The best waterproof shoes for women we tested
Best waterproof shoes for women: Sorel Out N About IV
Best athletic waterproof shoes for women: On Cloud 5 Waterproof
Best budget waterproof shoes for women: Cottimo Women's Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Few things ruin a day like wet feet, but when you have the best waterproof shoes, you can trail run, hike or even just commute without worrying about puddles or downpours.
We tested nine pairs of waterproof shoes from brands like Allbirds, Sorel and On and put them through the paces in conditions from damp to super soaked to see which can actually keep your feet dry, fit comfortably and stay reliable in all weather conditions. At the end of our testing, we found three of the best waterproof shoes we recommend for anyone.
These waterproof shoes have enough style and comfort to wear all day, a durable, watertight construction that will guarantee dry socks and the best drying time in our testing pool — all at a reasonable price point with a one-year warranty.
This is our choice for runners and other athletes who need supportive but cushioned and lightweight shoes designed for speed that can also handle slippery and potentially hazardous conditions. With a thick tread and superior waterproofing technology, these shoes make workouts accessible in any weather.
At roughly half the price of most other waterproof shoes, this pair is a real bargain, with waterproofing on par with pricier brands and a good-enough design that’s comfortable on your feet and bank account.
Best waterproof shoes for women: Sorel Out N About IV
The Sorel Out N About IV waterproof shoes were a surprise winner because their design looks more like casual everyday walking shoes, without a lot of the high-end technology that goes into athletic shoe brands. They’re also noticeably heavier than most other shoes we tested due to the thick molded rubber soles that provide great traction on slippery surfaces.
These shoes do two things really well: They’re incredibly comfortable, and their waterproofing is superb. These shoes prevented all moisture penetration, even when fully submerged, and they were the only pair that did so while drying immediately. The website says the laces aren’t waterproof, but our tests showed that they dried immediately as well. The waterproofing comes from a combination of polyurethane (PU) fabric construction and PU coating. If water does make its way inside, the inner sole (also waterproof) is removable and, yet again, dries quickly. The materials also seem to be the most insulating of any of the shoes we tried, which means these shoes are also ideally suited for cold weather.
The fit of these shoes was sturdier than an athletic shoe but still cushioned enough to wear all day without complaint. Credit for that may go to the drop-in cushioning midsole, which adds stability. Some reviewers online complained about a lack of arch support, but our testers did not have that issue. In addition, the PU fabric is breathable, which means your feet won’t sweat in these despite their watertightness.
These shoes do it all; they perform well at repelling water, dry quickly and are both comfortable and durable. They’re made from quality materials too, as the body even has waterproofed suede and leather components that look no worse for wear after a good soaking or two. To top it off, the midrange price point makes them a clear choice as the best waterproof shoes.
Best women’s athletic waterproof shoes: On Cloud 5 Waterproof
Like our pick for overall best waterproof shoes, this pair from On excelled in our testing, not allowing a droplet when fully submerged for a minute. Even the exterior dried in record time, so you can run through puddles without worrying about wet feet. Unlike the Sorels, these are designed for speed and weigh just over 8 ounces, so you feel aerodynamic and light on your feet.
The Cloud 5 have a deep tread for clinging to slippery surfaces and come with classic and speed laces. Our testers like the speed laces, which are round and waterproof and allow these shoes to be slipped on with no knotting required. They fit without being too wide or narrow, they’re designed for stability (traditional and lateral) and they provide minimal impact, ensuring soft landings that are easier on your joints in any weather.
Two other points that help these shoes stand out: They’re made from recycled materials, and they have reflective portions that help you stay visible even in the dim light of lousy weather.
The main drawback is the price, which is at the upper end of the shoes we tested but pretty normal for a good athletic shoe. The fact that the Ons can be used in dry and wet weather may justify the extra cost for hardcore runners. But if you’re not planning on logging miles no matter the weather, our budget pick might be better for you.
Best budget women’s waterproof shoes: Cottimo Women’s Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Extremely weatherproof materials like Gore-Tex usually come with a high price tag, so it can be tough to find a budget option that works. The Cottimos (which are more like sneakers than hiking shoes) performed admirably in our testing and have many other attributes in common with our overall pick. Among the sub-$100 waterproof shoes we looked at, they had arguably the best waterproof performance as the only pair to pass the dry-sock test after being submerged in water for one minute.
