Winter boots
 

Interesting article in the Ottawa Citizen a few days ago (it's probably also in other Postmedia organs).

Ontario study concludes most winter boots are too slippery | Ottawa Citizen

The list it includes is useful. Pay attention to the code numbers, if you go shopping online.

My current boots are crap. They are Teflon-coated, it seems.

I've ordered a pair of the more highly-rated ones on the Mark's Work Warehouse website. They were on sale (45% off). I guess Mark's hadn't read the article!

Re: Winter boots
 

I saw that article a few days ago...so must have a lot of other people because the site was borked due to heavy traffic.
It didn't altogether surprise me. I haven't looked at mine yet but while they seem to do okay in snow they are useless in the rain. A thin coat of water seems to turn them into ice skates

Re: Winter boots
 

My Docs are fine in the rain, a bit slippy on ice. They were better when there was still tread on the bottom. Next time I'm in America or the UK I'll pick up another pair.

Re: Winter boots
 

I'd be inclined to pay attention to the research that article refers to.

Geoff Fernie is a heavyweight in anything to do with this stuff. I met him over 20 years ago at Sunnybrook Hospital. He is into this kind of thing big-time, so the research will be pukka.

I'll be emailing you later, by the way. A couple of my colleagues are presenting today in London (on batteries). I'll get hold of it and whip it over to you.

Re: Winter boots
 

Boots shmoots :p

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Since moving out to the sticks I have used Muckboots:Muckboots

The OH and my girls have been using them for years at their various barns. I see that they come in steel toe capped too.

The only downside to them is that the sides of them tear relatively easily, so be careful around barbed wire.

Re: Winter boots
 

I have a pair of those, they're warm and, more importantly, the top clamps to your leg so water does run into them as it does with most wellies (if you're doing stuff with water and are clumsy).

Re: Winter boots
 

I agree.

The artic version appear to have soles that are very good in ice too. I haven't tried the "summer" version so I have no idea whether there is a difference between the summer and winter soles.

When using them on the tractor in winter, wearing a barbour type jacket too, for some reason, I have to refrain from telling everyone to, "Naff orf"

Re: Winter boots
 

Interesting read.

You want grip and waterproof.

I slipped on the ice a few years back on a downward slope doing some bruising and nerve damage to hand a wrist.

After research I found a good article on walking in icy conditions that said to focus your pressure on the balls of your feet. There is a tendency for people to try and tread carefully on their heals which is the worst thing you can do.

Re: Winter boots
 

I don't own any winter boots as they are not necessary here, but when I was in ON the boots I had were horrible. Slipping and sliding all over. So bad I wore runners most of the time as I slipped less.

No idea of the brand or type of boot though. Been too long to recall.

Re: Winter boots
 

And take shorter steps (the mid-winter mince).

I have learned (the hard way) to shorten my stride and not put too much weight on my heels.

Re: Winter boots
 

Over here in the UK Sorel winter boots have become a high-fashion item for some celebs according to The Times, and various glossy magazines.

Re: Winter boots
 

Sorel Boots Giveaway | CoolCanucks - Canadian Coupons, Contests, Deals and Freebies

I have a pair similar to these that I think I bought in 1994 soon after moving from Toronto to Ottawa. I now just wear them outside if it is about -20 c or colder and when I shovel the driveway in deep snow. Quite heavy to walk around in. They come with a detachable inner lining that you can order separately and I think I'm on my 2nd or 3rd of those.

The rest of the winter I usually wear Timberland hiking boots. Rarely wear anything else outside from about late November until early April.

My S-I-L from the outskirts of Hamilton is one of those true 905/416 Canadian winter deniers who wears running shoes most of the winter and then complains of cold feet. When she comes to Ottawa for a visit she can't believe the change in amount of snow and temps.

Slipping on the ice in running shoes that resulted in lots of physio and skidding in her car in the winter w/o snow tyres that caused lots of damage to the car didn't convince her of the need for real boots or tyres. Haven't even broached the dreaded BE topic of block heaters with her. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Winter boots
 

I have similar for deep snow. The Sorel boots were not rated well for ice, though.

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yeah i find you definitely need good ice boots as opposed to good snow boots. I'd prefer to walk in 6 inches of snow than any hint of ice

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Quite. When I go to the corner store I deliberately walk on snow (including front yards).

