Dress boots for the snow?

[ishakir]

Hello friends,

I'm on the market for a pair of dressy boots that are rugged enough to handle the Midwest's nasty snow / salt / sleet mixes common in the winters. I've ruined many a pair of excellent shoes walking around in this stuff. I'd like for them to be as affordable as possible but I am willing to spend some money if they seem worth it. So far, I've been looking at these Florsheim Gaffneys which are rather inexpensive. Anyone have any experience with this particular shoe in the snow? Any recommendations?

Pictures for reference (Florsheim Gaffney):

Thanks and stay warm!

 

[Doc4]

They look to have some suede, which will not survive.

Check out the boots offered by Trickers ... Pediwear has a good selection ... and be prepared to apply waterproofing rather than polish.

 

[JamesX]

Jodhpur Boots should work nicely.

Every English Shoe maker carry at least one model. But as a warning though, Salt and Wetness really KILLS leather shoes. You would need significant maintenance. Might just be easier to get a overshoe for existing shoes.

 

[Cary Grant]

My Rider Boot wingtip boots have been excellent against Minnesota winters...

 

[Grayland]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

My Rider Boot wingtip boots have been excellent against Minnesota winters...

Details? Shell Cordovan (probably not, huh?), commando sole?

 

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by Grayland

Details? Shell Cordovan (probably not, huh?), commando sole?

Calf, leather sole... I don't go tromping through drifts with them but they function fine in the snow/slush salt. Next pair will be a rubber/all-weather sole of some sort.

http://www.francos.com/items/index.a...0&venID=118027

 

[ktrp]

I saw those in person, the suede seemed odd to me. The black are all leather. The sole is more rugged then I'd like.

AE bayfield is similar style, though over twice as much. There are UK models in between those prices (and above), with Loake at the lower end and moving up from there.

 

[Frihed89]

I'd worry about salt, soot, etc damage to any nice pair of leather boots. It's one thing to tramp around in mud, but city snow, sleet and slush are leather killers.

 

[jjimison]

What about something quite tall, such as a riding boot? I'm considering a pair for trekking through the heavy stuff...

 

[TRINI]

Originally Posted by jjimison

What about something quite tall, such as a riding boot? I'm considering a pair for trekking through the heavy stuff..

No.

 

[soxpats]

Originally Posted by jjimison

What about something quite tall, such as a riding boot? I'm considering a pair for trekking through the heavy stuff...

HELL NO!

 

[retozimmermann]

Originally Posted by JamesX

Jodhpur Boots should work nicely.

Every English Shoe maker carry at least one model.

I don't think that's quite true. Although a perfectly fine boot, I'd know lots of English shoemakers who don't have one of these in their standard program.

Originally Posted by JamesX

But as a warning though, Salt and Wetness really KILLS leather shoes. You would need significant maintenance.

Might just be easier to get a overshoe for existing shoes.

+1, although if properly wiped and dried without heat double or triple soled leather shoes can stand quite a lot and even more with rubber soles.