We’ve been cramming our preschooler’s feet into a pair of well-worn hand-me-down boots, and then wondering if we can salvage them for little sis. So we asked our kids’ shoe expert, Katherine Chapman of OLLY Shoes:
How many times can a good pair of winter boots be handed down amongst my kids? How do I know when it is time to buy a new pair?
There are many things to look for in determining whether kids’ winter boots should be retired or can be passed on to another child.
First, the boots should be good quality, waterproof and weather rated. You should ensure that the footbeds of the boots have not formed to the first child's foot. If you can see a footprint in it, you should not re-use them. Should the boots have removable insoles, this can easily be checked.
Additionally, the outer soles and uppers of the boots should not have any rips or holes as these allow water and moisture to pass into the boots. Lastly, the soles should not be worn out because they may become slippery, which is dangerous. If you do pass the boots on to another child, check the child's feet after the first wear because if they have a broader or even a narrower foot, the boots could produce blisters.
The harshness of the winter weather is also factor. If there was a lot of snow, ice and slushy days, the boots could be worn out in only one season. If the previous winter was light, then it’s likely OK to pass them down to the next child. Depending on where you live, you could get anywhere from one to three or four seasons out of good quality boots.
Katherine Chapman is the co-founder and chairman of OLLY Shoes, a one-stop destination for high quality children’s footwear with a unique, proprietary computerized fitting system.