Versatile Boots That Work For Winter
We live near the snow belt and visit relatives who are deep in the snow belt (yeah, there was a light joke there). I have a pair of heavy, thick Cabela boots that I've been using for 8 years, but they tire out my feet after a few miles of walking (I have to do a lot of walking, regardless of the weather), which is because I'm used to Vibram Five Fingers (which I run in and when it's not snowing I walk in, too) and soft, flexible soles. I've noticed, too, that for the past two years my heel has been splitting because of the Cabela boots causing heel-striking, since the heel is so weighed down and the boot isn't incredibly flexible (warm, but not comfortable). I decided that since my wife and eldest son (teenager) both have shoe sizes that are close to mine (I'm 41M, my wife is 41W, and my son is 40M at the moment), that if I got these and they didn't work for me, they could give them a go.First, let me go over what these are _not_. These are not Five Fingers -- you should buy socks and (obviously) the toes aren't in separate pockets. They also aren't the kind of boot that you can step into 5 or 6 inches of water and come out with dry feet. They also aren't the kind of boot that you can wear light socks with and then just sit or stand for hours -- if you aren't moving a lot, wear good socks if it's cold out or you might get cold feet. They also aren't great on _ice_ (but I've found most boots to be terrible on ice).These boots _are_ considerably more comfortable for a lot of walking than big winter boots. The soles are flexible, your feet, if conditioned for barefoot and minimalist running will love these over hard-soled boots and won't get tired or hurt. I've read that in the first model, of which this is not, there were issues with the velcro. This particular version has significantly more than the original and I haven't had any problems with it, nor have my wife and son. They work well in snow and there is sufficient room for comfortable, warm socks. Because they are neoprene, snow that melts won't soak the boot, but the design means that you're not going to want to step in big puddles because if the water goes above the sole, it can get inbetween the "wrap". This isn't a problem for us, but I figure that people should know, in case they are used to the many inches that the heavy-duty Cabela winter boots would give you. The high cut lets you tuck many snowpants into the boot for a snug, snow-proof fit, so deep snow isn't getting into the boot.I will add that I was afraid of the hard heel cup at first, but have found it to not bother any of the three of us (we share the boots while I save up for a few more pairs). Do be aware, though, there there is a hard "cup" at the heel, so that might bother some people. Also, people who have poor blood flow to the feet might want really nice socks -- there isn't much insulation, which keeps them light and flexible, but also means that if you're standing around or your feet get cold easily, you will want to "bring your own" (this, by the way, is a plus to me because it makes the boots more versatile -- you can wear them in the rain if you don't decide to go in deep puddles, wear them in snow, etc, adjusting the socks to fit the weather). The price is a bit much, but they are really nice boots.