Now that the sun has been shining, I realize I miss the rain! I love the rain – except for when I get wet…it ruins my hair, it makes my clothes soggy, and the water leaks into my shoes. So, last Wednesday when it was raining, I opted for my pink rain coat to keep my clothes dry and my trusty Tony Lamas to keep my feet dry! I probably looked a little funny with my pants rolled up on my way to work, but I also dislike the bottoms of my pants wet all day. How often do I get to show off the tops of my boots anyways?
Back to my boots…I decided to wear my Tony Lamas because they keep my feet nice and dry. Since my boots are a pull-on style there are no holes for the water to get into. Along with that, they are leather. Leather is naturally water-resistant, meaning that it can withstand rain, walking through puddles, etc…but if I were to stand in a puddle of water for long enough I will eventually have wet feet. I know it was popular many years ago for people to saturate their boots in water and then wear them until they were dry to create the ‘perfect fit’ with their boots. We have come a long way from that time.
The first problem that I have with saturated boots: not all types of leather will look the same after they are wet. There are some types of leather, i.e. rough-out, that don’t look the same after they are wet and chances are you bought that specific boot because of its looks. In that case, the best thing to do with that type of boot is get it home and spray a water and stain protector spray on it ASAP. The second problem I have with this method is that many boots these days are made with leather as well as other materials. These other materials may not be able to be seen, but they cannot withstand water to the extent that leather can, thus causing it to fall apart. The third and probably biggest problem I have with this method: boots should fit well when you first purchase them! Of course – like any other type of footwear – after a few wears they are more comfortable, but they should not be painful when you first put them on!
The easiest way to prepare any pair boots for the rain – water and stain protector spray. Once you’ve found the perfect fit boots, remember they are a great choice for the rain!
