Best Winter Boots for Women
Some people try to get by wearing their usual shoes during the rainy season. But leaving your feet wet and cold can leave you vulnerable to certain fungal infections. Women face an even higher risk of urinary tract infections when their feet are cold and wet regularly. For these reasons, it is very important to wear shoes suitable for the elements. To encourage you to put on your boots, get a pair that will match most of your clothes. Also, be aware that you should buy boots that are half or full size larger than what you would normally buy. You want to have enough room in the leg area to fit thick pants in.
If you live in a particularly humid climate where you have to wear boots every day, make sure yours are well supported. Wearing shoes without arch support or with little or no arch support every day can lead to back problems. If you live in a city where it is so cold that ice forms on the sidewalks leaving them slippery, it is very important that your boots have good tread on the bottom to prevent falls. Some even have a comfy fleece lining to keep your legs warm on colder days, as well as a drawstring buckle on the side to keep cold air out.
Some boots can feel so heavy that they slow your gait, so consider a lightweight material, especially if your primary means of transportation is your own feet. It can be exhausting to put on and take off boots, so get a pair with small handles or buckles that make them easy to put on. It’s no secret that feet can smell bad, so look for boots made of breathable material to prevent sweat. Some have the added benefit of an odor resistant fabric inside.
How to choose boots
When going to the store, women are guided, of course, not by the brand in the first place, several important factors influence the choice.
Season. For winter, puffy boots, leather products with a fur inner insert are suitable, today high-quality leatherette is in demand, inside the natural material can replace a warm bike or other textiles with insulation. Demi-season shoes are made from similar materials, but without insulation.
Style. It is determined by the clothes or features of the woman’s legs. So, for full calves, it is difficult to find graceful boots with a thin stiletto heel, these are usually equipped with a flat sole, a small wedge heel or a stable minimal heel. Clothing is no less important: for a long skirt on a slender leg, you can wear both boots and boots of medium length to the middle of the calf or slightly above it, but with a normal fit. If you intend to wear a sock with jeans or leggings inside, the shaft should be wide.
Closure type. Lace up or zipper? The question is not only aesthetic, but also practical: for a full shin, the presence of a lace almost to the toe is a real salvation, because the width of the boot is thus regulated. A zipper is a versatile option, but a windproof lining is needed.
Convenient shoe. Responsible manufacturers make even high-heeled boots comfortable: an instep support, a hard heel, pads under the toes – all these elements should be in shoes of any style.
Material. Demi-season and winter boots can be made of natural or artificial leather, suede, textiles. In this matter, one should focus on the characteristics of the climate and the way of wearing. If wet snow predominates in the city, it is better to choose dense waterproof leather or leatherette, for those who drive or walk in the snow, soft suede or textiles are more suitable – these are breathable materials.
To balance all the factors together and choose the perfect pair of boots is often only a fitting. It is important that the shoes fit perfectly on the leg. They should not be taken with due regard to the spacing it may not happen and the appearance of the product may change somewhat.
Correct sole
The wrong soles of winter shoes can cause winter injuries. It is worth carefully examining and examining the soles of winter boots during the selection process, so that later you do not face problems on the street. Especially considering that not all is well with the timely clearing of snow and ice on our streets.
The sole should not be smooth; winter shoes must have a protector on the sole, otherwise it is simply unsafe to walk in such shoes. A wide, small heel can provide additional protection against slipping and falling. Boots with smooth soles are not suitable for our winters.
The sole must be elastic. If the sole is not flexible, then at the very first relatively severe frosts, it will become simply stone.
How to take care of and enjoy your boots
The boots are usually made of rubber which certainly has its positive qualities, but it is also very easy to spot any scratches or marks. If you have a scuff on your boots, just drop some oil (olive oil will do) on your boots, and buff them with a soft cloth. If you want your boots to stay shiny, try this secret trick; apply vehicle friction products to it.
Rubber has another fall, if exposed to too much heat, its quality may deteriorate. So store your boots out of direct sunlight. You can even keep them in a large paper bag for extra protection. To help the legs keep their shape, place socks, t-shirts, or newspapers in a ball inside the legs during the off season. For your comfort, put on double or thick socks. This can prevent the boots from slipping when you walk and reduce the risk of blisters.
Wear knee socks, or socks that at least meet the tops of the boots. The friction of these shoes can easily tear the ankle socks off your feet, leaving you almost barefoot in your boots, exposing your feet to bacteria in the shoes. Socks with a strong, elastic grip will also stay in place better. If you live in a rainy and warm place at the same time, you might be tempted to wear your boots with shorts or a dress. But don’t, because water can get inside the boots.
Features to consider during hiking
When looking for a new pair of hiking boots, there are several types of materials and features available to you. How do you know if you need full grain leather boots? What is a bellows tongue? These are very good questions. Read on to learn about the most common features and materials and how they help
The sole of hiking boots is always made of rubber. However, the part that wraps around the foot (the “shank”) can be made of different types of materials. The material of the upper affects the water resistance, breathability, durability and weight of each shoe or boot.
Full grain leather: This leather is the most durable, the most abrasion resistant and the most water resistant. But it is also the heaviest, the least breathable and the least flexible.
Nubuck and Suede: These sanded leathers are softer than full grain leather, but less durable and less water resistant.
Synthetic materials: The upper of a boot can be made of polyester, nylon or polyurethane of various thicknesses and densities. Some synthetic materials have properties similar to those of leather, while others are much lighter and breathe better. In general, synthetic materials are lighter, more breathable, more flexible and less expensive than leather, in addition to drying faster. But they are also less durable and less water-resistant.
Mesh Panels: Mesh panels increase the breathability of hiking boots and shoes while reducing weight. But since the net is not very durable, it is usually used in areas less prone to wear and tear.
Waterproof-breathable membrane: Leather and some synthetic materials offer excellent water resistance in themselves. However, to make the boots completely waterproof, many models incorporate a waterproof-breathable membrane between the upper and its lining. This membrane prevents water from seeping in while allowing the boots to breathe.
What is the ideal weight for a hiking boot?
Weight is an important characteristic to consider when comparing different pairs of boots, but you might have to compromise to get the features you are looking for. While heavy boots are more durable and provide better support than lightweight boots and shoes their weight can also tire you out more quickly. Boots and lightweight shoes won’t slow you down, but give you a lot less support. It’s up to you to decide which qualities are the most important according to your hiking goals.