Boat shoes are a type of footwear that most people associate with leisure, relaxation, and the summertime. This shoe is a staple in the footwear industry. They are comfortable, durable, and fashionable. The popularity of this type of shoe tends to rise and fall repeatedly throughout history. A glance at their history reveals that this is not always true. Boat shoes have been popular for decades and then out of fashion again just as quickly. Then again, this is the case of many different footwear styles. Boat shoes are unique in that they have their own style and some special features to amek them more nimble and adept in wet circumstances. In this article, we will discuss the features of a good boat should and the most popular brands of boat shoes on the market.
Features of a Boat Shoe
A good boat shoe should have the following features:
- Quality Leather - The leather should come from high-quality cowhide. This type of leather is very durable and usually has a great "feel" to it. The best types of leather are hand-crafted carefully so that they maintain their durability over time without being too tough.
- A Good Fit - This shoe needs to have a good fit around the heel area. If your foot slips out of the shoe now and then, it means that the shoe is not long enough or wide enough at the back half of your foot. You might want to try on several sizes before you find your perfect fit. This can take some trial and error if you are buying them online rather than in person though.
- Medium Width at the Forefoot - The width of your feet is important when you are looking for the right boat shoe. If you have narrow feet, it might be difficult to find a good pair of shoes that fits properly. However, if your feet are wide, this will not matter as much because most brands carry wide sizes anyway.
- Cushioning: - This is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not a boat shoe will work for you and/or feel comfortable after hours of use. Good cushioning means that your foot can rest comfortably inside the shoe without feeling too squished or too loose (depending on the type of fit that you are looking for).
- Outer Sole - The outer sole should be made out of rubber and it should be thick enough to provide comfort but not too thick as to make the shoe look like a boot or an old man's shoe. The midsole (the area between the shoes' upper and outer soles) can come in different types of materials, depending on what you prefer. The best midsole material is EVA because it prevents your foot from sliding around inside the shoe and provides maximum cushioning at the same time.
Popular Boat Shoe Brands
A lot of companies make boat shoes these days. Some of the most popular include:
- Sperry - Sperry is one of the most reputable brands when it comes to boat shoes. They have been producing quality products in this niche for decades and their designs and styles are fresh and modern (in comparison with other brands). Sperry boat shoes come in different eye-catching colors, which is a plus for people who like dressing up because they can add color accents to their outfits. The only downside about Sperry's boat shoe line is that their sizing runs small (so you might want to order a size or two larger than your usual), but otherwise, they meet all of our criteria above.
- Clarks - Clarks was popular during the 60s and 70s for their desert boots style footwear (which made a comeback recently). It was only fitting that Clarks should recreate one of its iconic styles and offer it to today's consumers. Their boat shoe line looks sporty and casually elegant at the same time, which is why we recommend them as an alternative if you don't want to spend too much on your first-ever pair of boat shoes or if you simply liked the design better than Sperry or Sebago's.
- Sebago - Sebago is a popular brand when it comes to boat shoes and the reason for this is because they have been doing it longer than most other brands in the market today. Sebago's designs are simple yet so stylish that they easily turn heads when you walk by them on the street. Their sizing tends to run small, so if you're a size 10, pick a size 11.
