Waterproof shoes for England?

You may not wear waterproof shoes for several years? Do you live in the Sahara? Even if it only rains a few times a year you can still wear them. Or heck, go crazy and wear them when it's sunny!

I just bought (and returned ) a snazzy pair of Gore-Tex waterpoof Ecco boots from Shoebuy. Returned because trip was cancelled (and yes, I already have plenty of other shoes).

Going to the UK for a week, you will guaranteed have rain. It's just a matter of how much.

I don't know what the climate is like where you come from, but, speaking as a native. Outside shoes = waterproof shoes, at least splashproof.
It is not the amount of rain, but how long it lasts and how many days it rains, and for how long. See here: http://www.holiday-weather.com/london/averages/
October: rain days = 15. I.E. if you are out all day, you will get rained on sooner or later. And puddles persist. even the day after rain there will be puddles to splash in.
"new pair of waterproof shoes? I may not wear them again for several years," - Where do you live, in the Sahara?

I think water proof shoes are definitely worth it even if you live in a place with a little rain. Since you mentioned you were bringing two pairs of sneakers, keep in mind that there are both running shoes and trail shoes that are available water proof. Not all water proof shoes look like rain boots. And when I say water proof I mean actual Gore Tex lined shoes, not just shoes that have been "treated" on the outside with some sort of water repellent coating.

I just bought a pair of Gore Tex lined Adidas trail runners for my upcoming trip. Check out Zappos.com for the largest variety. Type "Gore Tex" into the search window and look under shoes and look at all the different varieties of shoes that come up.

Personally, I think you will be fine with what you have so I wouldn't bother buying something special at this point. You will be in a city, not hiking through the mud in the countryside. If it is really pouring, you will duck into a museum or shop. Bring some wool socks and a small umbrella and I think you will manage fine for a week.

There is another trick you can use. I used it when coaching soccer. Use a gal zip lock bag or any other plastic bag and slip you foot with sock (or no sock) into the bag and into the shoe. You will need to cut off the top of the bag around the ankle. Otherwise it looks very funny. Also be carefully to not leave a flap that might catch water. The shoe will get wet but you foot will stay dry. It is a quick and easy solution if don't have waterproof shoes. Wet foot are not a joy and can quickly led to blister problems.

I wouldn't invest in a pair of waterproof shoes for a trip that's just a couple of weeks away. You won't have time to break them in properly, and if they're stiff or don't fit right they'll make you miserable whether it rains or not (and most likely it will).

I think your concern about "waterproof" shoes may be misplaced. I live in one of the rainiest parts of the US, with a climate much like Britain's, and I have no waterproof shoes (except hiking boots for occasional trail hikes). I wear Rockport World Tours almost every day, with rubber soles. I have a couple of pairs of dress shoes (from before retirement, now mostly for funerals) with thick rubber soles. For cities, how thick and sturdy your soles are matters more than whether the shoes themselves are waterproof. You're not likely to get your feet that wet even on rainy days in a big city where you spend time indoors and on sidewalks.

You might bring a couple of extra pairs of socks, or be prepared to buy them in London, in case your shoes get wet and don't dry quickly enough. Wool is good because it wicks moisture away from your feet and keeps them warm even if they get wet. Cotton is more comfortable (for me) but doesn't help with wet shoes or feet.

Have a wonderful trip with maybe a little rain to help you appreciate the nice days!

These would be my choice:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/35477?feat=630-GN1&page=women-s-l-l-bean-boots-8
I would not hesitate to wear them on a rainy day, with straight-leg jeans tucked down inside the tops. Apparently, these are one of the latest fashion trends, and L.L. Bean has hundreds of orders for them, according to an NBC news item on the Today show. I would get a lot of use out of these even after coming home from London, as we get a lot of rain in Nashville in the fall and spring.

You don't have time to order and receive them before your trip (unless you had them overnight/rush-ship you a pair). Is there an L.L. Bean store near you?

If you don't get water proof shoes, then be sure to take two pairs with you. That way, you can dry one pair out while you wear the other pair. Remember the trick of stuffing them with newspaper at night to help dry them out. And I agree with the wool socks. I don't know that I would go the plastic bag route. You could also try treating the athletic shoes with silicon. I don't know if it would work with that material, but would it hurt to try it? It might help repel the rain. Don't go puddle jumping! Or at least only jump over them! :)

Pam

I'm a broken record on this topic. I have found nothing to compare to Ahnu Montara boots. I wear them with Sockwell Circulator compression socks which are part synthetic and part wool. Even in the strongest downpour, my feet have never been wet and neither have the socks. The boots breathe and are not Gore-Tex, but something very similar. They look great with pants and actually make my boats look smaller.

