Robot Journal : Das Boot: My Boot Debacle of 2011

1/27/2011

Knocking Boots
You may have heard on “TV news” that there was a huge snowstorm here in the BigStink right after Christmas. We missed the actual falling of the snow, but did get to deal with the 400-foot high snow drifts and carrying luggage through it portion.
It got me thinking.

“I don’t have any snow boots”

How did that happen? I’ve always had snow boots. People may be surpised to hear that while growing up in the mountains of NC, we had a good bit of snow every year. More than we have in NYC usually. I always had snow boots and proper snow gear and spent many hours barreling down hills on orange plastic sleds.
I move to NYC and for some reason I give up on snow gear. Little by little I abandon the long underwear and glove liners and funny hats and polar bear spray (not to repel polar bears, but to clean the polar bear you already have). Here in Nueva York, you need snow gear for like... one day. And then it gets all scraped and salted and gone (unless you live in some crazy corner of the city) except of course then you have slush, but there isn’t a lot of slush-specific gear out there.

But, after this big storm, I’m like, “I need some sort of boot or shoe because this slush stuff is lasting way too long”. Because I’m a weirdo introvert who hides in his apartment, I didn’t go out and buy boots, but ordered them on the internet-tube; probably why it was a bit of a debacle.

BOOT NUMERO UNO

Sorel 1964 Premium™ T CVS
This was my first boot purchase. Post-SnowApocalypse, it was difficult to get boots online as they were all out of stock. I found a vendor on Amazon that had them.
These boots look really really cool. In the photos. In real life, they lose something. It all looks a little fake-y. My issues (apart from not really able to get the size correct) was that they are huge. I mean, they are proper snow boots, so you expect them to big. I just felt like Jane Fonda in the movie with the big furry boots when I wore them.

BOOT NUMERO DOS

L.L. Bean Waxed Canvas Maine Hunting Shoe
Once again, there probably isn’t anything really wrong with the boot, but more with my feet/legs or something. These things fit real crazy. Super wide, but most annoying was the fact I almost pulled a muscle everytime I put them on or took them off. I’d have to basically unlace them to get them on/off and even then it wasn’t super smooth.
So, you are thinking, “Well, it’s obvious, he has huge calves”. But, I don’t. When I laced them up, it was like I had skeleton legs.
I think you are supposed to wear huge (like 15 pairs) socks with them.

BOOT NUMERO TRES

TRETORN Strala Vinter
First, yes, these aren’t boots. But they may be the coolest looking boot-esque things you can buy. I mean, look at those green bottoms! I ordered these from Piperlime because I had a Gap gift-certificate given to me at Christmas (you know, because I’m still in college (ha! I kid!)) and they arrived a bit pre-worn. The bottoms, which are bright green, had obviously already been worn on a surface that wasn’t carpet.
Honestly, these are kind of cheap shoes. They are supposed to be waterproof (not sure I believe that as the construction is sloppy). They feel a bit wonky when you walk. It feels like you have something stuck to the bottom of the shoe and you foot is never flat. They are cheap.
That said, they have a cozy lining (although it kind of fuzzes out) and all the ladies in my office thought they were cool looking. I’m keeping them.

BOOT NUMERO CUATRO

Hunter Original Short Boot
You’re asking yourself, “Dude. Those are *NOT* snow boots!”
True. They are not snow boots. I’ve realized that the most important aspect of a winter boot is not necessarily warmth or treads or whatnot, but being completely waterproof since we have weeks of slush after a snow storm.
These boots are not warm, but they keep your feet dry. I’ll just wear thick socks with them.
I think this will be the final boot purchase. For now.
(See, I set myself up for a sequel)

Speaking of Snow
Last night's THUNDER-SNOW storm gave us some real pretty snow.

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