HOW TO CHOOSE WINTER FOOTWEAR - how to choose shoes for a child, which boots to buy for the winter

Frost and slush do not forgive mistakes. Therefore, do not reach for the first shoe that looks at you. Take a closer look at five criteria for a quality winter shoe to begin with. And only then decide - to take or pass by.

How to choose warm winter shoes with a good inner insulation

Manufacturers offer boots and boots made of natural, printed wool and with artificial fur. What is the difference between heaters, see the table.

Spread the pile apart and look at the base to distinguish between real and printed fur.

1. Fabric stitches at the base indicate that the fur is printed.
2. Underneath natural is the flesh (whole base).
3. Faux fur squeaks under your fingers.

It is worth checking how easily the fur is pulled out. Grasp a piece of pile and pry up the boot. If it does, refuse the purchase.

How to choose good winter shoes based on upper material

Natural and artificial leather, natural and artificial suede and synthetics are used. Dutik boots are made from the latter. And here, when choosing winter shoes, trust the sensations more. As for me, it is warmer in suede boots than in leather ones. But suede quickly gets wet into slush and is poorly cleaned of dirt. Salts and reagents that are sprinkled on sidewalks literally corrode it and quickly spoil its appearance. Dutik keep warm. But when you go from the street to the room, your feet sweat in them.

Take a look at the top materials summary table before deciding which shoes to buy for the winter.

The wide flap (seal) under the zipper keeps cold out. And it does not "eat up" the fur of the lining. Otherwise, problems with unbuttoning and buttoning cannot be avoided.

Watch the video how to clean suede

How to choose the right winter shoes so you don't get wet

To boldly slap on the melting mess, take into account 3 details.

1. Seams: inserts in boots and boots get wet faster and tear more often. Solid material will last longer.
2. Height from sole before the start of the zipper should be at least 1 cm.
3. The strength of the material. Cracks form on the fragile, through which moisture penetrates. Check this way: bend the sole, bringing the toe closer to the heel, and release.

• If the crease is quickly smoothed out, the material is of good quality.
• It does not smooth out for a long time and is noticeable, cracks form quickly on this one.

Leakage resistance depends on the type of sole attachment.

• Lithium-glue - like poured. Such a sole is distinguished by the rim, which goes over the base of the shoe. It does not allow moisture to pass through.
• Glued, depending on the quality of gluing, sometimes gets wet. Check the quality around the perimeter of the boot - push and pull the material. If even the smallest leaves, it will get wet.
• Shoes with a stitched sole are more likely to pass water.

Watch the video life hack how to keep your boots from getting wet

How to choose non-slip winter shoes

Look at the protector (picture). Shoes with a shallow and one-way pattern are guaranteed to be slippery. With a large pattern, which is directed in different directions, it is more stable.

But the main parameter on which the ice resistance depends is the material of the sole. See the table for a non-slip sole.

Look for information on the composition of the sole on the tag or on the packaging of the shoes.

How to choose winter boots to hide leg imperfections

A well-chosen boot length slims the legs. Even if they are far from ideal. See for yourself.

If full of calves

Don't go for ugg boots or low boots. Especially if they have a blunt toe. Lace-up boots will do. It visually slims and allows the boot to open slightly - for comfort. And no one canceled the good old classics. You cannot walk in high heels, wear a stable heel or a comfortable wedge heel. Vertical elements on the boot extend the leg. The contrasting fur trim visually balances the caviar, the leg looks more elegant in such boots.

Emphasize your choice on three points:

1. comfortable heel. When the legs are raised, the calf is extended. They look slimmer visually;
2. wide boot does not fit. A palm should pass between the bootleg and the leg;
3. the boots end on the palm below the widest point of the calf. Due to this, they visually narrow the calves and slim them.

Combining shoes with clothes is not the last thing.

• Do not tuck jeans into boots. Choose straight or slightly flared so that they don't snuggle around your calf.
• The skirt should be straight or a-line.
• In black, dark gray or dark blue tights, legs look slimmer.

