Be Lenka Winter Neo

The Be Lenka Winter Neo is an improved version of their previous leather winter boot.

Featuring handcrafted premium quality Nappa leather, a warm wool inner lining, and waterproof protective membrane, these boots offer a great combination of durability, warmth and flexibility.

Sizing

The sizing is unisex European sizes. Most people tend to go a size up in this model due to the lining.

The chart below gives Be Lenka's sizing advice for this model specifically, based on your measurements.

The size chart from Be Lenka below indicates the inner length and width of the shoes in centimeters. Be Lenka recommends adding an excess of 0.5 - 1.2 cm to the total length of your foot, which will give you your ideal shoe size.

The fit style for this model is triangular in the footprint shape, which differs from other Be Lenka models as they often make a bean shaped footprint design. The toebox is very wide, in between a square and sloping shape. It should accomodate most forefoot shapes easily, and may even feel roomier than needed for folks with longer narrow feet. 

The volume suits medium to low volume feet best. For high volume feet, it may feel a little tight over the midfoot but if it's just a little tight the leather should stretch and mould to the shape of your foot over time. They can be worn without the wooly insoles for more volume, though it would be less warm.

Ground Feel

Despite the tready soles and wooly insoles, the Winter Neo actually has a ton of ground feel! You'll notice changes in terrain and get useful navigational info through the nerve endings in the soles of the feet. The soles are extra flexible in all directions and the leather isn't stiff, so they allow for a great variety of articulation in foot and ankle movements.

They feel more barefoot than most zero drop winter options, and are comparable in groundfeel to some of our athletic models. Being that close to the ground can mean being close to the cold in winter, especially if you're standing still for a while as you might while waiting for a bus or standing in a queue, but early customer feedback indicate these will keep you toasty. 

Care

You can take a look at our article on shoe care including lots of useful info on leather maintenance here.  Be Lenka also has a video on leather care you can check out here.

With leather's natural water resistance and the water resistant layer between the leather and wool lining, these have great protection from the start. Maintaining the leather uppers regularly by cleaning off drying road salt and applying conditioner and protective treatments will keep your boots looking good and help their water protection last over years of wear.

It should be fine to hand wash the insoles of your boots to maintain freshness, and lay flat to dry.

The Winter Neo is made from the following materials:

• Upper: Nappa leather
• Lining: Merino / Standard wool, water-resistant membrane
• Sole: Rubber (WinterGrip)
• Insole (removable): Merino wool / wool & recycled PU

Best Uses

For a fashionable winter look, these are a great option. Easily styled for a variety of expressions and aesthetics, they can go from combat boot to cozy dressy depending on how you wear them. The off-white wool lining is barely visible when they are done up, giving them a more androgynous look compared to similar models. 

So far customers have suggested to us that they are very warm and have decent grip, so functionally they have a lot of promise for Toronto winters. We look forward to seeing how they do this year and can give more information once we get a better sense for them over the long term.

For now we think they'd be a lovely option for festive get togethers and outdoor winter market trips. Their high quality materials and construction combines with their classic style to create an option that's luxurious enough for special events or date night, while providing the functionality of a go-to for everyday wear.