Big Black Boots

I was reminded of those big black boots with the metal buckles we use to wear when we were kids. Mom had a big "State Fruit" basket in the basement with all the boots in it. We would have to dig through them all to find a pair that fit us. I remember snow days when we would all want to go outside (or Mom would make us go outside?) and have to fish around for boots. She would put bread bags on feet with elastics to hold them up and then our snowsuits and finally the big black boots with those metal buckles. There was no insulation in those rubber boots so how come we never got frostbitten?