Customer Reviews SOREL Joan of Arctic™ Waterproof

I have been looking at these boots for years. I finally bought them for myself instead of asking Santa for them. Sometimes you need to take a little initiative, right? I live in Wisconsin and winters get crazy, but I also wanted a boot that was not completely offensive in the looks department. I inhabit a place where "blaze orange" is a fashion line, and I would like to wear something that is functional and warm but not something that my father would compliment me on. I finally ordered them, and I have to say that I adore them. They are incredibly warm (it has been 5 degrees here for the last week) and they keep snow out of the boot when you're brushing your car off (another concern). I have received many compliments and I am very happy with them. Two points to consider--I am 9.5 and I ordered a 9.5. The toes are a little snug. They are so warm so I do not feel the need to wear super thick socks, but it would be a squeeze if I chose to. They are also not the best on ice--I would like a little more traction on the bottom of the boot. Other than that, they are a functional winter accessory that I love to put on in the morning.

I have been looking everywhere for a warm comfortable boot to walk across campus when it's freezing. I read all the reviews about this boot and I was very excited about it, until I tried it on. This boot is really not meant for walking. It is basically a flat sole making it terribly difficult to walk and it is really clunky and there is no arch support. It's cute, and it's probably really warm (I didn't bother testing it), but it is not meant for walking. I'll be returning these boots.

These are some gorg boots! So warm and cozy! I'd order a whole size down though these run large! These are my 2nd pair. goodbye Uggs!

Really good looking and comfortable and I bet they would be wonderfully warm - but I ordered 3 different styles of Sorel and one just looked better on me. These are a bit clunky.

These are the practical while still pulling off stylish. Although they are not my "real" winter boots (I live in Minnesota and these are not warm enough despite their -25F rating, the comfort rating is probably right around zero degrees) I wear them everywhere but work. Totally love them.

Love this boot. Size runs big. I wear a 7.5 in all boots and need a 7 and will need to wear thick socks. Warm, comfy and love the look very classy looking winter boot.

This was the first pair of Sorels I've ever ordered. I'm sad to say - they weren't comfortable for me at all! I loved the style - except for the fact that the fur wasn't on the tongue. I have wide calves, so there was a little separation and it don't look good. Also it hurt the back of my foot very badly. Very inflexible boot and super wide. I returned these and tried the Tofino - I loved the Tofino.

I bought these boots just before the first polar vortex of 2014, and I don't know how I would have survived the winter without them! Warm, waterproof, durable... and attractive. They are worth every penny. I would recommend them to anyone looking into winter boots as they are the warmest and best ones I have ever owned.

Hi ladies! Loved the look of these boots so much but was scared of negative reviews and price - so I did a little research. According to many skiing and outdoor activity websites, winter boots are supposed to fit loose. In order for feet to stay warm, snow boots should not fit snug like a shoe. So, the felt lining in these should be loose enough for a thick pair of socks and still not be snug. When people order a size down it contributes to their cold feet and complaints of back of boot digging into their heels. Order your real size and don't expect them to fit like a fashion boot. By the way, these boots do run in half-sizes. I own Joan of Arctics in 9.5 The second important thing I learned is that cotton socks make your feet colder! You are better off wearing bare feet in boots rather than cotton (due to the way they retain moisture). Invest in a heavyweight pair of wool socks (which wick away moisture) and never layer your socks. Layering makes your feet colder due to breathability issues. Finally, keep your core warm because when you body is cold, blood leaves the extremities. You do want to layer your body. Thermal underwear or a mesh base layer, a loose fleece layer over that, etc. I received my boots and followed these techniques with great results. My boots are very comfortable. It is a blustery 10 today and I spent many hours outside to test the product. If I was just standing there, my feet were warm! Unless I was just standing there on packed snow for a while. On packed snow or ice, you'll need to move around every once in a while to keep blood circulating. Warmed right back up! Took dog for a walk and my feet felt great. Only boot I've heard of that you can literally just stand there without movement on packed snow or ice without feet getting cold are those "mickey mouse boots." They are not cute but if extreme warmth is your ultimate goal, these are what they wear in Alaska, or what serious ice fishers put on, etc. Hope this helped! By the way...some things I forgot to mention. It is also very important to have warm feet before putting boots on (any boots). So if you have cold feet from walking around on hardwood floor, etc, they are going to stay cold outside. This is particularly true with well-insulated boots/socks. They will actually insulate cold in. And never "clench" your toes in boots. Wiggle them once in a while to stimulate blood circulation, but clenching them up has the opposite effect. It can be hard to find heavyweight wool socks for women in stores (I have only found mid or lightweight wool in stores). I found great heavyweight wool socks for women by Carhartt online. Work great paired with boots! We have had -20 degree weather where I live this winter. & mind you, I am not outside long during this temperature, but when I am for a quick shovel, my feet are the warmest part of me in my Sorels.

