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
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
Sporting the classic Vans style in a boot that's Made for The Elements.
Credit: Briana Valorosi
By Briana Valorosi ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ December 30, 2023
RELATED: The Best Winter Boots for Women
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.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Vans Standard Mid Snow MTE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best For Style and Versatility |  Best Bang for the Buck | |||
| Price | $150 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $185 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $165 List Check Price at REI | $120 List Check Price at REI | $60 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | 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 | A fully waterproof, well-insulated, and incredibly comfortable boot that means business while still keeping a touch of style | Solid winter performance coupled with a comfortable yet stylish look, these cozy boots are great for about town and ready for winter weather | A good boot for casual use with decent traction but isn't quite warm enough for colder winter climates | A cozy casual design offering decent coverage and great value, but not offering much support |
| Rating Categories | Vans Standard Mid Sn... | Bogs Arcata Trek Dots | The North Face Shell... | Columbia Minx Shorty IV | Dream Pairs Mid Calf |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Weather Protection (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Quality of Construction (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Vans Standard Mid Sn... | Bogs Arcata Trek Dots | The North Face Shell... | Columbia Minx Shorty IV | Dream Pairs Mid Calf |
| Maximum Puddle Depth Before Major Leaking | 6" | 7.5" | 7" | 6" | 5" |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 2 lb 9 oz (size 7) | 3 lb 12 oz (size 9) | 2 lb 16 oz (size 9) | 1 lb 12 oz (size 9) | 2 lb 8 oz (size 9) |
| Measured Shaft Height (from top of sole to top of shaft) | 6" | 9" | 10" | 6.5" | 10.5" |
| Lining/Insulation | 100g synthetic insulation | Faux-fur lining with Max Wick and Durafresh coating | 200g Heat Seeker eco synthetic insulation, soft fleece lining , faux fur internal collar and high pile fleece outer collar | 200g synthetic insulation and omni-heat reflective lining and faux fur interior | 200g thermalist insulation, faux sherpa detail and knitted opening |
| Type of Boot | Casual winter wear | All-around winter | All-around winter | Casual winter wear | Casual winter wear |
| Removable Liner | No | No | No | No | No |
| Footbed | Not listed | Algae based EVA foam | EVA | Rubber | Not listed |
| Upper Material | Leather and Synthetic | 5mm Neo-Tech | Leather and Synthetic | Quilted nylon and faux fur interior | Quilted fabric |
| Toe Box | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Not stated. Assumed leather and rubber |
| Outsole | Standard Snow MTE (rubber) outsole with All-Trac | Glacial grip | Surface control rubber | Adapt Trax - Rubber | Rubber |
| Company Claimed Cold Weather Rating | Not stated | -58°F | Not stated | Not stated | -25°F |
| Animal Products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 11.5 | 6-11 | 5 - 11 | 5 - 12 | 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Blundstone Thermal For winter boots better oriented toward activity and hiking, check out the award-winning Keen Revel IV Polar.
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
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