It’s slush season, meaning now is probably a good time to take stock of your winter boot situation. Sorels will do well on the slopes, while Blundstones are well suited for puddles, as we’ve heard. But if you’re in need of a do-it-all, no-nonsense pair, the classic L.L.Bean Boot is one of the best bets you can make. As fortune would have it, there’s a version of the boot on sale right now at Nordstrom for under $100, down from $250; that’s a discount of 60 percent, or what we here at the Strategist would call a certified Very Good Deal. This particular pair has a shaft around eight inches tall (so on the higher end of what would be considered ankle-length but not knee-high), a protective water-resistant finish, and a warm shearling lining. Bean Boots also have a storied sartorial past, as they’ve been around for over 100 years (and were first sold as the Maine Hunting Shoe). “Any other winter duck boot is just trying to copy what L.L.Bean perfected more than a century ago, and I do not believe in straying from a classic,” explains Strategist editor Maxine Builder, who happens to be a self-described “L.L.Bean head.” Hers have survived New England winters, New York City slush, and everything in between. (A number of former and current Strategist staffers are on-the-record devotees as well.) While Bean Boots are an investment, they’re less so now — so we suggest you add to cart accordingly.
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