Shoe blog

Boat Shoes: There is a time for everything

I had all but forgotten about this New York Times article about boat shoes (also called deck shoes), but the weather, alas, quickly made me remember. After the unseasonably high temps of the past two days, it looks like we’re going to be drenched here on the East Coast, so this is a perfect time to get out your Sperry Top-Siders if you’ve got errands to run. Or if you’re on a yacht somewhere, sampling maritime pleasures by the beach–in which case you might be safe with the canvas version of deck shoes. And if so, here are some options for you:

Navy leather Top-Siders, $64.95 from sperrytopsider.com; white slip-on canvas Top-Siders, $39.95; red leather Car Shoes, $320 at Jeffrey; Vans brown canvas lace-ups, $40 from vans.com; plaid slip-on canvas Top-Siders, $39.95; caramel suede deck shoes, $165 at Barneys New York Co-Op; ivory leather Top-Siders, $64.95; special-edition brown leather Top-Siders, $95 at Jeffrey.

The New York Times makes it sound like an all-men’s affair, but I’m here to tell you that a good pair of boat shoes can be a good, stalwart friend to you forever. Sperry Top-Siders like these are always a safe, reliable, and budget-friendly choice ($74 at Zappos):

And just to be clear: I’m not talking simply about a moccasin construction, but about shoes meant to withstand weather while providing comfort and protection, with a non-slip sole, and an upper that can take a beating (usually nubuck).

If you’re out there on the deck to get down and dirty, here’s another attractive option:

Nautica Women’s Tack Shoe ($70 at WestMarine.com) features a synthetic/mesh upper which allows water to run right through it.

As for me–I’ll probably be wearing my cute Sperry Top-Sider blue-and-white mules later today, in case of a deluge. Just to be on the safe side!