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Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE Review

A casual style paired with 'Made for The Elements' construction makes the Standard Mid Snow MTE well suited for getting to and from the slopes and enjoying apres
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Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE Review (Sporting the classic Vans style in a boot that's Made for The Elements.)
Sporting the classic Vans style in a boot that's Made for The Elements.
Credit: Briana Valorosi
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Vans
By Briana Valorosi ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 30, 2023
56
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 18
  • Warmth - 25% 5.0
  • Weather Protection - 25% 6.0
  • Comfort and Fit - 20% 5.0
  • Traction - 15% 6.0
  • Durability - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE carry the infamous skate culture style into the realm of snow. Similar to many of the Vans classics, the Standard Mid Snow MTE offer a stylish choice for winter wear but lack adequate support underfoot or athletic functionality for winter hiking and longer winter outings. These boots are stiff out-of-the-box but soften after a few wears. Best suited for apres, town paths, and short dog walks, the Standard Mid Snow MTE will keep your feet dry, but if you stay out too long, your feet will get cold. Check out our women's winter boot review to see the top-ranked models.
REASONS TO BUY
Casual style
Rubber toe box keeps water at bay
Grippy traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Uncomfortable fit
Challenging to lace up securely
Poor insulation

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Winter Boot for Women
Top Pick Award
Best Protection for Wet Winters
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
 
Price $129.95 at Backcountry
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$205 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line These boots offer a unique style in the Winter Boot category but don't offer incredible warmth or comfort on the coldest outingsThis stellar winter boot excels in the warmth, weather protection, durability, and traction categoriesHighly protective, this easy to use boot has impressive traction and insulationNot the most durable or fashionable, but this boot is warm, waterproof, easy to use, and has solid tractionA good boot for casual use with decent traction but isn't quite warm enough for colder winter climates
Rating Categories Vans Standard Mid S... Baffin Chloe Muck Boot Arctic Ic... Kamik Momentum 3 Columbia Minx Short...
Warmth (25%)
5.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
Weather Protection (25%)
6.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Comfort and Fit (20%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Traction (15%)
6.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Vans Standard Mid S... Baffin Chloe Muck Boot Arctic Ic... Kamik Momentum 3 Columbia Minx Short...
Maximum Puddle Depth 6" 9" 16" 6" 4"
Measured Shaft Height (from bottom of sole to top of shaft) 6" 10" 16" 10" 6.5"
Measured Weight (lb per pair, size 7) 2.5625 2.5 2.5 2.75 1.25
Temp Drop in Ice Bath -17.3° F -4.1°F -9.5°F -9.7°F -9.7°F
Type of Boot Casual winter wear All-around winter wear Winter workwear Casual winter wear Casual winter wear
Fit Details Runs small True to size Runs big True to size (wide) Runs small
Lining/Insulation 100g synthetic insulation Comfort-Fit multilayer foam Fleece Synthetic Heat-MX Insulation Omni-Heat reflective
Removable Liner No Yes No No No
Footbed N/A EVA bioDEWIX Removal EVA Removable PU
Upper Material Leather and Synthetic Suede leather Rubber Waterproof nylon Waterproof woven synthetic textile, suede
Toe Box Rubber Rubber Rubber Rubber Nylon and rubber
Outsole Standard Snow MTE (rubber) outsole with All-Trac Polar Rubber Vibram Arctic Grip A.T. ICEKISS rubber outsole Omni-Grip rubber
Company Claimed Cold Weather Rating Not stated -40°C/-40°F Not stated -40 °F -32°C/-25°F
Animal Products Yes Yes No No Yes
Sizes Available 5 - 11.5 6 - 11 5 - 11 5 - 11 5 - 12

Our Analysis and Test Results

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


vans standard mid snow mte - stiff out of the box, the standard mid snow mte features durable...
Stiff out of the box, the Standard Mid Snow MTE features durable construction and burly rubber soles. Over time, they soften to become more comfortable.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - 100g of synthetic insulation is just barely enough to keep these...
100g of synthetic insulation is just barely enough to keep these boots from losing their warmth.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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



vans standard mid snow mte - at a depth of 5", water stayed out and our feet remained dry.
At a depth of 5", water stayed out and our feet remained dry.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - an expansive rubber toe box and outsole repels water incredibly well.
An expansive rubber toe box and outsole repels water incredibly well.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - this tongue design lets you get in and out of the boot easily but...
This tongue design lets you get in and out of the boot easily but compromises the water and snow protection.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - the standard mid mte snow features a hot pink all-trac outsole with...
The Standard Mid MTE Snow features a hot pink All-Trac outsole with a snow-specific rubber compound, designed to grip, shed snow, and keep you on your feet.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

The Standard Mid Snow MTE is constructed of a stiff synthetic leather upper that doesn't easily snug up for a secure fit. Notice the range of movement that can lend to insecure footing, friction, and snow getting into the inner boot.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - a low ankle height paired with a stiff upper material lent itself to...
A low ankle height paired with a stiff upper material lent itself to some discomfort until the Standard Mid Snow MTE broke in.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - adequate traction and snow-specific construction lend to a casual...
Adequate traction and snow-specific construction lend to a casual, stylish winter boot that romps around.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - after a day on the slopes, the standard mid snow mte are a stylish...
After a day on the slopes, the Standard Mid Snow MTE are a stylish choice for apres.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

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.

vans standard mid snow mte - the standard mid snow mte boots are stiff throughout, making it...
The Standard Mid Snow MTE boots are stiff throughout, making it tough to get a snug, secure fit around the ankles to keep snow out.
Credit: Briana Valorosi

Briana Valorosi