Brilliant Widgets, LLC launched shoe socks, a stretchable protective cover that pulls over a shoe the way a sock pulls over a foot.
How they work
The cover has no zippers and no drawstrings. You insert the shoe and stretch the cover back over it, and it takes the shape and form of the shoe underneath.
That simplicity is the design. A fastening is a point of failure and a thing to fiddle with, and a stretch cover that conforms to whatever it is put over needs neither.
What they protect against
- Dirt and damp. The cover acts as a protective film, which means leather shoes can be worn out in the rain with the surface shielded.
- Physical damage. The covers are thickly cushioned, so shoes packed in a bag survive being knocked about.
- Germs and bacteria. Dirt and bacteria accumulate on the soles and heels of shoes, and a cover keeps that contained.
The storage argument
The less obvious benefit is what happens to everything around the shoes. Packing uncovered shoes into a bag transfers whatever is on the soles onto your clothes.
A cover contains that, keeping the bag or trunk clean and letting you pack shoes alongside other belongings rather than isolating them. For anyone who travels regularly, that is the practical reason to use them.
Practical details
- Four sizes, covering men’s and women’s shoes across the range.
- Machine washable. Take them off and put them in the wash.
- Lifetime guarantee against defects in material or craftsmanship.
Frequently asked questions
How do shoe socks stay on?
By stretch alone. There are no zippers or drawstrings, and the cover conforms to the shape of the shoe.
Can they be washed?
Yes, they are machine washable.
Do they protect against rain?
They act as a protective film over the shoe, which lets leather shoes be worn in wet conditions with the surface shielded.
This report dates from 2009. See also shoe trees and caring for your feet in the monsoons.
