Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE Review

Drawn to the casual aesthetic with winter-focused design features, the Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE offers an approachable boot for getting to and from the slopes and kicking around town.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Based on our testing, conducted in shaded snow banks, ice-slush, and lakes that were beginning to freeze over, the Standard MTE Snow boots do not retain warmth very well. Of the women's winter boots in this review, these revealed the highest temperature loss. Despite 100g of synthetic insulation, the Standard Mid Snow MTE is designed with a rubber outsole and toebox that extends part way up the foot before meeting a synthetic and leather upper.

Just as you wouldn't rely on rubber rain boots to keep you warm in the winter, the Standard Mid Snow MTE is constructed with too much rubber to keep the feet adequately warm. When testers wore these boots with thick socks, in transit or during an indoor apres, feet stayed warm enough, but for an all-around winter boot, these lack a very important aspect- warmth.

Weather Protection

With 6" of height, the Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE rank on the low end of our 20 test boots, ranging from 5.5" to 16". In our water depth testing, our feet stayed dry in 5 inches of standing water but at just under 6", water seeped in.

Note that the tongue design of these boots doesn't seal out water to the full height of the boot. The tongue is sewn 2" shy of the top of the ankle shaft, allowing water to seep in. Luckily, when laced up snugly, snow is kept at bay. However, tightly securing the entire ankle shaft is challenging with the stiff upper material.

Comfort and Fit

Suited for casual winter wear, the Standard Mid Snow MTE runs slightly small in the length of the footbed. If you plan to wear thick winter socks, we recommend sizing up. The footbed is a classic Vans footbed, offering minimal support and comfort. A stiff Standard Snow MTE rubber outsole paired with a rubber toebox equals a heavy, rain-boot fit.

Leather and synthetic uppers are stiff out of the box but soften after 3+ outings. The same can be said for the inner lining seams that are uncomfortable at first but soften as they wear in.

Proper lacing is key to comfort with the Standard MTE Snow boots — tighter lacing lends to greater stability and support, but the stiff boot construction demands a degree of patience to get it just right.

Traction

An All-Trac cold weather compound offers adequate traction on a range of surfaces. We tested these boots on chilly late fall hikes where ice and snow were intermittent, as well as on snow-packed paths and trails. The Standard MTE Snow boots offer decent traction but lose stability on hard-packed snow (think that squeaky cold surface of a well-worn snowpack). On soft snow, dirt trails, and ice, the traction is predictable.

Should You Buy the Standard Mid Snow MTE?

If your winter priorities include resort laps and apres, the Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE brings a casual style to your transit and hanging out. Testers grabbed the Standard Mid Snow MTE for short dog walks and strolls through town but were reluctant to opt for these casual boots in deep snow or on longer outings.

What Other Women's Winter Boots Should You Consider?

For a casual style that offers more warmth, consider the Danner Inquire Mid Insulated or Blundstone Thermal For winter boots better oriented toward activity and hiking, check out the award-winning Forsake Patch Mid or Keen Revel IV Polar.