REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Weather-proof
Faux-fur collar
Tall shaft height
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor traction
Heavy
Less precise fit
Sorel Joan of Arctic Review
A stylish and tall boot built to take on bad weather
Credit: Sorel
RELATED: Best Winter Boots for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The Sorel Joan of Arctic is a perfect pick for those who live and breathe winter. This 13.5-inch faux-fur Pac boot protects from the elements while keeping you warm and cozy on the coldest winter days. The entire boot is waterproof and locks in warmth when temperatures dip into the double negatives. Unfortunately, it isn't exceptionally lightweight, but it does offer a cozy hi-pile liner. It's a great option for completing outdoor chores or a short walk in terrible weather. Women looking for protective warmth will find this winter boot quite alluring and a great choice for warm feet in super cold conditions.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Joan of Arctic is a cute and classic workhorse boot that will keep your toes toasty and your pants drier than ever. That said, while we love its ample warmth and protection, it is super heavy and not very comfortable for everyday wear. It's an excellent option for standing outside in cold temperatures — but don't plan on taking it out on your next technical winter hike.
Performance Comparison
This protective boot is cute and warm, but bulky in design.
Credit: Amber King
Warmth
The Joan of Arctic is one of the warmest winter boots we've tested. Boasting a super warm 6mm thick (and removable) felt liner encased by a suede outer, our testers were warm all the way down to double negative digits.
Even though other boots feature 200g of Thinsulate insulation as well, this one feels warmer because of its design and thick, insulating outsole. Even though the boots feel clunky and bulky, we like the faux fur collar and fleece lining.
Credit: Amber King
The sole of this boot is super thick, insulating against the cold even when you're just standing around. We first tested this boot during a "polar vortex" that brought double negative digit temperatures to Colorado. Even during that super cold week, our toes kept warm with just a single pair of wool socks. The thick outsole on the Joan insulates against frigid days to keep you comfortable.
The taller shaft height of the Joan of Arctic makes it perfect for blustery, cold winter days. It is both protective and warm, even when the temperatures dip well into the double negatives.
Credit: Amber King
This boot features one of the taller shafts in our review. Its extra height locks in more heat while the faux fur cuff creates a cozy seal around the mid-calf. Overall, it is very warm, but still not the warmest contender out there. But it's an excellent choice if you need a boot that will keep your toasty. Just remember to pair them with a solid pair of winter wool socks that can easily wick away moisture.
The 6mm liner is warm and removable making this a versatile winter boot option.
Credit: Amber King
Weather Protection
We were blown away when we observed the level of weather protection this boot offers. It features a 13.5-inch shaft height with a waterproof suede full-grain leather upper and a rubber outsole to repel even the nastiest winter conditions. During our submersion and slush bath tests, this winter warrior outperformed most of the competition. It can withstand puddle depths of 10 inches and snowbanks up to 13 inches. It also didn't leak at the seams when we hiked around in a freezing cold reservoir, and the faux fur collar does a great job keeping blowing snow out of the top of the boot.
Here we test the waterproofness of the boot. Turns out the overlay is super waterproof, but leaks where the tongue meets the body of the boot.
Credit: Amber King
Comfort & Fit
It's not surprising that this heavier boot isn't as comfortable as lighter options, nor is the fit very precise. While the fur-lined faux collar and the fleece-liner are cozy, this boot feels heavy and sloppy to wear. With each boot weighing almost two pounds, our testers didn't enjoy wearing it all day.
The cozy faux-fur keeps out blowing snow and locks in heat.
Credit: Amber King
The bulky design features a thicker (and heavier sole) while the toe box is voluminous. As a result, the foot moves around easily and is not locked into place. There is no arch support, but the footbed is firm and comfortable. We hate to say it, but wearing these boots feels a bit like wearing heavy clown shoes. However, the boot is true to fit, so there is no need to size up or down.
This boot is heavier and chunkier than most. That said, we do love its comfort features like the faux-fur collar!
Credit: Amber King
Ease of Use
The Joan of Arctic is fairly easy to use, and putting it on is easy. The shaft is stiff enough to stand up on its own, and we found that when the laces were loosened correctly, we could just slide our foot inside. We do wish there were pull tabs on the side. The upper tabs on the liners that connect the liner to the outer suede material do not double as the pull tabs. When we tried to use them as finger holds, they usually came unsnapped, and one eventually broke after six months of use.
Simply pull the laces and the boot will become nicely fitted to your foot and leg.
Credit: Amber King
When taking off this boot, we often had to loosen the laces so much that they came unlaced from the top eyelets, and simply 'kicking them off' wasn't so simple. Aside from that, when pulling the laces, all tighten in just one pull. In comparison to hiking boots and others that require manual lace-up methods, this is much easier to use than most.
Easily unclip the liner and remove.
Credit: Amber King
Traction
We are not super impressed by the vulcanized rubber sole that offers little traction. Instead of featuring a lug-based outsole, this boot (along with other competitors tested) features grooves.
The lug-less design is perfect for snow, but not technical terrain.
Credit: Amber King
While this does great on flat surfaces or deep snow that includes hard-packed trails, it doesn't grab the super sloppy steep stuff as well as boots with legitimate lugs. It did not do well in our steep hill hiking test and commonly slipped out.
The outsole features a wave-like pattern and a wider outsole that floats on the snow.
Credit: Amber King
This boot is compatible with YakTrax. If you like everything you've read so far but worry about traction, couple it with a pair of these, and you'll be fine on any slippery surface.
Value
Throughout our testing process, we were impressed at how well this cute and protective winter boot performed. Although it is pricey, it is well worth the investment if you need a warm, tall winter boot. We enjoy its weather protection, warmth, and cute faux fur look, suitable for anyone living in super harsh, largely snowy conditions.
The Joan of Arctic can be paired with a skirt for a cute winter look that also performs when it gets really cold outside.
Credit: Amber King
Conclusion
A winter crusher, the Sorel Joan of Arctic is an excellent choice for women enduring long, cold, snowy winters. Although it sacrifices comfort and traction, it makes up for its shortcomings by outperforming most of its competitors in warmth, water resistance, and style.
Looking for a great 'apres ski' boot? This one fits the ticket! Heather enjoys the warmth of the Joan of Arctic after a blue bird day skiing Red Mountain pass.
Credit: Amber King
—
Amber King
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