5 Best Waterproof Walking Shoes in 2024

Not your ordinary waterproof walking shoes – this is the On Cloud 5 Waterproof. It’s our top-pick walking shoe because, in rain and snow, it gets our feet out of any wet situation dry as a bone. The best part is it’s waterproof, but it doesn’t spoil the stellar in-shoe feel and the overall walking experience. 

We got our smoke machine, microscope, and expertise to work to test the level of waterproofing of this shoe. To see how prohibitive the upper was, we drove smoke inside the shoe and gauged the amount that was emancipated. Seeing that the upper freed a small amount of smoke, we scored the breathability 1/5. To substantiate our findings, we looked over our microscope and discovered that the upper is very closely knitted, making it extremely difficult for fluid to seep through.

We also felt safe wandering over wet grounds because of the stability brought by the shoe. We measured the midsole width in the heel and forefoot at 83.7 mm and 104.6 mm. While these measurements are 4.6% and 4.8% behind the average, we still felt balance and steadiness even in puddles.

Comfort-wise, the midsole is 17.4% harder than average at 30.4 HA, providing us with pleasant springs on our strides. Beware, though, this did get 37.9% harder when we put the shoe inside our freezer for 20 minutes. Unless you don’t mind warming up the shoe first for your snowy adventures, look for another pair.

Hoka Clifton 9 GTX screams comfort in our strolls, providing unparalleled cushioning among our lab-tested waterproof walking shoes. Its generous yet stable platform and dense upper spare us from discomfort and potential injury, while maintaining a surprisingly light build. 

Our in-shoe experience with this Hoka is hard to match, as we felt like we could strut the streets endlessly with its abundant cushioning. Our caliper measures a tall 37.2/28.6 mm stack, offering much more impact protection and comfort compared to the 33.6/24.8 mm average. 

Surprisingly, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to stabilize our landings. Clifton 9 GTX ensures our surefootedness by adding density to its cushion and width to its midsole. True enough, our durometer registers a balanced 23.9 HA. Meanwhile, the midsole measures 7.4/6.9 mm wider than average in the forefoot and heel. Despite this, it maintains a light weight of 9.6 oz (271g).

Other than underfoot protection, the Gore-Tex membrane and dense jacquard mesh shield us from the top. It didn’t allow a single drop of water to enter yet surprisingly felt quite breezy. Our lab reveals a rare 3/5 breathability score for this GTX shoe.

Because the toebox tapers more aggressively to the big toe, we believe this shoe isn’t ideal for wide or square-shaped feet. 

With its waterproof and bulletproof nature, we ultimately felt safe braving any road or weather condition in the Hoka Transport GTX. With its durable Cordura upper and rugged Vibram outsole, this shoe can withstand tough conditions while providing a stable and secure ride. According to our lab tests, it's the most durable waterproof walking shoe, offering unmatched protection and longevity.

The upper features a strong fabric called Cordura on top of the GTX membrane. This combination creates a highly protective shield, as evidenced by its 4/5 durability score in our Dremel test. Our feet felt warm and dry even as we encountered slush and snow. Our breathability test mirrors this with the lowest 1/5 score.

Complementing the solid upper is the well-known Vibram outsole. Our durometer shows its hardness is above-average 81.0 HC, while its thickness is 21.4% above average. Both results ensure the shoe will last many seasons and effectively deliver underfoot protection.

We felt planted to the ground during our strolls thanks to the shoe’s rigid build that contains unwanted excessive movements. In our manual assessment, the midsole highly resists twisting, earning the highest 5/5 torsional rigidity score. Meanwhile, in our bend test, it emerged 22.8% stiffer than average.

However, all the toughness led to a heavier weight of 11.6 oz (330g), 19.1% above average. Those who prefer a more weightless feel should check alternatives.

Of all the waterproof walking shoes that we took to our walks and in our lab, the one that offered unmatched comfort is the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX. Built for the outdoors, we found the Peg thrives in diverse settings while keeping our feet spoiled with a plush and bouncy midsole.

Bringing our feet into a homey space is the React foam that impressively blends energy return with a cloud-like sensation. Our caliper shows a generous 37.7/24.9 mm stack for impact protection, made of a soft 18.6 HA composition, as confirmed by our durometer. This superior combination lets us walk longer distances effortlessly.

Our feet remained dry even when liquid was poured over the upper, thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane and TPU layers for added protection and durability. With its low breathability score (2/5), there's no need to fear a little rain.

Enhancing comfort is the shoe’s flexible nature, bending easily to our natural strides. Our flex test backs this up with a result 27.7% more malleable than average. To ensure we remain stable, the grippy 3.5 mm lugs improve our control on slippery surfaces, fast corners, and steep inclines.

One element we found lacking is a fully gusseted tongue, which would provide a complete waterproofing solution. Due to this, we had to steer clear of ankle-deep to prevent water from seeping into our shoes.

A superbly cushioned yet remarkably stable ride is what the Hoka Challenger 7 GTX delivered in our actual walks. With its grippy lugs and waterproof upper comes reliable protection for any terrain and weather, allowing us to enjoy the outdoors without any worries. After delving deeper inside our lab, this shoe reveals several sources of our surefootedness.

First, we discovered not only a plush cushion but a wide one too. Our caliper reveals a generous forefoot and heel of 116.4/100.9 mm for steadier landings than the average 111.8/89.6 mm. Because of the shoe’s gigantic stack, it’s tougher to twist and bend, which effectively mitigated excessive lateral movements and ankle rolls. Our lab confirms our assessment with a 5/5 torsional rigidity score and longitudinal rigidity that’s 18.2% above average.

Further improving our control is the grippy 3.8 mm lugs that display excellent adhesive power on wet pavements and off-the-beaten paths. We like how they don’t feel intrusive on hard concrete and asphalt.

Another feature we truly appreciated is the waterproof upper that kept the cold, moisture, and even debris away. We weren’t afraid to walk through puddles and streams with this pair.

However, those with wide or square-shaped feet should know the big toe area is 4.5 mm narrower than average. Those who prefer more wiggle room should check elsewhere.