It had simply turned from nightfall to darkish on Minnesota’s frozen Lake Mill Lacs, and the temperature was plummeting. Someplace round -10 levels Fahrenheit, a 30mph wind made it really feel a lot colder. My associates and I hustled to interrupt down our ice fishing shelter after an extended day on the ice, and time was of the essence as fingers and faces froze.
However my toes weren’t chilly within the slightest. That’s as a result of I used to be carrying the Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX winter boots, which, after a number of days of testing, have confirmed to be among the many warmest, most comfy winter boots I’ve used. They arrive at a hefty worth, however after a number of outings in icy situations, I’m satisfied they’re a worthwhile funding for many who spend many hours in bitter-cold locations.
In brief: The Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX is a heavy, extraordinarily heat winter boot with an opulent sheepskin lining and protecting outer cowhide and mesh cloth higher. They’re extremely nicely insulated and maintain my toes toasty in climate right down to -20 levels Fahrenheit. However greater than heat, the Nordkap PRO GTX can also be comfy for strolling on snow and ice and very water- and weather-resistant. Their draw back is heavy weight and excessive worth.
Examine the Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX with the perfect winter boots in our purchaser’s information.
-
Extraordinarily heat -
Excessive warmth-to-weight ratio -
Good traction -
Supportive and comfy
-
Very costly -
Too heavy for lengthy hikes
Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX Evaluate
Meindl is a German model progressively making a reputation for itself amongst North American shoppers with premium searching and mountaineering boots. It’s comparatively new to the winter boot market, and the Nordkap PRO GTX is model new as of 2025.
I acquired a take a look at pair in late January. Out of the field, they impressed me. The Nordkap Professional GTX is a considerable boot with a heavy Vibram outsole. Stacked on that sole, they construct out like a moon boot from the Nineteen Eighties. There’s an entire lot happening in these hefty kicks.
I reached inside, felt the fur-like sheepskin and thick liner, and smiled. These had been going to be enjoyable to check.
The Nordkap PRO GTX is a singular boot. Type of like a downhill ski boot, they’ve a protecting exterior boot with a detachable internal bootie. That sheepskin bootie provides quite a lot of insulation and likewise means that you can dry the inside of the boot quick.
The outside boot has two lacing techniques. The decrease lacing system ties the boot snugly across the foot. Then a cinch line closes the highest of the boot tight to maintain out ice and snow.
Testing in Colorado, Minnesota
I wore the Nordkap PRO GTX on a number of quick hikes in cool climate. Whereas heavy and stiff, they had been comfy proper out of the field. They’ve a lot insulation that the boot is comfortable throughout the foot and ankle. It’s like your decrease leg is in an enormous, comfortable hug. So I used to be assured they’d be prepared for his or her first actual take a look at, a 2-day sled-dog racing occasion on the historic Camp Hale in Colorado.
As if nature had testing in thoughts, the primary morning of the Camp Hale Veterans Memorial Sled Canine Races was very chilly, with lows under zero and contemporary snow on the bottom. For the following 2 days, I spent all morning on my toes, watching sled groups come and go, serving to racers handle canine groups, and making ready for my very own race in skijoring.
The entire time, I used to be strolling on deep-packed snow (or generally moving into deep powder off trails). Small areas of uncovered ice posed slip hazards. Dealing with canines required fast actions and working. And thru quite a lot of powerful situations, chilly snow, and difficult footing, the Nordkap PROG GTX proved comfy, safe, and really heat.
Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX: Ice Fishing Primary Occasion
Yearly, a number of good associates and I journey to northern Minnesota to ice fish in February. Name us loopy, nevertheless it’s a darned good time.
I selected the Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX for this yr’s fishing. With excessive temperatures nicely under zero daily of the journey, it was a very good name.
Throughout 3 days of ice fishing, I walked over frozen lakes and slopped gallons of water over the boots whereas drilling holes. I hunkered over holes in driving wind and snow. And I spent quite a lot of time sitting in a heated shanty with my toes on moist ice.
The boots had been just about excellent. The Vibram outsole bit into the snow for good traction on all the pieces besides pure ice. The shell-like outer layer sheds water immediately. It will definitely turned encrusted in ice, however my toes inside stayed heat and completely dry.
I did put on these boots for a number of hours indoors at a bar whereas getting dinner after fishing. Whereas actually overkill, I didn’t discover my toes getting overly scorching. The Nordkap PRO GTX is for certain an excessive amount of boot for indoors, and can even make driving difficult. However it’s potential to put on them for a bit inside.
Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX: Who They’re For
In fact, no boot is ideal for all the pieces. The Meindl Nordkap PRO GTX is ideal largely for one factor: retaining your toes heat in super-cold and moist climate. However outdoors of that, it’s a restricted piece of footwear.
These boots are each costly ($420) and heavy (4.76 kilos per pair). If you happen to count on to stroll lengthy distances or scramble round on steep terrain, undoubtedly look elsewhere. I additionally had an issue pulling the cinch off the highest laces a number of occasions, a minor situation however one which may very well be annoying on a extremely chilly day.
However when you spend time in very chilly climate with low cardio exercise, the Nordkap PRO GTX is price contemplating. I’m speaking about deer hunters who spend hours in a frigid chilly stand — or snowmobilers, ice fishermen, and canine sledders. Higher but, when you’re somebody who does quite a lot of these items, the Nordkap PRO GTX might be for you.
Whereas this preliminary assessment doesn’t have sufficient testing to contemplate sturdiness, this boot does appear very nicely constructed. I’d count on it to final a very long time. I’ll replace this assessment with additional testing notes on sturdiness as soon as they’ve seen a bit of extra motion.
Within the meantime, that is one very heat, rugged boot. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a furnace on your toes, the Nordkap PRO GTX ought to meet your wants.
