Can you wear moccasins in winter? – CDL#82

Published at Dec 4, 2020

Peut-on porter des mocassins en hiver ? – CDL#82

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Cover photo credit: Aurlands

The loafer is a shoe considered more spring/summer: leaving part of the instep uncovered, it is often worn without socks or with invisible socks.

Can we also wear them when the thermometer drops, when the weather turns bad?

I was recently asked this question by a reader about Seventh Width loafers:

I found the question interesting because I like the idea of being able to wear a garment more than what is initially planned. .

So, moccasins, yes or no in winter?

To answer you right now, the answer is " yes, but ". Let's see together what is hidden behind this "but".

The temperature

Since the moccasin leaves part of the foot uncovered, one may wonder:

Will my feet be cold?

I think you need to have good socks first. To protect your foot, your instep, your calf too.

They are ideally made of wool , or wool/cashmere.

If the loafers are the right size , they are rather tight to your foot. You cannot wear very thick socks.

You can, however, opt for mid-calf socks, high socks, thin and elegant.

Bresciani wool knee-highs , distributed by Mes Chaussettes Rouges

You may also be able to wear mid-weight socks without being too constricted.

To learn more about the different types of socks that exist and to get our brand recommendations, head to → this article ←

The question of temperature arises because the moccasin remains a shoe with little coverage.

I would say that with good socks you can wear them down to 2 or 3° , or even 0° but not in negative temperatures.

So if you live in an area where it doesn't get very cold, you'll be fine.

If you want to dig deeper into the subject of cold feet, Benoît has made a dedicated video on the subject.

The impact of bad weather

1. On the upper of your shoe

If it rains, is the leather at risk?

I talked about the type of shoe leathers suitable for rain in this article .

To summarize, you have three options:

Bookbound leather

It is leather covered with a layer of plastic.

Bookbound leather has many drawbacks , but it has the advantage of not being afraid of water. The drops run off the plastic without penetrating.

Bookbound leather loafers are easy to find. This shiny, smooth-looking leather goes well with the rather sleek shape of this shoe.

My GH Bass bookbound leather loafers after a walk in the rain. You can see that the water drops on the platform, at the front, remain on the surface.

Oily leather

Enriched with grease, it is a robust leather that resists rain.

It is less common to find loafers made of oiled leather. Oiled leather is a material with a slightly more rustic appearance, while the loafer is a slightly more elegant, refined shoe in its traditional form.

I found a trace of such a model at Sebago , but it is no longer on sale.

Waterproofing spray on smooth leather, suede, etc.

It is also an abuse of language to speak of a "waterproofing" spray. Applying it provides light surface protection to your shoe. A spray does not make your shoe 100% waterproof.

For this type of product, we recommend Invulner from Saphir or Footwear Repel from Granger's.

Benoit's recommendation: Granger's. Bluesign certified and PFC-free.

2. On the sole of your shoe

Rain means wet, slippery and even muddy ground.

To avoid breaking your face, you should absolutely avoid walking on a leather sole. Water will make you slip and soften the leather, which can wear out the sole prematurely.

You need a rubber sole , which grips well on wet ground and does not get damaged when exposed to water. To do this, you can either go through a shoe repair operation , either by having loafers with a rubber sole as a base.

Markowski loafers with perforated leather soles and no tread. Not suitable for wet ground

Velasca moccasins with Vibram rubber sole. Suitable for wet ground

Since we are talking about rubber sole loafers, you should know that there are loafers with a commando sole, with studs.

I think first of all of the Paraboot Reims model, but I also see some at Grenson or Carmina , for example.

Click here if you want more shoe brand recommendations.

black moccasin white sock green velvet pants

Grenson loafers . Worn here with velvet pants, for a more autumn/winter look.

Regarding water infiltration between the sole and the upper, I find that it is not too much of an issue as long as, as seen in the previous part, you do not use moccasins in a very rainy environment. That being said, you can remember this classification of each construction, from the most waterproof to the least waterproof:

Norwegian > GoodYear > Blake > Glued/welded

This article will give you all the information you need to know to make your shoes last. It covers the construction, but also the sole or the leather.

3. On your foot

If it rains, can water get in at the instep?

The question arises because in moccasins, part of your foot is exposed.

I did a test by walking for about fifteen minutes in moderate rain in moccasins. I didn't get a single drop of rain on my socks.

I think there are two criteria to consider

The intensity of the rain. During my walk, the rain was not very sustained. If it is very violent, it will surely be different.
The leg opening of your pants . In my case, the pants I wore were a bit baggy. Therefore, they covered a good part of my instep. If you wear pants that are tighter at the ankle, thus exposing more of your foot, there is a greater risk of raindrops getting on your socks.

The final word

The moccasin is not a winter shoe. It cannot be a strict substitute for good boots.

However, under moderate conditions , with adequate port , it is quite possible to wear them.

For this article, I spoke with Jordan, who loves and often wears loafers. He told me:

I would say that in the city you can spend almost the entire winter in moccasins.