Stio Colter Women’s Winter Boots Review

I live in Crested Butte, Colo., where winter easily reaches into three seasons. It’s essential to have a pair of women’s winter boots that are warm, waterproof, and easy to pull on and off. Of course, it’s important to find one with style, too. After testing the Stio Colter, I wish I could wear these sneaker-esque snow boots year-round.

When I first saw this new winter boot, which debuted last season, I was skeptical. The silhouette is slim. “How protective are these?” I thought. There’s a dense zigzag of laces up the front, and I typically prefer shoes that I can quickly enter.

But I was wrong — the tongue of the boot was crisscrossed with a single elastic band, with a look like a traditional lace system. And despite being well-fitted, these boots provide great insulation and a very comfortable midsole for walks. Plus, despite being cozy and providing enough warmth for freezing conditions, they aren’t too toasty to wear road tripping, while eating dinner out, or for a date night at the theatre.

In short: Designed to blend cold-weather utility with modern mountain-town flair, the Stio Women’s Colter Waterproof Tall Boots ($189) deliver functionality, polished style, and a forward-thinking lace system dubbed the Flex Gusset, a trademarked design that replaces laces with an elastic band. The result? An easy-to-use pull-on winter boot that’s slender and doesn’t require adjustments. The liner is cozy, and the insulation packs warmth. Plus, the midsole-footbed combo is both supportive and comfortable.

See how these kicks compare to our other favorite picks in the Best Winter Boots for Women buyer’s guide.

Stio Colter Women’s Winter Boots: Testing Conditions

It’s mid-April, and last night’s spring winter storm delivered another 6 powdery inches. Most days, I walk or ride my cruiser bike through town. Certain byways are not plowed — including the alley I live on. Many days range from freezing to below zero. Durable footwear is a must: With pearly showers comes the freeze, melt, and muck.

I tested the Colter boots on long walks, running errands, and commuting by foot or bike around town, and on several outings, including dining out and going to the movie theater. I also road-tripped several times in these boots, traveling a few hours one-way each time.

My feet were comfortable in every situation, never feeling cold or too hot while sitting for longer durations. These boots also seamlessly transitioned from lengthy strolls to sitting down for a nice dinner.

Throughout 35 years of mountain living, I’ve worn a lot of winter boots. I grew up in Telluride, Colo., and Crested Butte has been home for nearly 7 years. As a reporter for the Outdoor Retailer trade shows, footwear was one of my beats as far back as 2012. As the primary field tester and contributor of the Winter Boots buyer’s guide, I keep my hands — er, feet — as far back as possible in the weeds.

Elastic Laces: Flex Gusset System

Off the bat, the standout feature was Stio’s clever Flex Gusset system: Instead of traditional laces, a single elastic cord threads through smooth, low-profile eyelets. The result? A fuss-free, secure fit with zero knot-tying.

I found myself wondering why this isn’t the standard. The elastic band is adjustable via a sliding toggle and can be swapped out for laces if needed. A fixed suede loop near the cuff keeps any excess length (at the end of the elastic band) neatly tucked away.

Pulling the boots on was pretty easy. I couldn’t slip them on like sliding my feet into a backless house slipper. But I could slide each foot in with assistance. While standing, I’d put one forefinger in the heel loop, grip the tongue with my other hand, and my foot could slide in. The heel loop is wide and comfortable to hook.

I never needed to adjust the elastic band, and I never felt like I was swimming in these boots. I really appreciated the ease of this fuss-free system.

Hybrid Liner: High-Pile Fleece & Merino Wool

These boots reach 8.5 inches high, resting at about mid-calf. They aren’t too tall or too short. Plush fleece lines the upper collar at the top of the neck. The high-pile layer reaches a few inches in length on the tongue and 2.5 inches around the leg, providing cozy insulation.

Below the fleece, a soft merino-wool blend stretches the remaining length of the boot collar and across the top of the foot. In addition to providing warmth, the material helps manage sweat and odors.

Comfortable Footbed & Midsole With Arch Support

I’ve tested other winter boots that feel stiff or flat beneath my feet. But the Colter’s stock footbed is contoured with noticeable, moderate arch support that I appreciated.

I have a high arch, a narrow heel, and narrow feet. Beneath the footbed, the sugarcane-derived EVA midsole feels cushy and lightweight. These boots feel comfortable to walk in.

The exterior is made of nubuck leather and suede overlays, plus an integrated waterproof membrane and 200g of insulation. Snow did tend to land and stick on the suede. But the moisture didn’t seem to damage the surface or penetrate the boot.

Despite the material’s aesthetic edge, I found the boot to be fully moisture-blocking. Despite the crisscrossing of the elastic lace system, the majority of the tongue is connected to the liner (up to 6 inches above the ground), so moisture can’t leak in.

Critiques

The waterproof rubber outsole offered a fair amount of height off the ground, which helped with warmth. The grip was generally pretty good, especially on unpacked snow or variable surfaces.

The outsole has some aggressive lugs under the forefoot, and a small section of aggressive lugs under the heel, but both are flush with the mellower tread below the arch. The shallower tread occupies a healthy space beneath the foot. There’s no heel counter. If you tend to walk on ice, these might not be the best choice for you.

In contrast, boots like the Bogs Footwear Arcata Faded and Timberland Authentics Waterproof Roll-Top Boots really have a bite. They’re made with a heel counter and more widespread mixed lugs that are articulated and aggressive.

Also, I love the sneaker-inspired look of the outsole. But while the upper looks attractive with use, the sole’s white rubber is hard to clean.

I have narrow feet, and these boots didn’t feel too tight or too loose. But if you have wide feet, be sure to check the return policy in case these feel too snug. Also, if you like wearing thick socks during the winter, consider sizing up.

While these boots are waterproof, I wouldn’t intentionally want to wear them in deep puddles or snow. For messier work and denser trudging, check out the taller, impenetrable Bogs Whiteout Faded or Muck Women’s Arctic Sport II Tall Boots. If you’ll be in sub-freezing conditions, I’d suggest an even warmer workhorse like the Baffin Icefield Insulated Boots or Sorel Women’s Caribou Boots.

Stio Colter Women’s Winter Boots: Who They’re For

Not every winter boot is great for every task on the list. But the Stio Colter is an excellent lifestyle boot for everyday wear in the mountains or down any snowy streets.

I really appreciated how comfortable the stock footbed and midsole are, as well as the cozy hybrid liner. I was pretty blown away by Stio’s innovative elastic lace system. The sneaker-inspired outsole looks cool, and the overall style of this boot is one that looks good, dressed up or down.

Furthermore, the insulation was enough for long walks in freezing conditions. But the warmth wasn’t so high that my feet were sauna-ing while I sat at dinner, in the movie theatre, or on a long, multihour drive. That’s craftsmanship.

These winter shoes handled the elements with surprising agility and felt more like sleek sneakers than snow boots. My feet stayed dry in them. All in all, the Colter boots are cozy, durable, and stylish enough to wear from trail strolls to an evening on the town.