I first discovered Sorel boots by accident at a Ski show back in 2008 and was so immediately impressed by the quality of the boot, I put an order in then and there. As soon as the boots arrived, I tried them out on my children and we have never looked back. They both live in their Sorel’s as soon as the weather starts to turn, being fully waterproof, they wear them outside constantly; when cycling, playing football, collecting conkers, climbing trees as well as walking to school in the snow. They are very robust as each pair they have grown out of them rather than the boot wearing out!Year on year they have been best sellers within Little Skiers and I wanted to find out a little bit more about the technical side and what make Sorel’s stand apart from the competition.
I have spoken at length to Sorel and have discovered really what goes into making a Sorel Snow Boot. But first, a short background to who Sorel are:
Founded in 1962 on the frozen plains of Canada, Sorel is well regarded in the USA and Canada for their heritage of expert craftsmanship in producing high quality boots that function in extreme weather conditions. Sorel combines felt, wool, premium leather, and flawless construction with people who aren’t afraid to get their boots dirty! Sorel is relatively new over here in Great Britain, especially the children’s ranges but due to the fact that once you try these boots, you never try anything else; they are growing in popularity and have introduced a fashion line alongside the traditional snow boots.
Sorel boots all have triple stitching and are seam sealed by applying a rubber based adhesive sealant to the inside seams of boots and shoes. This secures all stitched seams and ensures no water can get in. The materials are all waterproofed before construction (cheaper boots are just sprayed with a waterproofing coating after construction) for example the Super Trooper material has a waterproof thin polyurethane film applied / laminated to the outside textile part. This PU layer stops water getting in through any part of the textile boot so it will not lose it waterproofing as it is an integral part of the boot, unlike a waterproof spayed layer which can wear off.
The rubber boot soles have natural rubber compounds that maintain flexibility and traction even in extremely cold conditions.
Boots also have a Felt Frost Plug. This is a 2.5mm thick felt board placed under the foot. The felt frost plug stops the cold from being transmitted from the ground or snow through the rubber and to the foot.
Insulation is provided in a number of ways, according to the style. The Snow Commander for toddlers have 200g of insulation within the boot while the Super Trooper has a removable 9mm ThermoPlus felt InnerBoot. Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting (clumping together), condensing and pressing woollen fibers together (by heat, moisture and mechanical pressure). Felt is highly resilient, provides superior thermal insulating properties and good wicking capabilities.
Additional features are the traction soles underneath the boot designed to prevent slipping and this has never worn down on any boots I have seen! In fact Sorel guarantee all boots for 2years.
You can feel all these technical features in the weight of the boot and they are heavier and more substantial than cheaper alternatives but that is why they can withstand temperatures down to minus 32°C.
We have been advised that for men’s and women’s boots you should allow an extra 1/2 size but children’s Sorel boots you should buy their actual UK size or up to a 1/2 size up. Full sizing guides can be found on our website including a printout sheet to measure yours and your children’s feet at home. Visit www.littleskiers.co.ukhttp://www.littleskiers.co.uk/shop/124_Sorel_Boots for toddler, children’s, youth and adult Sorel boots.
By Tess Bradshaw, Little Skiers
No comments:
Post a Comment