Slick sidewalks in Saskatchewan have more people looking for good winter boots

Despite the recent warm weather that was welcomed by most in Saskatchewan, it unfortunately created some slick conditions on sidewalks in most neighbourhoods.

If you’ve been out for a walk in the last couple weeks, chances are you’ve probably slipped or fallen as you try to navigate your way through the icy terrain.

Tim Iannone, the owner of Iannone’s Footwear & Shoe Clinic, said if people are going out for a walk and dealing with the icy conditions, it’s important to make sure they do so with the proper footwear.

“You want something that’s got a really good sticky type of base,” Iannone said. “The soles of your boots are kind of like winter tires. If you want good ones, they’ve got to be gummy. They might not last as long as some other shoes, but they’re still going to give you the traction you need.”

While people can buy items such as detachable spikes for their boots, Iannone says most people he has dealt with have been buying boots that are fit for winter.

He also thinks people are looking for better boots because they want to take precautions where they can.

“They can hurt their head (or) break their bones (slipping on ice), so we’ve seen an uptick in the footwear aspect, more so for the boots. People just don’t want to fall,” he said.

He thinks the pandemic has something to do with this too.

“Over the last few years since COVID, I think more people are into walking. We seem to be having more people looking for good winter footwear that has a good grip,” he added.

While people can purchase the best boots money can buy to help them avoid slipping as much as possible, Iannone says they still have to be careful while walking on ice.

“Even with the proper footwear, people have to be careful because ice is so slick. Getting the proper footwear with the proper soling is key — and it’s a big market,” he said. “More and more companies are starting to produce footwear for people if they want to get out into those conditions.”