If short legs

Treads categorical: "No!" They visually shorten the legs. Moreover, the higher the bootleg and the lower the heel, the visually shorter the legs seem.

Boots with fur trim are also not your option. They divide the leg length into three parts:

1. up to boots;
2. then to the width of the trim: the wider and more contrasting it is, the shorter the legs seem;
3. and, finally, the boots themselves.

Choose a model with a comfortable wedge heel up to 6 cm high. Boots should be under the knee or on the palm below the knee - this way they visually lengthen the leg. These are versatile in combination with clothing.

• Looks good with jeans tucked in. And with tight dark leggings.
• The skirt should be no lower than the knee. Between her and the boots, 10 cm is optimal, no less.
• Dark tights visually lengthen the leg.

If crooked legs

Ankle boots with a wide and narrow shaft accentuate the unevenness of the legs. Take a tall model under the knee with a wide bootleg. It can be tucked with the fur outward. Thus, you will hide the unevenness of the legs.

• Such models are successfully combined with leggings and tight tights.
• Good with any skirts - trapezoidal, straight, pencil skirt. The main thing is that it should be just above the knee.
• It is better not to tuck jeans into boots, they indicate flaws.

How to check the stability of shoes with heels: 2 ways

- Place the boot on a flat surface. The heel should fit snugly against the table and be strictly perpendicular to the sole.

- Press on the toe of the boot, the heel will rise. The distance from the table should be no more than 1 cm.

What boots to buy for the winter

When choosing winter boots, look for outer materials. Nubuck and leather are good. Membrane fabrics Softshell, Gore-Tex, Comfortex - even better.

When the foot sweats inside the shoe, leather and nubuck wick away moisture mediocrely. In tracks with a membrane, the legs do not sweat. It's warmer in them. Well, if you put on thermal socks, modern materials in symbiosis give the desired effect: the leg is warm, dry and comfortable.

Winter boots should have more interior volume than off-season tracks or summer sneakers. With increased volume, the leg is looser and warmer than in tight shoes.

High-quality winter men's shoes have a thicker upper layer of insulation than the inner one. This will prevent the snow from getting inside. Pay attention to the insoles. In some shoe models, as many as two are used.

• One with a reflector. It is comfortable to wear in severe frosts, it communicates warmth.
• The other is multi-layered so that the leg does not sweat or freeze. It follows the contours of the foot, the leg does not crawl in it.

Additional inserts on the insole cushion pressure in areas of pressure. Antibacterial and removable insoles. We got our feet wet, took out the insoles, dried them and order.

Winter shoes should have a substantial sole height. The higher the leg is above the icy surface, the warmer it is. In winter shoes, the outsole should be softer so that the grip on slippery surfaces is reliable. A good sole flexes, does not crack or break in the cold.

How to choose shoes for a child

We often buy children's shoes one size larger. This is not entirely correct. Until the baby has learned to walk, it is tolerable. Does not walk, which means there is no load on the foot. But when the one-year-old has walked, the foot has to cushion. It is important to choose the right winter shoes. The first shoe forms the arch of the foot.

How to choose winter shoes for a child

• There should be a heel: for the smallest - 0.5 cm, for older children - 2-4 cm;
• The back fixes the foot. Make sure the heel is raised in relation to the toe. The weight of the body must move forward, so the spine is better formed.
• Winter shoes should be half a centimeter larger. A layer of air inside warms the leg. It's cold in tight shoes. Try on toe-toes that your child will be wearing.
• Zip models are better than zippers. Because the rise of children is different, it is not always possible to determine how it is more convenient. The clasps are adjusted and there is no discomfort. That won't work with lightning.
• The sole should be soft and supple. It's harder to cross on hard. This is bad for the arch of the foot. Flat feet will develop.
• Good shoes with synthetic thinsulate filler (artificial down). It is lightweight, warm, moisture resistant and hypoallergenic. Thinsulate was developed by NASA as a filler for astronaut suits. So feel free to buy shoes with such insulation. She passed the tests in icy space. And it won't let you down in our winters.

Watch the video life hack how to insulate your shoes