Footwear Picks by the Staff

Hello lovely readers!

We thought we would share with you today what our staff wear on their feet to work to keep comfortable (and warm in some cases, cough cough, me).

Starting with our lovely manageress who chose these Josef Seibel Tamara boots to wear to work

"I hate wearing socks with boots so in the winter I wanted something with a warm lining to keep my feet toasty. Made with a thick crepe sole and tough leather uppers means wearing them all day at work is not a problem - I'm still just as comfortable at closing time as I am in the morning. I love the biker boot styling to these they go perfectly with my skinny trousers."

Moving onto our Assistant Buyer who loves her Josef Seibel Sandra boots.

" I really suffer with the cold so the plush lining in these immediately

 drew me to them. They have a thick sole with good tread which is important as I walk quite a way to work every day. I love the versatility of these boots, I wear them up for work and folded over at the weekends with skinny jeans and my parka. Having narrow feet the lacing on these boots is perfect; the colour is great-they will easily take me into next season and the burnished toe adds character and interest."

Next our Senior Sales Assistant chose Clarks Orinoco Club Chelsea style boot

"Being on my feet all day I need comfortable footwear, these have Clark's soft cushioned insole with extra padding under the heel and forefoot. I was originally attracted to these because of the style I like the thick chunky non slip sole for winter but they are light enough to wear in the spring too."

Our newest staff member adores these Gabor Brogue Boots

"The detailing on these are gorgeous, I love the brogue trend and the light colour of these really brings out the punching detail. The comfort of Gabor is unlike any brand I've ever tried, they are nice and generous in the foot and padded underneath the foot. They look really smart so I can wear them on an evening out as well as to work and not worry about having painful feet!".



We don't all always wear the shoes we stock to work but we find it really helps to sell the product if people can see it being worn in front of them. We have a great mixture of comfort and fashion shoes and boots so there is something for people of all tastes. 





SOREL Winter Boots

Last year was our first year stocking SOREL winter boots and it was one of the best decisions we made (not just because it was one of the coldest winters on record!).

"Founded in 1962, SOREL brings the spirit and heritage of expertly crafted boots to the modern world of fashion where they inspire a new generation of doers, builders, and creators."

For those of you that only know SOREL for the photograph of David Beckham and son Brooklyn wearing them in the snow last year here is a brief overview of the company.

SOREL footwear was launched by A.R. Kaufman, whose family business started making boots under various brand names in 1907 in Kitchener Ontario.  Their SOREL boots were the most popular and successful of their collection. The name SOREL was used to invoke images of ruggedness and cold protection as SOREL was a big WWII and post war-time shipbuilder and steel town. In 2000 SOREL became a division of the Columbia Sportswear Company and continues to exist under the same brand name to this day. (sourced from http://www.vieux-sorel.com/sorel-boot-en.php)

"SOREL combines felt, wool, premium leathers, and flawless construction with people who aren’t afraid to get their boots dirty." www.sorelfootwear.co.uk 

Here at Hoads we stock two of their most popular boots Tofino and Caribou in a couple of colours.

The Caribou boot sold as both a men's and women's product has a handcrafted vulcanized rubber shell that is seam-sealed for complete waterproofness. The boots are lined with a removable 9mm ThermoPlus™ felt Inner Boot that traps heat next to your foot - easily washable and helps to keep the boot fresh after wear. Underfoot, a thick rubber midsole insulates the boot from the cold ground, while the Sorel AeroTrac™ non-loading outsole provides extra grip. Now this boot is rated to minus 40 degrees which although we will not experience in the UK (oh please please let us not experience that level of cold!) the assurance that your feet will definitely not feel the cold is undoubtedly there.

Tofino is just a women's product and we stock two designs of it; the quilted upper and the nylon upper.

The Sorel Tofino boot with the quilted upper (style number NL2029 pictured below) is made of waterproof waxed canvas with a durable leather shell topped with a fab faux fur collar. Inside, a Sherpa Pile lining keeps your feet warm and comfortable and a molded rubber outsole allows for excellent traction.

The other Tofino Sorel (style number NL2013 pictured below, left) boot has a tough, nylon upper and PU coated leather shell that features a waterproof breathable membrane construction so feet stay dry and comfortable. Inside, 100 grams of insulation join forces with

a cozy fleece lining to create a cocoon of warmth around your feet. Made with a removable, molded EVA footbed and molded rubber outsole making the boot incredibly comfortable for those snow days with the kids!

Aside from all of the technology these boots are exactly what you look for in a winter boot - hard wearing, comfortable, supportive, warm and waterproof. SOREL boots get a big thumbs up from Hoads, what about you? Will you be wearing them this winter or sticking to your wellingtons?