So, it never stops raining here in Taipei. I thought the weather was gray and overcast in northern Europe. Well, the clouds were so thick yesterday, I never even felt like the sun came up.
And, my feet are always wet. So I want to get a new pair of shoes, and I want them to be waterproof/resistent. But, I don’t want to get a pair of shoes that look like I’m going to be running a cross-continent marathon.
I’d like something these or these.
Any suggestions.
This is a good place for something I’ve been wondering: Does anyone have any experience with gore-tex waterproof sneakers? How well do they work?
I have a pair of hiking boots that are “waterproof” with Gore-Tex. Best. Boots. Ever.
I say “waterproof” because the Gore-Tex needs to “breath” to work properly, but even in hiking in rainy weather, I never had a soggy shoe problem.
I know you want sneakers, not boots, but a lot of these companies make low cut sneaker styles.
Check out shoes from companies such a s Vasque, Merrel, North Face, Asolo etc… You can see a decent variety at REI.
Good luck finding low-key styling in waterproof running shoes. It’s a pain, I know.
I still have to plug these, they are cool and comfy and completely waterproof- though I sometimes have water splash in around the ankle in heavy rain.
Goretex XCR sneakers work fine – they have limited breathability, but you can stand in a puddle all day and keep your feet dry (except for the sweat remaining inside the Goretex bootie), provided, of course, water doesn’t drip down inside from above. Maybe you could wear gaiters if dripping rain becomes a problem. You’ll have more selection if you look for trail runner/approach shoes – Danner, Montrail, Merrell, etc. all make Goretex trail runners.
I wouldn’t wear them hiking, even in torrential rains, but for a job which comprised a lot of standing around outside in the rain, they were adequate. Leather uppers can also be treated to add to their natural rain resistance.
There are also waterproof socks, like Sealskinz, which will absolutely keep water off your feet. Again, if you sweat, the sweat will stay inside your socks. Last time I checked, these socks ran about 20 USD per pair.