You can find them at REI or some other outdoors stores. I wear them for everything, but I haven't ever waded through deep puddles with them. I have gone through shallow ones though. I have 2 pair, navy and gray, and had absolutely no break in issues. They are great for long days on my feet, whether it's rough terrain or city streets and cobblestones. The high tops help to support my ankles. Combined with the socks, they greatly diminish the fatigue and foot, knee, leg and back pain from being on my feet so much.

If you don't have someplace local to try them, Zappos can come to the rescue with 2 day free delivery for their "VIP" customers. Somehow I got to be one, although I didn't apply or anything. The places that sell the Sockwell socks aren't nearly so fast, so other options like those already mentioned might be better for your short timeframe.

I live in the Sonoran Desert, not the Sahara. I wear these boots and socks here at home, too. They work just as well in the dry heat as the cold rain.

I used to live between Seattle and Tacoma in WA. I never had any boots like this back then and my feet got wet and cold frequently, no matter what kind of shoes I wore. It was due to the constant in and out of the rain. If you are planning to be outside walking much on your trip, even on paved sidewalks or streets, your shoes will likely get wetter than you want.

Going to the UK for a week, you will guaranteed have rain. It's just a matter of how much

Really? Guaranteed? Yes it is raining today. But last week it didn't rain at all, in fact it was to wall sun. So......

Utter nonsense.

I've managed to have extremely nice weather during my many trips to the UK with little to no rain. I usually wear my only pair of shoes for the trip and have never had a problem. Hiking in the Dales, I traveled with two pairs of shoes, neither waterproof, just in case one got wet. I have one pair of goretex ankle shoes…hiking boots?…that I seldom use and only around here in the winter when shoveling, sometimes. They are several years old and look like new… In other words, I think waterproof shoes are overkill for most travels, and especially if you're staying in London. Sorry, rather verbose here, in other words, I agree with Laura. Two pairs should be more than adequate. If the worse happens, you move to the dry pair. Have a great trip. Wray

Take a look at the Ariat brand. They make western boots and all types of shoes. I buy their black leather slip-on shoes, sturdy and they keep me warm and dry.

Take a look at the Ariat brand. They make western boots and all types of shoes. I buy their black leather slip-on shoes, sturdy and they keep me warm and dry.

I bought waterproof shoes (Keens) prior to a UK trip four years ago. Definitely one of top 10 best spending decisions ever!!! We got caught in a downpour in London and in the time it took to hail a cab, we were absolutely soaked. One of my family members had on sneakers, and they were still wet days later. Neither packing nor wearing wet sneakers is a good option. I was also surprised at how often I wore the shoes after returning home from the trip! The other good thing about having waterproof shoes is that you really don't need to pack a second pair, which will free up lots of suitcase space/weight. This time of year you could just wear the waterproof pair on the plane, and maybe pack a pair of sports sandals for hanging out in the hotel. Both Keen and Merrill have a number of waterproof shoes to choose from and are pretty easy to find in stores.

Saucony (www.saucony.com) has waterproof athletic shoes. I bought a pair for my recent trip to London. Despite being a veteran traveler, I broke the number one shoe rule. Break your shoes in! Well, I have several pairs of Saucony (all of them a half size larger than my normal size) and these new waterproof ones seemed to fit well at home when I received them the day prior to leaving. HOWEVER, apparently, they are a slightly different cut, my feet swelled from all the walking and I ended up with blisters on four toes and a huge bruised big toenail. Sheesh! At least Saucony is willing to take them back!

BTW, could you spray one of your current athletic shoes with waterproof spray to help a bit?

Thank you all for your suggestions. The water-repellent spray is a good idea.

The statement "going to the UK for a week. You will guaranted have rain. It's just of how much", is completely ridiculous. Last fall I was there for a month, we had rain only once in the month, it was in the morning and didn't last long. I've been to the lots, and usually for three weeks, there have been trips that we didn't have any raln. There isn't any reason to take water proof shoes.

I have to agree with Robin. I've never experienced any kind of torrential downpour that would require waterproof shoes. I take Keen shoes because I only wear Keen shoes, so I would recommend wearing what your feet are used too. I would also recommend two pairs of shoes because the current sneaker trend of lightweight shoes made of thin material could leave you with wet feet in a sudden storm.