This is my first pair of snow boots. I love these! They are cute, Ive received compliments on them. They perform well for the intended use. I went sledding and built snowmen with my children for hours, my feet never became wet and stayed nice and warm. The soles are a soft rubbery material, almost like roughened silicone. Ive only worn them for one winter and the treads have maintained very well. I worried that the grip would be worn easily when worn to the store on pavement, but Ive experienced zero problems. I highly recommend these boots and would purchase again in the future.