Patagonia Wintertide Boot

Patagonia's new Wintertide Boot is as good looking as it is warm.  Not only that, but the sole means business, these are boots you can walk in comfortably for a long time, perfect for winter travel and adventure.  They are lace-up boots, so you can customize the fit, but they are easy to get on and off.  You can lace them in such a way that you slip your foot in and out without having to fool with the laces.  They come in different colors, but I love the silvery gray furry fleece contrasted with jet black, which look fabulous with skinny jeans.

They're waterproof, and a recycled foot bed wicks away moisture to keep feet dry.  There is plenty of cushion in the recycled EVA Patagonia Air insole, and I think there's something to this, because for the warmth and comfort, there's not a ton of bulk.  Anyone looking for a lower profile winter boot would probably be very pleased with these.  The outer sole is recycled content too, this is Patagonia, they'll be as eco friendly as possible. 

Sizing for me ran short.  I'm a true 8.5, and normally get 9's in athletic footwear.  With these, I actually needed 10's, so you might want to go up a size to start.   These are awesome boots (and would make a killer holiday gift), find them HERE. 

Tweet

KEEN Akita Ankle Booties

This year KEEN moved in an wonderful new direction with wedge boots and booties.  The three new Akita style boots all give you a couple of extra inches of height and add some fashion to your look without compromising KEEN quality and comfort.  I'm so excited about the Akitas, I hope KEEN will carry on with offering options like these for those of us who refuse to wear uncomfortable (unbearable?) high heels but still want to be feminine and gain some height and sexiness.

The tall boots are fabulous, but sometimes it's too hot for a taller boot.  Enter the Akita Ankle Bootie.  They are so cute and dress up a pair of skinny jeans while still being super easy to walk in and almost as comfortable as one of their trail boots.  There is not a lot of ankle support but they still feel just fine to me.  With KEEN, you typically need to size up a half size.  My normal size is 8.5, so in KEENs I get 9's.  They're one of my favorite brands, the quality is excellent, and they keep coming up with wonderful designs. The Akitas would be a fun holiday gift, and if you bought them on Zappos, you'd still have plenty of time to get them before the 25th. 

Tweet

El Naturalista Yggdrasil Boots

Need something to make your spirits bright this holiday season?  How about a pair of eco friendly,  super comfy boots inspired by Nordic mythology?  El Naturalista is a brand that makes an art out of green footwear, making their shoes and boots as environmentally healthy as possible while infusing each pair with a beautiful backstory and great looks.

These Yggdrasils are derived from sacred Finnish legend unifying earth with universe and translates to Tree of Life.  The gods planted an ash tree with roots that went from the center of the universe and branches wrapping all around the earth. 

Reinforced stitching throughout, The "Frog Shock System" removable recycled insole combined with the cushy sole made from post industrial rubber waste is comfortable and gives you a little height.  There's a side zip as well as the cute buttons and they easily slip on and off.  The hide is naturally treated with river stones, not harsh chemicals,  Find them HERE.

Tweet

Keen Silverton Boots for Fall

Need some fabulous boots for Fall?  KEEN's new Silverton Boot is versatile and will take you right into winter.  The beefy Trailhead sole is fortified with KEEN WARM technology which uses charcoal bamboo to insulate and create antimicrobial protection.  They're waterproof and will get you through a variety of weather, including the earlier, warmer part of Autumn without feeling too hot.

They're tall, but not too tall.  On me, they fall a couple of inches below the knee, providing extra warmth and looking great with skirts and dresses.  You can walk all day in these, they would be great for travel for that reason.   I'm thinking Germany in the late Fall, early Winter, where everyone keeps warm but looks oh so fashionable and you walk everywhere.  They're high performance with a blend of high fashion.  Wear them with skinny jeans by day, and a cute black dress at night.

Do size up with these.  Normally I take an 8.5 in shoes, 9's in Keens and with this boot, I needed a 9.5.  They come in black and a yummy java brown.  Why do I love KEEN so much?  Because I can't seem to wear out their shoes!  They last years and years.  Even my six year old who is a rough and tumble kid that's very active and hard on his shoes can't seem to wear them out before he grows out of them.  That's great value and less waste.  KEEN is also heavily involved in environmental initiatives.  Great company, great value and great style!  Find them HERE.

Tweet

KEEN ALASKA BOOT (Still Available for Christmas!)

Need an awesome last minute gift?  It doesn't get much more last minute than this for online shopping--Zappos.  You can still get it by Christmas Eve if you order today by 1:00.  How about a pair of cozy winter boots?

KEEN is one of my favorite shoe companies, I love that they use recycled materials, that they are socially and environmentally conscious and that they make good looking quality footwear that lasts.  I'm not a person with a closet full of shoes, in fact I pretty much have just one pair for each type of weather/activity and that's it.  Keen suits my minimalist approach and a good third of my shoes are Keen.  I've had a pair of their boots for about seven years that I've put mega mileage on and they are not even half way through their life span.  This is one of the things I look for in footwear--longevity.  Yes I want my shoes to look cute, but they have to function.  They have to be super comfortable because I walk so much, and the tread has to last.

I don't know what is going on with me this winter but I just can't seem to get warm.  My feet especially, they're freezing, even with double layers of socks.  It is a colder season than usual, and supposedly it's going to get much colder with La Nina.  I say bring it on, I love cold weather and I love the snow, as long as I have the right gear.  Enter the KEEN Alaska Boot.

These Alaska boots are both cool looking and functional in the cold.  You don't need that peripheral pair of "snow boots" that you take off once you get out of the cold and switch into your more fashionable boots.   These may not be everyone's idea of fashion, but they look super cute with skinny jeans and they are not too hot to wear indoors.

They felt a little stiff at first, but they softened up after wearing them in the house for short break-in period.  They have great traction for snow and are easy to get on and off with that toggle and loops to hang on to.  Keens tend to run a half size small, so order up.   Give a functional gift that will keep your loved one warm, or treat yourself!  Find them HERE.

*note to my vegan readers:  While I am not a full on vegan, I try to always choose the most animal friendly option.  I am consistently torn as to which is the more eco and less cruel choice in terms of my shoes.  Are a pair of vegan boots (which--I've yet to find a functional pair for winter purposes) that are made with non biodegradable often toxic materials that are not eco friendly and are made with the industrial destruction of wildlife any better than a pair made with leather which is an animal byproduct.  For me right now, one pair of leather boots, particularly from a company like Keen or Patagonia which does so much environmental work is preferable to several pairs of vegan boots that didn't work out.

Tweet