Real stories · The boots that are kind to knees

Winter boots I don't have to recover from — warm, steady, and kind to my knees

Warm, steady, and kind to my knees — boots I don't have to recover from. That's what these are. I'm 67, and my knees have long had a veto on footwear. Most winter boots are an argument: stiff soles that send every kerb straight up to the joints, a weight like diving equipment, and by teatime I'm walking like I've borrowed someone else's legs.

What I wanted was a winter boot my knees would simply not notice.

Then I found the Noriellea from a British label called York Boutique — a soft ankle boot in a supple leather-look finish (PU rather than heavy hide) with a neat strap detail. I chose the carmine red; there's camel, blue, grey and green as well.

The relief is built into the sole. It's designed to reduce pressure on the feet and joints, it bends where a foot actually bends, and it grips — a proper anti-slip tread that holds on wet and uneven pavements — which is why a full morning of errands no longer ends in the armchair with my legs up. Inside it's softly lined and warm, so the boots go on at eight and simply stay on.

A sole that takes the pressure off the joints and grips the wet pavement — which is why my knees have stopped filing complaints.

At £34.95 — half the usual £70 — they cost less than the 'proper' boots currently gathering dust for being unbearable.

They have since done the market, the long way round the park with Winnie, and one cobbled street that would normally be a negotiation — nothing to report, which from my knees is glowing praise. 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 your boots also come with a recovery period, do have a look. The Noriellea is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 370 women, it comes in red, camel, blue, grey and green, in UK sizes 2 to 10 — and at half price, the neutral colours always go first.