Overshoes/Galoshes

[beachape]

I'm a bit new to the whole wearing dress shoes everyday routine. I have two pairs of clunkier,rubber soled dress shoes, and a couple pairs of nicer leather soled shoes. Winter will be here (upper midwest) before you know it, so I'm looking for a pair of overshoes to protect against rain, snow, salt etc. So far the best ones I've seen online are the tingley executive half zip...but there have been a number of reviews about them ripping from sliding your foot in.

Questions:

1) Any good overshoe recommendations? (place of purchase may be helpful as well)
2) Do they scuff/damage your nice shoes?
3) Do you tuck your pant legs into these things? How to keep your pants from getting wet/salt stained from snow?
4) Will the "clunkier" rubber soled shoes fit in these things, or should I just save them for my nicer leather soled shoes?
5) Any other winter shoe care tips appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[M80]

If price is no object, get some swims. They have a lining that will polish your shoes.

Allen Edmonds carries them.

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonlin...0000000001_-1?categoryId=216&top_category=216
http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonlin...0000000001_-1?categoryId=216&top_category=216

 

[galopede]

Never seen anyone wearing anything like that over here!

 

[Cuttingboard]

Never seen anyone wearing anything like that over here!

Really...I thought it rained more often on your side of the pond?

 

[Pescara]

I've used Totes for years, which are available just about everywhere or directly from the company:

http://www.totes-isotoner.com/category/rain+products/rainwear+/rubber+footwear+.do?nType=2

Ugly but effective. They will dull a shine slightly but better that salt stains. I keep a plastic bag in my briefcase to stuff them in.

 

[galopede]

Really...I thought it rained more often on your side of the pond?

Quite possibly but have still never seen anything like that!

Just searched the Totes UK website and they don't sell them here.

 

[Thelonius1]

I have a couple pairs of Swims overshoes and I love them. They are cuishioned to pad your feet in addition to saving your soles from rain and rock salt in teh winter and the different colors allow a bit of personality. I bought them 4 years ago and they're still holding up well.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Back in my wintery homeland, I'd just buy a couple pairs of the cheapest ones out there ever fall and wear them into the ground.

 

[drewmac]

The Allen-Edmonds ones are amazing! Comfortable, easy to fit over shoes, and they still look stylish

 

[M80]

overshoe porn (swims)

 

[Thelonius1]

overshoe porn (swims)

Sweet, I've got a pair of purple and a pair of black, they are nice!

 

[Rivguy]

The Allen-Edmonds ones are amazing! Comfortable, easy to fit over shoes, and they still look stylish

All of my dress shoes are AE so I like to protect them and these are great. Depending on the weather, I have some rubber soled AEs that I will wear if it is wet or very little snow. I have some totes, but as others have said, they can dull a nice shine. If it is moderate or heavy snow then I break out the LL Bean rubber mocs or boots and toss my shoes in a leather duffel or brief case. Casual Friday may see me in a nice pair of Danners. This has worked well for me for years. They put a lot of salt down in my area and that ruins shoes.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[Doc4]

My preference would be for something that will let you wade through puddles of ankle-deep slush without fear.

http://www.overshoesonline.com/t314/Dress-Overshoes-Zipper-Rubber.htm
http://www.overshoesonline.com/unx1/NEOS-Uptowner-X-Overshoe.htm

 

[beachape]

Those swims certainly look attractive, but for heavy rain and snow, I'm thinking you'd need something a bit more substantial.

 

[blantyre]

Neos mean business.

http://www.overshoe.com/

Not especially pretty but then neither is a Chicago winter.

 

[kg4ghn]

NEVER, EVER WEAR THESE!!!! EVER!!! DON'T EVEN THINK OF IT!!! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILL BE WORSE FOR YOUR IMAGE - AND SELF-RESPECT THAN BEING SEEN WEARING OVER BOOTS OR WORSE YET GALOSHES!!

UNLESS YOU ARE UNDER 5 YEARS OLD THAT IS........OR OVER 75

Wear old shoes OR a light hiking boot of some kind. If need be, carry your good shoes in another bag and change into them at your destination. If it's that bad outside, people will understand because that is what they will be doing themselves.

Please tell us that you won't do this.......don't be a laughing stock. If you are in a situation where you need to be in dress shoes I can just about guarantee you people - and your peers - won't be wearing these artifacts of the 1950's.

Yeah, but tell us how you really feel.

 

[Cuttingboard]

My sarcasm meter cannot decide....

Wear your clunkers, old shoes OR a light hiking boot of some kind.

I don't have old shoes or clunkers. I keep all of my shoes in tip top shape. And I do not hike so hiking boots are out of the question. I do have rubber half boots with a knobby rubber sole that I wear when its snowing.

Please tell us that you won't do this.......don't be a laughing stock. If you are in a situation where you must be in dress shoes I can just about guarantee you people - and your peers - won't be wearing these artifacts of the 1950's.

I see men in suits wearing rubber overshoes all the time here in DC. But when it does snow several inches, they wear boots like the ones I described above.

If your dress shoes do get wet/salt covered.....

1. Immediately wash all salt off with damp rag ASAP
2. Dry them out Slowly at home stuffed with newspaper BUT not near a hot source or radiator. Restuff with dry paper if they get too soaked.
3. Put shoe trees in them after they are dried out
4. As a preventative, spray them with a silicon spray (available at shoe stores) that are safe for leather at the beginning of the season. This will make them water-resistant.

Very helpful information ^^^!

 

[Pescara]

Silicone spray has its uses on workboots, I would not use on fine leather. If salt is not immediately removed, you may have a chance with a weak solution of distilled white vinegar and water; I use Lexol cleaner.

 

[Doc4]

Please tell us that you won't do this.......don't be a laughing stock. If you are in a situation where you must be in dress shoes I can just about guarantee you people - and your peers - won't be wearing these artifacts of the 1950's.

As someone who shaves daily with a straight razor from the 19th century, I can agree that using something from the 1950s is laughably modern.

 

[Go West Young Man]

NEVER, EVER WEAR THESE!!!! EVER!!! DON'T EVEN THINK OF IT!!! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILL BE WORSE FOR YOUR IMAGE - AND SELF-RESPECT THAN BEING SEEN WEARING OVER BOOTS OR WORSE YET GALOSHES!!.

And which wintery city do you live in?
These are standard issue for every Canadian male from November through March.