What Is the History on Snow Boots?
Snow boots are heavier than winter boots and are fashioned to keep feet warm and dry in heavy snow and wet weather. They are made of leather or nylon to keep out moisture and their soles are normally made of water proof rubber. They may have cuffs at the top for a tighter fit and they extend above the hemline of pants to keep snow from getting inside the boot. Snow boots in various forms are as old as snow and they come in as many varieties as snowflakes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Snow Boots are 53 Centuries Old
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Archaeologists calculate that Otzi, the iceman that hikers found in 1991 in the Alps between Austria and Italy, is at least 53 centuries old. He was wearing a primitive version of snow boots which were waterproof and wide with bearskin soles. The top panels were made of deer hide and the netting made of tree bark. He had stuffed soft grass around the foot and in the shoe and the grass worked like modern socks.
Native Americans Made Snow Boots
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Like Otzi, Stone Age people made their boots from animal hides and lined them with grass to keep their feet warm. As the years and the snow continued, Native Americans of North America perfected the art of making snow boots. Native American tribes including Cree, Ojibiwa, and Sioux used the same natural skins and furs that they used to make their clothing to design fur snow boots with unique bead patterns and colors.
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Ballet Dancers Wear Mukluks
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Canadian and Alaskan natives including the Inuit and Yupik crafted snow boots of moose hide, seal skin or reindeer skin which they called mukluks. Mukluks are lightweight and allow hunters to move quietly. They are especially warm and when worn with felt liners and several pairs of socks they can withstand below zero temperatures and deep snow. Today any soft boot designed for cold weather is called a mukluk and modern designs often resemble high top athletic shoes. A variation of the mukluk is knitted with a soft leather sole and ballet dancers often wear these instead of leg or foot warmers.
From Slippers to Snow Boots
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The evolution of snow boats kept pace with the evolution of the United States. As women acquired more rights in politics and fashion, their footwear became liberated as well. By February 1860, Godey's Lady's Book reported the popularity of thick walking boots for ladies instead of the thin slippers that restricted their movement. The worlds of the outdoors, sports, business, and the public arena opened up for women when they graduated from slippers to snow boots.
Ugg Boots Are Ugly But Useful
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Ug is Australian slang for ugly, and UGG Boots are a popular snow boot originating in Australia that are sturdy and durable for outdoor wear. Soft Australian Merino sheepskins give the boots a snug and warm winter fit, and they are cool and dry in the summer. Pilots wore fleece lined FUGs--flying Uggs--boots to keep their feet warm during World War I, and in the 1930s Australian sheep farmers wore Uggs to keep warm and dry in the fields. In the 1960s Australian surfers started wearing Ugg boots to keep their feet warm after wave riding, and modern Australians wear Ugg boots inside during the winter.
Oprah Owns UGGs
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An American company called UGG Australia also manufactures Ugg boots and they are popular with ordinary people and celebrities like Oprah and Paris Hilton. Modern snow boots come in as many shapes, sizes, and features as the people who wear them. They feature waterproof seams, sealed uppers, moisture proof lining, faux fur collars, and state of the art insulation and rubber. They come with suggestive names like The Northface, Timberland, Sorel and Kamik, but no matter what the brand, throughout their history snow boots have had one purpose--keeping human feet warm and dry.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Beverly
