Do you try to minimize what you pack by traveling with just the pair of shoes you are wearing? Or do you ever yourself periodically needing to pack an extra pair of shoes in your carry-on?
I was recently contacted by a self-professed heavy packer named Mark, who wanted to send me a product he invented for people needing to pack spare shoes in their bags. The product is called “Shoesocks,” and I’ll be taking a look at this product today.
A box of extra small Shoesocks
Described as “stretchable protective shoe covers,” these Shoesocks seem like a pretty simple idea. Shoesocks are a form-fitting Neoprene cover for your shoes. No zippers, no buttons. Absolutely nothing to catch or get in the way.
Shoesocks come in a plain box, in a plastic bag.
Shoesocks, once outside of the packaging.
Once you take the Shoesocks out of their packaging, they might need a little coaxing so they completely unfurl. However because they are made from a foam fabric, they slowly relax and will stand on their own.
Inserting a shoe into a Shoesock.
The toughest part about using this product is that if you buy the right size, it means the sock will be a little snug. You will need to wiggle the shoe a bit as you slowly wedge the shoe into the sock.
Snug as a bug in a rug.
Once your shoes are fitted into your Shoesocks, though, they are ready to be packed. And here is where you really see why this might actually be a handy item. Unlike most shoecovers, your shoes are nested firmly inside the Shoesock, and there is nothing loose. The Neoprene creates a very safe padded blanket around your shoe, and you can easily make some room in your carry-on to sneak your shoes into. Plus since each shoe gets its own Shoesock, you will find an easier time packing, since you don’t have to find room in your bag for two shoes stuck together in a bag.
Besides keeping your shoes safe, Shoesocks also keep your bag from getting dirty. No more scuff marks on your clothes, dirt clods stuck in the seams of your carry-ons.
If you take a close look at these, you will see that all the seams are double-stitched, and the opening is nicely hemmed. There are no zippers, buttons, snaps, or laces to complicate this product. The manufacturer calls these “a wetsuit for your shoes” and they definitely deliver there. There is nothing unnecessarily here, either. These could have easily gotten overcomplicated, with a zippered top that you can close up… but why mess up a good, simple idea?
A close-up look at a Shoesock shows good workmanship.
The best deal is that Shoesocks are pretty affordable; you can pick these up from their Web site for around $12.00 US. For $12 and an extra few ounces, I give Shoesocks a thumbs-up for delivering on great product based on a simple idea.
- Product name: Shoesocks
- Price: $11.99 per pair
- Shipping: $1.00 for U.S. and Canada ($5.50 for international orders)
- Web site: Shoesocks.com
I just use plastic shopping bag(s) for storing my extra shoes. It is cheaper, lighter, and water resistant. I don’t feel too bad putting the yuck of street grime on to the plastic bag. Some newspapers also deliver their papers in plastic rain sleeves, and those work well too.
Heya Cindy;
In my view, the best option is simply to find a pair of shoes that work for your trip, without taking a second pair altogether. Some people also use an old sock to cover their shoe. A plastic shopping bag would work, too, and it’s certainly cheaper. The plastic newspaper sleeves aren’t a bad idea, though. They are sized right. The only thing you’d want to be careful about is not accidentally poking a hole in them, esp if your extra shoes are a little dirty. A special sock for your shoes isn’t for everybody, but having tried packing it into a carry-on, the natural compression of the Neoprene works pretty nicely. But I agree, there are a lot of options!
Cheers!
Why not two disposable shower caps? They leave the shoe openings available for stuffing small stuff inside.
This is actually interesting. Can I mention about your post in my web?
Sure thing, Alyse.