The waterproofing isn’t obvious on these shoes either, which means they can pass for typical running shoes and have a solid tread and breathable upper.
The main area where these shoes lost points is in their quality. While comfortable, they don’t have the same molded-to-your-foot feel as other athletic shoe brands we tested, and the sizing felt slightly off. The materials aren’t high quality either, as there was some loose stitching on the side and the removable insole is pretty flimsy. All signs indicate these aren’t shoes that will hold up to hard use in the long term, but if you’re looking for a waterproof option to use occasionally without breaking the bank, the Cottimos will give you the best bang for your buck.
How we tested
Our testers tried every pair of shoes in dry and wet conditions to see how each looked, felt and fit. Then we simulated wet conditions to see how well the waterproofing held up and how quickly the shoes dried and became usable again. Here are all the tests we ran on each pair of shoes:
Performance
- Waterproofness: While wearing the shoes, we submerged each pair in water (including the tongue and laces but not over the top of the shoe) for one minute and recorded the results.
- Dry time: After removing the shoes from their water bath, the insoles were removed and the amount of time it took each pair of shoes and insoles to dry completely was recorded. If the shoes stated that they were machine-dryable, they were dried.
- Stability: Every pair of shoes was worn on uneven ground in wet and dry conditions to see how much support they offered. We also tested rapidly changing direction forward and laterally in the shoes to see how much support they offered.
- Durability: Shoes were examined before and after testing for quality and to note any deterioration of materials or laces.
- Ease of cleaning: Shoes were spot cleaned and, if they stated they were machine-washable, machine-cleaned as well.
Design
- Comfort: We walked indoors and outdoors, in dry and wet conditions, in each pair of shoes and gauged comfort, stability and support.
- Fit: Each shoe was tried and judged by how true to size it fit and whether it would accommodate a wider foot and had arch support.
- Value: Price and the availability of a warranty was taken into consideration.
Other waterproof shoes for women we tested
The fit was slightly small and their dry time was longer than most others in our testing pool.
This Canadian brand passed our immersion test and is stylish and supportive. Unfortunately, the shoes lost points because they took longer to dry than most others we tested. All told, they needed more than an hour to fully air dry. Plus, the fit was slightly small.
A close runner-up to the winning On shoes, these run a bit small and had a longer drying time.
These shoes use Gore-Tex, a high-end waterproofing material that excelled in our testing. It kept water out well, but the exterior did take slightly longer to dry than our winner, and the insole was thinner and lighter than others we tested. They’re great waterproof athletic shoes, but ultimately, some fit problems (they ran a bit small) and the longer dry time knocked them out of the running.
These shoes are just water-resistant, not waterproof, and didn't fare well in our soak test.
The fit on these popular shoes is dead-on, and even though they only claim to be water-resistant, not waterproof, we wanted to test them anyway. Unfortunately, water breached these shoes fairly quickly in our testing and took close to an hour to dry. If you’re looking for something to wear in a light rain, these could still be a good choice, but they’re more likely to keep your toes warm than dry.
More like hiking shoes than everyday footwear, these are water-resistant thanks to their leather upper but aren't truly waterproof.
If you’re in the market for hiking shoes, these have that kind of look and sturdiness. They seemed promising, but water permeated them after around 30 seconds in our submersion test. Still, how often do you spend 30 seconds in a puddle? Ultimately, our top picks offered better value for the money, but these could be a solid option for any hiker who doesn’t stand in still water.
While these only claim to be water-resistant, they did surprisingly well in our soak test.
These shoes only claim to be water-resistant and not fully waterproof, which made their performance more impressive. They didn’t begin to saturate until 20 seconds of being fully submerged, and one heel remained dry even after the full minute. While they’re not athletic shoes, they were comfortable enough to walk in and a solid bargain.
These shoes weren't breathable or supportive, but they did a great job of keeping the water out during our soak test.
These were a fairly unique option, made entirely of molded plastic (think of Crocs) other than a removable foam insert. They’re like rubber boots in shoe form, and they did well to keep any water out, as long as it was underneath the shoes and not coming down from above. Unfortunately, the material isn’t breathable, and these shoes aren’t remotely supportive.