How to choose winter shoes: temperature, lining, sole and size
Warm winter shoes come down to four things: temperature rating, insulation, sole and size. We go through each one using Babylon men's and women's models, whose product pages state comfort ranges from +5 to −20 °C.
In short
Choose winter shoes by four things: temperature range, insulation, sole and size. For frost down to −20 °C, look for natural sheepskin or fur inside, a treaded sole about 3.5 cm high and a little room for a warm sock. Babylon product pages state the range: +5 to −20 °C for sheepskin, down to −15 °C for Winterfrost 500.
Where to start when choosing winter shoes?
Start with temperature and how you will use the shoes: a pair for walking around town every day is not the same as one for standing still in the frost. Then look at insulation, sole and size. A good manufacturer states all four on the product page.
Babylon is a Ukrainian leather footwear maker with its own factory in Kharkiv, operating since 1997. Its winter product pages state the temperature range each model is rated for and what the upper, lining and sole are made of — so we will use them as examples.
A quick checklist:
- Temperature. Find the rating on the product page and compare it with your winter.
- Insulation. Sheepskin, natural fur, faux fur or a membrane — this decides how warm and dry your feet stay.
- Sole. Tread, height, material.
- Size. Room for a warm sock, but no "two sizes up".
What temperature are winter shoes rated for?
A temperature range is the manufacturer's estimate for normal walking around town. In Babylon's winter models it depends mainly on the insulation: sheepskin-lined pairs are rated for +5 to −20 °C, boots with the Winterfrost 500 membrane for +5 to −15 °C.
| Model | For | Insulation | Sole | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-74 sheepskin boots | Women | Double-face sheepskin | EVA, 3.5 cm | +5…−20 °C |
| Space-91-M winter sneakers | Women | Natural sheepskin under nubuck | Frost-resistant rubber | +5…−20 °C |
| Space-04-D winter sneakers | Men | Double-face sheepskin | TPR, 3.5 cm | +5…−20 °C |
| Short-01 sheepskin boots | Men | Natural sheepskin | EVA | +5…−20 °C |
| Armor-11 boots | Men | Winterfrost 500 membrane or Respira leather | Chunky, deep tread | +5…−15 °C (with Winterfrost 500) |
If you will be standing in the cold for a long time — at a bus stop, at a market, outside with a child — aim below your lowest expected temperature and choose a taller model. Medical advice on cold weather says the same: warm socks and closed, insulated shoes that protect the toes.
Which is warmer: sheepskin, natural fur or a membrane?
For frost, natural sheepskin works best: the wool traps warm air and absorbs moisture from the foot. Natural fur on a lining is also very warm. A membrane is designed for moderate frost and slush.
- Double-face sheepskin — sheep hide tanned with the wool on: leather outside, wool inside, no seams in between. This is how the Frost-74 sheepskin boots and the Space-04-D winter sneakers are made. How to check real sheepskin is covered in "Genuine sheepskin boots: how to spot a fake".
- Nubuck or leather with natural sheepskin inside — as in the women's Space-91-M: the denser upper holds its shape and the wool provides the warmth.
- Winterfrost 500 membrane — available in the men's Armor-11 boots instead of the Respira lining. According to the product page, it retains heat, wicks moisture outwards and keeps out water, snow and slush.
- Breathable Respira leather — an Italian lining leather without fur, for mild winters and the shoulder season; some models, such as the Washington-14 boots, also come in a fur-lined version.
- Faux fur — lighter, but holds heat less well than sheepskin. Babylon lists it openly in the composition, for example in the women's 1654-81 sneakers.
What sole do you need in winter?
A winter sole has three jobs: not to slip, not to let the cold through from the pavement, and not to stiffen in the frost. So check the tread, the height and the material. Babylon's product pages say its winter models stay warm thanks to a fur-covered insole and the sole height, and do not slip thanks to the tread pattern.
| Material | What it is | Where you'll find it |
|---|---|---|
| TPR (thermoplastic rubber) | Rubber-like plastic shaped when heated | UGM-1-11, Space-04-D, 1654-81 |
| EVA | Light foamed polymer that cushions each step | Frost-74, Short-01 |
| Frost-resistant rubber | Rubber that stays flexible in the cold | Space-91-M |
| Natural rubber | Dense rubber sole with tread | Washington-14 |
- Tread. The deeper the pattern, the better the grip on snow. The Armor-11 boots have a chunky sole with deep tread and a protective liquid-rubber coating around the base.
- Height. In Babylon's sheepskin-lined models the sole is 3.5 cm high in the middle.
Treat a new winter pair with a water-repellent spray before you first wear it — leather and nubuck then cope much better with moisture, salt and grit.
Sheepskin boots, winter sneakers or ankle boots: which to choose?
Sheepskin boots are for frost and snow, insulated sneakers for the city and the office, and ankle boots for when you want a taller shape and a chunkier, deep-tread sole. The types compared using Babylon product pages:
| Type | Shape | Insulation in Babylon models | Sole | Range on product pages | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheepskin boots | tall or short shaft, with or without laces | double-face sheepskin, natural or faux fur | EVA or TPE, 3.5 cm | +5 to −20 °C (sheepskin) | Ugg boots |
| Winter sneakers | low or mid, laced | sheepskin or natural fur | TPE or frost-resistant rubber | +5 to −20 °C (sheepskin) | Women’s winter sneakers |
| Ankle boots | taller, covers the ankle; laces or zip | natural fur, Winterfrost 500 or Respira | chunky, deep tread | +5 to −15 °C (Winterfrost 500) | Men’s winter boots |
If you are torn between two types, size and fit decide: how to measure your foot and where to find each model’s size table — How to choose your size.
