Acorn Outside Slippers : When is a Slipper Not a Slipper?

So it's Thanksgiving Day in Minneapolis. Outside, the temperature has finally dropped to a pre-global warming norm, and snow is falling for the first time in the season.  

Meanwhile, indoors, I've got cooking to do.   Normally, that means that I put on a pair of shoes with good traction, a habit I naturally developed when I cooked in a restaurant for a year.   But it's cozy inside, and I won't have to leave the house for another seven hours or so (or so I think), so I opt for my new pair of Acorn Outside Down...uh..."slippers."  

I actually have a hard time thinking of these things as slippers because as the name indicates, this footwear was meant for more than shuffling around the house on a Sunday morning.   The uppers are waterproof (and chicken stock-proof as I discovered), the sidewall and toe cap are made out of a durable suede leather, which should help prevent the usual blowout points on all of my previous slippers (the big toe and the sides, where feet are at their widest), and the sole is both weatherproof and non-slip.   Which brings me back to Thanksgiving.

There I am, happily whipping up my share of the family feast, when my wife announces that she needs help getting out of the house in a hurry.   She is heading to her childhood home early to help get the joint ready for the onslaught, and her hands are too full with all of the bags she has packed to carry our six month old son.   So I grab junior and head out into the flurries.  In my "slippers."

Thanks to the Thermolite® insulation and the surprisingly sturdy and fully cushioned foot bed, this venture over our snow-dusted brick patio and into the garage is not a problem.   And even better, when I get back to the house, there is no kicking and knocking of boots to remove snow.   One swipe across the doormat and the shallow treads are free of anything I'm not supposed to track inside.  

By the time I finish cooking, I don't really want to take my Outside Down's off.   So I don't.   I wear them out the door and over to my in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner.    And not until after the meal when I point out my feat, does my usually discerning wife notice that I'm not wearing shoes.   Or am I?

Available in men's and women's sizes.

Bottom Line: These versatile "slippers" are better than some shoes I've worn.   With waterproof uppers, Thermolite® synthetic down insulation, and a sturdy, comfortable, non-slip sole, they're as indoor/outdoor as Astroturf®.   And if you do step in a mud puddle or spill gravy on them, don't worry, they're machine washable.--B.S. (Dec 07)

Price: $49.95

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Manufacturer's Site : www.acorn.com

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