The best rain weather shoe is a dark brown suede with a rubber sole. Hands down. It is a myth that suede is not good for rain. This statement is only true when your suede is not of good quality and/or is a very light color. A good quality suede shoe is your ultimate best rain-weather shoe. Clearly, the person who created this worldwide myth must have been wearing poor-quality shoes because the reality is that suede is the best option to wear on rainy days.
Allow me to explain why:
Suede Doesn’t Stain As Easily
Good suede doesn’t leave an indication that has it rained. I.e. it doesn’t leave water marks, spots, bumps, etc. It dries easily. Calfskin, on the other hand, can spot stains, can bubble up, and can leave leather blisters, etc. And course good leather has the best chance of not doing that, but even good ones can if it is crust or of light color. Black calfskin is usually another solid choice, but suede is still better.
The rare occasion that suede can stain is when a concentrated spot of rain lands on the shoe and is not treated quickly. That can sometimes leave a ‘spot’. But that spot will often disappear after the next rain, assuming the shoe gets wet evenly.
Suede Usually Dries Evenly
Good suede almost always dries evenly when getting wet all over. My favorite story to tell is that once when in Paris, I was on a scooter and got caught in a very strong hail storm. I was wearing snuff suede chukka boots. I got so wet that my shoes turned black because of how soaked they were. I was curious to see how they were going to handle it.
To my pleasant surprise, in less than an hour, they had dried completely evenly and did not leave any salt stains. I was super impressed and learned that day that good, brown suede shoes are the best things to wear in the rain. Because I tell you what, if those shoes had been calfskin, I can guarantee that I would have had some problems left over for me.
Good Suede Is Already ‘Protected’
Most of the high-quality tanneries that produce suede for men’s footwear actually Scotchguard the hides prior to sending them out to the factories. They wouldn’t get much repeat business if their suedes were delicate and easily stained. A lot of this myth that suede is delicate comes from salesmen in women’s shoe departments in the US trying to upsell the client with a ‘suede protector spray’. It makes more sense as ladies’ shoes are not made from the same robust suede that we are using in the men’s dress shoe world. It is very much apples and oranges.
Darker Suedes Are Best
Not all suede is good for what I am talking about. It has to be a heavier type of suede, not a thin one. You find this on English suede, particularly from Charles Stead tannery. Or thicker, full-grain Italian suedes. And not all colors are ideal either. Light suede, of course, is not great for the rain and it is not because it is suede it is because of the color and how it is then easier to get dirty. Black suede tends to lose its luster. It will dry fine but won’t stay as black after so much rainfall.
But shades of brown, like snuff, dark brown, bitter chocolate, etc, and other darker colors like Loden suede or Navy also work wonders in the rain. It’s like it was built to be the best rain-weather shoe.
When it rains out, I definitely opt for a pair of dark brown suede shoes or quite often chelsea boots. Both have rubber soles and for me, this is the best combination for a rain-weather shoe: Dark Brown Suede and a Rubber Sole. The model doesn’t matter. As long as it has these two things you will be okay and will be safe to go out in the rain and thus not have to worry about damaging your shoes. After they get wet, simply allow them to dry and then steam them and brush down. You will see them as good as new and understand why they are the best rain weather shoe!
I hope that you have enjoyed this post on the best rain weather shoe. If you like these educational-style posts, please read more here: https://theshoesnobblog.com/educational/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
Shop · Marketplace · J.FitzPatrick · Patreon
Couldn’t agree more. My Loake Kemptons are my go-to-boot. I spent a few (very pleasant) days in Donegal, where the rain smites with biblical fury. I had to travel light so my shoe of choice were my dark brown suede chukka LKs, the only pair I took. They got soaked thoroughly, dried out very quickly, and only needed a light steaming over the hotel kettle to look pristine once more. Accept no substitutes.
Thanks for sharing Lee!
I wish you would make chelsea boots with rubber soles, or better commando soles.
Hi Justin, huge fan of your brand (3 pairs so far, hopefully more to come). Quick question on suede and rain – what’s the difference between a “rough-out suede” of the sort available from Crockett & Jones and standard suede? Is the rough out more rain resistant than standard suede?
Hey Ed, so kind of you. I appreciate the support! But yes in theory, its waxed over to make it more durable and sealed per se. Hence why you usually find the ‘rough-out’ suede on Winter models
Hello Justin, this post and your blog in general have been wonderful resources as I learn what leather can and cannot do. Wondering if you have experience with grey suede in the rain/dust/grass? I traverse many different surfaces for work and like versatile shoes. Looking for another suede option to add to the brown chukkas I already own. Thank You!
I am sorry for this late reply. Finding a ton of comments in my spam folder months later. I appreciate your words. Thank you. Grey suede gets dirty easily. Sorry my friend