Just like clothing, shoes take a transition once the summer weather rolls around. From open-toed espadrilles to flip-flops, there is almost a celebration among those who have been slipping their feet into boots for the majority of the year. With this is mind, boat shoes have become a comfortable and stylish way to welcome the summer heat, regardless if you happen to own a boat or not. Boat shoes are a good alternative for men, since most seasonal footwear is directed towards female consumers.
Boat shoes for men are synonymous with the outdoorsy, athletic male. Boat shoes were originally constructed by Paul Sperry in 1935, when he wanted a footwear that had the function of decent tracking to handle slippery ice or wet decks. The idea came to when he noticed his own dog’s agility for crossing these sorts of terrain; he then cut a siping pattern into his own shoes to replicate that. Typically, men’s boat shoes are made of leather, to repel water and keep the feet dry.
Men’s boat shoes are notorious for being worn by sailors, who naturally need the durability of a reliable and heavy-gripping shoe. Since Paul Sperry’s first prototype of the boat shoe, the concept and style of the shoes have gone through many stylistic changes. Since the 1980’s, boat shoes for men have grown increasingly popular as their shoe of choice. Although stylish, boat shoes prove to be an underestimated necessity among recreational boaters and sailors. They are also known as loafers, deck shoes, and slip-ons. All of which are synonymous in the sense that they are lace-less and typically leather. The original design influence was not only safety on ice or ship decks, but the native American moccasin that had a water resistant hide. These were treated with a special oil that water-proofed them and played a heavy part in the invention of the boat shoe.
Despite being perfect for sailors, the shoes require constant upkeep. Boat shoe oil should be applied between every use of the shoe in harsh conditions, to maintain water resistance and suppleness. The insoles should be removed and sprayed with an anti-fungal shoe cleaner to combat fungus and bacteria. The rubber soles should be replaced or repaired to prevent falling or slipping on wet or iced over ground.
If you want to buy a quality pair of boat shoes, they are going to be more costly but will provide long lasting performance and stability. If kept up, they should last several boating seasons without needing any kind of professional repair or replacement. Brand names such as Rockport or Timberland are companies that are praised for there boat shoes and provide a large variety of choices.
Overall, boat shoes are a specialty footwear meant to help sailors and boaters keep their footing while on the water and have been accepted as fashionable in popular culture. Although they require an almost constant upkeep, they have been proven over time to be worth the work and effort they need.
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