from embracing cowboy boots all year through, and they play particularly well into a boho capsule wardrobe - as they work wonderfully with jeans and dresses. 

"If you want a tough work boot that packs a stylish punch, Ariat is one of the best boot brands," says Rivkie Baum fashion editor at woman&home. "Having spent some time out in Colorado, those amongst our group loved Ariat as a boot to wear on the ranch, as they are hardwearing and designed for purpose. If like me you just want the aesthetic without the hard work, then Ariat still fulfils the brief".


5. Russell & Bromley

Specifications

RRP: from £225
Sizes: 3-9

Another winning British brand, Russell & Bromley does come out as one of the more expensive brands in our best boots brand round-up, but it's all about the attention to detail. From the fabric mix, of high-quality leather, suede and shearling trims, to the precise stitching, Russell & Bromley boots ooze Quiet Luxury and its designs are built to last. A true investment item, you'll want to keep the original box and the stuffing to help you pack these away at the end of each season and if you've opted for suede, make sure to add some suede protector to your shopping list too.  

"I've had the same pair of snow boots from Russell & Bromley for over a decade and they are still going strong. The leather is buttery soft and the faux fur lining is a cosy finishing touch that makes me hate snow that little bit less, as I always enjoy the opportunity to wear them out," says Rivkie. 

Fashion editor Julie Player agrees, “Russell & Bromley is a great brand for women’s boots with a comprehensive selection of styles and colours to choose from, crafted from luxury leather. From practical designs like chunky biker boots with faux-fur linings to elegant knee-highs that will work well in your quiet luxury wardrobe.”

What to look for in the best boot brands

We've selected our best boot brands for their wide-ranging styles that cover everything from practical footwear to fashion-forward styling at a mix of price points. Look for solid heel construction, strong stitch work and top-quality fabrications (leather will always wear well). At the end of each season be sure to clean your boots and get any resole or re-heeling work done so that they are ready to take that first step the following year. As with most items in your closet, the more you look after an item, the longer it will remain in tip-top condition. 

Are the best boot brands worth it?

In a word, yes. If you're willing to invest in a pair of boots you naturally want them to last for more than one winter and opting to pay a little more for quality design, fastenings and fabrication will pretty much guarantee that you will get a return on your investment. That doesn't negate you playing your part though. Keep your boots clean and polished, store them carefully and deal with any scuffs or worn down soles as soon as possible to keep them in a box fresh condition. 

Our experts...

headshot of writer Antonia Kraskowski
Antonia Kraskowski

With over 15 years experience in the fashion industry, freelance fashion editor, Antonia Kraskowski has worked at Conde Nast, across titles including, Glamour, Vogue New Markets and Easy Living. Antonia later went on to serve as the Fashion Editor of Express Newspapers and Magazines for five years before embarking on a freelance career. 

Julie Player
Julie Player

With over 30 years experience in the fashion industry, Julie is a regular contributor to Woman & Home, Woman’s Weekly and Chat magazines, creating engaging fashion and lifestyle content for woman of all ages. She also works in the wardrobe department at ITV, dressing the presenters for Good Morning Britain. In her late fifties, Julie understands what women want when it comes to figure flattering fashion. 

Rivkie Baum
Rivkie Baum

With over fifteen years' experience, Rivkie is an accomplished fashion editor, writer and stylist. Covering international fashion weeks, and styling photoshoots all over the world, Rivkie loves translating the trends in an accessible way to make fashion available for all budgets. 

Amelia Yeomans headshot
Amelia Yeomans

Amelia is a senior fashion and beauty writer at woman&home with an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University. She covers everything from product reviews and nail art trends to reporting on fashion weeks and the best-dressed celebrities at red-carpet events. 

Rivkie Baum
Fashion channel editor

Rivkie is a fashion editor, writer and stylist with twenty years' experience in the industry. Rivkie studied design and pattern cutting at the London College of Fashion, and fell in love with styling and journalism, and has covered fashion weeks in London, Paris and New York, as well as shooting editorial all over the world.

Specialising in plus size fashion, Rivkie has long championed that style is for everyBODY and has appeared on a host of radio stations and television shows, pushing for greater representation for plus size women and fashion throughout her career.