Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry With the Top 9 Waterproof Walking Shoes for Men (2024)

The Forsake Wild Sky Mid Boots don’t look like they’re waterproof. Rather, they look like a stylish pair of high-top sneakers — just way more functional. They can fend off any water that’s thrown at them (as long as the water doesn’t get in above the ankle), yet they manage to stay breathable. These boots are comfortable straight out of the box and got even more comfy as we wore them. They fit true to size and we liked the mid-cut for ankle support. We also found the sole to be of excellent quality and firm enough to provide long-lasting support.

During our tests, these boots were just as great for walking around the city as they were on short hikes that included hills, steep embankments, and downed logs. We could also see ourselves wearing them to work without feeling like we’re being too casual. Thisversatility makes the Forsake Wild Sky Mid Book ideal for travel. Granted, if you plan to spend most of your trip doing more intense hiking of five miles or more, we’d opt for a more rugged boot with thicker tread.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 14 | Leather upper, Bloom algae-footbed, EVA midsole, rubber outsole | 2.2 pounds

Lots of waterproof boots are flashy, but Danner keeps things classy with its hiking boots, and they also happen to be super comfy. We found them very easy to slip into, and they conformed to our feet pretty quickly considering they’re a pair of high-quality leather boots, especially after our first time wearing them. The leather is coated with Gore-tex to keep water out, and we loved the mid-ankle support. They felt very sturdy and like they’ll last for years. Danner really makes that possible with its recrafting program, which refurbishes your boots using the same equipment and materials they were originally made with. One thing to note is that they aren’t very breathable, so are probably best worn in cooler, wetter places.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 14 | Leather, Gore-tex, Vibram Outsole with Megagrip | 2.3 pounds

We wore these boots for up to 10 hours a day through big, deep puddles, and they held up spectacularly. They’re surprisingly stylish for a work boot and comfortable right out of the box.Leather boots usually take a long time to break in, but these didn’t take much time to adjust to. We did notice some excess rubbing on the calf, but that could be remedied by wearing longer socks. These boots are supportive, have great traction and will last you years, but they are on the heavy side, so you may want to wear them instead of packing them en route to your destination.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 15 | Tanned leather upper, PU insole, rubber outsole | 3.98 pounds

For a great boot at an unbeatable price, it’s hard to overlook the Newton Ridge Plus from Columbia. These boots are very comfortable and have excellent traction. We wore them on a cave hike, across shallow rivers, and through plenty of puddles on a camping trip and they held off whatever was thrown at them. We were surprised at how light they are for the price, and liked that they come in plenty of bright color options as opposed to just neutrals or brown. These boots are a great value and suitable for many types of adventures.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 17 | PU coated leather, suede, and mesh upper, Omni-tech waterproof membrane, Techlite midsole, Omni-grip rubber outsole | 1.9 pounds

We put these highly-rated boots to the test straight away with a 7-mile hike and they didn’t let us down. They were comfortable straight away and despite our concerns about the waterproof mesh, water dripped right off. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Boots continued to impress in our ensuing tests, and we couldn’t get over how breathable they are —a rarity among waterproof footwear. One criticism we have is that we felt the traction could be better for such a dedicated hiking boot, as we found ourselves slipping on a few occasions.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 14 | PU coated leather and textile upper, Gore-tex, rubber sole | 1.8 pounds

Blundstones are popular for a reason and the Australian company’s Thermal Chelsea Boots prove why. The style is iconic —we’d definitely wear them out to a nice dinner —and they’re truly waterproof, even on the elastic. We loved wearing them straight out of the box, and it’s so easy to simply slip into them and go. Our feet never got too sweaty, but we didn’t wear them doing anything too strenuous because we wouldn’t trust them for hiking(though some people do). This model has Thinsulate insulation as well as a removable sheepskin footbed, so they’re ideal for cooler climates. That said, you can take out the footbed and continue wearing them as long as it’s not too hot.

The Details: Sizes 4 to 13 | Waterproof leather, Thinsulate insulation, removable sheepskin footbed, TPU outsole

Tevas are pretty much a must when it comes to travel, and for good reason. We loved the squishy yet strong soles and found walking around in them for five or six hours to be a breeze (certainly the wind on our toes was part of that feeling, but they’re also super comfortable). We wore them in a pool and they didn’t absorb water, as promised. And we loved the style, especially the options with colorblocking and patterns. One thing we found tricky was figuring out how to tighten the straps, so make sure you try them on at home before going on your trip.

The Details: Sizes 4 to 14 | Polyester/nylon PET webbing, EVA footbed, rubber sole | 1.28 pounds

Long known for its thong sandals, Olukai has made some mighty fine shoes that are perfect for travel. We tested Moku Pae Boat Shoes while kayaking and walking around and were thoroughly impressed. They offered excellent grip on land and got dry quickly despite being soaking wet. However, one thing we found frustrating is that it took an annoyingly long time to clean the sand out of the bottom, so bring a shoe bag to pack them in. The best part about these water shoes is that they fully cover your feet, which adds extra protection as well as support.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 15 | Mesh upper, rubber sole

These Chukka-style boots are made with high-quality leather, so it took a little bit to break them in, but they became comfortable after about a week. They also felt a bit heavy, which speaks to the quality, but they didn’t feel cumbersome. In terms of waterproofing, they were excellent and managed to keep our socks dry despite a lot of water being dropped on them. One thing we found awkward was the thick sole, but that could be a personal preference. An added bonus with these boots is that they come with well-padded, comfortable inserts, which turned out to be one of our favorite aspects of the boot.

The Details: Sizes 7 to 13 | Leather upper, thermoplastic rubber sole | 2.5 pounds

Frequently Asked Questions

• How should I care for my waterproof shoes?

  Dr. Levine says to always keep the inside of your waterproof shoes as dry as possible. If they do get wet, aerate them well before wearing them again. She also says to check the creases of your shoes for any fungus and wipe it away. If you take good care of them, they’ll last longer.

• How do you waterproof shoes?

  If you want to make your regular shoes waterproof, you can buy a water-based, waterproof spray or rub on a waterproof cream. Before you do that, make sure you really want your shoes to be waterproof. Remember that by waterproofing them, you’re reducing their breathability and drying time if water gets inside.

• How often should you replace walking shoes?

  According to Havard Health, experts recommend wearing your shoes for a maximum of 300 to 500 miles, which translates to a year if wearing them five days a week for 30 minutes a day. If you’re wearing them less often, they will last longer.

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