How to Find The Best Snow Boots

Winter brings with it snow, ice, and other harsh weather. Whether you live in cold country or are planning a mountain skiing trip buying a great pair of snow boots is a must.

Snow Boots: Go For Waterproof Brands

Sheepskin winter boots like Uggs or other knock-off brands are not the best to wear when the weather is nasty. Fashionable women’s leather boots look classy, but you might ruin them in the first storm of the winter. Spraying these kinds of popular winter boots with silicone or waterproofing spray helps, but you still should be careful if you plan on spending much time outdoors.

Even with a waterproofing spray, leather or suede boots can get soaked through to your socks easily in one puddle of slush. Never wear them while shoveling. And when you come off the ski slopes, you want to make sure the boots waiting for you are warm and dry.

When the Right Boots are Important

Most people think a winter boot and a snow boot are the same thing. Sure, it’s okay to use the terms interchangeable, but it’s important to know the difference. While winter boots may be just that, boots worn in the winter, the term snow boots describe a particular kind of boot made specifically for wearing in the snow or wet conditions. Know the difference if you ask for help at a shoe store or when buying online.

Are you a university student? The leather or suede boots look great in the fall and as the cold weather approaches. But I you are walking all over campus to classes and other activities , you should own a comfortable, warm and waterproof pair of boots. There’ s not much sense in getting sick from cold wet feet just for the sake of fashion. Thee days, practical also means fashionable – just ask anyone who wears pair of Timberland or Keen boots on a daily basis. They get just as many compliments as the high fashion boots do, maybe more.

Do you have kids? Allowing a child out to play in the snow without proper snow boots is a disaster in the making. Children will spend hours outside, paying more attention to how much fun they’re having rather than how numb their feet may be. Frostbite is possible without the right boots, even in the back yard. Buy proper kids snow bots, and keep your child healthy through the winter.

Some of the best shoe makers for winter boots come out of New England. Timberland founder Nathan Swartz started out as an apprentice stitcher in Massachusetts almost a century ago. About the same time, Leon Leonwood (L.L.) Bean returned to his Maine home from a hunting trip with cold, wet feet and decided to design his own boots. More recently, Shoe genius Martin Keen set up his own studio to design his world-class hiking shoes and boots in his home state of Rhode Island. These guys, past and present, know the value of well-made boots.

Top Brand Name Boots

Don’t worry too much about the prices on brand name boots. You may save money with cheap imitations, but there’s nothing worse than feeling the cold slush from a puddle soak through a boot that looks like it should be waterproof. Cheap glue and bad seams are often to blame for leaky boots. But if you pay the extra price, you may get a good ten years or more of wear from of your investment

In addition to favorites like L.L. Bean, Timberland and Keen as mentioned above, here are some other great brands to consider: The North Face, Columbia, Kamik, Asolo, Land’s End. All brands can be found online, and will ship immediately to your door.