Galoshes: varieties, tips for choosing

The emergence of new materials and techniques for their use makes it possible not only to sew interesting, beautiful and comfortable clothes, but also to diversify the shoe industry. If earlier there was a small selection of winter, autumn-spring and summer shoes, now the variability has increased significantly, and everyone can purchase one or another option at their will and possibilities. Great progress is being made in the field of rubber footwear: galoshes from the usual uncomfortable and ugly shoes have become popular and original, which can be used in various situations.

Initially, galoshes, or as they are also called, galoshes, were worn over shoes to protect them from dirt and moisture. Such pads were made of dense rubber, changing only the size, but not the appearance. A little later, they began to produce galoshes, which already served as independent footwear, they were higher and could have an inner layer of insulation. Now there are many more options for both shoes and the material from which they are made.

The name itself originated from the French word Galoche, but in the Russian pronunciation there is a similar variant - galoshes. Such variability comes from the Old Russian word "Kolocha", therefore there is still no clear definition of the name of rubber shoes, and both options are preserved. To avoid such confusion, the writer Shishkov suggested using the word "wet feet", but this idea did not find public support.

Initially, galoshes were part of the image and style of wealthy and noble people, and various versions of such shoes were produced for both women and men.Rubber products could be as short or high as possible, have a heel recess or be produced without it. Later, insulated galoshes appeared, which made it possible to wear them not only in wet, but also in cold weather.

Indians living in South America are considered the discoverers of galoshes; they made shoes using rubber. Such products were waterproof, but could not withstand cold temperatures. Since the idea itself was interesting, the Europeans adopted it. At the beginning of the 19th century, Chalz Goodyear invented the vulcanization process, which made it possible to obtain rubber from rubber.

For the first time, the mass production of rubber shoes began in America, and later spread throughout the world. In Russia, galoshes began to be produced starting in 1859 at the factory of Ferdinand Krauskopf, a German by origin. Very soon such shoes became popular, and the most prosperous citizens wore galoshes. A year later, the turnover of galoshes increased significantly, reaching 1 thousand pairs a day, which made it possible to reduce their cost and make them more affordable for ordinary people. The factory eventually changed its name to "The Russian-American Manufactory Partnership", and the abbreviation TRAM was stamped on the shoes in a triangle.

For convenience and euphony, the company changed its name - now it was called "Red Triangle" or simply "Triangle", the scope of its activities gradually expanded, as did the number of factories around the world. Over the years, this company has held the leading position in the production and sale of rubber galoshes and similar products. Only a few companies were able to partially compete with it.

Depending on the purpose, galoshes can have a different appearance and can be worn during any season. If we talk about the form, then we can highlight the following options:

• common variety or small galoshes;
• semi-deep variety or low shoes;
• deep or boots;
• cloth boots.

The choice of this or that variety depends on what kind of shoes they are supposed to be worn on. Based on a wide variety of footwear and seasonality, a classification of galoshes was derived according to a qualitative criterion:

• warm or winter - inside there is a warm woolen lining on a paper base;
• summer - lightweight lining, minimal weight;
• as light as possible - they cover only a certain part of the shoe, there are options for protecting the heel and toe, and there are galoshes with an open heel.

Varieties that are used instead of shoes are:

• heelless galoshes;
• canvas shoes, where the sole is made of rubber and the upper is made of canvas;
• canvas sports shoes in the form of sneakers;
• rubber boots and shoes for various applications - fishing, hunting, swimming;
• footwear for special purposes - anti-acid for work with chemical compounds, insulating for work related to electricity.

Regardless of the purpose for which galoshes will be used, their quality should be as good as possible to protect feet or shoes from moisture. Many people buy fashion products and wear them on trendy boots or boots to protect them from the rain and keep their feet dry and warm.

There are many varieties of galoshes, which are selected for the shoes with which they will be worn: high varieties are often used for boots, women's products are often made in heels, and for the rest of the shoes there is a huge variety of galoshes, both in shape and in color and material.

If we talk about independent shoes, then beach crocs with holes are becoming very popular, which are convenient to wear both on the street in the summer and to buy for the sea.

The variety of models of galoshes appeared solely due to the fact that manufacturers began to use various formulations to obtain them. Let's consider the most popular and frequently used materials.

• Raw rubber - extracted from rubber trees and used for the production of galoshes. The most suitable grades of rubber for the footwear industry are: para-rubber, light, medium and dark varieties of crepe and smoked sheath.

• Regenerate - a substance obtained from the processing of old rubber products, usually used for the manufacture of soles in rubber shoes.

• chalk - it is used as an auxiliary substance for the manufacture of the sole and the inner part of the overshoes, and is also part of the glue and the top layer of rubber.

