Boots

​If you've been downhill skiing even once, then you'll know how hard it can be to walk around in the rigid, unyielding ski boots. Swiss company Dahu is addressing that problem, with a two-part system that consists of a flexible inner liner boot and a hinged outer shell.

​In equestrian riding, it's important to keep one's heels pointing downward within the stirrups – if the heels move up, the rider has less control. This can be difficult to learn, however, which is why Gallop Equine has created the sensor-packin' Bluetooth-connected SmartBoot.

​Steel-spiked winter boots may be great on the ice, but on bare concrete or flooring – not so much. It was with this in mind that Canadian entrepreneur Darrell Bachmann created KickSpike boots, which feature spikes that pop in or out of the sole at the kick of a button.

Although downhill skiing itself is a lot of fun, trying to walk around in the boots can be … challenging. It was with this limitation in mind that British skier and entrepreneur Rony Shirion designed Zuke, a permanent attachment that brings a curved sole to ski boots.

​Astronauts travelling to and from the International Space Station aboard Boeing's new CST-100 Starliner may be wearing Reeboks. The footwear manufacturer has announced that it teamed up with space suit manufacturer David Clark Company, to create a boot for use in the spacecraft.

​​When you're shopping for winter boots, it would be good to know how well they do on ice – and there hasn't been a standard rating system in place for that until now, in the form of the Maximum Achievable Angle (MAA) testing method.

​Ice cleats may be good for preventing falls on ice and snow, but they aren't good indoors. To cut back on swapping shoes, a Swedish inventor has developed Gripforce, winter boots with retractable spikes in the soles that quickly swap between cleats and regular boots at the flip of a switch.

ThermaCELL released its wirelessly-controlled Heated Insoles in 2012, and I've been wondering about them ever since. Do the things actually work? I got the company to send me a pair, in order to find out.

The Rocky S2V Substratum boot holds up to the elements and even helps you start an emergency fire.

Meindl's new Tecvision Spike System makes winter navigation on slick, variable terrain easier than ever.

The Sidas Drywarmer boot dryer uses UV to dry and freshen soggy boots.

Korkers winter boots have interchangeable soles to give you the best traction in various conditions.