Boot up

Form follows function in Canada Goose’s first footwear collection

Each winter, when city streets are transformed into an icy, slushy quagmire, Canadians are forced to grapple with an impossible

decision: boots that keep out the elements or ones that look nice. Most are simply not up to both tasks. This season, however, Canada Goose is taking its best shot at the problem, aiming to do for winter boots what it did for puffy coats with the release of its first-ever footwear line.

“We know performance – be it a parka, rain jacket, sweater or accessory,” Adam Meek, general manager of footwear and accessories for the Toronto-based brand, says. His team has spent three years developing the collection. Equipped with expertise gained from its acquisition of Canadian bootmaker Baffin and the help of arctic adventurer Ben Saunders, the results toe the same line between fashion and function as Canada Goose’s parkas.

For the Journey Boot, Canada Goose took inspiration from Italian alpine hiking boots, adding threepiece uppers made from highgrade waterproof German leather, reflective elements and a chunky, flared heel for easy egress. The Snow Mantra boot (pictured above) looks like something you could wear to trek across a glacier, with a sole made from a compound that withstands sub-zero temperatures and a removable liner, which can be dried overnight.

Meeks says both styles have been extensively tested for superior performance and protection from the elements. Thanks to their bold styling and the cool factor ingrained in the CG logo, they might be the first winter boots you’ll look forward to wearing. – JEREMY FREED

Canada Goose footwear launches Nov. 12. For more information, visit canadagoose.com.