Beaters vs. Overshoes

I've up until recently only wore AEs, and I've treated them like crap. Having recently invested in a few pairs of nicer shoes, I'd like to actually treat these with a little bit of respect. Living in the northeast means lots of rain, snow, and slush.

I have two choices here: buy overshoes and protect the nicer shoes, or buy a couple of beaters and wear those to the office on the occasional rainy day.

The thing is - I don't want to spend tons of money. Not willing to buy $300 "beaters". And if I've learned anything from my youth, it's that buying cheap shoes usually ends up being an uncomfortable and shortlived experience. But perhaps, in the world of B&S and eBay, there is a chance of finding some leather-soled beauties that can last through a damp winter.

On the other hand, I really like the look of Swims, especially the Mobster model (Swims). Then again, these are very pricey, but they are somewhat elegant (relatively speaking).

For the record, I am only 24 and so I'm not sure if wearing overshoes/galoshes would end up looking ridiculous. I've never seen anyone my age wearing them, so I'm a bit hesitant. But then again, how much better is it to wear Doc Martens with a suit?

What have you guys in the rainier/snowier climates found works for you?

I have a pair of black suede Merrill's slip on shoes that I wear up here in the tundra. I bring my shoes in a separate bag and put them on when I get in the office. I don't like fussing around with rubbers and this has worked great so far.

I say get some rubber to slide over the good ones. I love the word galoshes! Its fun to say

Santoni makes some decent rubber-soled shoes in the Nuvola line if you're willing to go that route

I would rather wear beaters than overshoes. Overshoes are a bit too precious for a dude my age, like I'm a little too worried about my footwear. Now that you're upgrading, what about using some of your AEs for this purpose?

I prefer overshoes. Being under the age of 30 and wearing overshoes will definitely draw some attention. I was able to cop a pair of Swims on sale from Revolve for super cheap (like $50?) and I love them.

I prefer overshoes for executing hits. I find them rather useful in guarding against splashback and leaving identifiable footprints

I do both.
I'll leave 2 pairs of loafers at the office, and wear the beaters to & from.
or
I have galoshes just in case i need, and not ashamed to wear them at all.
I no longer give a crap what others think..if they even think.

I'm 25 and wear overshoes (Tingleys). They look ridiculous, but anyone who sees them and actually thinks I'm a tosser for wearing them isn't the type of person who would understand why I would wear them anyway. The Swims are a nicer option.

I just picked up a bargain pair of Swims Classics from Jenners in Edinburgh. Whilst they don't "look great", I'll use them in emergencies...

Originally Posted by illeagle

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Santoni makes some decent rubber-soled shoes in the Nuvola line if you're willing to go that route

Probably over $200 though, right? I'm not at the point where I can be spending that kind of money on shoes I'll treat like crap. Mainly, because my regular rotation is only 4 and so I'd like to expand that before investing in peripherals.

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

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Probably over $200 though, right? I'm not at the point where I can be spending that kind of money on shoes I'll treat like crap. Mainly, because my regular rotation is only 4 and so I'd like to expand that before investing in peripherals.

If you're rotating shoes every day and using shoe trees, then I don't see a problem with just wearing your nice shoes. Do you have a particularly long walking commute? Alternatively, you could put a rubber topy on a pair or two and then wear those when it rains. If your shoes are adequately polished then the wax should protect them from moderate rain.

My experience is that wearing dry leather shoes out in the rain isn't particularly bad for the soles but that wearing wet leather soles out in the rain destroys them far more quickly than I would have thought possible.

I just wear a pair of old beaters, and change when I get into the office. I don't think the swims look terrible, but they would be my second option.

My question is whether the overshoes damage the finish on the shoes? I guess not, since so many here have said they use them.

But why not just rotate your old shoes to beaters and wear those in the rain? And/or wear those and Swims, and keep a nice pair at the office?

Since all of my shoes have leather soles, I wear rubber overshoes. $13 to extend the life of my leathers is a no-brainer.