Sorel Cate the Great boots - update at end of thread - YouLookFab Forum

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Sorel Cate the Great boots - update at end of thread

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Do any of you have these boots? I'm trying them and love the comfort, but I wish they had a zipper so you didn't have to lace and unlace them every time you put them on or take them off.

That said, I tried them on anyway, and they lace easier than other lace-up styles I've experienced --the laces slip through the grommets pretty easily, which helps it go quickly. And it's nice that they can be adjusted for varying fits depending on whether they're being worn with tights, jeans, etc.

What has your experience been with these, if any? And how do you think they look for me?

Sorry, pics before going out for a run, so not styled, but you can see how they would fit with something like the skirted leggings here.

Pics 4-5 are my existing "foul weather" boots. Ugg moto boots and Aquitalia booties. Nothing tall in my closet for this purpose except the convertible Ugg Cortonas, which are not proper foul-weather boots and I'd rather not mess them up too much.

Opinions welcome!

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SOREL Cate the Great Wedge

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Diana

Veteran

They look great! SUPER sleek for a snow boot. I wish sorel would make this style with a lower heel so I could wear it too!

Are they warm enough? Of course there is always shearling insoles....

Susie

Veteran

Oh I WISH I had those boots! I think they look fab for you.

Ginger

Veteran

Those are really gorgeous, and personally I like lace-ups for exactly the reason you state - adjustability with different socks/pants/hosiery. It's a good thing for my budget that I really can't justify these.

tammyw

All look great! So pretty.

A total aside, but where is your top from? The color is so fabulous!

Anonymous

I think they look great on you, and seem to fill a need in your wardrobe, but the lacing up factor is a deal breaker for me. I am also wary of that covered wedge business that a few of these boots have - I suppose I worry that the leather or whatever it is will get all messed up back there with normal wear and tear, being less impervious to abuse than a actual heel. That's always been in my mind when I look at covered wedges.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I'm of the opinion that putting zippers on lace-up boots is redundant and somewhat fraudulent. Why have two fastenings? Pick one already! Furthermore, I think the lacing action is rather sexy. Think of them as corsets for your calves.

There you go. One woman's deal breaker is another's USP. But I'm weird like that. They look fantastic, of course.

kellygirl

Veteran

I love them on you! If you are willing to lace them up and don't have to take them on and off all the time, I'd say keep them. I have a pair of NF lace up snow boots--my husband bought them for me for Christmas several years ago and while I love the look of them, they are a pain to deal with in the snow. I don't wear them in the house when it's snowy out which requires too much on and off (for this lazy girl.)

catgirl

Veteran

They are gorgeous - a friend and I were admiring them recently. But the lacing and unlacing of tall snow boots that will be too hot indoors is not that practical for me. I get that the zipper is an area of vulnerability for feet getting wet but I've never had that happen with good boots.

And Approprio - laces to tighten, zip to get on and off in a timely way. Makes complete sense to me!

Greyscale

Veteran

I've always thought those boots look amazing - they make me wish I lived somewhere with winter. So for aesthetics alone, I vote yes. But will they work with pants that aren't skinnies? Or is the idea that you'd wear your shorter winter boots with some outfits, and these with skinnies or skirts?

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Yeah Una, I know. I understand the reasoning perfectly but ... Like I said, I'm weird like that. You go ahead with your zippers and laces on boots. I'll sit that one out, thanks.

shedev

Veteran

I really like them. Too bad they have no zippers.

sydney2

I have those boots & love them. I leave the laces through the grommets, loosen the laces & slip them off. So they are fully laced up just loosened all the way then I just slip them back on tighten the laces & tie. I have had mine for about 3 years, I live in the pacific northwest so they have made it through lots & lots of rain plus some occasional snow. I do waterproof them and they have held up great, even the covered heel which I was initially concerned about. I also walk everywhere so they have held up plus been really comfortable for a lot of miles & abuse.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Killer boots, Janet.

Are they too high at over 3 inches?

Una, you're dead right: "laces to tighten, zip to get on and off in a timely way. Makes complete sense to me!"

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks Angie! These are certainly stunning and I have the shorter shaft Sorel wedges which slip on and are quite comfy and stable. However, we take our boots on and off so much here, a zip or pull on style like Bogs is essential for higher boots.

On the other hand, Janet has a different climate!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

They look great, Janet. I'd be wary of the no zip, too, for the reason Una states -- on/off has to be quick for snow boots where I live. And I probably couldn't manage that high a heel for real inclement weather. But if it works for your climate, go for it.

sarah

Veteran

I think they look amazing on you. I have lace-up boots for winter, and I don't mind them. And I wear them all the time. My boots are a bit shorter Kamiks, mind you, which might make a difference. As long as you just have to put your foot in and tighten (as opposed to actually undoing the laces), I think you'd be fine.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Gorgeous boots, and, judging from your pics, you could use another pair of weather boots. I couldn't take the lacing, either, though, and I think I'd like less of a heel, so I could really walk safely over ice.

donnat

Veteran

No zip lace ups = deal breaker. They look great though

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm coming back to this late, sorry to leave it hanging!

Tammyw, the top is from Athleta from about a year and a half ago. I think it was marketed as a rash guard, but I wear it for running and cycling too. It's a great top! I have matching board shorts too. I also love that color.

Greyscale, these would be for wearing with skinnies and the skirted leggings, maybe skirts (as rarely as I wear them). I wouldn't bother wearing bootcuts in the weather that would necessitate these boots. I would wear my shorter booties with rolled boyfriend jeans.

