Rain-Ready Trainers That Don’t Look Like Hiking Boots

I’ll never forget waking up one morning five years ago to find my trainers had risen from the dead. Not metaphysically speaking (although Jesus wears some fine sandals), but because that was still traumatised in my mind after the day I destroyed them. It was July.

For fucks sake. So naturally, as soon as I stepped out of a menswear launch party in Soho wearing a brand new pair of crisp white canvas trainers I’d been saving for just that occasion, it fucking pissed down with rain. Not softly whistled British rain, mind you.

Threw-the-whole-watter-tank-on-type rain. Rain that seemed to be aimed directly at my nice new white trainers, in fact.

By the time I’d sprinted thirty metres to the Tube station, my pristine white canvas trainers had morphed into two smelly grey dish cloths.

The poor Publicist who’d invited me even grimaced when she looked down at them. “Oh Alex,” she sympathised. “you don’t often see that in London, do you?” I think she said that with pity.

My shoes were never the same. I mourned them that night in a dumpster outside my flat. The British weather poses a very particular sartorial problem our Italian and French counterparts don’t have to endure with such frequency: how the fuck do you keep your feet dry without looking like you’re about to climb Ben Nevis?

It’s something I’ve been grappling with for years thanks to London’s indefatigable deluges. On the one hand, there’s nothing wrong with a good old fashioned pair of hiking boots. Trust me, they keep your feet dry.

But you’ll never get away with wearing them with anything less casual than jeans and a t-shirt. And sure, you can get those leather-soled classics that pass as chic enough in the city but they’ll have you slipping and sliding all over the pavement come rain time. Thankfully there’s now a middle ground.

A happy compromise of trainer that looks schlubby enough to pass as respectable footwear but is built like a miniature tank. Without further ado, here are the best rain-ready trainers that don’t look like they belong on an Mountain Equipment catalogue. The Nike Air Force 1 is a silhouette I’ve been rocking since university, but sadly lacked the necessary technology for British climes.

Then I discovered that Nike had actually been making Gore-Tex versions of the AF1 for years. Nike +TN Colourfly AF1 GTX⁴, Quad Black/Near White-Cobalt Blue That’s right – you can buy your favourite white AF1’s now and not have them fucked by the first downpour. Nike invests heavily in keeping their trainers waterproof and these had seen me through more rainy days than I could count by the time I retired them.

They look barely distinguishable from the standard version (although they do have a “Gore-Tex” tag discretely sewn into the lining) but come fully equipped with the same breathable waterproof technology they use in their jackets and outerwear. Bonus tip: Nike sell these in a ton of different colourways, so you can have pretty much exact subtle palette swap of your favourite standard AF1 that just happens to be waterproof. Adidas have also got in on the weatherproof trainer game, releasing their own take on a classic silhouette.

These adidas Ultra Boost Uncaged Gore-Tex Core Black/White Are every bit as handsome as the originals, but with the added bonus of being able to laugh in the face of any downpour. (Side note, if you’re ever struggling for things to bond over with someone, I’ve found funny dance moves and Gore-Tex trainers are hallmarks of a true friend.) I picked these up in black to serve as my “working from home but might meet up with someone from the office for coffee” shoe. They’ve since got really worn in – thanks in no small part to the rain – and have that kind of lived-in look that I love with trainers. Think leather jacket worn-in opposite.

Even Veja – a sustainable fashion favourite that typically veers on the less practical side of things – has got in on the rain-ready trainer game. Their V-10cas model comes with a water-resistant upper and grippier rubber sole than your standard Veja trainer. While not fully waterproof in the standing on lakes sense, they’ll keep your feet miraculously dry should you get caught in a Scottish Shower™.

Darker colourways work best if you plan on wearing them in actual rain, as the water proofing process can leave lighter colours looking slightly mottled. I’ve been wearing mine with literally everything from jeans to trousers all autumn and they’ve yet to look anything less than put together but not try-hard. Scandanavia always does weather like goddamn Sherlock sniffing out a murderer and their trainer options are no exception.

Norwegian brand Tretorn makes a canvas trainer that looks so convincingly normal you’d never guess it’s actually proofed with their proprietary EcoOrtholite waterproof system. Featuring a canvas upper and a rubber sole, these scream Isles Of Scilly beachcomber but will save your feet should your Bronte sister bitches decide to fuck with Mother Nature. My friend Marcus picked up a pair in white and has been living in them for the past two winters.

