Winter footwear - YouLookFab Forum

Woke up to 17 degree weather and 3 inches of snow, and it got me thinking about winter footwear.

Aside from my gear-ish snow boot, I have a waterproof sneaker and a waterproof stompy boot. I wear my Vasque gear boot when I will be out-and-about in actual snow, but the sneaker and stompy boot work fine for wet/slush/salt. I was considering dupe'ing my Vans or Cougars (have tried Aquatalia and Blondo boots, and my feet don't like them), but what I really want to do is utilize my non-weatherproof footwear.

I have treated all of my other sneakers and boots with waterproofing spray, but I am nervous to wear any of them in wetter/salty conditions. Before I go on an unnecessary shopping spree, I wanted to ask the forum about waterproofing - do you treat your non-winter footwear and wear it in winter? Or, do you have multiple pairs of actual weatherproof footwear?

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Moneysworth & Best ProTex Water & Stain Shoe Protector (10.5-Ounces)

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COUGAR Cougar Heston Waterproof Insulated Hiking Boot (Women) | Nordstrom

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Vans Vans Sk-8 Hi MTE Sneaker (Women) | Nordstrom

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5 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I don’t treat any of my footwear. They’re either waterproof or they’re not. I have multiple pairs of waterproof footwear. I have several pairs of Timberland boots, a few pairs of Blondos, one pair of Aquatalias, and several pairs of Salomon hiking shoes. I also have actual snow boots. I live in the high desert, but nearly all of our precipitation is snow. And then we’re out a lot, birding. They don’t use much salt here, though, so I don’t have any experience with what salt does. Years ago I remember using SnoSeal on hiking boots. It changed the look and texture of the boots. I think it was like those waxed jackets.

Anonymous

I treat mine for rain/snow and don’t own any actually made that way.

I do two coats cured for 72 hrs then repeat every 2 months if needed.

Janet

(website)

I have Sorels and Uggs (not the old school Uggs, actual leather moto boots and Chelsea boots by Ugg) that have never been treated, and they do fine. I mostly only tend to treat boots that are either suede or lighter color. I haven’t had any problems.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

NICE.

I have arctic FLEECE lined leather Converse with excellent traction, Gor-Tex Converse, and duck boots:

Converse Converse Chuck Taylor All Star CT 70 Street Warmer High Top Sneaker (Women) | Nordstrom

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Faux Fur Chelsea Sneaker (Women)

$89.95

Converse Converse Women's Chuck Taylor All Star Winter Knit & Fur Fashion Sneakers

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Gore-Tex Waterproof Lugged High Top Sneaker

Zappos

Sperry Saltwater Emboss Wool

notsaf

Seconding duck boots in an unusual colorway as a good option.

I do spray footwear and bags and it helps with rainy days and snow showers, but not with puddles and big snows.

kkards

it depends on what you are expecting in terms of "waterproof"...for sidewalks waterproof spray works fine, BUT don't execpt to step in puddles or slush above the bottom of your shoes and expect your foot to be dry...

AndiB

I have a couple pairs of not traditional Ugg waterproof and warm snow boots, one tall and another tall ankle. Not stylish but they do the trick when, like yesterday, a foot of snow was dropped in Michigan! They’re both suede like and I don’t treat them. I have other leather boots, tall and short, that I wear in winter weather, once say the worst has been cleared from sidewalks, pArking lots and streets. Those I do treat and care for lovingly. Had one pair resoled a couple years ago. My absolute favorites are a waterproof Chelsea boot I got on super discount on 6pm several years ago. La Canadiennes, and they are the absolute best, highest quality and well made shoes I’ve ever owned. Still holding up but looking to replace with the same. They are that good. i think mine are the Sara’s... but I love the lug sole on the other pair. The Sara’s are sleeker and can wear to work with trousers, crops and skirts

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nemosmom

Thanks, everyone! I don't encounter many puddles once the walks and parking lots have been cleared. If it's a cold, sunny, damp day there should be no reason I can't wear one of my other booties. I need to be better about taking risks and not baby-ing my pieces!!

Liesbeth

Nemosmom, I think your plan will work. Just be diligent with brushing off and treating your shoes if there's been snow and salt on them. If not, worst case scenario, it can dry into white lines that may be harder to clean.

I have 2 pairs of snowboots, and 2 waterproof ones, but treat the others and they're ok. No to velvet or other non leather fabric though!

Mainelady

I have actual snow and wet weather boots: 3 pairs of rain boots (2 tall, one ankle), For cold, snow and ice I have 2 pairs of Sorels, 1 Bogs, 1 Technica (tall boots), 1 Bos and Co, 1 LLBean, 1 shearling Ugg, (shin height), 1 Khombu and 1 Sperry duck, 1 LaCanadian, 1 Blondo and 1 Sorel (ankle).

I have used weather treatment sprays on my suede booties, but I find I don’t wear them outside when the weather is challenging. Most of them don’t have the treads I need.

LaPed

My boot rotation includes: 1 pair tall Bogs, 1 pair insulated Danner hiking boots (similar to your Vasques), 1 pair Ugg Adirondacks (shearling lined, vibram outsole, waterproof membrane). I also wear my Blundstones and my Thursday boots on milder days, along with the fleecy Vans (high-fiving my sneaker twin!).

The leather boots all get brushed off once at the end of the season and treated with a leather cream when I put them away for the summer (I think the one I have now is Otterwax, but for a long time I used the one from Dr Martens). At some point I'll re-Scotchguard the Vans because they're suede. I don't expect my shoes to look new forever, but I want them to last a long time. The Blundstones are on their fourth winter and are holding up well. I can't recall a time when they wet through, but I don't go through really deep puddles in them because of the gores on the sides. The Vans material repels water pretty well, but I don't really expect them to be waterproof because they have a lot of seams that could leak. So again, not my first choice on wet/slushy days. They are pretty warm though!

Aquamarine

I don’t usually treat my shoes/boots. I can’t be bothered and there are so many options now that I just choose to buy those if needed for a particular season. They are either waterproof or they’re not.

Style Fan

I don't treat my footwear. I only wear waterproof boots in the winter. The snow and salt are hard on my boots so I tend to be careful about what I walk around in. At the moment I have 3 pairs of winter boots and I plan to get another.
Gortex leather hiking boots that are insulated. Very warm.
Sorel snow boots. Very warm.
Clark's snow boots. Not so warm.

by Style Fan

Clarks Arctic Venture

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