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Hanzo

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've seen repeatedly on here that many members are cautious about wearing their shoes when it is raining or there is snow out. As this will be my first winter with good quality shoes, I'm a bit perplexed as to why and was hoping someone could enlighten me.

While I don't think I'd want to wade across a stream in my AEs, whats wrong with walking down a wet road or over some snow? To my mind, ok, they get wet, they'll dry, whats the problem? But seeing all of the goloshes available and such, I have to think that I'm missing something.

Would someone please educate me?
 
#2 ·
I lived and worked for many years in several bad (i.e. wet) weather places -- London, Amsterdam and Moscow. I learned to wear leather soled shoes in good weather and rubber soled shoes when it rained or snowed. Ecco makes several decent looking water-proof shoes with rubber soles. If weather is really nasty, wear big ugly boots and change to nice dress shoes when you get to the office. Rubbers (for your shoes) are another alternative.

AD
 
#3 ·
I'm more worried about my uppers when it rains. Leather can spot and it isn't pretty. The soles, I'm not too worried about when walking around.
 
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#5 ·
I have a fair number of pairs of what I consider to be very nice shoes and I enjoy wearing them regularly, in all sorts of conditions. While I do not set out to do so, I have been caught out in heavy rain and slushy snow...and it is not the end of the world for your fine shoes. However, it takes a whole lot more time and effort to restore a badly soaked pair of fine leather shoes to their pristine condition, than it does to pull on a pair of overshoes and thereby, avoid the soaking. Consequently, I have pairs of Tingleys in the trunk of my car, under the seat in my truck and jammed in the bottom of my satchel bag. Just like with "a MasterCard"; never leave home without them! ;)
 
#6 ·
Rain & snow are one thing. I can wipe off the shoe and then mink oil. The problem is the damned salt they use to melt the snow. That can really ruin the leather. I've got a pair of Filsons that are my go to shoes for slush, but have been eying the DSW sales rack for a pair of go to Hell ropers for the worst of winter.
 
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#7 ·
I recently had my old Justin Ropers reshod with Vibram soles. I also waterproofed them with mink oil.

While they are not as waterproof as waders, they are not as ugly either. In fact the silhouette from above is very similar to my Alden Monk straps.

This is a good way to keep an old pair of boots (or shoes) useful. The Vibram soles cost $60.00. I had the mink oil in the house. The soles will probably out live me. A fair investment. (And if I ever buy another Ducati I will be all set...)
 
#10 ·
If I know that it is going to rain, I have a few pairs of beater J&M shoes that I wear. Most I've found on ebay new for under $50. With a little drizzle, I don't worry too much about what shoes I'm going to wear. But if it is pouring, I'm going to avoid wearing the shoes that I care about. If there is even a chance of rain, suede shoes are out.

Last winter, I just wore beater J&Ms with rubber soles. My biggest concern with nicer shoes isn't so much the snow, but the salt. I'm not sure whether I'll continue wearing beater shoes or get a pair of boots/overshoes or something similar this winter, but I'll probably still be keeping my nicer shoes out of the slush.
 
#11 ·
Do we really have to have nice weather and poor weather leather shoes?

I saw the Swims that AE sells, but there is no way I am paying close to $100 on them.

There has to be an affordable option that allows us to wear the shoes we like without worrying about the conditions?
 
#12 ·
ptrck2184 said:
Do we really have to have nice weather and poor weather leather shoes?

I saw the Swims that AE sells, but there is no way I am paying close to $100 on them.

There has to be an affordable option that allows us to wear the shoes we like without worrying about the conditions?
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If it means saving my $1000 EG and G&G's, I'll pay the $100 for a pair of swims. Personally, I've never had a problem with rain and leather shoes, maybe I was lucky I don't know. I do know I'll be getting me a pair of overshoes as I will be moving back to AL/GA soon enough.
 
#14 ·
Hanzo said:
To my mind, ok, they get wet, they'll dry, whats the problem?
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The problem is that leather is a fibrous material. When it is dry, the fibres are tightly held together, so when you walk on a hard and abrasive surface such as concrete, the leather sole will stand up quite well to the shear stress that walking imposes on it.

When the leather gets wet, the fibres absorb water, expand and lose strength, this makes them much more vulnerable to shearing forces.

As a result, walking on hard surfaces with wet leather soles will wear them down very quickly. Allowing water to penetrate deep into the shoe will tend to undermine the shoe as the expansion due to water absorption tends to slightly loosen formerly tightly bound shoe components.

One commonly used solution other than galoshes, is to have thin rubber coverings, a popular one is the Topy, glued to the sole by a cobbler.
 
#18 ·
My biggest problem is driving in the winter. My car's floor mat collects snow and salt. I have a nasty habit of resting my left foot on its side while driving. This creates a wet and salty stain on the outer edge of my left shoe. I've ruined two pairs of shoes because of this.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Finian McLonergan said:
The problem is that leather is a fibrous material. When it is dry, the fibres are tightly held together, so when you walk on a hard and abrasive surface such as concrete, the leather sole will stand up quite well to the shear stress that walking imposes on it.

When the leather gets wet, the fibres absorb water, expand and lose strength, this makes them much more vulnerable to shearing forces.

As a result, walking on hard surfaces with wet leather soles will wear them down very quickly. Allowing water to penetrate deep into the shoe will tend to undermine the shoe as the expansion due to water absorption tends to slightly loosen formerly tightly bound shoe components.

One commonly used solution other than galoshes, is to have thin rubber coverings, a popular one is the Topy, glued to the sole by a cobbler.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I was wondering, thank you.
 
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