Northeast Weather Footwear (Help Needed!)

[Apollo]

Afternoon Gents,

I recently moved to the Northeast and noticed the weather is awful and unpredictable (I'm from Hawaii). I wear a lot of chinos and leather wingtip shoes. However, it rains a lot here and I imagine that when winter comes it will snow a lot.

I heard of LL Bean boots to wear when it rains or snows, but I am searching for something more elegant (dappered and upscale) to wear with chinos and dress shirts. I'm looking for a pair of boots or shoes that I could wear when the weather attacks my footwear (I'm not sure how often it rains or snows, so I might wear them 2 - 4 times a week).

Any sage advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[ElDub]

depends on your budget,obv. I like these: https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/m...2BMill&start=2

Old thread: https://threads.dappered.com/showthr...winter-weather

https://threads.dappered.com/showthr...2-Winter-Boots

https://dappered.com/2018/01/12-late...l-dressed-guy/

https://dappered.com/2017/10/6-style...-worth-owning/

https://dappered.com/2017/01/wet-wea...e-stylish-guy/

[Apollo]

depends on your budget,obv. I like these: https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/m...2BMill&start=2

Old thread: https://threads.dappered.com/showthr...winter-weather

https://threads.dappered.com/showthr...2-Winter-Boots

https://dappered.com/2018/01/12-late...l-dressed-guy/

https://dappered.com/2017/10/6-style...-worth-owning/

https://dappered.com/2017/01/wet-wea...e-stylish-guy/

You rock!

I like the Higgins as well. Do they ever go on sale? I hate paying retail because whenever I do a sale happens right before or after.

My budget is $450 per pair. I am preferably looking for a brown pair of boots. I was thinking of getting the Higgins and a pair of Sorels or LL Bean. I don't know, what do you think?

[mrage]

These are a deal right now. Goodyear welt, easy resole when they wear out. https://www.jackerwin.com/collection...=5505152679951

[LesserBlackDog]

Leather soles are pretty wretched in rain, snow, and ice tho.

[Pete E]

As much as I like those Higgens boots, there is no way I would subject them to snow slush conditions as they will be ruined in no time. As already meantioned, leather soled boots are pretty poor in wet conditions so the minimum to go with is a rubber soled Leather. In one of the links provided by ElDub, they talk about "beater boots" and I think that's the approach I would take if I wanted to wear a leather boot.

Don't forget to factor in the cold either, both to your feet and your legs, meaning once the Fall arrives properly, I can't see you staying with chino's very long so your style is going to change anyway..Personally I would switch to each cords or moleskins trousers of the appropriate weight.

Getting back to the foot ware, the American solution is the duckboot such as the Sorrel or LLBean. Not very elegant, but very practical.

Personally, for wet/cold conditions I turn to "wellies" (not sure what you Yanks call them?) I am not talking about the cheap PVC boots kids have, but the proper natural rubber boots designed for the shooting/hunting market.



This version has the basic 2mm neoprene but they also do a version with a 5mm neoprene lining and extra foot bed insulation.

It common to see men wearing these (or other similar wellies) around town in winter and they usually change into decent shoes once they get to work ect…

I only mention them because the provided far more protection to the lower leg than a typical Duckboot design...

[77Pat]

As much as I like those Higgens boots, there is no way I would subject them to snow slush conditions as they will be ruined in no time. As already meantioned, leather soled boots are pretty poor in wet conditions so the minimum to go with is a rubber soled Leather. In one of the links provided by ElDub, they talk about "beater boots" and I think that's the approach I would take if I wanted to wear a leather boot.

Don't forget to factor in the cold either, both to your feet and your legs, meaning once the Fall arrives properly, I can't see you staying with chino's very long so your style is going to change anyway..Personally I would switch to each cords or moleskins trousers of the appropriate weight.

Getting back to the foot ware, the American solution is the duckboot such as the Sorrel or LLBean. Not very elegant, but very practical.

Personally, for wet/cold conditions I turn to "wellies" (not sure what you Yanks call them?) I am not talking about the cheap PVC boots kids have, but the proper natural rubber boots designed for the shooting/hunting market.



This version has the basic 2mm neoprene but they also do a version with a 5mm neoprene lining and extra foot bed insulation.

It common to see men wearing these (or other similar wellies) around town in winter and they usually change into decent shoes once they get to work ect…

I only mention them because the provided far more protection to the lower leg than a typical Duckboot design...

I have looked at these, but haven't pulled the trigger. Would more likely go for bean boots though. https://www.zappos.com/p/hunter-orig...818405/color/3

[Pete E]

I have looked at these, but haven't pulled the trigger. Would more likely go for bean boots though. https://www.zappos.com/p/hunter-orig...818405/color/3

Personally, If I were you I would stick with the Bean boot..

Hunter have a bit of a mixed reputation over here in the UK..I had a pair of what on that site they call the " Hunter High Rain Boots" and the sole on them (grip wise) was terrible...I eventually went with the Le Chameau and they lasted me about 20 years of winter use and only really deteriorated then because I did not store them properly...Looking at those Hunter Chelsea boots I would imagine they would be cold through the elastic sides and cold in general compared to the Been boots. And cold will be an issue for you given where you come from...

[mark4]

I usually just wear a pair of gore tex or other waterproof breathable membrane 100% leather upper hiking boots, or work boots, and change into my dress shoes at the office. Unless I'm dressed casually in which case they go fine with jeans/chinos so no need to change shoes. The issue I have with Bean boots is the rubber does not breathe, at all. Wear them all day and your feet will be swimming in their own sweat by the end of the day. I do have a pair of Bean boots, I'm not totally against them, but I only wear them when it's REALLY wet.

[evanparker]

... LL Bean boots...when it rains or snows... more elegant

Being from Boston, i absolutely get what you're saying about those. You wouldn't be wrong to say they're not very sleek, or even exceedingly comfortable for more than a mile, but they work AMAZING, and really well built, and wouldn't ever want another thing on my feet when it's actually snowy and shitty out.

Snow, slush, salt and Ice is just so specific a thing to walk in, you really need specific footwear for it. Leather and suede will wick in salt and dirt, and greatly compromise even well treated leather. You basically need footwear you can HOSE OFF when you get home.

if you're wearing some kind of MENS FASHION BOOT, you will just not able to do that, and you'll be that pretty nice guy from Hawaii, that is slipping around and wearing the wrong boots, with a dainte sole, in the middle of winter.

What you really want in the snow are grippy sole, made of very soft durometer rubber, very very waterproof, flexible, warm. Soft rubber will still grip in the cold cold temperatures. a purpose built waterproof design assures you don't get wet, which is the most important thing. Being cold isn't so bad, compared to being cold AND wet. Once the water compromises your boot, you'll be cold and wet all day.

On a pair of standard boots, the Lug soles don't cut down into the snow and ice enough to get good traction, the harder rubber from these soles (meant for walking on concrete, say) will become very hard and slippery in the cold. Usually they're not very waterproof, at best a half heated liner inside the boot somewhere, but the GYW will not really keep all the water out.

I really advocate for you embracing the bean boot ugly, but alternatively you could also get some canadian type boots like Sorel, Baffin, or comparable boot for snow. Ones like that can perform comparably if you don't like the bean boot aesthetic.



My other tip for you is to wear your winter boots to where you are going, and then take them off at the door. Wear some loafers or some thing easy to get into when you get there. Wearing the winter boots all day is such a hot a sweaty and hot thing to have to do.




Welcome to the Northeast!