An accusation regularly levelled at me is that when it comes to travelling, I am fashion over function. True enough, I’ve hiked the ancient Levantine fortress of Masada in patent loafers, and slung a second-hand Louis Vuitton backpack over my shoulder to report on the world’s most remote music festival in Australia’s Red Centre. These were, admittedly, not the wisest of wardrobe choices.
But in an increasingly image-conscious world, surely accessories can be both practical and aesthetically pleasing?. I investigated this theory by taking a pair of viral snowboots on an expedition to chase the Northern Lights across the Arctic Circle (read all about that here). Seen on the social feeds of every Scandi ‘It’ girl worth their salt this winter, these chunky leg warmers are nothing if not a statement. Time to see if they deliver more than a nice Insta post.
The details: Inuikki’s Mountain Boot (the high version). They come in four colours, black, red, a mix of pastel blue and pink, and a mocha shade much like Pantone’s colour of 2025. I went for red. How much do they cost? £175 for the high style, which is advertised as perfect for cities and snowy landscapes. This price point is in keeping with other brands such as Moon Boot, which sells similar styles from £170.
Where did you wear them? In various locations along the northern coast of Norway, including the most northerly point of mainland Europe (next stop, North Pole). This is Arctic wilderness, where the ground is icy, the snow is many feet deep, and the wind knifes like a dagger.
How cold was it? It went as low as -7C, but my weather app said it felt more like -15C. We arrived in the middle of a winter heatwave; February temperatures in this part of the Arctic usually drop to -20C. Ok let’s get down to it. How did the boots do? Despite one of my co-travellers rolling out the ‘fashion over function’ remark on their first outing, the boots were surprisingly robust.
Were they warm? Very. I suffer from a circulation condition called Raynaud’s disease, which means my toes freeze and ache most of the year in the UK. No such pain here; the boots insulated my feet and shins so well, I didn’t feel the cold on Northern Lights watch at 1am on the bow of a ship in the Barents Sea. Tell me that’s not functional.
Comfortable? Yes, if a little heavy to walk in. The boots are clunky, so I wouldn’t advise them for long walks or hiking. Still, I averaged 12,000 steps a day on this trip, and managed that just fine. How was the tread? On first glance, I worried the rudimentary soles would send me flying across icy ground. My group poked fun at what they described as basic grip, but I never had so much as a near miss, while others around me slid and slipped in what appeared to be more practical walking boots.
Anything else? Like I said, these boots are a statement — they’re also huge, ergo not the easiest footwear to pack. I ended up wearing them to fly back to London to avoid bursting a blood vessel stuffing them into my suitcase. What’s the verdict? 8/10.
With suitable smugness I am happy to recommend these boots for adventures in snowy, subzero climes. Set sail to the Mediterranean in 2025 – here's all you need to know. Private beach clubs, Art Deco delights and the world’s second-largest reef on the ultimate Caribbean cruise.
Top 10 travel brands you need to know about for tour next adventure. Eurostar rival plans direct trains from London to 5 stunning European cities. British Airways' change to popular UK route will make flight 40 minutes longer. Yes, they are enormous and take up excessive room in your luggage. They are too heavy for hiking, and will attract attention for being impractical. But they’re warm, comfortable and most importantly, they keep you upright in treacherous terrain. Let’s hear it for accessories that can do both.
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