Waterproof shoes can be incredibly useful—splashing through puddles on a rainy day, walking through wet grass early in the morning, sliding through brown slush on those unfortunate early spring days when it hasn’t melted away yet—but here’s the thing: Often, their design is what I will diplomatically call “utilitarian.” You can usually spot a waterproof shoe from blocks away because it looks like it belongs on the Appalachian Trail, preferably on a part of the trail where no one else can see it. That’s no longer the case since Vessi came to the market.
Their slip-on Skyline offers a nice summery look, but the Weekend Sneaker, the company’s first new shoe since launching in 2017, is the sort of all-season, everyday shoe we should all have at least one pair of in our closet; the kind that works as well meeting your partner's parents as it does at a backyard BBQ. It looks good, but the question is: Just how waterproof is it?
As luck would have it, two things happened in New York shortly after I got a pair that let me put the claims of dry feet to the test. First, a heatwave that brought a string of 95 degree days made the water playgrounds at Van Cortlandt Park the only place my son wanted to be. I ran through the spray with him for half an hour and not a drop penetrated my socks. Second, tropical storm Isaias blew through the area. I found a safe spot to walk out in the downpour, and while I was soaked from the ankles up, I watched the torrential rain just bead right off my shoes. If they’ll work in a tropical storm, they’ll work anywhere.
The one downside to waterproof sneakers that seal off your foot from the elements completely is that they can get pretty sweaty. The Vessis are better than most, but not an exception to the rule. While certainly airier than say, a rubber rain boot, they did get hot, especially on those 95 degree days, and I wouldn’t recommend wearing them without socks. But they are still more comfortable than anything this waterproof has any business being. That’s thanks in large part to Vessi’s Dyma-tex knit, which weaves in tiny air pockets that manages the contradiction of a shoe that is both impermeable and somewhat breathable. The Dyma-tex also molds to fit your foot the more you wear them (something I certainly noticed after using them for all outings over the course of a week).
One final advantage to the Weekend Sneakers: their versatility. They’re a triple threat that I can wear for an afternoon traipsing around the park, out to dinner, and even at the beach in place of sandals. If you find yourself stuffing a suitcase with different shoes for different occasions, a pair of Vessis can streamline your packing. I know they’ll be the only shoe I’ll need on my next trip.
Vessi's Weekend Sneakers are available for preorder starting August 12 and a portion of every sale will be donated to the Trevor Project (combating suicide among LGBTQ youth), To Write Love on Her Arms (to support people struggling with depression and addiction), Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation (searching for cures for mental illness), or the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Buy now: Vessi Weekend Sneaker, $155, vessifootwear.com
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