Best investment I've made in a long time. A must have for cold, wet, long, dismal winters. Super cute with leg warmers and leggings.

Great winter boots. My feet get cold in them sometimes if I am outside for a long period of time (especially if I haven't been diligent about drying the insoles), which is disappointing. They hit just below the knee on me which is great because I live in Jackson Hole and there is a lot of snow in the winter. It goes without saying that I love the way they look - they aren't quite nice enough to wear at the office but they are a great all round winter boot. The only thing I wish I would have realized is that the straps on the sides, which hold the lining in and on, is not supposed to be pulled off on both sides so now they are just loose. I bought them a little bit big and they are definitely roomy. I would go for my regular size next time.

These boots are warm, and functional and enormous. You could never put enough pairs of socks on to fill up this toe box/entire footbed. I read about a hundred reviews and ordered a 1/2 size up from my normal size to accommodate socks. I was absolutely swimming in them, not to mention each boot weighs about 5 pounds. Sent those back for a 1/2 size smaller than I actually wear in street shoes, and still enormous. I have narrowish feet, and skinny/ normal calves. I had the laces as tight as they would go, and still I was swimming. They are stylish and warm, that is no question. I ultimately ordered the Tivoli Tall and Tofino Tall - both of which are overall a much less clunky, heavy boot. Still rated for cold temps, but not gratuitous on the sizing like the Joan's.

I've had these boots for a year now and I want to love these boots, but I'm disappointed, the liners that come with these boots are so thin that they radiate cold throughout the rubber part. They leach coldness so badly that I thought I had circulation problems, even with 2 pairs of socks on (including 1 wool pair). I contacted Sorel directly and they said that the Joan of Arctic liner is designed much thinner than the others, and designed for light snow/cold wear. I replaced the liners with functional ones (caribou style from Sorel) which seem to be much warmer, but aren't designed for the Joan of Arctic style (and don't have the cute fur). I'm disappointed based on the high cost of the boot, though I know these boots will last a lifetime. They are absolutely rugged, comfortable and sturdy, but so super cold.

I ordered a pair of boots for my niece as a gift and she did not receive them yet I ordered them at the end of dec. My niece is carmen rudy and I am linda clavette if my credit card did not go through please let me know so i can reorder another pair, thank you!

I bought these as a birthday present for my wife and she is absolutely in love with them. She always has cold feet in her other boots in the Winter but she said that her feet feel toasty warm in these boots with just cotton socks which is saying something because believe me she normally has some cold feet! We just had a few days of heavy snow and -30° wind chills and she could not be happier with them. She said they are very comfortable to walk in and provide excellent grip on the snowy sidewalks. Even when I grabbed onto her to stop myself from slipping a couple of times. They have a nice liner that I imagine is what helps a lot to keep feet warm. The exterior sheds the slush, water, and muck of Winter very well. They do run slightly big. All of her other boots are size 10 and she fits comfortably into a size 9½ in these. They are well made made, attractive boots and I think my wife looks cute as ever in them. I have no doubt they will wear well and last a long time. Sorel makes a very nice product.

