I'm so not girly when it comes to style and I won't wear heels, I just won't. I don't care how cute they are, I'm not running for a train or to the bus that's pulling away from the stop while I'm wearing heels. No way. That doesn't mean I don't like cute shoes, I do, and I really like it when it comes to fall and I have an excuse for new winter boots.

Here's the sacrifice I'll make, given my boot fetish. Boots are heavy and they take up a lot of space in your bag. They're a hassle in the airport, getting in and out of them in the security line is a drag. But if there's bad weather -- wet or cold conditions -- I want my feet to be warm and dry. I'll wear my boots on the plane or I'll figure out how to get them in my bag. I can be really resourceful when it comes to packing. And often we're on bad weather weekend getaways in the Pacific Northwest so I can just toss my boots in the car. That means I can take two pairs, if I'm so inclined.

Here are three styles I like this fall, all from different brands.

I love my Bogs (picked up at hardware store in Forks, Washington). Whenever I wear them, I get compliments. And my feet are wildly happy in them. They're comfortable, they keep my feet warm and dry, they are great for winter beach walks and stomping around in snow and just dealing with relentlessly wet city days. Adventure cruises often give you boots to use while you're on board but I love these so much that I packed them for my trip to Antarctica. I was the only person who wasn't crew that had their own boots. Crazy, maybe, but my cabin mate complained the whole time about her boots while I was at home in mine. It was totally worth the space and the weight. The boots I have list for $100 on the Bogs site, I paid about $75 for mine. They come in a bunch of colors and patterns.

Keen makes those bumper toed sandals that I'm not crazy about, style wise, but they make a lot of other stuff too. I tried to fight it, but I'm becoming a convert to their shoes because they keep my feet happy. I'm wearing Keen's Silverton for stomping around my city this fall. They're insulated and waterproof. I can vouch for how warm they are, but I haven't yet had a chance to see how dry they keep my feet. My sense is that they run just a little small -- I wish I'd got a half size bigger, but after just a few wearings, they're relaxing nicely and are fast becoming my favorites for the season. The styling is a bit like a clog meets a wellie, chunky and solid, but I like that look. They're built to walk in, too, and that matters a lot in a shoe you're packing for travel. They retail for $170, they come in brown and black.

Teva is probably best known for their sport sandals but they've got a full line of hikers and casual shoes as well. I'm totally digging their new Vero boot. It's a little bit like a Converse high top fell in love with a pair of Sorels and they had a love child. They've got that "I'm off to harness the dogsled" look about them, but they're nowhere close to the weight of a pair of Sorels. (I have a pair of those and trust me, that is more boot than you want to drag across the planet. I've done it.) The Vero is insulated and waterproof and ready for snow. And I think they're cute as all get out, great for hanging out at the lodge after that day on the slopes, but also, for swanning about the city doing holiday shopping on those biting cold days.The Vero retails for $180 and comes in five different colors.

Photo: Fall by Istelleinad via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review