“Hello, I’m looking for a winter boot for my child,” is one of the phrases we hear most often at Piétine 🙂
It's quite normal, as parents, we all want our children to have warm and dry feet! Did you know that we lose 30% of our heat through our feet? Here are some tips for choosing the right winter boots for your child.
1-Light
The winter boot should be very light. Especially for toddlers who are starting to walk. The lighter the boot, the easier it will be for them to move around. In the store, observe your child when he tries on winter boots. Does he walk normally or does he let his feet drag on the ground? Don't hesitate to try several brands.
Our German winter boots Ricosta and our Finnish boots Kuoma are extremely light. They are also very popular with our customers! The beautiful Italian boots Olang offer good value for money.
2- Flexible
Children's winter boots should be very flexible. In the store, do not hesitate to twist them. The more flexible the boot, the more it will adapt to your child's foot. And the child will move more easily. This criterion is particularly important for the first steps. Our Ricosta winter boots are known for being extremely flexible.
3- Robust sole
Some parents feel that a thick sole will hinder their child's movement. However, the boot must have a good sole to keep it away from the cold ground.
4- Good insulation
To keep warm, it is essential that the boot is well insulated. Especially for little ones who don't move around a lot. Rubber soles generally insulate the feet well. But be careful, a boot that is too insulated will not be breathable enough.
5- Breathable
It is important that the winter boot is breathable. Does your child run and play outside with a boot that is too insulating but not breathable enough? When sweating, moisture will accumulate in his feet. Result: his socks and little feet will be wet. So the child will quickly get cold! The advantage of a breathable boot? It absorbs and wicks away moisture. Boots with a membrane will keep the feet dry. Winter boots Kuoma And Ricosta are particularly breathable.
6- The right size
As a general rule, winter boots should be one size larger than your child's shoe size. But some brands are made wide, others narrow, so it's best to try on the boots in store and choose the right size accordingly. Several parents have told us that they bought winter boots elsewhere and were unpleasantly surprised to find that they no longer fit their child when the snow came! Be careful not to buy them too big either, which will be detrimental to your child's comfort. At Piétine, we want you to get value for your money, we take the time to advise you so that the boot purchased from us can be worn all winter long.
7- Easy to put on
At daycare or school, we prefer boots that are easy to put on and take off. Like our Finnish Kuoma boots, of the type pull on. Super easy to put on! Our other winter boots are also easy to wear.
8- Temperature indices
Temperature ratings give a good idea of the effectiveness of winter boots. But be careful, check your children's feet regularly: are they wet? Cold? Because few children will complain about having cold feet. And we want to avoid frostbite at all costs!
9- Water resistant
With the fluctuation of temperature, snow boots must be water-resistant. All our winter boots are water-resistant or waterproof and waterproof. When a boot is very waterproof, you have to make sure that it is also breathable. But be careful, a winter boot, even waterproof, is not a rain boot! We talked about it in the magazine Protégez-Vous which asked for our advice to better equip parents on the subject. During the thaw in winter, many parents swap their winter boot for our Aigle rain boots lined with fur . They are perfect when the snow turns to water and it is zero degrees Celsius.
10- A high boot
Especially for older people, it is better to choose a boot high enough to prevent snow from getting into the boot.
Extra: socks
Socks are almost as important as boots! Yes, yes! Avoid putting cotton socks on your child, which absorb and retain moisture. If the child sweats, the sock will get wet and the child will quickly get cold feet. It doesn't matter what type of boot. Opt for a synthetic sock made of polyester. Or better yet, merino wool socks, like our Smartwool socks.
This thin natural fiber keeps heat, absorbs and wicks away moisture. Don't hesitate to take a second pair of socks with you for a change, if you notice that your child has wet feet.
Do you have any questions? We will be happy to advise you! Come see our large selection of quality in store.
And above all, enjoy the first snowflakes!!