Love these boots - warm, stylish, and tall enough to keep out the snow. I think they're fairly true to size, they allowed for heavy socks and foot warmers to be worn without discomfort. They served their intended purpose of surviving two snowy & cold outdoor NFL games, complete with tailgating - no complaints!

I fell in love with the look of these boots and was happy that they are as beautiful in person as the picture on line. The only glitch is the fit is slightly off - the 7 is slightly to big and the 6 1/2 slightly to small. I went with the 7 and am used to it now. Also - they are sort of heavy so walking for a while you get a little extra workout! They are indeed warm, waterproof and the look fantastic. So all in all I'm happy!

Love these boots! I was looking for a functional yet stylish boot, and these are it! They are heavy and a bit difficult to get on and off, so be aware of that - but they're very comfortable. I normally wear a 10.5 but sized down to a 10, and they fit fine, even with pants tucked in and thicker socks on!

We searched everywhere for these boots. They were a Christmas gift to my daughter-in-law. She is crazy about them and looks too darn cute in them, also!

I love these boots! Not only are they fashionable but they are extremely warm. I purchased them hoping to be able to use them for walking the dog in the snow while keeping my toes warm but looking cute too - and I was not disappointed! I did read the earlier reviews (which all seemed to be older than one year) which stated that the boots ran really big. Sorel must have fixed this because they most definitely do not run big. I originally ordered a 7½ and my toes were rubbing up against the end I exchanged for an 8 and they fit absolutely perfectly (an 8 is my normal boot size). I will add for those that do not typically buy this type of boot that the toe box is a little wider so that your toes can move around and stay warm (it is necessary to have a little room to move which keeps them warmer). Overall I could not be happier with this purchase!

I live in Minnesota, it is snowy and cold here in the winter. I go out in snowstorms, walk through snowbanks, walk around in the cold, but my feet stay warm and dry. these boots are awesome! I know that Sorel does make other boots with higher ratings for colder temperatures than these, but this style is the perfect compromise of fashion and function. So far this winter, it has dropped to -12°, not counting wind chill, and my feet still stay warm. And I have Reynauds Disease. So that really says something. As for sizing, I am a 9½, and I got the 9½ and I think that I picked the best size for me. I did try on a pair in 9, but my toes touched the end, and that I do not like. So I think the size is true to size length wise, but they are a bit wide, and I think maybe that is why almost half of the reviews states they run large. But I am glad that I got my normal size. I do think a thick insole would be good to snug up the width for me a bit, but that is not even necessary. These boots are pretty comfortable, I had no issues with the Achilles area that I read some other people are having. They are a great investment. I do not regret buying these at all!

Warm and comfortable. They are a bit bulky around the toe, so are not very sleek. And I would say they run a little large -- I normally wear 8.5 but think I could have gotten away with an 8. Overall, a great buy.

Nothing compares to the warmth of Sorel boots - my feet are cozy, dry, and generally happy. However, the base of the shoe makes my feet look incredibly wide. I've used the word "gargantuan" a few times this week. I still like the boots because they add a bit of sass to gettin' the job done, but, they are not the sleek NYC boots I need. I guess I'll save these for the country house.

I keep meaning to write reviews but life gets in the way! These are the best winter boots I've ever had. True to size, so warm, comfy, cute (as cute as can be in a winter boot). Zappos is awesome, these boots are awesome...what's not to love?

These are cute boots but they cannot come close to my 30 year old real Sorrels. They are warm as long as you are not standing on snow or ice for a while even with extras like wool and high tech insulators under the liner. Warnings: Fur allows snow in! They are not for deep snow, unless you like wet feet. I wish they came with a draw string lining inside the fur. The fur also catches all kinds of things, weeds, stickers, hay, and sometimes makes its way down to your feet.