subject: What to Wear on Your Feet in Icy or Snowy Weather [print this page] What to Wear on Your Feet in Icy or Snowy Weather
What to wear on your feet in icy or snowy weather
With the crazy, arctic weather we are having at the moment it can be difficult to know what kind of footwear is most sensible to wear. In a country such as the UK where it only rarely snows, we are not generally geared up for snowy weather. Snow boots are either not readily available on the high street or we feel that they are not worth investing in to wear only two or three times in an average year.
As soon as it starts to snow many people reach for their wellies. Although they are waterproof, which is definitely a plus point, they are not necessarily the best choice of footwear for icy or snowy weather. Firstly, they will not keep your feet warm enough. Those who do not wish to lose their toes to frostbite buy them a size or two larger than they would take in normal shoes and wear a couple of pairs of thick socks. This leads us to the second problem associated with wellies: they are not sturdy enough. Wearing any kind of footwear a size too big will undoubtedly feel strange. You may not feel as sure in your footing and become unbalanced. If you happen to slip the flexible, rubber material from which wellies are made will not support you feet and ankles in any way. You may fall over and even twist your ankle.
Other people rely on their ugg boots to wear in wintry conditions. The sheepskin will definitely keep your feet warm and toasty and is a lot sturdier and more supportive than rubber. However, although sheepskin boots are treated to be water and stain repellent, I would not recommend wearing them in snowy or sludgy conditions. After enough exposure water may still seep through and dirty sludge may stain your sheepskin boots. Furthermore, many styles of ugg boots do not have particularly thick soles. For wear in icy weather you need to ensure that you pick a style, such as those by Wombat Leather, which have a durable sole with a thick tread. These will have a lot more grip on icy surfaces, helping you stay upright and injury-free!
In my opinion the best alternative to snow boots would be a pair of low-heeled leather boots with a thick tread on the sole. These will be warm and waterproof and have a good grip. However, if your leather boots do not have a particularly good tread or have become worn over time, a great solution is to use Anti-Slip traction aids. These slip over your shoes and have metal spikes on the ball and on the heel of the foot which lock into the ice or snow as you walk.
