[off topic]

Buy some heavy duty socks.

Talk to the locals and maybe try a few different kinds from the thrift store before going hardcore BIFL. Snow is no big deal, you just want something waterproof with decent treads. I got through many Boston and NY winters just fine with those green duck-looking boots. If you're going out on a glacier or something, you might need something more hardcore.

Two options for you:

1. NEOS (New England over shoes). Think of them as waterproof socks over your normal shoes / boots. I’ve worn mine over my leather moccasins house slippers. I’ve had my pair for over a decade in a cold / wet / northern climate and they’re beat up but still waterproof

2. XTRATUF rubber boots. Particularly if it’s not super cold. I have a pair that go to my knees for working in the mud and muck, but I used them while snow blowing last year and they were dry, grippy and warm

I know you said insulation is less of a concern but I gotta put in a good word for Baffin boots. Waterproof, with replaceable and removable insulated inner liners. The difference wearing those makes in snow is immediately perceptible, and they all have good traction too. I have bought used pairs and all but one set (my kid's) still look pristine after multiple seasons.

Bogs also seems to be good quality, though I haven't worn them myself. Their insulated rain boots have withstood an impressive amount of abuse from my kiddo.

When i have to do stuff in the snow i wear rubber boots, warm socks, and neoprene toe covers (my toes go numb).
A good pair of rubber boots can be used for winter, mud, yardwork, etc. So, while maybe not BIFL, the versatility makes them definitely worthwhile to have and certainly not wasteful.

TBH don't worry too much about good boots. It's good to just have a pair of boots for when you actually plan to be out in the snow, but unless you do a lot of hiking (where you'd probably want a pair of boots even in the summer) you'll likely find that you won't truly spend that much time trudging through snow. And it sounds like you don't even anticipate getting all that much of it either.

I just have a few pairs of insulated and waterproof socks that I wear when going out in winter and just wear my usual sneakers with them. Sneakers that actually have traction though, none of those flat-soled Vans or similar, or you'll slip on ice. Ice will be a bigger concern than snow.

I personally love my Solomon boots. Light and durable and warm. Would hightly recommend.

Also check online thrift shops like thread up. Most of them only do womens and kids clothing because apparently adult men don't get rid of their clothes very often. If your feet fit women's shoe sizes, regardless of your identity, it can be a great way to save a lot of money.

Following

If anyone has any advice for BIFL wide toed winter boots that are also waterproof AND have good traction of steel cleats? please let me know.

My boot brand recommendation in general is Danner, they can get pricey but they're worth it, and many of them can be recrafted with new soles, liners, etc.

But brands recommendations are very individual, some people swear by one brand or another while someone else may think that those brands are the most uncomfortable shoes in the world.

And really it also all depends on what you want to do with your boots. If you just need something to get from the front door to the car and then into the office, probably you don't really need much. Any decent waterproof hiking or work boot is probably more than sufficient. Rubber rain/muck boots could work well with some heavy socks, you can even find some designed to fit over regular shoes if you want to take them off when you get to work and not have to wear boots all day. You also may want to go a half size or so large depending on how thick your winter socks are, so make sure you're wearing whatever socks you intend to wear with your boots when you go to try them on.

I tend to like taller boots that I can tuck my pants into so they don't get wet if I'm trudging through snow and slush, or you can also get gaiters to cover the bottom of your pants.

Traction on snow isn't usually a huge problem, but if things get icy or slushy I've never really found any pair of regular rubber soled boots that inspired a lot of confidence. I usually use some sort of slip-on ice cleats if I'm going to be dealing with that, personally I've had the best luck with kahtoola microspikes, I tried a couple yaktrax models and they always seemed to break on me partway through the winter, but I'm sure some people have had the opposite experience or have other brands they like. I also had a pair of cheap logger boots for a while with a thick sole that I screwed some fishing wader studs into, and that worked pretty well but probably only worth it if you're going to be outside for a long time and don't mind having to change your shoes when you come in.

If you're expecting to be outside for an extended period of time, avoid steel toes unless you really need them, that toe cap can get cold.

Pac boots are sort of the gold standard for insulated boots if you do decide you want that. They have a removable inner bootie that you can take out to dry faster between uses if they get wet

Insulated hunting boots are a pretty good bet, again I like Danner, but there's certainly other good brands out there. I also know a lot of people who really like LL Bean style duck boots.

Also as far as cold weather boots go, I think the military style "Mickey Mouse" or "Bunny" Boot is always worth mentioning. They are almost certainly overkill for anything you're likely to get up to, and you certainly won't win any best-dressed awards in them, but if you find a pair in a military surplus store or something, I'm pretty confident that you will never find a warmer, more waterproof boot in your life, arguably they're probably even too warm and waterproof unless you happen to live in the Arctic circle

Most importantly get some good wool or synthetic socks, cotton looses basically all insulation value if it gets wet, and even if your boots are 100% waterproof, even just sweating in your socks will make your feet cold eventually, so be prepared to change your socks if you need to. You can also get thin sock liners for extra insulation/moisture wicking, and can also help prevent blisters (instead of your sock rubbing against your foot causing friction and eventually blisters, you have one layer of sock sliding against another. I wear synthetic sock liners with my heavier cushioned hiking socks even in the middle of summer.) I'm a fan of darn tough socks personally.

https://kite-uhn.com/rmt/en

Useful resource

If you need traction, just buy traction. Kahtoola and YakTrax come to mind first, they slip over any shoe or boot and embed into the ice/snow. If you want actual boots, then just purchase anything that can be resoled Andy is in generally decent shape.

Wyoming (Grand Teton Mountains) resident here. Where exactly are you going? You can DM me if you do not want to share.

Boots and socks are not things you want to go cheap with. Most other mountain gear you can get second hand and from thrift stores, but boots, socks, and gloves should be top tier.

If indeed it doesn't get very cold, then the YakTrax suggestion is probably what you need.