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How to Make Waterproof Shower Cap Shoe Covers or Gaiters

By , About.com Guide

Updated October 01, 2011

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Use a Shower Cap to Keep Rain Out of Your Shoes - Shower Cap Shoe Gaiter
Shower Cap and Running Shoe

Shower Cap and Running Shoe

Wendy Bumgardner © 2010
Walkers and runners need a quick and cheap solution to keep rain out of their shoes. This is especially a problem for race events such as a 10K, half marathon or marathon where you have trained with a specific pair of shoes -- and they aren't waterproof. Waterproof overshoes are too heavy and will change your gait. A quick and effective solution is to use disposable hotel shower caps or Covermate food covers. These will be shredded after the first use, but are surprisingly effective at keeping most of the rain out of your shoes for hours.

Whenever you stay at a hotel, take home the disposable shower cap. If you don't travel much, enlist friends and family to collect them for you. If you need a bigger supply, look for Covermate Stretch-to-Fit Food Covers at the store or online and select the Large or Extra Large size and buy a box of them.

This solution will not keep all of the rain out -- you won't be able to splash through puddles without getting some water in your shoes. Your socks will be damp. But I found that it kept my feet from being squishy wet during a four hour half marathon with over an inch of rainfall.

You may also shop for reusable waterproof shoe or boot gaiters if you often walk in rainy weather and don't want to wear waterproof shoes.

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