When the winter wind bites but you’re keen to embrace the crisp, sunlit outdoors, choosing the right jackets and boots becomes crucial to ensure you stay snug and comfortably warm. We have a few ideas to keep you getting out and about until spring — and looking stylish every step of the way.
The proper footwear is vital if the footpaths are wet or icy. Toms is well known for having a fabulous range of light summer shoes, but its winter range is impeccable, too. Chatham has over 30 years of shoe-making expertise, inspired by its nautical roots and country life, so it knows a thing or two about adverse conditions. We checked out a new offering from the men’s and women’s ranges of each and were not disappointed.
TOMS Palomar Men’s Boots
£150
The Palomar Boot has, according to Toms, been inspired by hiking boots, and looking at the style that does become evident. What Toms has done, though, is refine the aesthetic so that rather than looking functional, it looks simultaneously stylish and sturdy. The leather and suede uppers are also weather-resistant, making these an excellent winter boot choice, as you won’t be worried about whatever weather the season throws at you.
The Palomar boot has a padded collar around the ankle and is well-lined, ensuring warmth and comfort and protecting the ankles from possible slips and slides in the depths of an icy winter.
The chunky rubber sole has excellent grip — another mark of the hiking boot inspiration — with deep treads to ensure your feet stay firmly planted on the ground. A word of warning, though — if you end up off the beaten track and it’s muddy, be sure to take your boots off at the door once you get home, or you’ll be shedding mud as it dries out.
The Palomar is an excellent choice of boot, which will keep you warm, dry and comfortable while looking great.
TOMS Dakota Women’s Boots
£115 (currently reduced to £90)
In the women’s range, the Dakota Boot is one of our favourites for the winter season. With classic Chelsea boot styling and stitching details, they somehow look both elegant and sleek and rugged and chunky at the same time!
The thick sole adds comfort, cushioning, and grip, with rubber lugs that create lots of traction, keeping you on the right track all winter and beyond. The water-resistant leather upper means your feet will stay dry, and the built-in shaped insole keeps you comfortable and insulated. If you want your feet to be extra cosy, a faux fur-lined option is also available.
The stretch side panels and front and back tabs make them easy to pull on and off, but they are a little tight initially. They are relatively narrow in the toe area, though, so if you have a wider foot, consider going up a size for a more comfortable fit.
Chatham Buckland Tumbled Leather Lace-Up Men’s Boots
£89
For a more classic look during the drab winter months, these men’s ankle boots give an air of sophistication to any outfit and will work as well with a suit as a more casual, jeans-based ensemble. Made from tumbled leather, the uppers have a burnished wax finish to protect them from the elements and a cushioned ankle cuff to ensure maximum comfort and minimum drafts.
The soles are rubberised and have solid treads to keep the footing firm. While there is some cushioning to the sole, it’s not as thick as some winter boots, so weren’t as warm in the extremely cold temperatures as we might hope for. Choose your socks wisely in the deepest of winter weather.
With such an elegant style, though, these boots are timeless and will be one to wear throughout winter and beyond.
Chatham Kempston Waterproof Leather Knee-High Women’s Boots
£150
If you’re looking for something rather more stylish for your winter walks than a pair of wellies, these Kempston boots should be on your radar. These knee-high, waterproof leather boots are both fabulous to look at and comfortable to wear. They are a new addition to Chatham’s country collection, and will undoubtedly be a stalwart for years to come.
To ensure that they are fully waterproof, they are pull-on boots with no ankle zips. Made from leather and nubuck on the outside, and with a waterproof microfibre membrane lining inside, no moisture is going to get through, no matter how wet or boggy the route you choose is. With wide grips on the sole, you should stay upright, too.
They’re warm, comfortable, and secure underfoot, but the leather across the top of the boot is a little stiff and can dig into the bridge of the foot for the first few wears. However, this softens, and they soon become a dream to wear.
That’s the feet taken care of, but what about the body? We tried out a couple of options from Helly Hansen’s winter range that should keep you snug and isolated from the elements.
Helly Hansen Men’s Elevation LIFTALOFT Down Jacket
£260
This thin yet very warm jacket has been designed with input from professional ski patrollers, capturing what they would want from a casual jacket in cold conditions to wear on days off the slopes.
Not only is it lightweight and cosy, thanks to the goose down and feather insulation, but the articulated sleeves don’t restrict movements, and the elasticated cuffs keep drafts out, so you will stay warm and comfortable while getting out and about. The Liftaloft jacket is also water repellent, so while you might not stay dry in driving rain, you will at least have time to find shelter or top up with another fully waterproof layer.
We tried it out in bright moss, an eye-catching colour that will brighten up any dull winter day. It’s a great jacket for winter walks, and light enough to use as a base layer if you need even more protection or to roll up and stuff in a backpack if things turn warmer.
Helly Hansen Women’s Aden Down Parka
£240
If you feel the cold, this is an absolute must for you this winter. I had no idea this was missing from my wardrobe until I tried it out, but now I wouldn’t be without it.
Insulated with duck down and feathers, it’s warm and cosy without feeling heavy and cumbersome. The sleeves are elasticated, preventing body heat from escaping, and the faux fur-trimmed hood is adjustable, but if the fur is a little too much, it can be removed very easily.
Two hand pockets are a good size and lined with brushed fabric for a nice, soft feel. The only thing that is really missing is an internal pocket, which would be handy for secure phone or money storage if you’re out on a winter walk, but that’s only a minor gripe.
The Aden Down Parka is a great coat for winter — especially as it’s also water repellant — which looks stylish and is surprisingly lightweight. When it’s below freezing and you’re heading out for a walk, you’ll be grateful for it.
