Vessi Alta High Top Review: Cozy Winter Boot with Waterproof Protection

Shoes for travel that fight off rain, as well as snow? Could it be real?

Let’s dive into the Vessi Alta High Top. Spoiler: they’re a great winter boot that combines waterproof protection with the comfort and style of a sneaker. Becca and I both own these boots, and they’ve become our go-to winter footwear.

Here’s what I mean: I’ve started wearing my Alta High Tops as soon as it snows at home, and I reach for them whenever there’s a chance of winter weather during our travels, too. I think they work great for when I’m outside shoveling during a storm, and Becca wears them for errands at home, as well as on the road to our cold-weather vacations.

Let’s dive into the details of these winter boots that are “actually” cool, and can battle the winter elements gracefully.

Why I chose the Vessi Alta High Top

After experiencing the success of other Vessi waterproof shoe styles, I was curious about their winter boot option. The Alta High Top caught my attention because it promised the warmth of a traditional winter boot with the comfort and style of a sneaker.

That’s right: the bottom is textured and rugged, so it helps with avoiding slipping. The tongue of the shoes is really long, and the laces actually let you lace them up and tighten them. And with the colors they come in, plus the athletic-style design, they don’t look like goofy traditional winter boots (which I’ve specifically tried to avoid owning during all my adult life).

What makes the Vessi Alta High Top special

The Alta High Tops have great traction on the bottom to help avoid slipping on ice and snow. They’re definitely good to have during winter travel, providing the warmth and protection you need for cold weather adventures. This means we’ve taken our Alta High Tops to our trips to New Hampshire (we always go in winter), Philadelphia (we’ve gotten caught in snow there) and day trips in the NYC area.

The breathable knit technology means your feet stay comfortable all day, even when it’s wet outside. These don’t feel like traditional winter boots: they’re better, and they’re specifically what Becca and I have been looking for.

Truth be told, Becca and I both avoided owning winter boots during the entire decade we both lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn, taking long-term travels intermittently. We’d both wear rain boots for snowy days, but frankly, our feet would get too cold. The Alta High Tops solve this.

Here’s the best part about the Alta High Tops: they look good, and the perform as intended. Becca likes to wear them in photos, and they look fine with jeans, even scrunched on top of them like a style. For me, my straight leg pants, or joggers, also fall nicely on the ankles of these high top boots.

All in all, we call it a win for winter travel gear.

100% waterproof protection

These boots keep your feet completely dry whether you’re walking through rain, snow, slush or mud. No more worrying about wet socks ruining your day! When we lived in NYC, our feet would get soaked walking into huge slush puddles there.

Becca can vouch for the same: she has tested the Alta High Tops by walking through piles of snow, being careful to of course not have any snow fall into them, but for the parts where the shoes touches the snow, none of the moisture comes into the boot.

Don’t believe me? Check out the video I made in the snow about the Alta High Top.

Lightweight and breathable

Unlike those clunky traditional winter boots that feel like you’re wearing bricks, Vessi’s winter styles are surprisingly lightweight. They don’t have that duck-like front like I’ve seen with LL Bean winter boots, and they also don’t have an overly puffy top with drawstrings.

It’s almost like we’re excited to wear these winter boots, and it’s not a bad thing. They’re also lightweight and slim enough to pack into a suitcase (in fact, that is where we store ours when they’re not in season). They could go at the bottom of a travel backpack, too.

Great traction

The soles on the Alta High Tops have excellent grip. Winter is a slippery time though, so these are good for crunchy snow and slick parts, but really, nothing is a match for black ice or super slick surfaces.

So my disclaimer is to still be careful when you’re dealing with ‘black ice’ or the like: these shoes are winter boots after all, not magic or a cure-all. Use caution and walk slowly on slippery surfaces in winter weather.

Stylish and versatile

These aren’t your typical bulky winter boots. The sleek design means you can wear them with jeans, leggings, or even dresses and still look put together. In fact, Becca proudly wears them with dresses and warm winter tights or leggings, in the dead of winter. They look cool. They are her default daily boot when the temperatures dip–even if there’s no snow or rain on the ground.

Sizing and fit considerations

The Alta High Top also runs big, given that Becca wears a 6 in those as well. She typically wears a 6.5 sneaker, and even 7, in Nike.

I found the men’s Alta High Top to be true to size in men’s, wearing a 10 as usual. Keep in mind that with winter boots, you might be wearing thicker socks. If you have feet that run on the wider side too, I would probably size up.

This is just another example of how we’ve found sizing to be inconsistent among Vessi’s styles. It’s something to look out for. Try as you might, you may need to get an exchange with Vessi. Don’t worry though, we’ve done quite a few of those over the years.

Do I recommend them?

The Vessi Alta High Tops are great for winter weather trips. They’re great for everything from city exploring in cold weather to actual snow adventures. I like wearing them when shoveling the snow.

The best part? You get all the winter protection you need without sacrificing style or comfort. These boots prove you don’t have to choose between staying warm and dry and looking good!

Quick takeaways

• Great traction on the bottom to avoid slipping on ice and snow
• Perfect for winter and snowy trips
• Lightweight and breathable unlike clunky traditional winter boots
• Stylish and versatile - far from bulky snow boots
• Good for crunchy snow and slick parts, but really nothing is a match for black ice or super slick surfaces
• Ideal to wear for shoveling snow at home, or walking in snowy places during travel

The Vessi Alta High Top is a great winter boot that gives the protection from snow or rain that you need for cold weather traveling while still looking stylish.

Comparison with similar products

Here's how this product compares to similar options. Use this table to find the best of the bunch!