These are my 2nd La Canadienne, (1st pair I purchased over a decade ago for a year+ living in Ekaterinburg and Moscow, they won me over then with their warmth and traction incl on walking across the frozen rivers nearly daily)) and with this purchase they're going to be my Go To for winter boots and shoes. the Helene are gorgeous material and construction, and fr the looks of them the soles are just as good traction wise as my 1st pair over a decade ago.
the only negative is that the calf is too spacious at the top, like fr the knee to the top of my calf its got too much space which never happens as I've got 'well developed calves' . I wish they were more fitted all the way to the top for the look and also so no rain or snow drops in.
and, just a tip re sizing:, I;m usually an 8 or 8.5 but because of the shearling lining I thought to 1/2 size up to the 8.5 and that was accurate, the 8.5 fits perfectly with a bombas knee sock