Christmas 2020 will be in the bag by the time you read this post. Some of us are now all smiles, knowing that what we gave and received was less important than the time spent together. But come spring, there may be that one gift that troubles you. Maybe you gave it; maybe you received it. What was it? Waterproof shoe covers.
Salt Lake City startup GC Tech says that waterproof shoe covers are a great gift for any occasion. They are right, of course. And yet, there are caveats. There are certain people you do not give them to, for example. And in other cases, gifting a pair of shoe covers requires knowing the recipient well enough that you get the right pair.
There is a fine line to walk whenever you’re gifting something like shoe covers. Here is some helpful advice from the good folks at GC Tech:
- Shoe Covers for Kids
Waterproof shoe covers for kids do exist. You can find them all over cyberspace. They might even show up at the big-box department store on the other side of town. But here’s the thing: kids look at shoe covers the same way they look at underwear and socks. They are not legitimate Christmas gifts because they aren’t fun!
Grandparents think about practical gifts. Parents sometimes do, too. But not kids. They want Christmas gifts that are as impractical as is humanly possible. They want things that will make them laugh; things that will make them giggle; things that will spark their imaginations. Shoe covers aren’t it.
- Shoe Covers for Professionals
There is one group of people for whom waterproof shoe covers make a perfect Christmas gift: professionals. Shoe covers are perfect for attorneys, business executives, tech consultants, medical professionals, etc. Essentially anyone who dresses in business casual or more formal could use a good pair of shoe covers.
Indeed, GC Tech’s founder is a former attorney who spent years traipsing up and down city streets. He was never quite happy with the clunky department store galoshes. So he and his wife set out to design something better.
- Shoe Covers for Outdoor Workers
Outdoor workers are a mixed bag when it comes to shoe covers. You really have to understand the kind of work they do and the weather they are normally exposed to. For instance, route delivery drivers are normally good candidates for shoe covers if they spend more time in the truck than they do walking into buildings. A driver for a uniform rental company is a good example.
On the other hand, shoe covers are not a good choice for parcel delivery drivers. They can make hundreds of stops in a day, meaning lots of time walking back and forth between truck and delivery destination. That much time in the weather requires more robust foot gear.
- Choosing the Right Style
In addition to figuring out who to buy waterproof shoe covers for, you also have to figure out the right style. Slip-on shoe covers often leave the very tops of the shoes exposed. You wouldn’t want to wear them in ankle-deep snow. But if that’s a problem, zip-up shoe covers are the solution.
Zip-up models generally go to just above the ankle. They zip with a side zipper, much the same way a pair of boots does. They offer significantly more protection against rain, sleet, and snow.
There is a fine line to walk when giving certain items as gifts. Waterproof shoe covers is living proof of that. If you gave a pair this year, here’s hoping they were well received.