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I have a pair of Sorel boots but find they don't get much use because it's a bother to lace them up. The Muck boots are warm and easy to put on/take off and one really isn't going to go anywhere public in either anyway.

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I bought a pair about five years ago. They're still in the box. :rofl:

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I tend to do that too, although I am far more likely to walk in the road as the streets are quiet around here. There's one local route where I'll take a five minute detour to walk on the road surface rather than the canal or bobsleigh track that one particular sidewalk generally is. :ohmy:

But even walking in snow comes with risks what with it hiding ice or sometimes uneven ground causing you to go over on your ankle.

Of course most of us know this but it's useful for those looking in :nod:

Re: Winter boots
 

I used to have slip on ice grippers and cleats that I'd use in winter, best thing for those icy sidewalks. The only downside was that you had to remember to pop them off once you got into the mall or Tim's or where ever because then you'd end up skating along the tile floor.

Re: Winter boots
 

Son swears by his foad winter boots with retractable spike thingies in the soles... Unfortunately I can't remember the brand name.

My ancient Kamik snowmobile boots are warm (I've replaced the liners several times), keep my feet dry, but are useless on ice.

Re: Winter boots
 

I took delivery of my WindRiver Snow Leopard 111's yesterday. They look great but unfortunately are a size too small. I'm getting them exchanged tomorrow for a slightly larger size. That's what happens when you buy online.

I'm a size 9. The boots are not, even if they say they are.

The treads look brill and seem to be studded with shards of broken glass.

I probably won't wear them indoors. A pair of insulated cheese-graters!

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Looks like I'll finally get to use my snow boots this morning. :(

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When I heard the forecast for the coast, I was going to advise you to dig them out but you best me to it- you will need wellies so though in a day or so

Re: Winter boots
 

I've ordered some cheaper Marks boots "Canmore" or something similar. Don't need the -40C insulation in this part of the world and they appear to come with similar "tarantula" grips to the ones that did so well in the tests. My problem is having big feet in what appears to be a nation (or province) of hobbits. Nothing in stock that fitted so ordered online. Til they arrive, I'll be wearing my walmart insulated wellies when snowclearing!

Re: Winter boots
 

I'll be testing my tarantulas soon. I'm not liking the look of my driveway!

Re: Winter boots
 

I had a pair of boots I got from Zellers in 2005 for $35. They had pretty good grip but weren't waterproof. It was only a problem for thaws and unavoidable puddles deeper than an inch.

If it was likely to be like that I used to don a couple of those bags they put the newspapers/flyers in before putting them on.

Eventually they developed cracks in the soles and the action of walking sucked up water and slush and that was horrible. :(

But they're still okay for non wet conditions, like ice and crunchy snow.

For last winter I bought Mountain Ridge Explorer (which probably sounds better than they are:lol:) from Giant Tiger. The same $35.

They're as adequate as the first pair which I'm keeping in the event the new ones get wet and I have to go out before they have dried.

That never became necessary last winter, although we got off light then with half the usual snowfall.

If all else fails, there's another pair of boots that my stepson wears and I can send him out instead. :rofl:

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So long as you didn't order these by mistake...

http://funnyanimalpictures.funnypict...-Slippers-.jpg

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Quite chilly here today...fear not my son went to school in water shoes, a tee shirt and a hoodie :eek: Please could someone phone social services and have him taken away from me? Frost bite...is not "cool"!

I can't ever find anything that doesn't slip...if it's warm enough you don't slip...then it goes down to minus 11 - tonight - and it's a hard lump of super slippery rock...you stamp up and down and you still can't get purchase!

Re: Winter boots
 

One could make an argument for school uniform and a warm duffle coat.

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OK, What's up with this nation of weird footed people? My Marks Canmore boots arrived on Tuesday - pretty impressive as I only ordered them on Sunday - but at size 13 they were wide enough but too damn short. I returned them to my local Marks store today & tried the 14's (I'm a UK 11-12 but wide) which are fine for length but too wide at the heel. Ended up buying a windriver non super grippy sole boot instead. I shall be walking gingerly on the ice.

Re: Winter boots
 

This may help AX

Re: Winter boots
 

I just put my Wind River boots to the test (and it was a serious one).

Dog's danglies!

If you can slip in those, you have to be trying quite hard to (and thus deserve anything that happens to you).

I adore 'em!