Few things fill me with more disdain than wearing a cute pair of shoes only to have them ruined by rain. Getting caught in unexpected downpours happens to everyone – but oftentimes, you never know where you’ll encounter bad weather. Growing up in Florida I would frequently be overcome with gloomy footwear remorse during the summer when monsoon season would hit.
The Floridian sunshine turned rainy apocalypse is pretty wild. But even in San Francisco (technically our “dry” season was coming up)! I got caught in one aggressive summer shower that ruined my favourite white canvas trainers forever.
So when that first spring storm came through last year, I was determined to chronicle my search for a stylish, functional, and minimalist-friendly rain-ready trainer. Though the Bay Area is definitely not known for its rainy seasons, dreary weather can wreak havoc on anyone’s shoes.
As someone who’s embraced a minimalist wardrobe, I’ve had to become much more intentional with my shoe game.
With fewer total shoes in my rotation, every single one has to earn its place in my closet and versatile enough to truly work for me. Something felt off about regularly owning a trendy trainer that would be destroyed by one puddle and waterproof boots that were clearly only good for camping trips. Was there anything in between?
Well, it turns out that just about every major trainer company has been releasing waterproof versions of their most classic styles! My life changed when Nike started selling waterproof versions of their iconic Air Force 1 trainers. They were the same style I had worn for years but were suddenly puddle-friendly.
I bought a pair and took them out for a spin the first weekend Seattle decided to unleash one of their legendary rainstorms. Emerging from the storm with dry socks and shoes was nothing short of magical. They looked nearly identical to traditional Nike AF1’s – except for the Gore-Tex tag hanging off the side – and were made with only slightly different materials.
Ever since that rainy day I’ve been on the hunt for minimalist styles that can hold their own in terrible weather. Adidas has jumped on the bandwagon as well with waterproof versions of Stan Smiths, Campus shoes, and more. Adidas Stan Smiths have been my go-to rain-ready shoe for a lot of the same reasons that Nike Air Force 1s are classics.
They go with basically anything in my wardrobe, from dark jeans to chinos. I picked a pair of black Adidas Stan Smith Gore-Tex shoes and they’ve been great! One of my favourite things about the style is that after years of regular wear, they’ve got this worn-in sexy look that I can only compare to how raw denim looks after it’s been broken in.
Adidas makes a few other classic styles with the same waterproof treatment – I’ve got my eye on a pair of Gazelles in tan to complete my outfit rotation. It’s not just these high-profile sportswear brands that offer savvy alternatives to traditional trainers. French company Veja debuted a winter-ready version of their popular V-10 trainers last year.
Similar to Nike and Adidas, Veja’s water-resistant take on their classic runner features water repellent coating that works to keep your feet dry in typical rain or snow. They’re not fully waterproof, so don’t expect to be able to hike through streams wearing these. But for your average rainy day, they should work just fine!
I’ve paired mine with practically everything – weekend dad jeans, chinos, you name it. They strike that perfect balance of dressed up enough to not look like you’re going out of your way to wear rain-ready shoes. I especially love them with raw denim – they add an unexpected edge to an otherwise standard outfit.
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What I loved about the Veja was that they captured that effortless, minimalist vibe I was going for. My girlfriend actually turned me on to a pair of Scandinavian brands that have mastered the whole wearable-in-the-rain shoe game. Tretorn makes a canvas trainer that’s treated with waterproof technology, but still manages to avoid looking too “technical” like some other trainers on this list.
A coworker of mine has been crushing a pair of white Tretorns for the last couple years and they’re still as clean as could be. To me, the biggest surprise was finding that Clarks actually makes some really cool Gore-Tex trainers. Growing up in Florida I only associated Clarks with church shoes and Egyptian sandals.
Their Clarks Originals line has become another quiet favourite of mine. The silhouette isn’t something I’d typically go for – but they come in a few styles that look almost vintage tennis shoe-inspired. I scored a pair of navy ones that are arguably still cool enough to dress-down but have weathered every festival and downpour the Pacific Northwest has thrown at me for the last two years.
Italy-based Diemme also makes some sleek trainers that are actually waterproof but maintain the look and feel of high-fashion trainers. Their Veneto Low runs will set you back about $200 – but considering I’ve had mine for over three years and still go crazy every time I wear them, I’d say they’re totally worth the price tag. These easily meet my buy-less-buy-better philosophy when you compare cost per wear to regularly replacing all of your trainers every couple seasons because they got destroyed by rain.
Waterproof trainer technology has come a long way in recent years. Rather than simply applying a water-repellent coating to the outside of the shoe, most versions now use a water-resistant membrane that helps your shoes breathe while preventing moisture from getting in. Some brands are using hydrophobic treatments that cause rain to simply bead up and roll right off of your shoes.
Other brands are taking a hybrid approach by offering knit trainers with water-resistant treatment. The knit upper gives you all the benefits of a modern trainer but with water-resistant treatment. Not fully waterproof, but definitely more resistant than your standard trainers.
New Balance has some standout trainers in this category that maintain their signature aesthetic. With terms like water-resistant and waterproof being thrown around so liberally, it’s important to do your research on what holds up to actual rain. I learned this the hard way after buying a pair of so-called “rain-friendly” trainers from Amazon that lasted all of 10 minutes in a light shower.
Stick to brands that use recognizable moisture-wicking technology like Gore-Tex. Pay attention to tiny details like sealed versus treated seams.
Taking proper care of your trainers will help them last longer – rain-friendly or not.
Just like with any other high-quality shoes in your wardrobe, you’ll want to replenish the water repellent spray every so often and make sure to wipe off salt stains if you frequently walk through puddles. I bought a can of Jason Markk water repellent and keep it by my door so I can give my shoes a quick spray when storms are on the forecast. My girlfriend rolls her eyes at me every time I do it, but there’s no feeling like slipping on a pair of dry socks.
Pairing trainers that look intensely rain-ready with anything on the dressier side of my wardrobe was never going to work for me. That being said, the styles that appear less “technical” have actually faired much better when I want to wear something a bit dressier than my usual uniform. Adidas’ Stan Smiths and certain New Balance trainers feel just as much at home with jeans as they do chinos or even dressed up with a blazer.
Stick to darker colours if you’ll primarily be wearing them in inclement weather – rain-proof coatings can darken the look of lighter shoes. Modern rain-ready trainers don’t shout “I forgot it might rain today!” at you from across the room. There’s no bulky, snow-boot feel that previous generations of waterproof shoes were stuck with.
They’re a game changer for anyone with a capsule wardrobe who has sacrificed footwear just to be prepared for bad weather. You don’t have to sacrifice style to keep your feet dry – and these trainers are proof.