Angie, the heel height doesn't feel as high as it is. The wedge and slight platform sole make these extremely comfortable. They feel warm but not TOO warm (I have some old rain boots that are rubber and feel stifling as they don't breathe at all, and I don't like that feeling). There is enough room in them to wear substantial, warm wool socks too, which is good.

Sydney2, good point, and yes -- I can definitely just loosen and tighten the laces to put these on and off, which is good. It is not necessary to take the laces out of the holes at all.

Suz and Una make a great point about the climate I live in. We are not a big boots-on and -off climate or culture around here. I did a couple of on-and-off sessions with these just to see how much of a PITA the process would be, and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. It really doesn't take long. I don't anticipate needing to take off and put on boots like this during the course of a day -- I would wear them on days when I'll be out and about (going to my studio or running errands) so they would go on in the morning and stay on all day long, so really it's not a big ordeal. I would not wear them to go clothes or shoe shopping.

I do like how they look, which is rare for a winter-functional boot. I was a little worried about the covered wedge, and in fact, I usually don't like the look of a wedge on a tall boot, but for some reason, I don't mind it on these, maybe because the lighter grey panel provides some break to the expanse of long black boot.

I haven't decided yet. I initially wrote them off when I pulled them out of the box and saw there was no zipper, but after trying them on decided to give them more consideration. I liked them a lot more after trying them on. It's nice that I have a generous return window with Zappos! Thanks for all the feedback and opinions.

Anonymous

I really like the look of these.
Your climate is different from mine, so it's up to you whether you think they're practical for your lifestyle. It sounds like they are.
For my cold climate, these would be too fancy for real outdoor use, and too hot for run-from-the-car-and-walk-around-the-mall use.

catgirl

Veteran

I have the Kamiks which are a lower shaft and soft fabrication so easier to get on and off. I also have the Sorel Conquest Carly boot from a couple of years ago, which only laces up. Those are a pain, but I really just bought it for the look, and find it practical when I am doing things like trick or treating with kids. Part of the issue for me is that I have high arches, so getting my feet into higher shaft pull on boots like Fryes is always a struggle. If you love them and understand their limitations, they are a fun boot for sure.

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dakotacheryl

Veteran

I have these exact boots, as well as a pair with shorter height up the calf....LOVE them both, the wedges are a comfortable height, and I can wear them ALL day and they are not too warm when I am indoors..and I run hot. I don't miss having a zipper at all.

Enjoy these beauties!!

SOREL 'Joan of Arctic' Waterproof Wedge Boot (Women)

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SOREL Cate the Great Wedge

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Elizabeth P

Veteran

OK, I have a confession. I can't get past how great your legs are! You complain about having "sturdy" thighs, yet you look AMAZING in these tights. Seriously.

Now, what was the question? Oh yeah... I think you've figured this out yourself, but if pulling the laces tight is easy, they probably won't bother you. My DD had lace up boots last year (and she hates tying even sneakers) and she managed just fine. As long as it's a one pull, great sliding grommets. In fact, I picked up snow boots for all three of us gals at Costco that are lace ups, for this winter. I do agree fussing with tightening, hole by hole, would drive you bonkers. And that they may not be the best for shoe shopping

I'd have the same concerns as Lisa over the wedge, however it sounds like others have had these heels/boots with no issues. They certainly suit your style.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

A day later, and these boots are starting to sink into my psyche. I realized this morning that I kind of want some bad weather so I can just wear them already -- even though it doesn't HAVE to be bad weather to wear them!

I think those Kamiks and the Conquest Carlys are so cute, but I'm drawn to the slightly less gear-ish, more streamlined look of these, I think because they don't look so foul-weather specific that it would look weird to wear them on a sunny winter day. DakotaCheryl, thank you for the endorsement -- I tend to run warm these days, too, but my feet don't always follow the rest of me that way. Just wearing these around the house a bit yesterday, on a cold day here, made me feel like these would be a comfortable option for being both indoors and outdoors in the winter in my climate (which rarely gets colder than the upper 20s in the winter -- we stay more in the 30s).

Aw, Elizabeth, you are so kind. I know we are our own worst critics -- I see the bulge above my knees and the saddlebags, but I realize more and more that others don't see those things the way I do. The rest of the women in my family have been teased for "bird legs" or "bony knees" and I most definitely don't have those, but in a way wished I did because no one ever had problems pulling jeans up over "bird leg" thighs. These days when I feel that way, I remind myself that none of them rode a bike across an entire midwest state or ran a half marathon either.

catgirl

Veteran

If you love them, keep them!

Totally agree with Elizabeth that I don't see and have never seen your supposed flaws. I don't consider them flaws, so I would be comfortable saying they existed if I could see them - but honestly your legs look so svelte here!

Also wanted to let you know I wear the Ugg Cortonas all winter and they have held up well. I wipe them off with a leather wipe if they have crud or salt on them. Don't be afraid to wear them in snow!

Diana

Veteran

Just coming back to say that I would give up side zips in a heartbeat to have snow boots that fit like this.

Sorel, are you listening? Make these without the wedge!!!!!

AnnieMouse

Veteran

I have the Joan of Arctic wedges, and I'm waiting for it to get mushy and gross so I can wear them!

Style Fan

Veteran

I think they look great on you. I wish I could wear heels that high.

Anonymous

I'm glad these passed the indoor test!
They're super stylish. I really like the hidden wedge and the more feminine profile.

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