Hi Katrina! We appreciate you sharing your experience, and we’re sorry to hear that the boots didn’t work out as expected for your winter trip. Our reviews come from our customers' honest feedback and experiences, and while many have found them comfortable and suitable for winter and snow, we understand that footwear performance can vary depending on individual usage and conditions.
Our boots are designed for winter wear, but for icy or very slippery and wet surfaces, shoe grips are definitely recommended for extra traction, as with any footwear not specifically made for extreme winter conditions. As for breaking in, this also varies depending on the user but based on customer feedback, the break-in period for our Zephyr boots, if any, is usually none or quite minimal compared to other boots in the market. In your case, please give it a short time of 3-4 wears for you to get used to the boots comfortably.
We truly appreciate your feedback and will take it into account. If there's anything we can do to assist you further, please feel free to reach out!