Real stories · Warm right up to the knee

In ankle boots my shins froze at every bus stop — these keep me warm right up to the knee

Warm from my toes right up to my knees — that's the difference these boots made to my winter. I'm 67, and in ankle boots the cold always found the gap: my shins and calves froze at every bus stop, the wind went straight up my trouser legs, and I'd come home with legs like ice that took an hour by the radiator to thaw.

What I wanted was a boot that covered my legs properly and was still comfortable to walk in.

Then I found the Belvoria from a British label called York Boutique — knee-high orthopaedic boots with a soft slouchy shaft, a side zip, a buckle at the ankle and a knitted cuff at the top. I chose the brown; there's black, red, purple and green too.

They come right up to just below the knee, with the knitted cuff sitting snug at the top, so there's no gap for the cold to get in — which is why my shins and calves stay warm at the bus stop now. And underneath it's a proper comfort boot: a cushioned insole that absorbs the impact, a stable block heel and a lightweight feel, so I can walk in them all morning.

Knee-high with a snug knitted cuff, and a cushioned insole underneath — which is why my legs stay warm at the bus stop and my feet stay comfortable all morning.

I'll be honest: at £44.95 I paused. Then I counted the hours I'd spent thawing my legs by the radiator — and it's half the usual £90.

They've done frosty dog walks, a freezing wait for the bus into town and a long Saturday at the market, and Pauline, who lives in ankle boots, keeps asking 'aren't you cold?' and getting the answer 'no'. I did check before ordering that I could send them back if they didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free.

If the cold finds your shins too, do have a look. The Belvoria is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 230 women, it comes in five colours, in sizes 2 to 10 — and the brown goes first.