The Easiest Way to Choose the Best Boot for Canadian Winter
Don’t let the Canadian winter catch you off guard, choose the right winter boots with the proper ‘Snowflake rating’ to keep you safe and comfortable during the winter months.
Each winter, thousands of slip-related extremely serious injuries occur in Canada due to icy conditions. I’ve slipped on icy sidewalks many times during winter here, leaving me with bruises and soreness that can sometimes last for days.
As someone who has lived through bitter Canadian winters, I know how important it is to choose the right winter boots that can handle slippery conditions.
But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best pair of boots for icy conditions?
I was in the same dilemma until I discovered the “Snowflake rating system”, which rates winter boots based on their performance on the ice.
In this article, I will share some tips on how to find the best winter spiked boots for snowy and icy conditions. So whether you’re a seasoned Canadian winter pro or just braving the cold for the first time, keep reading for some helpful insights.
However, if you are in a hurry and just need to know the recommended Winter Spiked Boot, then I would suggest you get the “Windriver” brand. For more information on this boot, please jump directly to the last section of this article: Recommended Winter Spiked Boot — Windriver.
Importance of Snowflake Rating for Winter Boots
Snowflake's rating system is managed by a group called Rate My Trends. They conduct tests on various footwear to determine their ability to handle icy surfaces.
The snowflake rating ranges from 1 to 3, with 3 being the highest rating indicating that the boots can handle ice inclines of at least 15 degrees. The higher the angle, the better the slip resistance!
In my personal experience, a snowflake rating of 1 is sufficient for Toronto.
Here is the list of snowflake ratings in increasing order:
- Snowflake rating 1 (Sufficient for Toronto): handles ice inclines of a minimum of 7 degrees.
- Snowflake rating 2: handles ice inclines of a minimum of 11 degrees.
- Snowflake rating 3 (Overkill for Toronto): handles ice inclines of a minimum of 15 degrees.
The website of “Rate of Trends” regularly updates the ratings for many different brands.
In its early days, the website used to list only snowflake-rated boots but now it lists all kinds of boots.
How to Find Snowflake Ratings of a Winter Boot:
Choosing a winter boot is a very personalized choice and I didn’t know what to expect, that is why instead of buying it online I went to Mark’s Work Showroom and went through almost all the winter boots there (spending hours there).
While choosing winter boots, it’s essential to keep in mind that not all boots have Snowflake ratings, but those that do are indicated with an “ICEFX” logo on the packaging and/or boot sole. See the figure above.
In my observation, I have found that most of the time the logo of ICEFX might be there on the boot box or boot sole but they do not mention the exact Snowflake rating of these boots — making it difficult to decide what to choose.
Based on my experience, I have also observed that retail staff at showrooms or shopping malls often lack knowledge about the products they are selling. Their recommendations are usually of little value, making it difficult to rely on them.
During my visit to a particular Mark’s showroom, out of four staff members, two were completely unaware of Snowflake’s rating. It was quite disappointing to see their lack of knowledge about a crucial aspect of their job.
I was on my own to find out the best matching winter boot.
As a rule of thumb, if a winter boot has the ICEFX logo but does not explicitly specify the Snowflake rating then you can safely assume that it has at least “one” snowflake rating.
If you’re looking for the precise Snowflake rating of a winter boot, whether you’re shopping online or in-store, you can quickly obtain this information by following two simple steps:
- First, locate the “serial number” of the boot, and then
- Search for that serial number in the published list of footwear rated by “Rate My Trend”, which is available on the internet. A sample is provided below.
By paying attention to snowflake ratings, you can easily ensure that you’re selecting winter boots that will keep you safe and stable on slippery surfaces.
Other than Snowflake, comfort and waterproofing were obviously other important factors before making a decision.
Research Conducted by CBC To Find Out the Best Winter Boot:
In 2021, the CBC Marketplace team conducted a test of 11 popular winter boots to determine whether they actually provide good traction on icy surfaces, as claimed by their manufacturers.
If you do not know about CBC, it is a reputed Canadian investigative journalism program that focuses on consumer issues and exposes corporate wrongdoing.
CBC investigation into the quality of winter boots: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/marketplace-boot-test-1.6252613 [accessed on 26.02.2023].
The team used a traction testing machine to simulate icy conditions and found that only two of the boots tested provided adequate grip on ice.
The investigation done by CBC revealed that some of the boots’ advertising claims were misleading or unclear and that some manufacturers did not conduct any independent testing of their products’ performance on the ice.
In the same experiment, the “Windriver” boots sold at Mark’s Work Warehouse topped the charts.
In conclusion, the CBC Marketplace team advised consumers to research winter boots carefully before purchasing and to look for independent testing data and ICEFX ratings.
Recommended Winter Spiked Boot — Windriver:
Backed with my research, I went to “Mark’s Work” showroom along with spouse to try the “Windriver” winter boot with a snowflake rating of 1.
Windriver boot is waterproof, has good insulation and definitely provides adequate traction on slippery surfaces but I was not comfortable wearing a boot in the first place. This was my first time trying a boot.
After trying almost all the boots in the shop, I finally realized, I simply prefer sports shoes over boots. I personally value footwear that allows me to effortlessly slip my feet in and out without any difficulty. Convenience is more important to me than comfort and cosiness and I didn’t find such a boot there for myself that could do that. Perhaps, they were out of stock.
But, the wife ended up liking and purchasing a Windriver winter boot, and she completely adores its comfort. She claims that her feet feel like they’re being enveloped in a warm, soft blanket. Despite running on ice, she hasn’t slipped even once in the last winter while wearing her boot.
In my case, instead of purchasing any boots, I opted for crampons with toothed grips that can be conveniently attached to any shoe. The cost was also quite reasonable, and I can continue to enjoy the familiarity and comfort of my old shoes.
Nonetheless, to anyone who needs to buy a winter boot, I still recommend “Windriver” even though I ended up not buying it. It’s great, cosy, warm, waterproof and definitely provides good traction on the icy surface.
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