When the light autumn cool smoothly turns into real winter cold, it is very important to change light shoes to warmer shoes in time. This will save you from seasonal colds. For the stronger sex, in most cases, high-quality men's shoes are more suitable. Winter types of shoes can be different, but boots or ugg boots are not always appropriate, and if you also have to follow the office dress code, the problem is exacerbated. I would like to combine quality, aesthetic appearance, and not overpay for such an acquisition, but for this it is advisable to carefully understand this issue.
Durability of winter shoes
The problem with modern shoes is annoying impracticality, and it’s very annoying when quite decent men's shoes fall apart in a couple of months. Winter models, which are offered in markets and in cheap stores, rarely reach the spring, and in especially neglected cases, socks begin to pass water in a couple of weeks even in relatively prosperous urban conditions.
Even cheap boots designed for one season should stay in an acceptable condition from the onset of cold weather to spring heat, but in practice this is extremely rare. It turns out that it is more profitable to purchase high-quality shoes that will last more than one season, ideally at least two to three years. Since men's shoes are less susceptible to fashionable changes, there is hardly any loss from the aesthetic side.
What shoes are needed in a winter city?
The modern metropolis is a rather conflicting environment. On the one hand, there are asphalt roads around, on the other, the sidewalk can quickly and unobtrusively turn into impassable dirt, and a mixture of sand and anti-icing reagents in a record time makes shoes unusable. So what should men's winter boots be to reliably protect your feet from cold and moisture, and at the same time to ensure that their quality matches the declared price?
On average, shoes should be comfortable and warm enough so that the wearer can spend several hours outdoors at a temperature of about 20 degrees below zero without damage to health and well-being. Trying will be the starting criterion for selection, and if the shoes are even tight, the legs in them will freeze. Therefore, you need to try on winter shoes on a warm toe, while there should be the ability to move your fingers freely.
What parameters are used to evaluate high-quality winter boots?
You need to evaluate everything, and first of all it is important to know the classification. Men's winter boots are high enough shoes that should reach the start of the ankle. The so-called low shoes open the ankle joint and are suitable for relatively dry and not too frosty weather.
High-quality genuine leather outperforms all types of synthetics, calfskin is better than pigskin, and extruded belongs to the lowest grade among natural materials. An insulated lining is also highly desirable - fur or high-tech synthetics, which are sometimes more expensive. According to this description, you can make brief characteristics, according to which high-quality winter boots for men - genuine leather, natural fur. And do not forget about the material and structure of the sole.
The best is the corrugated “tractor” sole in winter, which provides reliable traction even with slippery sidewalks covered with snow. In this case, the protrusions of the sole should be large enough, with deep and wide grooves between them. Leather thin sole is suitable only for movement in a car, a maximum of a few steps along the sidewalk from the car to the office door.
You also need to evaluate the strength of the seams, the number of parts, the quality of mounting of the sole. There are no trifles in this matter.
Types of leather and other materials for winter boots
As already mentioned above, high-quality winter boots for men - genuine leather, natural fur, plus semi-rigid tractor outsole. Leatherette shoes may look good, but it’s little suitable even for greenhouse conditions.
Calfskin is the most expensive, but at the same time one of the most wear-resistant options. Thick enough leather is used for winter boots, which is additionally processed for increased water resistance and resistance to surface damage. Pig skin is less practical, but it can last an average of three to four seasons, especially with proper care.
A special issue is elegant suede boots. As a rule, they look great, are pleasant to wear, but in a wet city in winter they quickly lose their decent appearance. Cleaning salt stains and dirt from suede is much more difficult. However, this is not a reason to refuse to buy, it is just advisable to leave suede boots for clear, dry cold days.
Outsole Material and Structure
On expensive and elegant boots there may be a leather sole, but it is suitable only for offices and well-groomed alleys. Sticking prevention will not solve the problem. Rubber or polyurethane soles are suitable for good wear-resistant shoes, but different manufacturers use very different materials for this. Low-quality polyurethane in the frost becomes hard and can burst at a certain load. However, serious firms use better raw materials.
The sole is fixed by vulcanization. This is one of the best options. ECCO shoes are made in this way. If conventional firmware is used, then you will have to additionally process the boots to increase moisture resistance, but not the fact that the result will suit you.
The best results are shown by a structured sole from brands such as Vibram. This company produces sports and semi-sports shoes, including for long pedestrian crossings. The service life of branded shoes can easily exceed ten years.
Which lining to choose?
Any faux fur can immediately be considered a decorative application designed to mislead the buyer. He warms up very relatively, quickly falls off, wipes and "grows thin". If we choose synthetic insulation, let it be a special structured material that is used in branded sports shoes. It reliably isolates from moisture, while leaving the opportunity for microcirculation of air.
Good winter boots with fur are made of leather with a lining made of natural sheepskin. This is a fairly dense and warm fur, with time it slightly falls over the insole, forming something similar to felt, which has adopted the individual characteristics of the foot. But rabbit or hare fur, despite all its naturalness, can be considered a waste of money. Such a heater "bald" in a matter of weeks.
Shoelaces or other kinds of fasteners?
There can hardly be any disagreement here: the zipper on classic men's shoes is inappropriate, as are Velcro or puffs. Options are possible only on the appropriate sports or hiking shoes, and then in combination with reliable laces. For example, Adidas winter boots for men are high-quality and comfortable shoes, but it doesn’t combine with an official suit at all.
Choosing shoes for the price
In the lower price segment there is a market, cheap shops and partly chains like “Centroobuv”. The determining criterion when such budget winter boots are purchased is price. Male models of 2000 rubles can not be worn for a long time by definition, but if you are lucky, they will reach the middle of winter. Of course, we are talking about daily wear in different conditions, including bad weather.
Practicality leaders
Thanks to modern materials and the latest techniques for making shoes, the visual differences between the types of shoes can be erased. For example, men's winter sports shoes can look quite modest and concise, almost within the office dress code, but at the same time they retain a high degree of practicality. For everyday wear with a semi-official suit, such shoes fit almost perfectly.
According to customer reviews, of the three companies represented in our market, the three companies - Columbia, Garmont and Merell - hold leadership. Three to five seasons, such shoes withstand very well, regularly enough to care for them. They are followed by the brands Caterpiller, Salomon and Ecco. The products of all the listed companies use Vibram, GTX, Gore-tex or Sympatex technologies that have already been tested by consumers, not only in urban conditions, but also in long crossings of moderate severity over rough terrain.
When choosing winter boots, it is better to pay attention to the products of reputable companies that rely on quality and their own reputation, and not on short-term quick profits.