Now’s the Time to Snag These Handmade Snow Boots

I had never met a piece of New England Americana until a few years ago. The kind of item that identifies so strongly with a region that its devotees verge on sports-team levels of fandom is the kind of item. I'm talking about the L.L. Bean Duck Boot, which has either love-'em or hate-'em looks.

They've been a staple of New England style for a long time, but you don't have to live in a Northern Appalachian wasteland to appreciate a good city boot. It is possible to find a pair since L.L. Bean still makes them.

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It is the best of both worlds.

When you first see them, you might think of a boot scientist sewing together two different types of boots in a lab. The top half of the boot looks like a normal boot until you see the laces. The boot is made of rubber Three lines of white stitching bind them to the leather uppers, and then below those, there is another piece of rubber, light tan and with a basket-weave pattern. What is happening?

The lower parts of a rubber boot and the upper parts of a leather boot can be combined. They are less prone to leaks than an all-leather shoe because they are not as sweaty inside. The laces on the leather upper give the wearer more flexibility.

If you are walking through more than a foot of snow, what should you do? I've done this many times and the water hasn't come in. The flat part over the toes and the edges of the boots are protected the most from snow. I keep my feet dry with the rubber lower on the bean boots. The basket-weave soles hug the pavement as close to a bear as possible. These are boots for snow days even though they might wear down quicker on dry pavement.

It's all-day comfort.

The classic 8-inch, non-insulated version of the Bean Boot is still affordable at $149. There are many different types of Bean boots for sale, ranging in height, insulation, color, and Gore-Tex lining. My recommendation is to wear thick wool socks when you need to keep warm. You can swap in a pair of L.L. Bean's shearling insoles if you need more warmth.