So winter’s hitting hard this year, and my old snow boots were basically falling apart. Seen some chatter online about Franco Sarto winter boots being decent, but really wanted to know – are they actually warm? And can they keep your feet dry? Figured, hey, let’s just buy a pair and put ’em through the wringer myself.
Step 1: Grabbing the Boots
Headed over to a department store downtown, looking specifically for their “winter” or “weather” boots. Found a pair of Franco Sarto booties – ankle height, sorta stylish, with what looked like a waterproof label on the side. Felt decently padded inside. Bought ’em on the spot. Easy peasy.
Step 2: The Initial Feel Test
Got home, put ’em on immediately. First thought: cozy! The lining felt soft and cushioned, warmer than my old sneakers for sure. Walked around the house a bit. Felt snug, no weird pinching. Promising start.
Step 3: Water “Resistance” Mini-Test
Wasn’t raining yet, so decided to improvise. Took a big handful of snow from the freezer and pressed it right against the toe and the seam where the upper meets the sole for like a good minute.
- Good news first: The snow didn’t immediately soak through the leather/upper material. Just kinda sat there beading a tiny bit.
- But… uh oh: Held my hand inside the boot where I’d pressed the snow. Felt cool after a while, then distinctly damp underneath my finger where I pushed. Not soaking wet, but definitely noticeable moisture coming through.
Okay, so maybe not instant waterproof? Maybe just resistant? Not sure.
Step 4: Real World Walk #1 (Cold & Dry)
Took ’em for a walk on a clear, chilly day, probably around 32°F (0°C).
- Warmth: Feet stayed toasty! Honestly, better than expected for the first 20 minutes or so. The padding was doing its job. Felt insulated.
- Dryness: No issues, obviously. Ground was dry.
Happy with the warmth performance so far.
Step 5: The Main Event (Slushy Mess Day)
Finally got our messy winter weather – snow turning to gross, wet slush everywhere. This was the real test. I wore them for my commute and doing errands, stepping in puddles and trudging through wet snow piles on purpose.
Results weren’t awesome.
- Waterproof Failure: Within maybe 30 minutes of walking in melting slush? Wet socks. Especially around the toes and the sides where the boot flexes. It wasn’t like pouring in water, but that damp, cold feeling creeped in steadily as I walked.
- Warmth Gone: As soon as that moisture got in, guess what? All that cozy warmth vanished. My feet started feeling cold pretty fast. The wet insulation wasn’t insulating anymore.
- Sole Slipping: Also noticed the sole wasn’t great on icy patches, felt kinda slick.
Step 6: The Final Verdict
So, after actually wearing them out in proper winter junk, here’s the deal.
- Warmth: They’re decently warm… only as long as you keep your feet bone dry. If any moisture gets in, all that warmth disappears. So for dry cold? Pretty okay. For wet winter? Forget it.
- Waterproofing: Call them water-resistant at best. They might handle a light dusting of snow you quickly brush off. But anything like melting snow, slush, or prolonged wet stuff? They leak. Especially at seams and flex points. They just don’t hold up to real wet conditions.
My Honest Take: If you live somewhere with dry cold winters and just want something a little warmer and cleaner than sneakers, maybe these Franco Sarto boots could work for very light use. But if you actually have snow on the ground that turns wet and slushy? Do NOT buy these expecting warm, dry feet. You will end up with cold, damp toes like I did. I was pretty disappointed – they just aren’t built for real winter weather. Gonna be looking for something actually waterproof and well-insulated for the next snowstorm. These guys failed the test.
