Up For Debate: Swims Galoshes…

The move to ‘proper’ shoes, rather than trainers, is one I have very little problem making in purely aesthetic terms.

Unfortunately, most good shoes (i.e. Goodyear welted) start in the region of £180. Even more unfortunately, given the state of our island’s weather, they tend to come with leather soles and uppers made from real leather rather than the synthetic rubbish on most of our trainers.

Great during the summer, perilous when it’s wet and, as we saw recently, the UK becomes really wet. Rubber shoes are available, but few of them excite me, and even then, the uppers run the risk of drowning and rotting.

The solution is the topic of today’s discussion – and a new series on Sharper Living: “Up For Debate”.

Galoshes: a funny name to match the funny looks, but there is nothing comical about the thought processes behind these rubber overshoes. In fact, the Galosh was born from the realisation that people who spend a large amount of their hard-earned money on shoes, only for one soggy day to leave them in tatters.

SWIMS, the Swedish waterproof-footwear experts who make those delightful waterproof loafers, have created their signature Galosh in a range of colours and I have to say, I’m not sure if I like them or not. I’m really taken with the practicality of them, and – deployed correctly – I’ve seen them look quite cool.

There remains a nagging feeling that it’s slightly perverse and it makes me think I’m wearing foot-condoms. Unfortunately, my shoes all seem to be getting ruined in the wet; the brown and black are also rather inoffensive and, to my eyes, are starting to look better or better. Is this familiarity of am I actually beginning to like them?

What do you think? Continue the debate in the comments!