1. I Could Actually Get Them On

This sounds small, but bending down to do up laces in a cold hallway had become a proper job for my back. These? You just step in. The stretchy panel at the side opens up and your foot slides straight down. No laces, no zip, no sitting on the stairs.

The first time I did it I actually laughed. Why did nobody think of this sooner?

👉 See the slip-on boot I swear by

2. I Stopped Walking Like a Penguin

Every winter I used to shuffle. Wet leaves on the pavement, a frosty patch by the bins, that horrible shiny bit outside the post office. You know the walk.

The sole on these is chunky with deep grooves, made to grip on wet, snowy and icy ground. It sounds dramatic, but I stopped dreading the walk to the shops.

👉 See the grippy sole up close

3. Warm Feet From Morning Till Night

From October to March my feet were like ice. Two pairs of socks, a hot water bottle in the evening, and still frozen by the time I got back from the shops.

These are lined all the way round with thick, soft fleece. I put them on in the morning and honestly forget about my feet until teatime.

4. The Wind Does Not Get In

My leather boots were fine standing in the shop. Out in a proper east wind, the cold went straight through them.

The Siofra is a windproof short boot with the fleece coming right up round the ankle, so there is no gap for the draught to find. Waiting at the bus stop is a different thing altogether now.

5. Comfortable on My Feet for Hours

Usually by eleven o'clock my feet were aching and I was finding excuses to sit down. With these, I look at the clock and realise I have been round the market for the best part of an hour.

The sole is cushioned and shock absorbing, so every step is softer, and there is good support round the heel so I feel steady.

6. Room for My Wider Feet

I have wide feet, and most winter boots pinch across the front by lunchtime. The "comfort" pair my sister recommended were the worst of the lot.

These have a flexible fit that suits narrow or wide feet without squeezing. No pinching. No throbbing at the end of the day.

7. The Rain Just Rolls Off

My sheepskin style boots soaked up every puddle and took two days to dry out by the radiator.

The quilted outside on these is water repellent. Rain sits on top in little beads and rolls off. I would not go paddling in them, but a wet walk home is nothing now.

8. They Do Not Look Like Medical Shoes

This mattered more to me than I like to admit. So many warm, sensible boots look like something you would be handed on a hospital ward.

These are smart and cheerful. Mine are red, and they come in blue, black, green and beige too. I have been told twice now that they look "fun", which at 62 I will happily take.

9. The Best Value of the Lot

I added it up and I am a little embarrassed. Walking boots £95, too cold. Sheepskin style £60, soaked through. Ice grips £18, in a drawer. "Comfort" boots £45, pinched. Internet boots £25, split by January.

That is over £240 on boots that did not do the job. These were £39.95, half price in the autumn sale, and they are the only ones I reach for.