The first frost of the year sets off an alarm in the minds of parents everywhere: Time to make sure the kids are geared up for snow-day fun! And since little feet seem to grow right before our eyes, kids usually need a new pair of cozy, warm boots to keep their toes toasty for the next few months.
Every climate and family has different needs for winter boot features and warmth—from just-enough insulation for milder winters and around-town activities to hardcore protection for a season of sledding and slopeside snowball fights.
As you navigate the selection of kids’ snow boots out there, here are a few things to keep in mind as you make your pick:
Watching kids bound through the snow in all their puffy layers is a smile-inducing sight for sure. It can be hard for their little legs to move, so kids need all the extra mobility they can get! Look for boots that are lightweight and provide good insulation without a lot of added bulk.
What do windchill factors look like where you live? The temperature rating on boots can help you decide how much insulation you need—each rating corresponds to the amount of insulation that’s been added to keep feet warm down to a certain temperature. For example, boots with 100 grams of KEEN.WARM insulation have a temperature rating of -4°F whereas those with 400 grams of KEEN.WARM are rated to -40°F. Most kids’ boots are somewhere in the middle at around -25°F, so you can decide if you need a little more or a little less.
Surfaces are slick and, as noted above, they aren’t easy to navigate when you resemble a puffy marshmallow. Lugs work like winter tires to dig in and connect with the terrain. Rubber compounds that are designed to keep their flexibility and grip in cold temps, such as our KEEN.FREEZE rubber, help outsoles work even harder.
A waterproof boot is a pretty key thing for any-weather comfort. Water resistance might be all you need in pure powder, but slush and cold rain are just a few degrees away. Besides, slush puddles are so tempting!
Snow days go a whole lot smoother without the “snow boot struggle.” Kids are a lot happier to bundle up when it’s hassle-free, too. Boots that open on the top—with bungee laces and/or hook-and-loop strap—are much easier to get in and out of.
It’s hard for the KEEN Kids’ team to pick favorites, but two kids' winter boot styles that we think will meet the needs of most families are the ultra warm and flexy Snow Troll boot (400g of insulation), and the super-versatile Kanibou boot (200g of insulation).
Have fun out there, and be sure to share your adventures with us by tagging #KEENkids on Instagram and follow @keen.kids to get inspired to get outside with your family!
