Insulated boots

Winter has arrived!

Downtown with my car during this wonderful season isn't always easy. I put on my wannabe boots, and venture reluctantly outside with my shovel in hand, trying to find my white car in the snow bank. An hour later, my cheeks are red from the cold, my hands are frozen and what’s worse, my feet are wet. I mutter to myself two things: first, I really am in need of REAL winter boots, and second, why do I need a car during winter?! This article will attempt to answer the first topic. Which boot will make me a Snow Cinderella this winter?

: Can you guess which one of these is my current boot?

At first glance, these three boots seem more or less the same. The middle one is the one I wear currently. Apart from appearance, it has none of the technical qualities that I am looking for. After a long analysis, here are my top 5 winter boots for women. If you want to learn more about the criterions, may I suggest Max Altitude’s terrific article for the good choice of a winter boot. He focuses on men’s footwear, but the determining factors are the same. The qualities to look out for in order to have a warm winter: insulation, protects against water, have soles that stop you from slipping even when it’s really cold out. Since these boots all have these features, I will concentrate on what makes each one of them unique.

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To learn more about how to choose women's winter boots

The road on the way to work this morning

The morning after a snow storm in Montreal leaves you with the same problem year after year: do I buy insulated boots, or continue to wear my wanna-be boots that leak, or worse my shoes? Many of us think we don’t need winter boots in the city because there’s a lot of snow and everything is close. I admit it: until last year I was one of those people...

After buying a good pair of boots, I would never spend another day in wet socks. The five boots reviewed here all have a waterproof layer that keeps your feet dry when walking through even the biggest slush puddles (very common in the city). The rubber on the soles is softer than those on regular uninsulated boots. This keeps the boot from slipping, as snow tires do, even in the coldest conditions. The average person going to work in the city on public transit walks on enough icy sidewalks to need this kind of sole. What’s more, the treads are specially designed to keep snow from collecting on the bottom of the boot and high quality insulation keeps your feet warm. These boots are made for urban life as much as for participating in your favourite winter sport. I chose boots with a classic look: ones that won’t make you look like Bernard Voyer when you go to have a drink with friends. Tempting isn’t it?

1. Men's Merrell Chameleon Thermo 8 WTPF Synthetic Boots 159,99$

Withought a doubt, the Chameleon is THE number one classic boot for the Altitude staff. One out of every two employees has this boot, and I am one of them. The Chameleon is well insulated with 200g of Polartec and 400g of Primaloft. It is the warmest out of the McMurdo and the B52 (see below). I especially like its aggressive Vibram sole. The molded rubber heal counter is for easily attaching snowshoes. When worn with pants, its rugged look has a simple style. I particularly like the exterier material which repels calcium. The proof: after a year of wear, Alex Lapointe’s boots still look like new.