• Litharge - material that accelerates vulcanization processes. Another purpose is to paint the material black.

• Resin - a component that makes the rubber softer and more comfortable to wear.

• Rosin - used to make the rubber stronger and more sticky.

• Soot - the use of carbon black improves the quality of the sole, increasing its performance. In addition, carbon black can be used as a colorant.

If we talk about the materials of modern galoshes, then the most demanded now are PVC and EVA. The first variety is a black product with a red inner side, grooved sole. The weight of such products is rather large. The second option represents a new generation of galoshes, which are lighter in weight and improved performance. These are polymer products obtained by mixing ethylene and vinyl acetate.

And also galoshes are produced made of foamed rubber, which resembles EVA in properties. The most popular now are silicone overshoes, which stretch well, putting on any shoes, sit tight and do not peel off, do not slip. They can be both transparent and colored, and everyone can choose them individually.

For those who like to dress and put on beautifully, lacquered models are produced that look stylish and sophisticated, without spoiling the appearance, but, on the contrary, complementing it. For specialized needs, polyurethane varieties are produced with reinforced rubber and strong polyurethane soles. Most often they are used for hunting and fishing together with warm liners inside, which can be either felted or felt.

So that galoshes do not fail in wet weather and last as long as possible, there is a technology for their production, which is controlled by certain standards.

Galoshes have a clearly defined purpose, therefore, in Soviet times, manufacturers did not pay enough attention to their appearance, being concerned only with product quality. Now the trends have changed, and the appearance of the products, the convenience of their use have become a priority. In addition to the standard black models, which are always in trend, they also produce a variety of colored galoshes.

The most demanded colors now are:

• white galoshes;
• pink;
• red;
• purple.

And also camouflage galoshes used by for hunting and fishing. If there is no desire for the presence of galoshes to be noticeable, transparent products will ideally complement shoes in bad weather. It is important for girls and children to buy not only practical, but also beautiful models, therefore shiny, bright products with a print, interesting patterns and textures will be especially popular.

Since galoshes are worn over shoes, their sizes may vary. In order to correctly choose these products for adults and children, it is important to be able to navigate in the size range of these products. Choosing rubber shoes, you need to know exactly the length of the sole, and look for galoshes that will be half a centimeter larger. If rubber shoes are chosen to be worn on the foot, then you need to be guided by the length of the foot, and not by the size of the shoe.

To choose galoshes for men, you should focus on the following table:

If galoshes are purchased for shoes, namely, for felt boots, then the size calculation will be different:

A lot of time has passed since the appearance of the first galoshes, their appearance, colors, materials for production have changed. All this made it possible for a number of companies to take their place in the production and sale of rubber footwear. Several firms are considered the most popular brands.

• Swims - Norwegian company that manufactures products for the protection of classic shoes from unpleasant weather conditions. Among the most popular models are classic galoshes and products with a Spike sole.

• Ecco - produces an inexpensive line of galoshes, which contain 80% rubber and 20% silicone.

• Fred & Matt - galoshes of the Swedish company, which produces goods not from rubber, but from a new material, characterized by high indicators of lightness and water resistance. In addition, they allow air to pass through, and the foot in such shoes breathes.

• Oyo - galoshes of Russian production, have a wide range from summer slippers to winter rubber boots.

• Lucky land Is a Russian brand that specializes in demi-season and winter EVA footwear with good durability, water resistance, while remaining lightweight and comfortable.

• Finnish galoshes Viking - the product includes a range of rubber boots with and without insulation. Polyurethane sole, natural wool lining. They are highly durable and suitable for use in cold and humid climates.

Modern galoshes can be very different both in appearance and in the material from which they are made. For maximum convenience, such products are made extremely light and elastic so that the legs do not get tired or chafed during wear.

To choose the right galoshes for yourself, you need to pay attention to criteria such as:

• the size;
• the presence or absence of a heel and its shape;
• color features;
• type of galoshes (open or closed);
• purpose of rubber products.

When choosing a size, you need to know the length of the foot in centimeters and the length of the insole if the galoshes are to be worn on top. The recommended stock for putting on a foot is 1 cm, for placing on shoes - 0.5 cm. Depending on the shoes that you want to protect, you need to select galoshes with or without a heel, and also pay attention to its shape. Choosing galoshes by color, you need to look at the shade of the shoe and take into account your own taste. It is recommended to use black or brown for classic shoes; for a youth style, it is preferable to opt for bright colors.

If you pay attention to the type of galoshes, then it is best to buy shoes that can be open, protecting the bottom of the shoe without covering it, or closed in the form of boots, which maximally protect the shoe.