Monday 10 March 2014

Not all boots are the same!

***This is not a sponsored post***

I have learned that cheap is not necessarily good & there are some things I won't compromise on - coffee being the main one, I refuse to buy cheap coffee believing that you really do get what you pay for. 
Now 4 years ago we invested in good quality snow boots from Cotton Traders, my assistant & I wear them 5 days a week, 10 months a year & these proved to be comfortable, warm & completely waterproof. Even on the iciest of mornings these boots proved effective & has fantastic treads & I wore them in heavy snow when visiting Iceland. I think because we tend to be kneeling down a lot helping children in & out of wellies/shoes & rain gear, eventually both of our boots split across the top. 
I went in search of them again but they had increased a lot in price so I decided to try a cheaper alternative - wrong idea!


Pair 1 - not waterproof at all!
The first pair I bought proved to not be truly waterproof, on the first really wet morning as I stood in a puddle I could feel my feet getting wetter & wetter. Then I ordered another pair that looked exactly like the Cotton Traders ones but of course they weren't the same.
Pair 2 - the incredible sock eating boots!
First off the Cotton Trader boots are generously sized to allow for extra socks & they have a velcro tab on the ankle to keep the boots secure. The cheaper pair I ordered were too tight to allow a warm pair of socks to be worn but more importantly because they had no fastening at the top these boots ate my socks!!
Pair 3 - warm & comfortable with a good tread..
So I finally accepted that I should have known better & just bought the good ones that I knew work for everyday use in the first place. Luckily by now, Spring had arrived & they were reduced. But I have learned my lesson, when these ones wear out I will go straight to Cotton Traders to replace them, no faffing about with cheaper alternatives!

6 comments:

  1. I'm like you. In the wet and cold here, I have learned the hard way. I also need extra room for bigger socks...it just makes sense.
    It's easier for me to have this thinking when it comes to me and hubby (cause we're adults), but sometimes, I still get it wrong where the kids are concerned. I figure they're going to outgrow this or that...I'm learning though.

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    1. It is so much harder to justify big costs with children as you say knowing they will outgrow them but as you say you do learn as time goes by. Thanks for leaving a comment.

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  2. Buying good gear in the first place has been a hard lesson for me to learn as well. My husband has been really encouraging. We end up spending less money in the long run.

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    1. Exactly Mae, sometimes we need to remember that the initial cost will pan out in the end.

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  3. Good boots are a must! I just bought a pair of Bogs and love them! They're tall, warm and 100 percent waterproof (at least so far). And no, I'm not sponsored by them, just really happy I've found a brand I like:o)

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    1. Oh would love some Boggs, very jealous!

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