With winter comes the dreaded winter boot shopping! If you or your child wear AFOs or another type of orthotic, you likely can relate to the struggles you come across when finding the right boots. In brief, shoe shopping for AFOs has often been a challenge for us and you can read about that here. However, this post is to share some of the tips and tricks we have learned over the years when it comes to AFO winter boot shopping. Read on to learn more!

Brands That Worked for the Toddler Years

To start, when Evie was younger, finding AFO winter boots was not much of a problem as there were a few brands that worked amazing for us. Each of these boots had extra wide openings so it was easy to slip her AFOs into them. As she has grown and had bigger AFOs made, she no longer fits in these styles as most only go to Toddler Size 10.

Here are the brands we recommend for those with little feet:

• Stonz – Scout Boot
• Kamik – The Snowbug4 Winter Boot
• Sorel – Snow Commander Boot

Any of these brands or boots in a similar style should work!

In Person Boot Shopping

The best way to find the right AFO winter boot is to go on a search for it in person. My husband has taken on the role of the winter boot hunter in our family (so thankful as I find it it stressful). Every year he dedicates a shopping trip or two to specifically find the right boots for Evie. This year I joined on the adventure. We found success at SAIL. Below are his tips he shared with me on our boot hunt.

To Bring Child Or Not To Bring Child?

Before we get to the tips, should you bring your child with you? We have gone on AFO winter boot shopping trips with Evie and without. Now that she is older and more aware, boot shopping can cause her to get frustrated and frankly be bored. If you are just starting your search and have several stores to hit up, I suggest going solo if possible BUT bring an AFO with you.

Evie’s left AFO is a tad bigger than her right, so this year we sent her to school without her braces for a day and took “Lefty” with us. If you are doing this, it is important to stuff the AFO. What this means is put socks or something in the brace so that it mimics your child’s foot. This way when you are trying on boots with the AFO, it will be more realistic in terms of boot volume needed. Our problem is always the instep/vamp (where the boot upper attaches to the boot lower).

Tips For Picking The Right Boots

There are so many brands and styles of winter boots out there, but unfortunately, many will not work with an AFO. When searching for the right boot, consider the following:

• Pac Boots – Pac Boots are a type of boot that has a thick rubber lower shell and usually a thick liner. Liners that can be removed are ideal because it gives you more options when putting on the boot. Every pair of boots we pulled were tested to see if the liner would come out. If it did, we would then see if the AFO would fit in the liner, and then if it could be placed inside the boot. If the liner didn’t come out, we tried to to see if the AFO would fit into it the boot on its own. Quite a few didn’t work.

• Outside Shell – If you are able to remove the liner, it will allow you to roll down the outside shell easier. This will help you to get the AFO into the foot bed more smoothly. Ensure the outside shell can then roll back up over the AFO completely.

• Gussets – If you can, find a boot that has a large gusset. The key is being able to pull the tongue far out to give more space for your AFO. You can also cut the gusset to open further (though removes waterproofing) or find a cobbler who could add more to the gusset to give more room if needed. Another tip is to also find boots with extra calf space.
  
• Sizes – The general rule for AFOs is a size up (sometimes two) from your child’s regular shoe size. When we shop without Evie, it isn’t always easy to predict which size would work best. This year we ended up buying four pairs of boots which consisted of two pairs of boots in two different sizes each. I find it easier to just go back once to the store to return boots then back and forth a few times. We ended up buying Kamik boots and Columbia boots which were on clearance (Woohoo!).

• Try On At Home – Once home, we got Evie to put on her AFOs and try each pair on. We checked the toe space with each pair and made note of the boots that were easiest to slip on. Then we tried the boots on both with the liner on first, as well as just putting the AFO right into the boot (rolled down). Next, we got her to walk in the boots to make sure she wasn’t tripping etc.

Success!

We ended up keeping a size 5 in the Frostier Kamik boots and a size 6 in the Columbia boots. The Columbia boots will be used as back up and potentially boots for next year. There is a HUGE sense of relief when we realized we found boots that would work! Evie’s team at school has been able to put these Kamik boots on pretty easily too thankfully. Our AFO winter boot shopping was a success this year!

Shopping Online

Of course it isn’t always possible to get into a store, especially during these unprecedent times with the pandemic. If you have to order online, our biggest tip if possible is to order several sizes. Sometimes it is hard to judge based on the website sizing. Assuming a size up or two will not always work, as well as guessing how deep the toe box is. Once you have them in hand and decide on which pair works, return the other pair(s).

Tips to Save Money on Boots

Lastly, just some tips on saving money. Sometimes it is hard to predict what size boot Evie will need in the future. In the past though, I have purchased boots on clearance if it’s a really good deal and crossed fingers they would work when winter came. A pair of boots did not end up working last year but those boots fit Evie this year as non-AFO winter boots. We like to have a second pair of boots for no braces, so that worked out!

You can also look on Facebook Marketplace, Varage or similar sites for used boots if you know what works. Shoe retailers like The Shoe Company in Canada offer a VIP program where you collect points for money off later. Keep an eye out for sales and promo codes. If you are ordering online, consider using sites like Rakuten who give cash back (here is our referral link). Every little bit helps right?

To conclude, AFO winter boot shopping can be challenging, especially if you are new to it. We hope these tips help for when you need to get yours or your child’s next pair. As more brands start to offer adaptable boots like Billy Footwear’s Ice Winter Boots, hopefully the annual winter boot hunt gets easier!

If you have any tips or brands of boots that work for you, please share them with us! Thank you and hello winter!