Do you have any upcoming plans for hiking with your friends? Are you about to relocate your home to a rainy city? If the answer is yes, then we’re sure that you will need a pair of good quality waterproof shoes like Loom waterproof sneakers for men and women. Instead of trekking and walking around in wet shoes and socks, these shoes will help you enjoy your day comfortably.
But how will you recognize waterproof sneakers? Which materials are waterproof? To help you out, we’ve discussed how to choose the right waterproof shoes for you in the following article.
How Do Waterproof Shoes Work?
Have you ever wondered how waterproof shoes work? How does the shoe prevent water from seeping in, along with keeping your feet dry at the same time? Doesn’t waterproofing a pair of shoes make them unbreathable?
We’re all aware that our feet sweat naturally in hot seasons. If your shoes are unbreathable, it’ll keep your feet wet the whole time. Moreover, many people sweat during winters, making their feet chilly and uncomfortable.
Hence, manufacturers have to make sure that their products are both waterproof and breathable. It might seem contradictory, but brands achieve this unique combination by using innovative technology in their two-layered shoes.
● Outer Layer
This layer is the one you can see on the outside. It protects your feet directly from the environment and has to face a lot of harsh conditions. In waterproof shoes, it’s treated with a water repellant to prevent water from seeping into the shoes.
Natural leather shoes, for example, tend to repel water naturally. However, they tend to deteriorate from water exposure over time.
● Membrane
This is the most important layer in keeping your feet dry in harsh conditions, be it trekking through rain, snow, or a swamp. Such that, the membrane uses an innovative breathing technology to keep water away from the insides of the shoes.
The layer contains tiny pores that are small enough to prevent water from seeping into the shoe. Along with this, the pores allow water vapor to pass from the insides to the environment.
The layer is treated thoroughly with oil to maintain its water-resistance for a long time. Thus, it allows your feet to remain dry and breathe simultaneously.
Which Are The Different Materials Used In Waterproof Shoes?
When you go to the market to purchase a pair of waterproof sneakers for men/women, you’ll find a wide variety in the waterproofing materials. How will you recognize which one’s the best for your needs?
Read on to find out more about the different materials used in waterproof shoes.
● Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a widely popular name in the world of waterproof attire. This waterproof membrane was founded in the 1960s and introduced to the world in the late 1970s, from where it quickly gained popularity. Such that, all outdoor gear brands started using this material to waterproof their shoes and jackets.
This material contains a large number of microscopic pores to offer breathability and protection to your shoes. Thus, it keeps your feet dry by letting water vapor escape your shoes, along with preventing water from seeping in.
Besides this, it’s windproof, lightweight, sustainable, and vegan.
● Synthetic Leather
Since natural leather deteriorates overtime with water exposure and requires constant care, people prefer opting for synthetic leather. It’s perfect for you if you want leather-styled shoes with the added benefit of water-resistance.
Besides this, it requires minimum caring and offers high durability. Thus, you can use this imitation leather in your athletic, hiking, or even construction footwear.
● Rubber
Rubber is more suited for producing the soles in waterproof sneakers and overshoes, like rain boots. It protects your feet from water and offers flexibility. Besides this, they are cheaper and provide an excellent grip both indoors and outdoors.
However, rubber boots are not suitable for harsher climates or extreme outdoor physical activities. Instead, you can use them for gardening, backyards work, shoveling, or even walking in snowy weather.
● Neoprene
Neoprene is another name in the list of waterproof materials. Introduced in the 1930s, this synthetic material is widely used in swimwear for its high water-resistance.
Since it’s a man-made alternative to rubber, brands use it to make rubber boots for mild physical activities.
How Can You Waterproof Your Shoes?
If you have a pair of regular leather boots lying around in your home, you can enhance their water-resistance by sitting right at home. There are a lot of ways to repurpose your old shoes and make them suitable for hiking or trekking.
A few of the following materials can be found easily at your home.
● Waterproof Spray
Waterproofing sprays are relatively cheap and widely popular when it comes to waterproofing your shoes. They’re readily available, fast, and easy-to-use. Besides this, high-quality sprays are entirely odorless and leave an excellent finish on your hiking shoes.