They’ve held up surprisingly well and still look new enough that he can get away with wearing them out to dinner at semi-fancy restaurants. Speaking of stern judgements regarding your footwear, Scandinavians know a thing or two about pouring rain. Shockingly, even Clarks are good for something besides sadological schoolboy punishment.

Their Clarks Originals line is quietly making some fantastic-looking trainers with waterproof overlays and technologies you’d normally find in the Arc’teryx VE35. I picked up these in Navy Nubuck to kit out my WFH wardrobe with something a little sturdier than my beat-up Old Skools. They look sparse and rugged enough to pass for vintage E.L.W Hammond buys but will see you right through the British winter.

Diemme is an Italian brand that specialises in actual waterproof trainers. Meaning that they will quite literally not let any water in, even if you decide to go Full Castaway. Yes they’re that waterproof.

But they somehow eschew the crass utilitarianism of, well, actual waterproof trainers. These Diemme Veneto Low // Black Look like premium stylish trainer but will face down Noah’s flood without breaking a sweat. The only drawback?

They cost approximately a month’s salary. I bought these during the first lockdown and they’ve proved so versatile I honestly haven’t missed that lost income. Trust me, these things will last you years.

Thanks to various advancements in weather-resistant materials and tech, there’s now a shit tonne of options for keeping your feet dry without dressing like you’re about to summit Everest. A lot of these trainers employ some kind of Gore-Tex membrane (the industry leader in breathable waterproofing tech) that makes them repellent to water while still allowing your feet to breathe. Some brands use water repellent treatments on their regular materials that cause water to bead up and roll right off.

These won’t survive the kind of immersion you could theoretically survive in Diemme’s but will stop you from having soaked feet. Some brands are going half-way with knitted uppers that have been treated with water repellent technologies. Giving you the fit and feel of a modern knit trainer without sacrificing weather resistance.

Shoes in this vein won’t be fully waterproof, but will provide plenty of rain protection and keep your feet far drier than they would in a standard trainer. New Balance have some great options if you’re into that dad shoe vibe. One final note of warning – water resistant does not always mean waterproof.

Ask my cheap Chinese no-name-brand trainers that boasted being able to withstand water on the box before puddling themselves out after two minutes in a gentle drizzle. Take your waterproof claims with a pinch of salt and look for actual tech names like Gore-Tex, OutDry, or eVent. Sealed seams are always better than water resistant coatings, too.

“Waterproof” and “water resistant” are two very different things, and heaping ridicule on anyone wearing a “waterproof” item that gets soaked is a Brit’s favourite pastime. Be prepared to defend yourself. As with any technical garment, maintaining them is key.

Even the best water repellent trainers will benefit from a spray down with a water-repellent spray from time to time. Salt stains will build up over winter months and need to be wiped down or treated to avoid damaging the material. I keep a spray bottle of Jason Markk fabric spray by my door and treat any trainers that are gonna see heavy rain with a quick spritz before heading out.

It’s become second nature for me that my girlfriend rolls her eyes every time I grab my rain app. The unkindest cut of all these technical marvels? They’ll require some thought when it comes to styling.

Tech-heavy options will never look out of place with jeans and a tee but can stick out like a sore thumb with even the chicest tailoring. Stick to sleeker minimal options like the weatherproof Stan Smith or certain New Balance options if you wanna get full wear out of them.

For actual rain situations I always reach for darker colours, too.

They don’t just hide scuffs and stains better, but many water repellent treatments can alter the finish on lighter fabrics. Rain-ready trainers that don’t look like hiking boots are perhaps the unsung British style victory. They allow us to keep our feet dry without compromising an outfit.

Sure, you can still look stupid wearing them if you really try, but it’s miles better than the trainers-or-suede dilemma we’ve been facing for decades. Rain-ready trainers that look like actual trainers. Earlier this year I was watching as fashion editors filed into a London fashion week event during the most vindictive downpour London threw at us that entire season.

Flashy clothing featured heavily, but one item of footwear seemed to transcend the shaky gradient between silly and serious; kept persistently dry even as everyone else was sloshing about in wet shoes and trousers. A brand that had quietly released some waterproof Nike collaborations the previous winter were the real winners. Sure enough, a familiar Street Pacer approached, flipping through his phone as water sluiced around his conspiratorially gleaming feet.

I caught him looking at my increasingly sodden shoes and he gave me a nod that said it all. Dry feet all around, buddy.