That’s how Dr. Ashley Lee, a board-certified podiatrist at the Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists, found out about a pair of winter boots that now have her stamp of approval. Over the years, patient after patient would come in and rave to Dr. Lee about the Columbia Ice Maiden boots, she tells PEOPLE.
I was hearing so much about them and then I looked them up and was reading reviews and it really is a great boot,” she says. The faux fur-lined shoes also happen to be Amazon’s number one best-selling women’s mid-calf boots. Reason being: they come with a bunch of beneficial pain-relieving features, like the ankle-hugging design that reaches the mid-calf and the lace-up closure that adds extra support. These details give your feet more stability and may help them feel less fatigued (and be less prone to cramping) during long, active days, says Dr. Lee.
When you have ankle pain from an old injury, arthritis, or tendonitis, having something that can mimic a brace, it might be a mid-calf or higher cut, that can be the most supportive,” she says. “That [boot] is very supportive but easy to walk in.