Timberland Inclement Traveler

It’s the beginning of November and you know what that means…time to get ready for snow! Some parts of the country have already been hit, and hopefully they were prepared, but for those of us that haven’t here’s the lowdown on kids boots for winter.

Let me start out by saying there is a big difference between winter boots and snow boots. For those of you that don’t get a lot of snow, a warm pair of Uggs or Emus might be enough.  They provide protection from the cold and keep your feet nice and toasty. Plus they are comfortable, stylish, and there are a bunch of colors and styles to choose from. But for those little tykes that are lucky enough to get to play in piles of snow on their days off from school, a more water resistant boot is necessary for happy feet.

We all remember those days of being young when we would beg to go outside and build snowmen and igloos in our everyday clothes and shoes. We didn’t want to wear our coats, let alone a snowsuit and snow boots. Those were just too constricting. How do you build a snowman when you can’t even move your arms? Clearly comfort is the key. When choosing a snow boot for your little one, look for comfort features such as gore for easy movement and Velcro for easy on and off.  I love the Timberland Inclement Traveler for their hook and loop closures at the top and at the bottom. The top stays tight so snow can’t seep in! No one likes when snow gets in their shoe!

You also want to think about the fit of the boot. Some moms like to buy snow boots a size larger so that the child has room to grow and can maybe wear them again the next year, but, if the boot is too big it will be hard for the child to walk. Make sure your child can walk easily or they might topple over and end up making snow angels instead of a cool igloo. For a perfect fit, have your child try the boots on with a couple of pairs of socks and ensure their toes are not touching the front of the boot.

Next consider water resistant versus waterproof. If the boots are for playing outside in the snow all day and staying dry, waterproof is the way to go. The Yoot Pac from Sorel is a great waterproof boot that is cute and keeps you dry. Trust me, I own the adult version myself. If they are for everyday use:  walking to school, running errands, or going to a friend’s house, then water resistant should get you through the winter just fine. The Northface Nuptse Bootie’s are a very popular choice. They keep you dry and best of all they have special Heetseeker insulation to keep you warm when the temperature drops!

Another thing to consider is the fashion aspect. Of course snow boots are going to be bulky and not the most fashionable choice of boot.  However, make sure the boots are in a color your child likes or has a cool design and they are much more likely to want to wear them. The Polo X-12 come in great colors and sold out fast last year! My brother once had a pair of snow boots similar to these that he loved so much that he wanted to wear them well into Spring. I’m pretty sure we have pictures of him with shorts and those boots. I should have tried to dig those up but I’m sure he’s glad I didn’t!

If you follow these keys to snow boot buying you and your child should have a happy snowman building season! (And if you still want to make snow angels that’s okay too.) Post some pics! We’d love to see them!