Beauty

1. Types of winter men’s shoes
2. Rules for choosing winter shoes — comfort and safety
3. Climate and lifestyle

Well, this is a responsible matter — the choice of winter shoes. You need comfortable, warm — and at the same time light enough so that your legs do not get tired. It would be nice, of course, to have one pair for several seasons. It is not always easy to find and buy exactly the shoes you want right away. Especially to men. After all, for the most part they are not lovers of long shopping. Go to the store, choose, pay — this is what an ideal purchase should be, many of them believe.

But in reality, it doesn’t always work out that way. If a person cares what to wear and how to feel at the same time, he is unlikely to choose winter boots in five minutes. But long shopping trips are also useless — unless, of course, this in itself gives you pleasure. How to spend less time shopping? Prepare to buy in advance. The easiest way to do this is to answer in detail what kind of shoes you need.

Types of winter men’s shoes

You can easily call any of your shoes “just shoes” — it doesn’t get worse from this. But everything changes, one has only to be face to face with the whole variety of assortment of shoe stores. You can, of course, already in the store to consider in detail each model and think about whether it is right for you. Too tiring? Let’s take a brief tour of the types of winter shoes right now.

If you need shoes for a formal suit, for business meetings and the office, these are oxfords. These elegant shoes with laces are well known to any city dweller. If you haven’t worn them yourself, you’ve probably seen them on someone else. Classic oxfords are usually made of smooth leather, most often black. Less common are brown, gray, burgundy models, always soft shades. They have a rather thin sole and, attention — closed lacing. This means that the sides of the boot are tightly connected by laces, there is no distance between them.

Winter oxford shoes will have thicker soles. Inside, of course, there must be a heater. It is good if the boot covers the ankle, although this is not typical for oxfords in general. Even models for winter retain a strict classic look.

A more informal option is brogues. The same oxfords are taken as the basis here, but with perforation and in a more diverse range of colors. The height of the shaft, the thickness of the sole also varies. Different types of leather can be used as a material.

In general, it would be nice to have a second pair to replace the classic winter boots. It should be the kind of shoes that you can go anywhere without thinking about the dress code. Accordingly, it should also be combined with any informal clothing. Ideal option — winter boots-timberlands. High, ankle-covering boot in nubuck with laces and thick tractor soles.

The original color of Timberland shoes is yellow. Therefore, it is often called just that — “yellow shoes”. But today on sale you can find models of different colors — black, gray, brown, beige. An obligatory detail is a leather pad on top, tightly fitting the leg when lacing.

Timberlands are considered «anti-stress» shoes. They have a comfortable heel that fixes the foot well and a shock-absorbing insole. Therefore, they become the favorite winter boots of travelers, those who work outdoors or just like to walk.

And what to do in winter for lovers of sneakers and sneakers? In a large shoe store, you will definitely find suitable shoes for them. Winter sneakers and sneakers are always higher than usual, they have fur or other insulation inside. You need to pay special attention to this, because some models are good for autumn, but in winter you will freeze in them. Some manufacturers make it easy for us to choose. They simply indicate on the box the temperature at which a particular pair can be worn.

Rules for choosing winter shoes — comfort and safety

Perhaps only the lazy did not write about the advantages of genuine leather over artificial materials. True, today the situation with artificial leather shoes is somewhat different from what it was, say, twenty years ago. Leather substitutes are often used even by eminent manufacturers. The question is the quality of the material.

Good artificial leather is quite dense, but not hard, does not have a pungent odor. Outwardly, it differs little from natural. True, even if these requirements are met, such shoes can behave differently when worn. But if the brand inspires confidence, why not give it a try?

Winter boots made of suede or nubuck always attract special attention. Only in one case there is no point in buying them. If special shoe care is burdensome for you. In summer or early autumn, when it is dry, these boots can be taken care of less often. True, they will quickly lose their appearance, but that’s all. In winter or in the off-season, you will have to regularly clean them and treat them with water-repellent agents. Otherwise, the feet will get wet, and the shoes themselves will not last even one season. Moreover, boots made of natural nubuck or suede will definitely not be cheap.

The sole is a particularly important detail when choosing winter shoes. In the warm season, this is just an element of style. Perhaps, only when buying sneakers for running or the gym, we choose a model with a certain sole. In other cases, the main thing is to like it and look good. But in winter, it’s more of a matter of taking care of yourself. Remember the hero of «Irony of Fate». In «boots with thin soles» in the cold, he did not survive long.

A good sole for men’s winter boots is not only thick enough, but also grooved. Feeling like you are on a skating rink all the time is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Elegant shoes with leather soles will have to be left for the warm season. Shoes with polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic rubber soles will be safe on ice.

It is also important how the sole is connected to the boot. If only with glue — it’s not very reliable. Better if stitched. But, most likely, the seams will need to be further processed so that the shoes do not get wet. The best option is a combination of these two methods. It is often used by the most far-sighted manufacturers. But, again, if you liked boots with stitched soles, there is no reason to refuse to buy. Ask the store for special wax — it is enough to process the seams with it to make the shoes waterproof.

Insulation in winter boots can be both natural and artificial. However, this is necessarily fur, and not a thin textile lining. But a good insulation will successfully perform its function only under one condition. Shoes should not be too tight. There should be some space between the foot and the lining. Of course, this does not mean that the boots should be a size larger than necessary. But half the size for winter shoes is a completely justified difference.

It is clear that the winter season brings its own amendments to the style. Let’s say you don’t usually wear high boots. But in winter, this is a prerequisite if you have to walk, even for short distances. It is enough to walk a few meters so that the snow gets into the shoes and the feet get wet. Therefore, even the classic shoes that we have already talked about are made a little overpriced for winter.

And the most comfortable winter boots are those in which the ankle is completely closed. They fit snugly to the leg, closing it from snow and cold. These models usually have a soft elastic upper that hugs the ankle. Lacing, if present, also helps to regulate the degree of girth.

If you don’t like fiddling with laces, pay attention to models with a zipper on the side and lacing in front. The latter performs a more decorative function here. And yet it can be weakened or, conversely, made tighter, if necessary. Someone chooses shoes without laces at all — this is a matter of taste. But if the boots are matched to a business suit, the presence of laces is considered mandatory.

Climate and lifestyle

All of the above, of course, is true for the average resident of Russia. That is, if the winter is cold enough, with frost. But, of course, it is worth correlating all recommendations with the realities in which you live. For example, if there are no snowdrifts in your climate, but it is raining, there is no point in buying shoes with a thick fur lining. And suede boots also become a dubious experiment in this case.

Another option is if the winter is cold, but you hardly ever go outside. Spend all your time either in the car or in the office. Of course, in warm winter shoes, it will most likely be hot. It is worth picking up something lighter, and it is best to have two pairs — for the street and for the car (indoors).

In a word, when choosing men’s winter boots, you should not only remember the generally accepted recommendations, but also adapt them to your lifestyle. Then winter will feel like a truly wonderful time of the year. It really is when we remember to take care of ourselves.

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