On Cold Protection 6

Continuing from last time, I will discuss cold protection.
This time, it is about footwear.
I don't think this will be very helpful for those living in heavy snowfall areas, but I hope it will be useful for those living in flatlands.

Before that, as a major premise, please wear specialized shoes if you are going to volunteer for a major disaster.
I think half-boots used by Self-Defense Force personnel or firefighters are best.
It is best to have ones that meet safety shoe standards, with a reinforced toe and a puncture-resistant sole.

What I am stating is simply that I am incorporating disaster prevention into my daily life, including cold protection.
I am merely incorporating it into my everyday life.
Since disaster prevention clothing and shoes are more suitable for reconstruction work, please read this as ideas useful for daily life and life in evacuation centers.

Now that I have stated the major premise, I will return to the main topic.
The excellent points of shoes from outdoor manufacturers are cold protection and waterproofing.
Let's discuss them in order.

First, starting with cold protection.
Regarding winter shoes, I do not use them for daily wear when moving between indoors and outdoors.
Just like with clothing, in the case of shoes, it is because the heating is strong.
I do not live in a heavy snowfall area, so I often do not use them even for outdoor activities. They stay in storage.

What I use from outdoor manufacturers for daily wear are waterproof shoes.
If the weather is not bad, town shoes are not particularly problematic.
If you are just walking around the city, walking shoes are actually better than shoes from outdoor manufacturers.
(I have walking shoes from a different manufacturer.)
Even so, they will definitely be useful in bad weather or during a major disaster, so I have decided to incorporate highly waterproof shoes into my daily life.

I own three pairs just from outdoor manufacturers.
They are hiking boots, sneakers, and mock shoes.

Among these, the waterproof hiking boots boast complete waterproofing even in bad weather outdoor activities, and they are very active during outdoor activities in the rain.
On the other hand, the waterproof sneakers, although inexpensive, are relatively stiff, so I don't wear them as much as regular sneakers.
For light rain, I sometimes think regular sneakers are fine. On days with heavy rain, I choose the waterproof hiking boots, after all.

The shoes from outdoor manufacturers that I use most for daily life are waterproof mock shoes.
For outings where you go out and come back immediately, such as taking out the trash or going to a convenience store, waterproof mock shoes are extremely convenient.
Regular shoes are a hassle to take on and off frequently, and they also wear out quickly.
Mock shoes are soft, easy to put on and take off, and comfortable.
Just like moving around outside a tent, using mock shoes for trips like taking out the trash is comfortable because there is no accumulation of minor stress.

Waterproof mock shoes serve as a substitute for sandals while being superior to them.
By choosing mock shoes instead of sandals, you can prevent your toes from getting cold and save the trouble of warming them up again.
I think mock shoes are good regardless of the weather, except in midsummer. (Although recent summers are long.)

Even in midwinter, I sometimes see people wearing socks and sandals to the convenience store, but with just socks, there isn't that much of a performance difference.

I own both socks from outdoor manufacturers and sports manufacturers, but they don't change things enough to be swayed by socks alone.
This is because the windproof performance of socks alone is limited.

The heat retention performance of socks is demonstrated during things like standing in the cold, so you will definitely get cold when taking out the trash or going to a convenience store.
It is true that fishing socks or golf socks feel different, but the price jumps up.
Note: The reason fishing socks might feel better than hiking socks might be because there is more waiting involved.

Also, if you have such good socks, I think it is better to pair them with good shoes and not expose them to wind and rain.
That is what the hiking boots and mock shoes are for.

I believe that cold protection for the feet should be prioritized because it prevents physical exhaustion and mental fatigue.
It is not just the cold itself, but it makes a big difference whether your socks are protected or not.
Let's keep incorporating it into our daily lives.