You kept putting it off and putting it off. But winter weather has arrived in the Big Apple, and admit it: your feet are feelin' it.
It's time to invest in a good pair of boots that will keep your feet toasty warm and dry while navigating snow piles at the bus stop and chilly streetcorner puddles. Not to mention, they should be comfortable to support everyday pounding of the pavement and scaling multiple levels of subway staircases.
You've come to trust the opinions of our real-secretary reviewers, and we appreciate that. Three of our volunteers braved the recent wintry weather in footwear by Teva, Sorel, and Ulu, putting them to the test just for you. Here's their feedback:
The Aniso eVent by Teva: A Weatherproof Alternative to The Boot
Lori worked and shopped through weather that spit icy rain from the sky, through slippery snow-covered sidewalks and bitter cold in Teva's Aniso eVent shoes.
"I'm not really a boot person, so I was already excited when I saw these shoes," she told us. But was she disappointed with how they wore? No way! "I really felt like they were a protective cocoon around my feet without a boot against my ankles and legs, which I hate. They were substantial and warm and my feet stayed completely dry. Nothing got into these shoes." Must be the waterproof "eVent" membrane.
"But at the same time, they're so lightweight," Lori continued. "When you look at them, they look so sturdy and serious, you almost expect them to be heavy and clunky. I was totally shocked. They weigh almost nothing."
Did they keep her feet warm? "Oh, totally!" Lori confirmed. "Yeah. I was standing on cold pavement for a long time yesterday and I felt completely shielded."
Lori seemed impressed with the all-around comfort of Teva's Aniso eVent, too. "I feel springy in these shoes!" she laughed. "I know this will make me sound like a commercial, but these shoes actually make me feel like I want to walk!" Not surprising, since Teva's web site describes this shoe's encapsulated "Shoc Pad", molded sockliner with ortholite comfort technology, and high density shank for underfoot stability.
Lori was so sold on the Teva Aniso eVent, she said she planned to wear them every day from now on.
For a shoe-like, weatherproof alternative to boots, the Teva Aniso eVent sounds like a can't-lose way to spend your hard-earned money! They come in three colors (red, blue and olive) and sell for about $100. Get yours direct from Teva.
The Pakua by Sorel: Cute, But at What Cost?
When wintry weather hit last week, Erin gave the Pakua boot by Sorel a go. She immediately liked the appearance of this boot -- a sort of "urban Inuit" look. Round-toed; a sporty 6.5" shaft; shearling collar and lining; an adorable suede double-lace that wraps around the boot and holds a decorative shell button at the front.
She liked the feel of them immediately, too. "They felt luscious on my feet," she said. Probably the coziest things I've ever had on my feet. I never wanted to take them off. I could probably sleep in them."
They even held up nicely to cold, wet weather, with their 100% waterproof suede upper and natural rubber outsole. Erin reported that her feet stayed plenty warm and dry through rain, sleet and snow -- yep, we saw all three!
But on Day Three of Erin's trial, she was disappointed. "The boots have loops sewn on the back, so you can tug the boot over your heel. Well, I gave one of the boots a pull from the loop and the entire back center seam of the boot ripped right open. Now it's wide open in the back, and even though I can technically still wear it on my foot, it's not really secure, and it definitely lets the draft in, and probably snow or rain too, if I tried wearing it outside like that." She added sadly, "I really wanted to give these boots a good review, because they are so incredibly comfortable and really cute. But this is a pretty big flaw. You can't get around a major seam ripping open like that. I felt like if they were going to have loops there, you should reinforce it better. And you definitely need to use the loops to pull the boots over your foot, because I found the opening a little on the narrow side. Good for fitting close to your lower leg and keeping everything snug, but if you need to pull at the boots to get them on, you definitely need stronger construction."
If you like what you see in Sorel's Pakua, you can take your chances and hope for a better experience. You'll pay about $140 for these, but shop around on the web for the best price. The Pakua boot comes in "toast" (tan) and "stout" (brown). For more information, visit Sorel.
The Suluk Boot by Ulu: Lukky U!
Yda was our guinea pig with Ulu's "Suluk" boot -- and she couldn't be happier we asked. "I love these boots!" she gushed. "Love, love, love them! Best pair of boots I've worn in years."
Yda described the Suluk boot as "very high-quality". "You can see these aren't falling apart any time soon."
She also found them extraordinarily comfortable. "Luxurious boots, luxurious! They feel so good on your feet, I'm telling you. They're so soft in the bottom and along the opening (the collar). These are spa boots!" What Yda experienced was the Suluk's shearling and wool lining -- shearling-lined footbed, wool against the leg and a return to shearling at the collar.
How did she feel walking around in them? "Very comfortable. I didn't freeze my toes off." "They felt very supportive and well-made." "I have weak ankles and I felt secure in these boots. I had no pain later." She also added that Ulu's Suluk boots "weren't too heavy," thanks to the lightweight cork-infused molded midsole.
And when Yda wore the Ulu Suluk style, she looked darn cute, too. Take a look at this boot! It means business, but it means to be pretty about it. Embroidered floral tape creates loops for the laces, and repeats up the back center seam of the boot. There are also flowers stamped subtly into the waterproof suede upper. The Suluk has an 8" shaft, and a traction outsole of recycled rubber. A pair will set you back 155 well-spent dollars. Check out your color choices and find out where to shop at Ulu.
