The Boat Shoe Trend Is At Full Sail — Here Are the Best Pairs to Wear Right Now
style guide
Boat shoes are (once again) no longer for yacht clubs, and brands are putting out some modern, stylish takes on the nautical silhouette
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Boat shoes are the surprise footwear trend of the summer. Once cool, then preppy, then dead (outside of yacht clubs), the nautical style has been hoisted from the depths to offer us a new summer shoe option. And, on second glance, the trend actually makes sense: The best boat shoes offer a middle-ground between sneakers and dress shoes, letting you freshen up both office and off-duty fits.
At a Glance: The Best Boat Shoes for Men
Plus, the “boat shoe” category has now expanded to include everything from the classic Sperrys to rugged lug sole shoes. In other words, there is now a great range of boat shoes for all personal styles. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best boat shoes to buy right now — whether you’re sailing across the Pacific or walking to the local wine bar.
The Best Boat Shoes to Buy Right Now
From traditional picks to modern takes on the silhouette, these are our favorite boat shoes for men right now. Our picks are all mostly in stock, but because boat shoes are so trendy right now, stock is low at many stores. Act fast on any pair that catches your eye.
editor’s pick
Mr P. Caspian Suede Boat Shoes
We love classic boat shoes, but more modern versions will likely get more wear. Right now we’re into these luxe suede Caspian boat shoes from Mr. P. They feature a chunky Vibram sole that departs from the normal loafer look and makes the shoes more casual. They’re still wearable with dressier outfits but look best with jeans and button-ups for a current office or date night look.
The classic
Sperry Authentic Original Boat Shoe
At 86 years old, the Sperry Top-Sider is still one of the best boat shoes around. The shoe’s original innovations were a grooved sole that would grip the deck of a boat without leaving scuff marks, as well as a 360-degree lace-up design to keep the shoes from falling off. Wear them with chinos and a button-up shirt on business casual occasions, or dress them down with shorts and a tee on the weekend.
rugged
Yuketen Angler Boat Shoes
While technically “boat shoes,” these Anglers from Yuketen are a stark departure from the preppy — and we’re here for it. With hand-cut textured leather and a lug sole, the kicks offer a unique rugged look to spruce up casual outfits or ground more dressed-up fits.
Upgraded
Mephisto Hurrikan Boat Shoe
If you’re looking for a high-end take on the quintessential boat shoe, check out these Mephisto Hurrikans. The leather is dyed with oily aniline lends a polished look and makes the shoes water repellent. They’re a great option if you plan on dressing up your boat shoes, but they’re still easy to rock casually with shorts and a polo.
Lug Sole
G.H. Bass Ranger Camp Moc Toe Loafer
Another good chunky option is these Ranger loafers from G.H. Bass. The beefy, handsewn kicks feature both smooth and pebbled leather panels that we think look especially good in the all-black colorway.
old school
Sebago Portland
Sebago is another old-school label that’s still one of the best sources for boat shoes. These Portlands are one of our favorites from the throwback brand, with a premium leather construction and throwback boat shoe details. You get a non-marking rubber outsole, heel lacing, and a comfort upgrade in the form of a molded EVA foam insole for all-day support.
How We Chose the Best Boat Shoes
To make this list, we combed through boat shoe offerings at dozens of online retailers, fashion forums, and takes from other style experts. Our picks above are the most stylish boat shoes we could find. All come from trusted brands and feature an average customer rating of at least 3.7/5 stars (as of this writing).