Snow shoes help (Chicago: to buy, restaurant, manufacturing)

[chgodon]

I'm going to be visiting the Northwest suburbs of Chicago Dec 9 to Dec 14. I know the weather could be a hit or miss on heavy snow. Does anybody have suggestions or links of good, fashionable snow shoes? I was going to buy a pair of regular snow boots, but I will be going out to a nice restaurant/lounge for dinner. I do have a pair of dress ankle boots, but I'm afraid they'll get ruined or not be good if there is a heavy snowfall. Can't see myself wearing a pair of snowmobile boots out to dinner. I may be running erands during that week too.

[chet everett]

Real guys do NOT give a rat's-youknow what about "fashionable" when it comes to shoes worn out in the snow. You should wear a boot that is gonna keep your pants out of the muck. LL Bean, Sorel, Timberland, Red Wing all make stuff that'll work.

Women have a wider range of snow proof shoes that do not look hideous than ever -- the various designer brands all sell their own interpretation of Wellies and of course the actual British muck boots themselves are quite popular.

[linicx]

I just saw ladies 5" inch heel platform boot. It might be fasionable but you won't have much traction and that is what keeps you from falling. A snowsuit and matching boots is fashionable and will keep you warm.

[Chicago60614]

The chances of heavy snow during that short span is honestly very very small. Chicago normally sees 2-4 decent sized snows during the entire winter. Usually the last half of December is when you need to start looking for snow. Before then the average highs are still 10+ degrees above freezing.

[JustJulia]

Wear sturdy shoes with lots of traction. Carry your pretty shoes in a bag and change when you get there. If you're out and about running errands in the snow, nobody looks at your shoes.

[chgodon]

Juilia. Good point. I've seen people do that with dancing shoes. If its cold with light snow I'll be happy. Its the 4 inches or above I'm worried about....Keep watching Tom Skilling next week.

[linicx]

There is also some very nice ladies dress boots such as leather that come to just below the knee, too.

[chgodon]

Thanks for info. Lookin for men's boots. Could probably put somethimg on leather shoe boots too.

[Vasily]

I've owned a pair of YakTrax Pro ice cleats for two years now, and they're perfect for the ice and packed snow, as well as getting around when there's freezing rain. Really indispensable in a climate like this for someone like me who's getting older and worries about broken bones. The city's great at keeping the streets and sidewalks clean, unless there's a foot of snow or so (and as Chicago60614 points out, this is unlikely in early December). YakTrax Pros are about $20 on Amazon and are available at outdoor places like REI. I don't even own a pair of boots though I'd like to get some good hiking boots for the nastier weather in late December and January.

[chitownperson]

Buy either Bogs or Hunter snow boots! LL Bean and Sorel (2 historically good snow boot companies) have had criticism for water seepage ever since they exported their manufacturing oversees. Bogs and Hunter still have good quality control from what I hear. Expensive boots that let in water are absolutely useless, so watch out for boots with a lot of stitched seams, and read lots of reviews. The one's that look slim and cute most likely give you frost bite... you want the one's that look like moon boots. Dinner or no dinner, fashion means little when you're faced with Chicago's worst.