Nothing puts a damper (pun intended) on a walk, hike, run, or commute like a surprise storm, especially when it ends in soggy feet. Thankfully, it doesn’t must: With the most effective waterproof shoes and water-resistant options on the market, you may actually enjoy a gray day, even when the sky is literally raining in your parade. And you don’t must sacrifice comfort or aesthetics to remain dry—these shoes might be just as cute, cushy, and supportive as your regular go-to walking or running sneakers, with the additional advantage of keeping your feet protected from the weather. These picks come from trusted brands and are well-reviewed or were vetted by our own SELF testers, so you may count on the standard.
1. Best for Trail Running: Nike Pegasus Trail 4 Gore-Tex
2. Best for Running: Brooks Ghost 15 GTX
3. Best for Rugged Hiking: KEEN Targhee III Waterproof Mid
4. Best for Easy Trails: Merrell Bravada 2 Waterproof Hiking Shoe
5. Best for Travel: On Cloud 5 Waterproof
6. Best for Walking: New Balance Fresh Foam X 880V12 GTX
7. Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Hoka Clifton 9 GTX
8. Best for Work: Snibbs Spacecloud Work Sneaker
9. Most Stylish: Sorel Kinetic Breakthru Venture Waterproof Sneaker
10. Best for Warmth: Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles
What to search for in waterproof shoes
The best waterproof shoes will likely be different for everybody—you must consider the activity you’re probably to make use of them for, your foot type, how intense the weather is where you reside, and what tends to feel comfortable. In terms of waterproofing, you’ll need to look out for 2 components: the membrane and the outside coating.
Membrane
A membrane is an internal layer of a shoe that works with the outside to forestall water from getting inside. Gore-Tex is probably probably the most well-known waterproof fabric used, and plenty of brands, like Nike and Brooks, incorporate it into their shoes since it’s each breathable and waterproof. (Look for shoes which have GTX or Gore-Tex within the name.) Other brands, like On Running and Sorel, use their very own technology to create waterproof interiors. One thing to notice: Waterproof membranes may also be less breathable than non-waterproof shoes and might trap moisture easily. That’s why it’s essential to wear moisture-wicking socks, so your waterproof walking shoes don’t turn out to be a sweaty mess.
Exterior
Many regular sneakers have breathable uppers product of mesh or other lightweight fabrics to maintain feet cool. So when designing waterproof shoes, brands typically coat this with a water-resistant finish—sometimes called durable water repellent (DWR)—so liquid sheds off the surface without sacrificing all of the airflow.
To put this all together, if a shoe has an exterior finish an internal membrane, it’s more prone to be actually water and shouldn’t allow any moisture in. If it has the previous without the latter, it is going to likely be water-, meaning it is going to only partially block liquid. This is nice in lots of scenarios, like light rain, but should you plan on being out during a downpour or splashing through puddles on trails, you’ll definitely need a pair of truly waterproof shoes.
The best waterproof shoes
Below, we’ve chosen a few of the most effective waterproof shoes from brands like Hoka, New Balance, Nike, and Allbirds. Read on to search out the most effective options on your next rainy time out and about.
