These Cozy, Hands-Free Boots Have Replaced All of My Complicated Winter Footwear

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As a Libra and, therefore, loyal lover of all things autumn and winter, I’ve been itching for the scorching summer temperatures to drop and for crisp, perfectly chilled weather to finally make its way back to New York. To me, there’s no better time to enjoy the outdoors than in the colder seasons. But since we’re seemingly still weeks away from reaching chillier degrees, I decided to ditch this city for another, just a quick six-hour flight away: Reykjavík, Iceland.

For the launch of its new and improved winter boot, the Juno 2, footwear brand Kizik invited me on the trip of a lifetime to explore the strikingly beautiful mountains, geysers and canyons that the coastal destination has to offer. Over the course of three days, I trekked up steep hills to see the windy starting points of overwhelmingly massive and majestic waterfalls and skipped across stones to stand directly beneath the most vibrant rainbows I’ve ever seen — to name just a few things on the itinerary.

Each activity was made all the more pleasant thanks to the shoes’ thoughtful build. Being on my feet for extended periods of time is not an easy task for me, but thanks to the boot’s durable, solid outsole and molded foam insole, I was able to enjoy the incredible views in front of me without having any concerns about my comfort.

Even after walking on the gritty black sand beach in Reynisfjara or splashing in the uneven puddles of mud after swimming between the tectonic plates in Silfra, the shoes never looked or felt worse for wear. The water-resistant nylon exterior makes it so that a single wipe is all you need to rid the footwear of dirt and make it seem brand new again. Plus, the fuzzy, snug thermal insulation kept my feet warm and cushioned throughout each day. 

But beyond the exceptionally cozy fit (it seriously feels like you’re walking around on a cloud) and wear of the shoe, perhaps the most impressive part of the design is that it’s almost fully hands-free. All it takes to lock your foot into the shoe is a single step through the boot’s padded collar. From there, you can adjust the spring-lock laces to your preference and never have to adjust them again. Once you’re ready to slip them off, just a little pressure on the back heel from your other foot or a shoehorn gets the job done.

Of course, the convenience of being able to immediately have your shoes fully on and completely comfortable is unmatched, but it’s also a major win for accessibility. As someone who deals with chronic pain and limited mobility but still loves to seek adventure when able, it’s little things like not needing to bend over or tie laces that make an excursion-filled dream visit to Iceland possible.

Kizik Juno 2 High, $175, available here

Disclosure: Kizik paid for Fashionista‘s travel and accommodations to visit Iceland.

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Source: Fashionista.com