Galoshes

Galoshes are a great option for those who want to use their fine leather-soled shoes also when the rain is pouring down. Perfect for when you're walking to the car in the rain and don't want to carry an extra pair to the office, or for when you're going to a party at someone's house and want to wear your shoes indoors. At Skolyx you will find Swims classic overshoes, which are one of the world's best-selling galoshes in recent years.

Why is it called galosh?

The etymology of the word has a tortuous path to its present meaning. Galoshes come from French, which in turn took it from Latin and Greek, where the original meaning referred to the wooden last on which shoes are made. Literally, it was "wood+foot". In the 14th century, the term was used for a type of clogs, with a wooden sole and a leather or textile upper.

A couple of centuries later, it was a kind of overshoe with a wooden sole that was used to lift the wearer's fine shoes off the dirty ground. It was not until the 20th century that the word galoshes came to refer to the type of low covers used to protect shoes from wet conditions, first made of leather but for decades now only of rubber.

How should galoshes fit?

Galoshoes are made of reasonably elastic rubber, and should be stretched a bit when you put them on to keep them in place. Usually the size of the sole determines whether they fit well, it should be slightly longer or match the sole of the shoe exactly, not be too short. It should also not sit loosely over the shoe, or compress it so much that it is uncomfortable to walk with. If you've bought fine Goodyear welted shoes you don't want marks on them

Which type of galoshes is best?

Good galoshes must have a durable rubber compound that can withstand the harsh conditions to which they are exposed for a long time. It's also recommended that they have a felt lining, to reduce the risk of marks from the galoshes on the shoes. Both of these features are found in Swim's galoshes, which we at Skolyx sell.