For travellers who embrace winter, Canada has much to offer. But little can dampen an adventurous winter spirit like cold or wet feet. So, a top-notch pair of boots is essential. And it’s probably little surprise that footwear maker Bogs delivers, given their roots in Oregon, which as they say is the “land of lumberjacks, trailblazers, dairy farmers, and cycling baristas with big, bushy beards.”

I tested Bogs’ new Sauvie Snow ($140) and their classic standard Workman ($165) winter boots this past fall — which in the streets and parkland around Ottawa could easily have been confused for winter given the ample snow and double-digit below zero temps we experienced — and had nothing but happy feet.

In addition to being 100 per cent waterproof and rated to -40F degrees, the Sauvie Snows look sharp — like you could walk from the snowy trails in Gatineau Park into a Byward Market bar without a second thought. They’re remarkably comfortable, too, thanks to rebound cushioning and a nylon shank for stability and support. They also boast technologies to wick away sweat and fight odour, and a slip-resistant outsole (which held traction on black ice by the Rideau Falls).