Merryweather Outdoors, an Ithaca based business run by Susan Mann has mission to make children’s outdoor wear that keeps kids WARM and DRY and FOCUSED ON FUN. We love spending time outdoors, but come the cold weather, it’s always a challenge to think of how to dress toddlers and preschoolers so that they stay warm. Its not a lot of fun playing outside with cold hands or cold feet. And winter boots for this age group can be particularly intimidating – heavy, hard-soled, stiff and uncomfortable. Sue says “As a South African I grew up outside – we had to be cajoled inside for meals.” That love of the outdoors is something that she wanted to pass along to her son. “I’ve come to love winter – it can be so magical – but that first winter with Luke, we couldn’t find appropriate footwear that would actually keep him warm. Everything we could find was just your standard winter boot downsized to a baby – that didn’t work for us”. The Merryweather infant winter boot system is the product of Susan's first winter as a mother. It is an adaption of the Inuit mukluk concept, which Sue’s outdoor-educator, Canadian, winter-loving husband had introduced her too. “Once we had some footwear we felt actually worked, we went skiing, sledding, snow-shoeing, ice-skating, snow-man building and yes – even overnight winter camping in a snow cave – and baby and all had warm and toasty feet all the time."
Merryluks, Cabin Booties and Super Socks can be worn separately or layered to create the perfect protection for indoors or outdoors. Merryluks are flexible, adjustable and waterproof, not to mention CUTE!
You can learn more about this fabulous local company at http://www.merryweatheroutdoors.com/ and check out the Merryluk boot system in person at Jillian's Drawers, Bloom or Mama Goose.
