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Insider tips on what to look for in your winter footwear to get the best buy for your buck
READ: How much to pay for a couchAccording to Smith, while a cheaper pair under $100 probably won’t last long (and will eventually force you to go out and buy another pair anyway), paying between $100 to $200 will likely get you a quality boot. He recommends brands such as Rieker, Clarks and Rockport, which, to his experienced eye, balance price and quality. So how can you tell if the boot you’re holding is actually a quality item? Give it a squeeze and a twist, advises Smith. “If I can pick it up and fold the toe all the way back to the heel with relative ease, there’s probably not much support there,” he says, mentioning that an easy lateral twist also proves the boot probably doesn’t have a supportive shank inside. Don’t forget the outsoles. The bottom of a good snow boot is often made of 100 per cent waterproof material, such as rubber, which is actually cold-friendly and flexible even in sub-zero temperatures. And speaking of keeping feet warm and dry, it’s also a good idea – unless you’re in the market for a vegan, non-leather shoe – to go for a full grain leather upper since it lasts longer and it can be waterproofed more easily. Check out the stitching for frayed thread or anything that looks a little dodgy, too. And, yes, give that zipper a good yank. If it’s sticky in the store, you’ll likely encounter problems down the road, says Smith. It should move up and down with ease. In fact, when it comes to boot buying, a zipper is like a canary in a coalmine in terms of determining quality. “If the zipper used in the process is a cheaper one, there’s a good chance that the rest of the materials used in the manufacturing process were cheap, too,” he cautions. Here are a few more issues to consider.
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