Just tried them out today after the first snow fall. It was less than 40 degrees and my feet stayed warm. The faux fur lining seems to be for warmth, style and comfort. I did not slip walking in a couple inches of snow. So, the shoes have pretty good traction in that regard.

The overall look of the boots are great. I bought the brown ones, and the subtle faded look of the leather and flat heel gives it a very trendy look that would make people think that the boots cost triple what I paid for them. And because of the laces, pant legs tuck very easily into them. It's really not that big of a deal to have to loosen the laces to put them on or take them off - that's the way most boots are.

I agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned the arch support - there is none. And if you have wide feet and wear thick socks, you may find the boots to be a bit narrow. And the sole can initially feel rigid - which is not uncommon with boots, and may go away once they are worn in. But, those who are used to wearing flats without arch support and have average feet, should feel quite comfy in these boots. In fact, they are probably more comfortable than a lot of boot you will find due to their light weight and faux fur padding.

My mom actually asked for a pair of these for Christmas after seeing mine. And given that they are ridiculously cheap and come in different colors (and we wear the same size so I can borrow them), they make the perfect Christmas gift.