Shoes for a Rainy (Or Any) Day
The subtle art of keeping your feet nice and dry regardless of the weather conditions
Shoes for a rainy day may sound like a good title, but you still want them to look great while keeping your feet dry. While there is no shortage of waterproof shoe options, the focus of this round-up will be to uncover, for you, the reader, my favourite water-repellent footwear that doesn’t scream "rubber boots." With a focus on variety, there will be something for all tastes, budgets, and use cases. The list will also include some boot recommendations, as most respectable pairs should be able to protect you from the elements anyway.
That is just some of what you can find in the article. But before we get to it, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter! If you subscribe, you’ll not only get notified when the next article drops but will also support what I do here at TDP.
Like many things, water protection in footwear and clothing exists on a spectrum. At the bottom of the scale, you will find water-resistant shoes, meaning you will most likely be fine when stepping in a puddle. Then there are water-repellent shoes that, when paired with the correct water protection spray, can keep your feet dry if you get caught in heavy rain. Lastly, right at the top is waterproof footwear, promising that you will remain dry even if you decide to submerge your whole foot underwater.
While the list will feature some waterproof options, most of the recommendations you will discover in this guide will be in the first two categories of water protection - water-resistant and water-repellent shoes.
Arc'teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX
The gorp-core hype has died down recently, but Arc'teryx is still the go-to brand for many when looking for water-repellent gear. Among their shoe releases, my current favourites are the Norman Novalis and Konseal FL 2, showcasing how stylish waterproof shoes can be.
Camper Drift Trail GTX
Camper has released some great styles over the last couple of years, including the Gore-Tex version of their Drift Trail sneaker. They are a unique-looking pair of shoes that I like and will also protect you from the rain with the help of the Gore-Tex materials used. It checks all the boxes.
Norda 001+
Norda footwear has been on my radar for a while now, and for a good reason. They make some great-looking trail running shoes. Their new 001 G+ model features their water-resistant graphene membrane tech and will be great if you want to stay dry on your next trail run. They look great in black, but let's hope they release more colour options soon.
Roa Lhakpa
Another personal favourite of mine is the Lhakpa model by the Italian footwear brand ROA. It combines a rough suede upper and Vibram sole to ensure solid water protection. If you like the silhouette but are looking for a boot instead, make sure to also check out their Andreas model, or if you differently want to stay dry - the Teri.
Salomon X-Désalpes GTX
The X-ALP Salomons, done in collaboration with the French boutique The Broken Arm, are solid proof that waterproof shoes shouldn’t look boring by default. You can’t go wrong with the two colour options because they look equally unique.
Honourable mention to one of the most popular all-weather shoes by Salomon - the XT-6 Gore-Tex. It's a great option if you don't mind seeing them all the time on other people’s feet.
Engineered Garments x Paraboot Clusaz
If you decide to go with the Paraboot EG Clusaz designed by Daiki Suzuki from Engineered Garments, you will be purchasing a handmade and truly premium shoe, that will keep you comfortable in tough weather. From the welted genuine rubber sole that can even be resoled after a couple of years of heavy usage, to the fine velour leather, this a pair of shoes worth the price. If you are looking for the same quality but in a more classic model, your best bet is the Michael.
Tarvas Explorer
Coming straight from one of the motherlands of poor weather - Finland, there is the Tarvas Explorer. It is undoubtedly a simple design, but it looks great in both the ochre and the dark grey colours and is definitely on my wish list. I would not grade that shoe as waterproof, but the suede leather upper paired with the mudguard that wraps around the sole should offer more than enough protection for typical situations.
Clarks Desert Trek GTX
Many companies use Gore-Tex materials nowadays to make their shoes water-repellent, but Clarks has been doing it very well for a long time. I am really digging these two bad-weather-ready classics - the Desert Trek and the Wallabee, especially in all-black.
Timberland x A-Cold-Wall* Boat Shoe GTX
Last but not least, if you are looking for a classic shoe re-imagined as a waterproof model, you have to check out this variant of the famous boat shoe by Timberland and A-Cold-Wall. A Gore-Tex membrane on the upper means a sturdy shoe that will keep you dry in most conditions, provided it is treated with the right water protection product often enough.
I hope you have found something you like and I wish you the driest feet throughout the rainy season. Also, what better way to look after someone than to send them this list, especially if you've heard them complaining about their socks getting wet again.
Really cool selection! Love the Clarks 😍