Shoes and cold states (Michigan, Alaska, Canada and so on)

Is there anyone here who lives in the cold places like Michigan, Alaska, or Canada? What kind of shoes do you wear in winters when it is below zero outside? It seems impossible to purchase stylish shoes for that cold weather. While brands like UGG definitely suck stylewise, brands like Barker don't even produce shoes for that weather.

What about this article? I don't really know what is needed for snow in particular, rather than just inclement weather generally, but +1 for the C&J Snowdon as a nice rugged boot.

I live in Canada and the real threat to shoes is SALT. When the icy weather gets here, they dumpy tons of ice on the roads and sidewalk to help melt it. If you walk all day in this salt, it will literally eat your shoes. You will also notice a very heavy "salt stain" on the leather of your shoes. Most businessmen wear some type of boot (not a stylish brogue type boot, but an ugly big pair of snow boots and slip their dress shoes on when they get in the office. Depending on how far North you live and how bad your weather gets, style soon goes out the window when it is minus 30. People wear Davy Crockett type hats with ear muffs, big down filled parkas and snow boots. In the more milder climates like Toronto it is not as bad, but Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary,Edmonton you just put on whatever it takes to keep your ass warm !!



jmills said:

I don't really know what is needed for snow in particular

Click to expand...

Inside the shoes the fur is desired to make your feet feel warm. Thanks for the article.



Cabana Boy said:

I live in Canada and the real threat to shoes is SALT.

Click to expand...

I second your opinion.

The salt in Toronto is the worst. I just wear my red wing 877s or beater leather boots and change at the office.

I personnally own a Sorel boots like one of these, and what i do is that i keep the nice dress shoes in the office and wear these outside of it.
So do most people here in Montreal. Winter is depressing for style here.

I wore Gentleman Travelers (Redwing) in Michigan. They were toasty, and more dressy than Sorel to boot.

Johnston & Murphy has a few pairs of dress shoes with rubber soles, meant for winter months. I will say, however, that there is no real offense to salt. Make sure you wipe clean your shoes everyday after walking through any salted areas.


http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/product.aspx?c=1215&sc=1215&sid=Shoes&pid=91267

There's also a Lefler Cap Toe and a Lefler Chukka in leather. Good luck



the_sulks said:

Is there anyone here who lives in the cold places like Michigan, Alaska, or Canada? What kind of shoes do you wear in winters when it is below zero outside? It seems impossible to purchase stylish shoes for that cold weather. While brands like UGG definitely suck stylewise, brands like Barker don't even produce shoes for that weather.

Click to expand...

Caribou boots are nice.

Also Eddie Bauer duck boots are also nice to wear.

If you are into all leather shoe then it's best for you to buy wool socks to keep your feet warm.

I think leather boots with wool socks (though this isn't absolutely essential) is far more versatile than those ugly looking Sorels that you only can wear during Winter, though with the sun up, you'd probably want to get out of those boots and into your John Lobb and Girlings.

I have a pair of Bean Boots for when it is particularly snowy or slushy and/or I am spending a lot of time walking around outside. Otherwise I will wear a pair of Alden shell tanker boots if I am just going to and from the office. They are rugged enough that if I stop anywhere I don't need to worry about falling on my butt on the ice and as long as I brush the salt and grime away when I get to the office in the morning, and then give them a better brushing when I get home, they are fine.

The recent inclement weather in London [rain], plus last Spring's washout has got me seriously pondering options for dealing with rain, as opposed to snow.

I'm thinking along the lines of a burgundy / oxblood shell cordovan derby with dainite soles. I prefer a more sleak look, hence derbies as opposed to chukkas. The ideal - but expensive - solution would be a pair of oxfords and a pair of derby's in shell cordovan with dainite soles.

Rain is my main fear, as opposed to snow and slush.



the_sulks said:

Is there anyone here who lives in the cold places like Michigan, Alaska, or Canada? What kind of shoes do you wear in winters when it is below zero outside? It seems impossible to purchase stylish shoes for that cold weather. While brands like UGG definitely suck stylewise, brands like Barker don't even produce shoes for that weather.

Click to expand...

How are you going to wear them? In and out of a vehicle or short walks versus trudging long distances on foot?



bboysdontcryy said:

I think leather boots with wool socks (though this isn't absolutely essential) is far more versatile than those ugly looking Sorels that you only can wear during Winter, though with the sun up, you'd probably want to get out of those boots and into your John Lobb and Girlings.

Click to expand...

Like someone mentioned in this thread, style goes outta the window when it gets cold.
Last winter, we had a period so cold, -30 degrees avg; during of which i was wearing my old 6" Timberland boots, they just couldnt handle that kind of weather, so i overnighted a pair of Sorels that same day.