Make sure to remove the laces from your shoes and shake the bottle before applying a generous amount. Also, only spray it on a dry and clean surface.
● Cream
Water-based waxes and creams can help repurpose your worn-out shoes. Not only will they enhance the tan of your boots, but they’ll also repel water from the surface. Such that, this increases the durability of the shoes, giving them a longer life.
You simply have to shake the cream well and scrub it on the shoes for the desired result.
How Do You Choose the Right Waterproof Shoes?
Before dropping a lot of cash on a pair of waterproof boots, it’s vital to know the difference between various types of shoes. Since each model caters to particular needs, you need to select one that will suit your demand.
Let’s take a look at different types of waterproof shoes from men/women.
● Chukka Boots
These are sturdy, low-rise boots that can help to keep your feet dry at all times. However, not all chukka boots are waterproof. Therefore, you need to check out the materials and read their label for more information.
● Overshoes
As their name suggests, overshoes go over your non-waterproof shoes to protect them from rain or snow. Also called Galoshes, they’re made from rubber or PVC and contain non-skidding traction soles. These help you to remain stable and safe from slipping in rainwater.
● Rain Boots
Rain boots are perfect for you if you’re to walk through puddles and wet ground. They’ve got thick grooved traction soles to prevent you from slipping on wet roads and pavements.
You can find these shoes in two sizes, up to your calves or till your ankles.
● Duck Boots
Duck boots are a combination of regular boots and rain boots, which are designed to handle all sorts of wet conditions. The bottom part is waterproof and includes molded rubber soles and shoes.
This unique design of duck boots keeps your feet safe from dampness and water splashes.
Three Best Waterproof Shoes
We’ve discussed three of the best waterproof shoes in the following section to help make it easier for you to search for the perfect shoes.
1. Loom Footwear
This brand was founded by a team of leading podiatrists and footwear designers. They aim to provide comfort to society through their high-quality sneakers for men and women.
To begin with, Loom footwear are made from 100% cruelty-free and vegan-friendly material. They’re sustainable and source their raw materials from multiple eco-friendly farms.
Besides this, these sneakers use four layers in their exterior to make them both waterproof and breathable. They’ve got a 3D mesh and Cosmo lining technology that absorbs moisture to keep your feet dry from sweat.
Along with this, its waterproof moisture-wicking exterior makes them perfect for hiking, trekking, or even walking in rainy weather.
Coming to the comfort, the pair of shoes is lightweight, flexible, and include an Exelcast sole to allow you to climb any terrain without pain. The cushions can resist impacts and shocks, making sure that you walk for hours without any discomfort.
Price: $99.00
2. Columbia Men’s Redmond Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear is an American brand with over 80 years of experience in producing high-quality outdoor gear.
Their Redmond hiking shoes are incredibly durable, comfortable, and waterproof to face harsh weather conditions. Besides this, they’ve got a unique combination of mesh, leather, suede, and webbing.
The low-top sneakers have a seam-sealed Omni-Tech membrane that offers resistance against water, keeping you dry on your adventures.
Its Omni-Grip technology offers maximum traction for better support and grip on different terrains. Moreover, the shoes are cushioned with a Techlite material that provides high energy return and shock absorption to the users.
Price: $100.00
3. Salomon X-Ultra 3 GTX W Hiking Shoes
Salomon was founded in 1947 in Annecy, France, and has been the leading sportswear company in all of Europe.
Their X-Ultra 3 GTX W shoes come with Sensifit technology that provides the best grip for your feet. Along with this, the shoes use Contragrip to prevent you from slipping on the wet ground too.
When we talk about comfort, these shoes use an advanced chassis system with premium cushioning to support your feet for hours without any discomfort.
Moreover, they’ve got a rubber sole, a protective toe cap, and a waterproof exterior to keep you protected from harsh weather. If this wasn’t enough, the shoes are extremely lightweight and made from 100% synthetic water-resistant fabric.
Price: $150
Conclusion
Waterproof shoes can be life-saving when you have to trek on muddy or wet terrains or hike through a damp forest. Since it can be tricky to choose the right shoes for your needs, make sure you always research before investing in a pair.
Hopefully, this article has eased many of your queries regarding high-quality waterproof sneakers.
Over to you...