What size should you buy for winter shoes?
Try winter shoes on in the evening, wearing the socks you will wear with them, and leave about 1 cm between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Going "one size up" is a mistake: your foot slides and the warmth escapes.
Feet swell slightly by the evening, which is why the UK's NHS advises shopping for shoes later in the day. Almost every Babylon model is made on its own last, so each product page has its own "size — foot length" table. Measure your foot following "How to measure your foot at home" and check it against the table for the specific model.
Men's or women's winter shoes: what does Babylon offer?
Babylon makes winter shoes for both men and women: sheepskin boots, winter sneakers and boots. Men's models usually come in sizes 39–45 and women's in 36–41; the exact range is on each product page.
- Men's Armor-11 boots — genuine leather, Respira or Winterfrost 500 lining, sizes 39–45.
- Men's Space-04-D winter sneakers — double-face leather, sheepskin wool, TPR 3.5 cm, +5…−20 °C.
- Women's Space-91-M winter sneakers — nubuck, natural sheepskin, frost-resistant rubber, 36–41, +5…−20 °C.
- Women's Frost-74 sheepskin boots — double-face sheepskin, EVA 3.5 cm, +5…−20 °C.
LeatherMen's leather boots Armor-11Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; winterfrost 500: insulating membrane; sole: chunky€120View 
LeatherMen's winter sheepskin sneakers Space-04-DHeel counter and decorative insert: genuine leather; inside: dense; insole: fur-covered€113View 
SuedeWomen's sheepskin-lined winter suede sneakers Space-91-MInner layer: natural sheepskin with thick fur; sole: frost-resistant rubber; last: anatomical€88 €105View
LeatherWomen's sheepskin boots, down to −20 °C Frost-74Heel counter and decorative tongue insert: genuine leather; inside: dense; insole: fur-covered€115View
Browse all models in men's winter shoes and women's winter shoes, or go straight to men's winter boots and women's winter sneakers.
How to care for winter shoes?
In winter, leather, nubuck and suede suffer most from salt, moisture and radiators. Treat the pair with a water-repellent spray, remove salt after each walk and let the shoes dry naturally, stuffed with paper.
Care depends on the upper: a dry brush and spray for nubuck and suede, a damp cloth and cream for smooth leather. More detail in "How to clean nubuck and suede", "Sheepskin boot care" and "Nubuck vs suede".
Where to buy Babylon winter shoes?
Order on the English version of the store: Babylon ships worldwide for free from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and international returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery. If you are in Ukraine, you can try the pairs on in the showrooms in Kharkiv (128 Sumska St. and 50/52 Pushkinska St.) and Kyiv (18 Pavlivska St.).
Babylon winter range: women’s winter footwear, men’s winter footwear, Ugg boots, women’s boots and men’s winter boots.
FAQ
What temperature are Babylon winter shoes rated for?
Each Babylon winter model states its range on the product page. Sheepskin-lined pairs, such as the Frost-74 boots and the Space-04-D and Space-91-M winter sneakers, are rated for comfort from +5 to −20 °C. The men's Armor-11 boots with the Winterfrost 500 membrane are rated from +5 to −15 °C.
Which is warmer: sheepskin, natural fur or a membrane?
For hard frost, double-face sheepskin works best: the wool grows from the hide itself, so there are no cold seams. Natural fur on a lining also keeps feet warm. The Winterfrost 500 membrane in the Armor-11 boots retains heat and wicks moisture, but is rated down to −15 °C.
What kind of sole do you need for winter?
Choose a sole with deep tread and enough height to keep your foot away from the cold pavement. In Babylon's sheepskin-lined winter models the sole is about 3.5 cm high in the middle, made of TPR, EVA, microporous rubber or frost-resistant rubber. For ice and wet snow, pick the deepest tread you can find.
Should I buy winter shoes a size up?
Not automatically. Try winter shoes on in the evening, wearing the socks you will wear with them, and leave about 1 cm between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Almost every Babylon model is made on its own last, so compare your foot length with the size table of the exact model you are choosing.
How are winter sneakers different from winter boots?
Winter sneakers have a low or mid-height laced silhouette with fur or sheepskin inside; they are lighter and practical for the city. Boots are taller, cover the ankle better and usually have a chunkier sole with deeper tread. Babylon makes both types, for example the Space-04-D winter sneakers and the Armor-11 boots.
How do I protect winter shoes from salt and moisture?
Treat a new pair with a water-repellent spray before the first wear and repeat during the season. Remove salt and dirt after every walk with a damp cloth or a brush, and let wet shoes dry naturally, away from radiators and heaters. This is exactly what the care notes on Babylon's winter product pages recommend.
Together with Nataliia Nikitska, he founded Babylon in Kharkiv in 1997 as a wholesale leather footwear manufacturer; since 2015 the brand has sold directly, in its showrooms and online. Today its own factory has 25 craftspeople and 2 technologists and makes 5,000–10,000 pairs a month. All articles by this author
Sources and notes
- Temperature ranges, insulation, soles and sizes are taken from Babylon product pages: Frost-74, Space-91-M, Space-04-D, Short-01, Armor-11, Washington-14, 1654-81 (as of 6 October 2026).
- Protecting feet in the cold (warm socks and shoes): NHS, "Frostbite".
- About 1 cm of room and trying shoes on later in the day: Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, "Footwear".
- Properties of sheepskin: "Sheepskin", Wikipedia.
- Sole materials: "Ethylene-vinyl acetate", "Thermoplastic elastomer", Wikipedia.
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