Pajar

Pajar built its name on cold-weather footwear, and its strengths show up exactly where you need them: warmth, waterproof construction and serious traction on ice. If you want a winter boot that leans fashion-forward rather than purely utilitarian, that is Pajar's lane. Just buy them for genuinely cold conditions, since that is the climate the brand was designed around.

Both are classic Canadian winter-boot makers, so it comes down to character. Sorel tends to win on value and rugged-casual style, while Pajar leans into more fashion-driven silhouettes and premium materials like full-grain leather and shearling. Think of Pajar as the dressier, more design-led side of the Canadian cold-weather aisle.

If you want a piece of the brand's own history, start with the Zig-Zag — Pajar's original creation, an après-ski leisure boot with a centre zip and sheepskin lining. For something rooted in Canadian craft, look at the Pajar Canada Heritage Premium line, made in the same Montreal factory the founder opened in 1973. Either gives you the brand's core identity before you branch into coats or hiking styles.

Pajar manufactures across Canada, Europe and Asia, so production depends on the line. The flagship example is the Pajar Canada Heritage Premium collection, still made in the original Montreal factory on the corner of Mount Royal Avenue and Coloniale Street in the Plateau district. If made-in-Canada matters to you, that Heritage line is the one to seek out.

It is a family acronym. The name combines the first letters of founder Paul Golbert, his son Jacques, and his wife Rachel. It is a small detail, but it tells you a lot — Pajar has always been a family company, and that story is stitched right into the label.

Pajar was founded in Montreal in 1963 by Paul Golbert, who had immigrated to Canada with his wife and son. Golbert was born in Paris in 1926 into a family of shoemakers, so the craft ran in the blood long before the brand existed. That Parisian-shoemaker-meets-Montreal-winter heritage is the foundation of everything Pajar makes.

Yes. The company has stayed in the Golbert family across three generations and is now run by founder Paul's son Jacques and grandson Michel. That continuity is part of why the brand still keeps a Canadian-made Heritage line rather than outsourcing everything — the family connection to that original Montreal factory remains.

Pajar started as a footwear specialist but has grown into a full cold-weather wardrobe. Alongside boots, the brand makes outerwear such as winter coats, plus rain-boots, hiking boots, socks and bags. So you can build a coordinated winter look around the same label rather than just buying a single pair of boots.

It does — Pajar became the official provider for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in 1989. For a winter-footwear brand, that is a meaningful endorsement, since alpine athletes need genuine cold and traction performance. It also marked the point where Pajar's reputation began expanding from its Canadian base to a worldwide audience.

Treat them like the premium winter investment they are. Brush off road salt promptly, let damp boots air-dry away from direct heat so the leather and shearling do not crack or stiffen, and use a suitable waterproofing treatment for leather or nubuck uppers at the start of the season. Good seasonal care is what keeps a quality pair performing winter after winter.

Many wearers find Pajar styles fit on the snug side, especially once you factor in the thick socks you will actually wear in deep cold. If you are between sizes or plan to layer heavyweight socks, sizing up is the safer call. Whenever possible, check the specific style's fit notes, since lined winter boots vary more than everyday shoes.