As a 19-year resident of Los Angeles, I didn’t think much about the best winter dog boots. That is, until I moved to Boulder, Colorado, nine months ago and experienced my first real winter. Though the days here are usually sunny and temperatures rarely dip below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, the odd frigid storm will blow through, and that’s when I turn to my favorite pair of dog booties: Ruffwear’s Polar Trex.
I’m an avid hiker, even in the wintertime, and though my black lab mix, Marla, is a huge fan of fresh powder, she tends to slow down after an hour of traipsing through the frozen forest because her precious paws get too cold. If I want to scale a frozen 13er or take her winter trekking in the Rocky Mountains, boots are very much a necessity.
I’ve been testing the Ruffwear Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots for more than a year now, after a shoulder season romp in Bend, Oregon, left her tired and limping on a snowy bike trail (luckily, we were close to the car and could end the trek early). Along with a hearty dose of Musher’s Secret, they’ve helped me and Marla go out for safe potty breaks on ski cabin trips in Lake Tahoe and, more recently, helped us endure a polar vortex in my home state that left us with nighttime temperatures of -11 degrees Fahrenheit.
Though these babies can be a bit tricky to put on correctly, they’re my favorite winter dog boots on the market today. Below, I’ll explain what I love about them and some scenarios where these little shoes really shine.
From their zippered snow gaiters to their insulated uppers and Vibram outsoles, Ruffwear’s Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots are a top-of-the-line cold weather slip-on for the most hard-working adventure pups. Designed for long, snowy hikes or frigid neighborhood dog walks, this is the insulated, ultra-grippy set of dog boots you’ve been searching for.
What we liked about them
Ruffwear is known for making high-quality adventure dog products with the same fabrics and materials that you’d expect to see in their human counterparts. As such, there’s a lot to love about the Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots, like grippy outsoles, insulated areas and stretchy gaiters.
Great, grippy soles
Ruffwear tapped legendary rubber sole maker Vibram to create a traction-heavy design for its most hardcore winter dog boots. The result is a set of paw shoes that dogs can comfortably wear when scaling granite slabs on a hiking trail, sprinting through fresh snow at the dog park or strolling along icy sidewalks after an overnight freeze.
After an intense January snowstorm that pummeled my town of Boulder for a long weekend, warming sunny days and overnights in the twenties meant that driveways and sidewalks were often an ice-covered mess. When Marla was wearing her Polar Trex Boots, I noticed that she was much less likely to skitter and slide on our long walks than when she was bare-pawed. Since she’s a 60-pound beast, this helps keep me safe, too, because she’s less likely to knock me off balance.
Zip-up gaiters
Unlike some of Ruffwear’s other dog boot designs, the Polar Trex are made for the cold. Part of their unique design involves zip-up gaiters, which help keep spindrift and snowballs at bay, even on fresh powder days. This is especially helpful for dog owners with curly- or long-haired pups, as snow build-up can be awkward and painful for your pup if left unattended.
The boots do, however, require an extra step when putting them on. First, loosen the Velcro strap above the shoe part and slide it as far as it will go onto your dog’s paw. Then, cinch the Velcro strap tight, fold the stretchy gaiter over the lower part of their leg and zip the gaiter up so that it fits snugly and keeps loose powder out. It’s an extra step, but putting dog boots on is a pain anyway and this really helps keep their paws warm and dry.
The only downside to these elastic gaiters? They aren’t the best for dogs who love to sprint off-leash. They keep fresh snow from accumulating when Marla and I are exploring my neighborhood streets, but if I let her gallop through a field of newly fallen powder, they will eventually fill with snow. Her lower paws, however, do stay warm and dry, even when this happens.
Insulated uppers
Another fantastic addition to Ruffwear’s Polar Trex design (as opposed to its all-season booties) is their waterproof, insulated softshell upper, which sheds moisture and helps your furry friend’s paws stay warm. This was essential for Marla and me when, as a high-energy dog, she needed to go out for 30-minute romps in -8-degree weather.
What we didn’t like about them
Of course, no winter dog boot is perfect, and, though they are pretty awesome, the Polar Trex are not immune to this rule. Here’s what wasn’t so great about this set of booties.
Only come in pairs
Unlike some of our other top picks listed below, Ruffwear’s Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots only come in sets of two. At first, I was annoyed by this and saw it as a cash grab, until I learned why. The logic behind this is that most dogs’ front paws are wider than their rear paws, meaning that you can dial in the perfect fit for both pairs of paws, rather than risk an errant boot flying off into a snow bank, never to be seen again. How do you find your pup’s paw size? Measure across the widest part of each paw when weight-bearing, then check the website for the closest fit (size down if your furball is between sizes).
Tricky to keep on
The main complaint that I and most users have of the Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots is that, even with superb elastic gaiters, it is very likely that one will eventually fall off on a walk or a hike and get lost. So far, I’ve had an easy time keeping track of Marla’s booties on leashed walks, but if I take her on an off-leash hike or to the dog park, I’ve had to learn to pay careful attention to her paws, otherwise, we’ll definitely lose one of these spendy boots. While it’s a bummer they don’t stay on all the time, lost booties will more than likely be a problem no matter what pair you buy. The long gaiters and more precise sizing do help the Polar Trex stay on more often than not though.
At the local REI Co-op in Bend, Oregon, I once ran into a couple of ski tourers who said that a great trick to prevent these boots from falling off is to wrap a self-adhering elastic bandage around the gaiters, to provide more coverage and stick.
How they compare
As with most Ruffwear products, the Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots are a bit on the pricey side, but you’re paying a premium for a top brand made with quality, human-grade materials. The brand also sells a different set of grippy, all-season dog boots, Grip Trex, for a smidge less per pair ($40).
That being said, if you’re just looking for something to keep your pup’s paws warm on neighborhood jaunts, you could certainly save a few dollars and grab a four-pack of Canada Pooch’s Soft Shield Boots ($57), which have high-vis colors available. Muttluks also makes an uber-cozy four-pack of fleece-lined winter dog boots ($66), ideal for quick city bathroom breaks, not long hikes.
Got a curly-haired dog and looking for something more full-coverage, to prevent snowballs? Check out Canada Pooch’s Suspender Boots ($65), which conceal leg fur for even more protection. We’ve also got a comprehensive guide to the best winter dog boots, should you need more recommendations.
Bottom line
Yes, winter dog boots can be tricky to put on and make your dog walk like a duck, but sometimes they are necessary for keeping your dog safe and dry on cold-weather mountain treks and neighborhood walks. After more than a year of testing them, I can safely say that, though spendy, Ruffwear’s Polar Trex Winter Dog Boots are the best of all worlds. With elastic zippered gaiters to help prevent snow build-up, no-slip Vibram soles and an insulated, waterproof upper, this is a full-featured set of snow booties for the most rugged winter conditions. Remember to grab two pairs — one for the front paws and one for the back.
