Our 6 Favorite Waterproof Walking Sneakers

TL;DR

Prime Big Deal Days · Oct 6–7Offer from Amazon

Get your wardrobe favorites delivered free — and shop member deals

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

Esquire published a guide to six walking sneakers for wet-weather use, naming Nike’s Pegasus Trail shoe its choice for most people. The list also includes water-repellent models, so its picks do not all offer the same level of protection.

Esquire has published a guide to six walking sneakers suited to wet conditions, selecting Nike’s Pegasus Trail shoe as the option it says should work well for most people. The list also includes models described as water-repellent rather than waterproof, a distinction that matters to shoppers choosing footwear for rain, snow or puddles.

Esquire describes the Nike Pegasus Trail as a trail-running shoe that is also comfortable for walking, citing its stretchy collar, breathable upper, cushioned outsole and lightweight construction. The listed materials include ReactX Foam, GORE-TEX and Nike Trail ATC rubber; the guide gives its size range as 6 to 15 and lists seven colors.

The other selections cover different uses. Esquire says the On Cloudaway 2 is water-repellent and better suited to drizzly days than submersion. Hoka’s Transport GTX is presented as a city-commuting option with quick-toggle laces and a Gore-Tex membrane, while the Asics model pairs a Gore-Tex membrane with mesh and grip-oriented outsole rubber.

The remaining picks are geared toward colder or rougher conditions. Esquire describes one Salomon-inspired, winterized sneaker as suitable for rain and snow, with toggle lacing and a Gore-Tex membrane. Its Sorel selection combines a sneaker profile with design cues from the brand’s Caribou boot and lists a Gore-Tex membrane, cushioned midsole and OrthoLite footbed.

Choosing Shoes for Wet Walks

The guide gives shoppers a shortlist across commuting, everyday walking and colder-weather use, rather than treating every wet-weather shoe as interchangeable. Its most useful distinction is the one between waterproof construction and water repellency: a water-repellent finish may suit light drizzle, while stronger or prolonged exposure calls for checking the specific shoe’s stated membrane and intended use.

That distinction also keeps expectations in check. The source specifically cautions against submerging the On Cloudaway 2, despite including it in the roundup. Readers planning long walks in heavy rain or snow should compare each model’s protection claims, traction and fit against their conditions instead of relying on the list’s broad category label alone.

How Esquire Frames the Picks

The article is a shopping and product roundup, not a report on a new footwear launch or independent laboratory test. Esquire says its editors curated the products and discloses that it may earn a commission from links. It also points readers to separate information about how it tests products and why readers should trust its recommendations.

The six options use varied materials and construction, including Gore-Tex membranes, recycled textiles, foam midsoles and rubber outsoles. Esquire’s descriptions emphasize comfort and grip alongside weather protection, but the source does not provide a shared scoring system or comparative test results for all six shoes.

““if we had to choose one that would work well for most people, it’s the Nike Pegasus Trail shoe.””

— Esquire’s product guide

Protection and Testing Details

The source does not give a publication date, prices, availability or a complete model name for every entry in the supplied text. It also does not provide standardized waterproof testing results, such as a stated exposure limit, or explain how the six shoes performed against one another in controlled conditions.

Product sizing and colors are listed, but stock and options may vary by retailer. The roundup’s editorial descriptions should not be read as a guarantee that a shoe will keep feet dry in every duration or depth of wet conditions; the source itself differentiates water-repellent treatment from waterproof construction.

Check Current Models and Fit

Readers considering a pair can use Esquire’s list as a starting point, then check the manufacturer or retailer for the current model name, available sizes, price and weather-protection description. Because the roundup does not publish a common test score, shoppers should match the shoe to their routes and likely exposure, and confirm fit and return terms before buying.

The source does not announce a follow-up test or a scheduled update to the guide. Changes to availability, colors or product specifications remain something to verify with sellers.

Key Questions

Which shoe does Esquire recommend for most people?

Esquire names the Nike Pegasus Trail as its pick for most people, describing it as a trail-running shoe that is also comfortable for walking.

Are all six shoes fully waterproof?

No. Esquire describes the On Cloudaway 2 as water-repellent, not waterproof, and says it is a better choice for drizzle than submersion. Check each model’s stated protection before buying.

Which listed options are aimed at winter conditions?

Esquire presents one winterized, Salomon-inspired sneaker as suitable for rain and snow. It also describes the Sorel option as a weather-resistant, boot-inspired shoe for bad conditions.

Did Esquire publish comparative waterproof test results?

The supplied guide does not include standardized test scores or a shared waterproof-performance comparison. Esquire says it curates products and links to information about its testing process, but the provided material does not detail results for these six shoes.

Source: rss