Real stories · No breaking-in week

New shoes always meant a week of plasters — these were comfortable from the very first walk

Comfortable from the first walk to the shops — no breaking-in week, no plasters in my handbag. I'm 67, and for most of my life new shoes have come with a sentence: a week of rubbed heels, a blister on the little toe and a box of plasters living in my handbag. I'd wear new boots round the house for days 'to soften them up', and still come home limping from the first proper outing.

What I wanted was a winter boot that was comfortable on day one.

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

They're made to adapt naturally to the shape of your foot to keep friction and pressure down — which is why there was no breaking-in at all: I put them on and walked into town the same day. They're flexible rather than stiff, there's a warm, soft lining inside, and the anti-slip sole holds wet and uneven pavements.

They adapt to the shape of your foot to keep friction down — which is why I walked into town in them the morning they arrived, and came home without a single plaster.

At £34.95 — half the usual £70 — they cost less than the last pair I gave up on after the blisters.

They've since done the market, the cobbles in town and a long walk with Winnie, and the box of plasters has quietly moved out of my handbag. Sandra, who has a drawer of boots she 'can't get on with', asked for the link. 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 new shoes also come with a week of plasters, do have a look. The Noriellea is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 370 women, it comes in camel, red, blue, grey and green, in UK sizes 2 to 9 — and at half price, the neutral colours always go first.