SOREL Women's 1964 LTR Waterproof Winter Boots - Insulated Snow Boots for Cold Weather, Hiking & Outdoor Activities

I am an Arizona girl and we were going to New York City in the snow for a period of time. I was terrified to have cold feet as we would be walking outside a ton. I have never bought warm boots before and really had no idea what to expect or look for. I initially liked these simply because I thought they were cute (isn't that the first thing a girl always notices??) I read tons of reviews. And ended up pulling the trigger.First off- I LOVE these boots.Now I will try to maybe answer some big questions I had before purchasing.*these boots are chunky. (I had no idea what a snow boot really entailed). The first time I put them on, I honestly felt a little silly and felt like I was tromping around the house. These are heavy duty. I am used to wearing my canvas vans or flip flops. That being said- I still thought they were so cute and the chunkiness grew on me. Just be prepared for a HEAVY DUTY boot if you have never worn a snow boot before.*sizing: every review you read on here is different. Get your true size! Size up! Size up more! I usually wear a 7.5 and sometimes an 8 depending on the shoe. So I actually ordered both sizes to get the one that worked best. I put the 7.5 on first (with my thick warm socks) and almost immediately took them off and deemed it too small but I convinced myself to walk around in them for a bit. They didn't loosen up a ton, but enough where they stretched to fit perfectly. There is a padded shoe insert, and if I took that out, the boot itself was huge and wide inside so I knew my toes weren't hitting the actual boot. The insert just needed some time to relax and stretch out. I stayed with the 7.5 and it ended up being PERFECT. wore these to walk (and walk and walk) all around New York and my feet never hurt once. SO COMFORTABLE. So if you think they feel a little snug, give them a day of walking around your house and see how they feel.*I don't think they are supposed to be worn without the insulated insert. If you take it out, they are humongous inside and your foot sloshes around. A lot. This is fine, it was just a question I had before I ordered them. I wasn't sure if they could be worn without the insert on warmer days. 'Probably not' is the answer. Even though I may attempt it. Although I may look silly clonking around in snow boots in Arizona.Overall, these boots were warm and kept my feet dry, as well as being so cute and so comfortable. (So so comfortable!)To end this novel, coming from an Arizona native who has never worn a snow boot before in her life, if you are considering these, buy them!! You won't regret it.