Nike Freezing

September 13, 2010 11:55 AM

Help me find a pair of shoes and/or boots to wear while my Nike Frees hibernate for the winter!

I wear Nike Free 5.0s, and I love them. They're flexible, breathable, they provide great traction, and my feet feel stronger after wearing them for over a year. However, they're absolute hell in the winter; breeze cuts right through them to the point where it feels like I'm wearing socks, and snow soaks the soft outer lining pretty easily.

So, this is kind of a two-part question:

1. Are there any flexible shoes that keep one's feet warm?

Nike Frees are terribly insulated, and I feel like a Vibram or Jinga will have a sole that is way too thin.

2. If not, what is a good men's winter shoe/boot?

Basketball shoes work well enough, but provide neither traction nor flexibility, so I would like something that does at least one or the other. I'd prefer it not be something huge and clunky (I like light shoes, duh,) but those are inherent qualities of boots.

(Other background: I live in Grand Rapids, MI, so I have to walk through deep-ish snow from December-April. My feet aren't typically cold, so I don't need something super-insulating; just enough to keep the wind and water off them for a half-hour walk. If I need to jog or play sports, I'll bust out the Frees and call it good.)

posted by Turkey Glue to clothing, beauty, & fashion (8 answers total)

Vibram makes a shoe with a neoprene upper - might be worth a look. I got a chance to actually hold one of them and it seemed quite solid.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:58 AM on September 13, 2010

I don't have a pair, and the styling is a bit traditional, but how about the LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe? In the description: "Moccasin-like, flexible sole allows you to feel the forest floor"
posted by meowzilla at 12:02 PM on September 13, 2010

Flexible sole AND a steel shank? That'd be a neat trick :P
posted by restless_nomad at 12:04 PM on September 13, 2010

How about a work boot like the Red Wing classics or the Alden Indy boot? I like the LL Bean boots alot and they come in both insulated and non-insulated varieties.
posted by cazoo at 12:12 PM on September 13, 2010

Bow howdy, do I love my Salomons. (The link here is to the men's version; they have many colors.)

I live in Wisconsin and do a lot of walking around on snowy, icy pavement and getting on and off buses in places that may not have been shoveled properly. In the three years I've had mine, they've never let ANY snow or wind in. They have a Gore-Tex outside and the toes are nice and sturdy, too -- almost like a Keen, but way more flexible. I especially like them because I really want to avoid wearing "outdoor shoes" and "indoor shoes" -- these are pretty light and look like normal shoes, and I don't have to wait for them to dry off.

So, yeah, it's pretty much a typical trail running shoe and might not be what you're looking for. But I love these to death and am debating whether I should buy a brand new pair of bright red ones. They're awesome. They're not super tall around the ankles, but some Smartwool socks will help with that :)
posted by Madamina at 12:24 PM on September 13, 2010

er... BOY howdy :P

Also, I should address the warmth part. I get overly warm feet easily, but when I wear my Salomons my feet are not, in fact, too warm.

Thank you.
posted by Madamina at 12:26 PM on September 13, 2010

and I feel like a Vibram or Jinga will have a sole that is way too thin.

If you are actually looking at a Vibram (which I would strongly recommend based on personal experience) there is a model that would suit you very well. The upper is kangaroo leather, and the bottom is practically a bike tire (in a good way.) Walking on large gravel is no problem with these, at least for me. No issues with temperatures "soaking" through for me either, but winters here are usually tame.

Now the only downside is that you will likely want some warm toe socks go with them. There's a ton of manufacturers for those, but I've only bought Injinji in the past so I can't speak to comparisons. But as a fellow Nike Free fan, anything else wouldn't be as flexible as they are.
posted by Phyltre at 12:47 PM on September 13, 2010

Phyltre: Those look promising, but I'm concerned that deep snow would be a problem. I routinely walk through snow that goes above my basketball high-tops, so I feel like that could soak my socks or otherwise get my feet wet, which is the worst thing in winter.

Madamina: The Salomon is probably my best bet so far. I think my dad has a pair, so I'll ask his opinion too.

I'm going to keep looking, but I appreciate the help!
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:23 AM on September 14, 2010