With the onset of winter, the problem of warm shoes comes to the fore: it suddenly turns out that the boots you wore last winter are no longer in trend, and the choice in stores is so wide that it’s not a sin to get confused. How to choose the right pair for winter? Let's try to help sort out this issue by talking about the most common insulation for winter boots.
Woolen fur in boots - what kind of material is this?
Sometimes when buying winter shoes, doubt arises about the “naturalness” of the materials from which they are made. There may be several reasons, but there are two main ones lying on the surface:
- the price is lower than for shoes made of natural leather and fur;
- a pair weighs lighter than such shoes should weigh.
However, do not rush to refuse the purchase: If the insulation in a leather pair “sits” on a fabric base, this does not mean at all that it is synthetic; most likely you have come across boots made of wool fur - a modern material that adequately withstands competition with natural sheepskin. You can verify this by looking at the label on the box.
Insulation characteristics
Wool fur is partly synthetic, but mostly natural material, which is made by weaving wool and synthetic fibers into a fabric base in a ratio of 80% wool to 20% synthetics. This mixture gives shoes a number of advantages:
- the weight is lighter and the thickness of the material is reduced, which makes it possible to make more elegant models of boots;
- wear resistance increases due to the addition of synthetic fibers;
- The price of the product is significantly reduced.
Important! Such lightweight shoes are convenient for car enthusiasts, since the insulation retains heat quite well and at the same time “breathes”, preventing the feet from sweating.
How do fur and wool insulation differ?
Each of these insulation materials has both advantages and disadvantages.
Fur is a completely natural material, which is the tanned skin of an animal, usually a sheep.. As a result, the thermal insulation of the product is enhanced due to the additional layer of leather. Wool does not have such an advantage: even with a very high-quality layer of “fur,” the leather in it is replaced by fabric, which, of course, reduces thermal insulation.
Boots with sheepskin inside can withstand more severe frosts than a pair with woolen fur as insulation, the temperature limit of which is -15 degrees.
But These shoes are easier to dry: 10 hours in a normal heated room is enough for this. Boots with natural sheepskin require approximately twice as much time for this.
Important! Due to the fact that shoes with natural fur require a long time to dry, they must have a “backup” - a spare pair of boots that can replace their “colleague”.
As for wear resistance, the differences here are minor: of course, natural fur is initially thicker and therefore takes longer to wear down, but it wears out in the same way as wool - within 2-3 years. Wool fur is thinner, but “reinforced” with synthetic fibers, so its service life is about the same.
Important! To increase the thermal insulation of such a pair in the sole area, you can put a fur insole.
When is it better to choose wool and when to choose fur?
You should choose a pair of winter boots based on the climate in which you live.. If you have to spend a long time without moving in frost below 15 degrees, then it is better to have shoes with natural fur.
For those who, at this temperature, quickly reach their goal in 15–20 minutes, wool insulation is preferable, since, firstly, such a pair weighs lighter and is more convenient to walk quickly in, and secondly, during this time during active movement your feet are unlikely to have time to sweat. But even if such a nuisance happens, quickly drying these shoes will not be a problem.
If in your area the temperature in winter does not drop below -15 degrees, it is more advisable to wear boots with woolen fur inside – your feet will not overheat, and walking in them will be much easier. In addition, the range of dress shoes made from this material is much wider.
The choice is yours, but when buying, pay attention to the smell of the new pair: if you can clearly feel the chemistry, look for something else for yourself. High-quality materials should smell pleasant.
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