The 15 Very Best Ankle Boots for Women

Sizes: 5–12 | Material: Leather | Design: ½” platform, lug sole, pull tab, Docs stitching | Price: $$

Docs are the gold standard for ankle boots, according to our panelists, and the 2976s are its original Chelsea. New York Review Books marketing manager Abigail Dunn calls the 2976s a go-to for their subtlety compared with some showier Docs, thanks to a barely there platform and almost matte leather. Jenni Lee, founder of luxury sock label Comme Si, mentions that these are functional on top of their timelessness — they work as a slush-fighting machine in the winter and a rain boot in the spring. They also earned a spot in our guide to the best Chelsea boots, with Freddie Harrel, founder of beauty company RadSwan, relying on the 2976s for an “extra-badass edge.” (A pro tip to know before we go on: Docs are notoriously stiff at the start, so Dunn recommends slathering on the brand’s Wonder Balsam to help soften them up and make them “pretty much indestructible.”)

Sizes: 5–11 | Material: Leather | Design: Glossy finish, 1” block heel | Price: $

The Floras are the pair we heard about most in the aforementioned Chelsea-boots guide. New York Times Magazine editor Iva Dixit says their streamlined sole “makes them feel a little more adult.” New York Times senior software engineer Nozlee Samadzadeh also attributes their grown-up vibe to the flatter heel, which keeps them from looking like the taller Docs out there. Their lower height is practical, comfort-wise, and Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell says she has yet to step into a puddle or pile of snow these boots couldn’t handle. Every expert who recommended the Floras agrees that the boots are long-lasting, too. The mirrorlike finish gradually develops a patina that makes them seem pre-loved as opposed to worn out, Dixit mentions. Hannah Baxter, deputy beauty editor of The Zoe Report, credits good ol’ British craftsmanship for their durability.

Sizes: 5–11 | Material: Rubber | Design: 1 ½” heel, 1-inch platform, lug sole, toe cap | Price: $$

Ganni — or the “Danish Mansur Gavriel,” as we dubbed the label — makes tactical-looking boots that Taylor Tomasi Hill, creative and fashion director of the Yes, and fashion content creator Tilly Macalister-Smith both love. This recycled-rubber style comes recommended courtesy of Macalister-Smith, who says that though they look high-end, they don’t have a high-end price tag — that’s why she was willing to make an exception to her secondhand-shopping habit for them. Macalister-Smith describes them as undestroyable and capable of handling everything from snowy streets to garden exploits. The shoes are so comfortable they rival sneakers — remarkably, she says she didn’t have to go through a real breaking-in process with them.

Sizes: 5–12 | Material: Leather | Design: Branded pull tab, 2” heel, 1 ½” platform | Price: $$

This is the platform version of the 2976s that earned our Best Overall title. Lisa Sokolov, co-founder of Social Goods, bought these boots out of nostalgia — she has been wearing Docs on and off since middle school. The chunky one-and-a-half-inch platform and two-inch heel give her a little more height, but that boost doesn’t detract from how easy these are to walk in. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about them, either — Elizabeth Tamkin, content and partnerships manager at Kule, is another fan of the thicker-soled Docs.

Sizes: 5–11 | Material: Leather | Design: 1 ¼” heel, 8-eye lace-up, brand’s signature stitching | Price: $

The 1460s were introduced in 1960 — and since then, the lace-up style has earned quite the following, favored by the likes of the Clash and even the glitterati. Here at the Strategist, we’ve heard about them from hairstylist Cassadi Currier and Catbird chief creative officer Leigh Plessner. Currier wears hers to work since they’re slip-resistant — when there’s water on the floor, she knows that “if I want to walk through it quickly, or if I have to, I’m not gonna fall and die.” The patent-leather 1460s in particular fulfill Plessner’s passion for shiny black shoes, toughening up nightgowns and dressing up sweatsuits. Strategist writer Dominique Pariso is our third devotee — she has been relying on her 1460s every winter since she was a teen. “Pair them with a wool sock and they are guaranteed to keep your feet warm and dry,” she says. Though keep in mind that the 1460s are “famously stiff to start,” according to the company.

Sizes: 5–12 | Material: Leather | Design: Lace-up front, side zipper, 2” heel, 1 ¼” platform | Price: $$

Docs’ Jadon line of lace-up platforms is a favorite of three celebrities, each of whom named a pair as one of the things they can’t live without. The Jadon 8-Eye Boot was name-checked by actress-singer Dove Cameron and YouTuber Emma Chamberlain, who considers these nothing short of life-changing. “They give me a rock-star feeling, like I could stomp on a drum set with my boots if I wanted to,” she explains, adding that they “take every outfit from ‘that’s cool’ to ‘whoa, look at her.’” Cameron seconds that sentiment: She fell in love with hers on the set of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where she had to gear up in tactical clothes as a villain. Off-screen, she has been known to stuff sweats and too-long jeans into the tops. For more height, model Georgia May Jagger recommends the Max version of the shoes, which she says act as “I mean business” armor thanks to their even thicker sole.

Sizes: 5.5–11 with half sizes | Material: Leather | Design: Western-style, 2 ½” stacked block heel | Price: $

These are a more affordable alternative to the Leandras with a much more dramatic pointed toe. Style coach Kim Hancher likes to wear them with bootcuts and flares so the toe peeks out. She says she gets compliments whenever she steps out in them. For her “ailing feet,” the chunky stacked block heel sits at the right height and offers more stability than a spikier one. These boots come in a number of shades, prints, and textures, including cow and leopard — Hancher went with a beige-and-tan snakeskin that she says makes these look more expensive than they are.

Sizes: 5-13 with half sizes  | Material: Knitted from merino wool and plastic bottles | Design: Back pull tab, stretch panels on sides, square-toe  | Price: $$

These Rothy’s are knit from a combination of merino wool and the company’s “signature thread” spun from plastic bottles. It was an Instagram post of an “impeccably dressed influencer traveling in Vermont with a toddler” that convinced Richter to get a pair for herself. She’s found them to be exactly what she’s looking for when it comes to boots as they’re flat, easy to slip on, and can “withstand icy New York winters” since the shoes are machine-washable. Plus, the boots are so comfortable that they feel like slippers, requiring zero breaking-in time and weighing “next to nothing.” Richter adds: “These are like wrapping your feet in a cozy merino sweater, but they still look chic.”

Sizes: 5-11 with half sizes | Material: Water-resistant leather | Design: Double pull tabs, lug sole  | Price: $$

There has been much Blundstone praise on the Strategist, but the 500s in particular were a big hit with the stylish people we talked to. Jo Zasloff, co-founder of skin-care line Sisters, sums it up best: These are a perfect everyday boot. Emily Vaca, founder of the inflatable-pool purveyor Minnidip, considers these Blunnies (“as the cool kids call them”) a true workhorse. She wears them with Dickies for warehouse work and then out for cocktails once she’s off the clock. Dancer and consultant Eva Alt uses these to survive slippery city walks. And audio producer Amy Pedulla likes how they get better with age, becoming a “smudgy, comfy glove on your feet.” Pedulla let us in on this industry secret, too: Nearly everyone in podcasting wears a pair of Blundstones. For her part, Pedulla relies on them for schlepping audio equipment around between studios.