Topped off with the brand’s ThermoBall Eco insulation — a 100% recycled down alternative — these shoes are great for someone looking to get a lot of mileage out of their winter booties without sacrificing warmth. The synthetic fill keeps your feet toasty, even after exposure to snow or water. Plus, the style is efficient and easy to slip on. Most fabric exteriors of down booties have hydrophobic properties making them waterproof or water resistant. If you want to garner more knowledge about those applications, keep scrolling. Tread on the bottom of booties comes in a variety of patterns, materials, and densities; (photo/Eligh Purvis) Tread If you’re knitting on four DPNs, then just divide the total number of stitches by three. You’ll split them across your needles in exactly the same way as in the following pictures but won’t use the fourth needle as you’ll need that to knit with. Don’t dry-clean them unless it’s through a specialized down-cleaning service. Dry cleaning voids the warranty and can strip the product of its natural oils. The insulation throughout the boot is OR’s specially designed Vertical X polyester for breathability, moisture management, and trusted warmth performance—even in wet conditions.

Once you have a reasonable amount of yarn wrapped, take your forefinger out of the yarn, leaving your thumb inside. A down bootie’s cuff height refers to the height or length of the upper portion of the booties that covers the ankle and lower leg. Different cuff heights in down booties offer varying levels of coverage and functionality. The options listed in this guide have lower ankle and mid leg coverage options, but there are a few down bootie options on the market that provide protection all the way to the knee. Low or Ankle Cuff If you’ve scrolled through our list of down bootie options, you likely noticed that some of these products have outsole tread while others have little to none. Tread sets the bar on how much mileage you can get out of a pair of down booties. We also appreciate that the design of these booties is considerate of accessibility. With both the adjustable drawstring and heel pull-tab, the Full Moons can be put on with one hand.

Lightweight M1 fabric (weight: 39 gsm)

If you find that your knitting is turning inside out, don’t worry. It’s very easy to fix – just put your hand inside your knitting and pull it the right way out! We’ve all done it, it’s one of those fun beginner things! 🙂 On the outer shell, there are drawcords at the calf and ankle to keep the boot secure when walking. These are some of the most durable down booties we tested. As you work these rows, you’ll notice that there’s a gap between the end of your knit or purl stitches in the middle and the remaining stitches to be worked into the heel. This will help you to work out where you’re up to. It’s not really necessary to use a stitch marker to indicate the end of your round when using DPNs, although I find it useful to mark needle one. I use a safety pin, which I pin into the knitting on needle one – although more attractive markers are available!

If the stain is fairly large, use a special down cleaning agent or a non-detergent soap and soak the item for around an hour. For us, what sets them apart from other minimalist down booties is their superior comfort. Not only is the down very soft, but the cinch cord also adds ankle adjustment to keep them secure on your feet. And the 1/4’’ foam insole adds comfort, support, and durability. Best Overall Down Booties for Warmth Weight, and Comfort: WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING Flash Down Booties Here comes another fiddly bit so read this through first! You’re going to get hold of the tip of your long circular needle (make absolutely sure you’ve got that and not a DPN!) with your left hand and you’re going to slide all the stitches you’ve knitted onto the cable with your right hand, leaving you with a length of needle tip and cable in your left hand and the stitches sitting safely on the cable to the right. RUBBER: If durability is your major concern, and you want to wear your booties more like camp shoes, then go for a pair with a waterproof rubber outsole for an added protective barrier.

Ultralight 10X fabric (weight: 26 gsm)

Down booties with a low or ankle cuff provide minimal coverage, typically ending just above the ankle bone. These booties tend to be lightweight and offer a greater range of motion. They are suitable for activities where maximum mobility and breathability are desired, such as inside or in warmer climates. However, their exposure provides less warmth and protection to the ankle area. Our choice for an ankle cuff down bootie is the Rab Down Hut Slipper. When you’re shopping for down footwear, think about where you’ll be wearing the booties and how much durability you might want. Do you want an insulating slipper with a sturdy sole? Or do you want something with fewer shoe features, maybe to wear inside your sleeping bag? Air drying is possible, though not always the best method because it can take quite a while, and it’s hard to prevent the down from clumping. I always cast on with just two needles rather than trying to cast on across four needles straight away – I find it just too fiddly. The layer of Intuition foam — which is a blended closed-cell design — in the footbed must be celebrated for its all-day comfort, custom molded contours, and warmth. Inside, the layer of synthetic fur is soft and cozy.

Down booties range widely in price. Inexpensive booties often are a simple design and fewer features. More expensive premium down booties have extras like robust soles for walking outside, more down, and a higher cut.

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Our favorite synthetic-fill options include the Outdoor Research Tundra Trax Booties. Made with 85% recycled materials, they kept our feet just as warm as some of the other natural down bootie options and because they are made with synthetic insulation, they are reasonably priced for their durability. The next thing is to find the end of the ball in the section that you’ve just taken out (I’m going to call this the “inside ball”) and see what colour it is. Ignore the colour at the very end of the ball and start with the next colour in – this is because you don’t know where the yarn was cut in the mill so you can’t use the first colour as a comparison. Now take a look at the yarn that’s at the other end of the section, still attached to the main ball, and that’s what you’re going to match. Pull some of the yarn out of the inside ball (pulling from the centre of the ball) and lay it out in front of you so that you can see how the colours change, and then do the same with the “outside ball” Leading the testing squad for down booties is GearJunkie contributor Meghan LaHatte. Having lived in one of the coldest regions of Colorado for the past five years, LaHatte is no stranger to cold feet. After suffering from a chronic foot injury due to a nasty case of frostnip, she understands the importance of keeping her feet well insulated both indoors and out. LaHatte tested these down booties on frigid dog walks, working in her home office, camping in the desert and transitioning into her ski boots on deep powder days. She can assure you that all of these down booties were put to the truest test in varying climates and elements. We like that, for added measure, the sole is made with an ultralight, water-resistant Primaloft Aerogel insert, which offers continuous insulation even if compressed. The booties close around the ankle with a cinched drawstring and run to mid-calf, making them a warm option.