When it comes to getting your little ones ready to outwit the winter weather, it can be hard to know what to put on their feet. Whilst the humble welly boot has remained a firm rainy day favourite for decades, more recently buying kids' snow boots has become a popular option when winter temperatures kick in. But which do you go for? We’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you decide before you head out into the cold.
Kids Snow Boots
The cosy alpine snow boot has exploded in popularity over the past ten years due to its insulating qualities and increasing affordability. So what makes these boots so effective?
The best thing about snow boots is how warm they keep your child’s feet, no matter the temperature. Fully insulated and with excellent grip, snow boots allow your children to maximise their time in the snow. Even if you haven’t had a full-blown visit from Jack Frost just yet, snow boots offer excellent protection from frozen ground and pavements due to their excellent grip and sturdy design. The extra traction might just come in handy on the walk down to nursery or school, especially if your car can’t make it down the drive!
When it comes to warmth and insulation, then snow boots are the real winner. Wellies might be waterproof, but they’re not known for being warm. Walking through snow with wellies on makes it all too easy for the cold to transmit through the boot to your kids’ toes - a very quick way to spoil the fun.
Great snow boots for kids:
The Reima Loskari kids snow boots are both warm and stylish. These boots are designed to keep small feet warm and dry in the coldest conditions.
Fully insulated, fleece lined, great sole grips, water-resistant on the upper fabric section and fully waterproof over the beige and black rubberised foot section.
To help you get check the fit of the snow boots Reima have added sizing guidance to the removable insoles inside the boots.
Great snow boots for toddlers:
Having snow boots that your toddler can flex and run around in is probably more important than the overall temperature rating of a boot. If the boot sole is very thick and stiff they are unlikely to be moving around much and therefore will probably get colder feet than when wearing a lighter and more flexible pair of snow boots.
The Manbi Boing snow boots are a great option for toddlers and young children. As well as being warm with a lovely thick fleece lining these boots are lightweight with a flexible sole.
Kids Wellies
If your child is going to be jumping in muddy puddles this winter rather than making snow men then warm wellies are a good option. Ideal for a rainy days and muddy walks that epitomise UK winters, wellies keep the water and mud out and are easy to wipe clean.
Are wellies good for snow?
When you are thinking about wellies for winter conditions it is worth remembering that not all wellies offer the same warmth. Wellies made of neoprene are the warmest closely followed by boots made from natural rubber... cheap plastic wellies with thin soles are fine for spring and summer but will be very cold to wear in the winter!
If you want to make a pair of summer weight wellies warmer to wear in the winter then consider adding an extra insole inside the boot (if you have room) and wearing a thick pair of wool socks.
Great neoprene wellies for kids:
Neoprene wellies won't be quite as warm to wear as some snow boots but they are still very warm and are waterproof right to the top of the boot.
The Grubs Icicle Kids Wellies are fully lined with neoprene making a warm, flexible and sturdy waterproof boot.
Great lined wellies for kids:
Lined wellies are more affordable than neoprene, and much warmer than standard wellies. Team them with a good pair of socks and your kids should be good to go, all winter long. If they are a bit roomy to start with, consider adding an extra insole to get more wear out of them.
The Didriksons Kids Slush Wellies are fully fleece lined and made from natural rubber.
Great warm wellies for toddlers:
Choosing wellies for toddlers to wear in the winter months is similar to snow boots in that you want a pair of wellies that are both lightweight and flexible. The weight of a pair of wellies can make a real difference to how comfortable they are to wear. Wellies will have a relaxed fit so you want them to move with your child's feet and not slop around and drop off their heels.
The Reima Toddler Amfibi wellies are made from a very lightweight material and although the boots are not "insulated" (there is no lining), they are still surprisingly warm to wear.
So now you know a little bit more information before you choose you child’s winter boots, what will you be buying for their feet this winter? Given that here in the UK you could easily face up to five months of chilly winter weather, especially in more northern regions, it really does pay off to invest in some sensible snow boots or wellies for your little ones.