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Ever since intrepid explorer Paul Sperry dreamt of inventing shoes that would stop him falling off his yacht (first world problems, Paul), boat shoes have been considered one of best examples of function-meets-form footwear.
More than 80 years on, whether you consider the casual style a menswear mainstay or think they’re better off overboard, it’s clear that boat shoes are a classic that won’t sink out of view for a long time to come.
They speak of laid-back Riviera style, but the inspiration for these versatile moc-toed, leather shoes came from the most unlikely of places. “Paul found his inspiration from his dog, Prince, noticing that he didn’t slip on ice,” says Jessica Frost from American brand Sperry Top-Sider, which carries his name. “Turning over his paw, Paul noticed hundreds of small cracks and lines going in all directions and that became the inspiration behind the innovative non-slip sole.”
Sperry did what any enterprising person would have after spotting this; he ran home and got to work, hacking up old pairs of shoes with a knife in a bid to mimic the grooves.
The initial makeshift version of the shoe worked, but with one small hitch – the black soles of the prototype left nasty marks all over the deck of the boat. So Sperry decided to combat this by switching to a white sole and the rest, as they say, is history.
River Island
Today, boat shoes are typified by a number of identifiable features. First and foremost is the main material used on the shoe. “Leather is the most typical material found on a boat shoe,” says Frost. “The more premium the leather, the greater number of different shades will be visible around the toe and heel where the leather has been stretched. Nubuck and suede are also excellent choices, the higher the quality, the richer the nap of the material.”
Then, there’s the remaining construction of the shoe: lambskin lining, extra padding in the footbed and a 360-degree lacing system where the laces cinch down the top of the foot as well as feeding around the heel. All of these extras raise the level of the shoe’s execution, look and wearability both on- and off-deck.
Being made in this way means boat shoes often require a bit of TLC to stay in tip-top condition. To keep yours shipshape, invest in a water-based cream shoe polish and apply it regularly to protect the leather. You can also use a water and vinegar solution, along with a pencil eraser to remove any small blemishes in a pinch.
As boat shoes are likely to come into contact with water at some point (whether it’s the ocean or a spilt pint of lager), remember always to dry them at room temperature to keep the leather from drying out and developing cracks.
Now that you’re suitably educated in boat shoe history and maintenance, let’s take a look at some of the best examples you can get your hands on and your feet in.
Lacoste
While it’s true that Lacoste is a tennis apparel brand, set up by a tennis player to make, well, tennis stuff, there’s no arguing with the fact it makes some seriously good boat shoes.
Lacoste’s versions of this casual classic make use of both traditional materials like leather and suede along with canvas and mesh to create boat shoes that maintain their trademark uncluttered look, while at the same time adopting a contemporary edge.
Sperry
If you’re going to buy a pair of boat shoes, you might as well go with the brand that invented them. Sperry is to boat shoes what Apple is to smartphones and what Patron is to tequila.
The US firm is essentially the boat shoe granddaddy and has a genuinely unbeatable heritage appeal. For classic, two-lug, leather and suede versions, this should be your first port of call.
Sebago
Michigan-based purveyor of nautical footwear Sebago may have been about 10 years later to the party than Sperry, but what it lacks in that decade’s worth of heritage, it more than makes up for in quality and craftsmanship.
Sebago has been pedalling its trade since 1946 and is not only beloved by sailors, but also by preppy Ivy League students, who adopted the brand’s ‘Docksides’ in the 1980s as their signature footwear.
M&S
For reliability, value for money and quality, good ole Marks and Spencer is the best around. And it turns out the high street stalwart makes some pretty excellent boat shoes too.
As expected, the M&S take on the classic footwear style is durable, easy on the eye and affordable. Look out for classic soft leather options, featuring that original herringbone cut-out sole.
Ralph Lauren
When you think of all-American style, Ralph Lauren is always one of the first brands that spring to mind. So as well as denim and Oxford shirts, it goes without saying that the label has more than perfected its take on the boat shoe over the years.
Ralph Lauren’s designs are simple, clean and classic, with an emphasis on quality. Check them out and buy with confidence.
Kurt Geiger
Kurt Geiger is a name synonymous with high-quality footwear. Since the 1960s, the British brand has been designing upscale shoes for the mass market, as well as putting its own unique stamp on pre-existing silhouettes.
That’s precisely what it has done with this definitive piece of east-coast clobber, and it works beautifully.
Clarks
As far as British footwear brands go, Clarks is undoubtedly the undisputed number one, certainly on the high street. This almost two-century-old business has turned its hand to pretty much every style imaginable over the years, not to mention inventing plenty of its own along the way.
Clarks’s boat shoes are just what you’d expect from such a respected manufacturer – good looking, durable, and so comfortable you can feel it just by looking at them.
Burton
Montague Burton borrowed £100 from a relative to set up a menswear shop back in 1903, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. Well over a century later, Burton has carved out a niche on the high street as the place to go for no-frills, fuss-free, fashion-made-easy apparel.
The brand’s ethos is reflected in its selection of boat shoes, which merge style and value for money to seamless effect.
Quoddy
What really sets Maine-based boat shoe maker Quoddy apart from the rest is its approach to manufacturing. The brand’s expertly handcrafted shoes are laboured over by skilled tradespeople at wooden workbenches, using the same tools and techniques for hundreds of years.
These skills have been passed down through generations, resulting in second-to-none quality footwear identifiable by a signature two-tone design.
Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger is another one of the world’s leading names in preppy American style. Since 1985, the designer lifestyle label has been fusing a classic east coast design aesthetic with a healthy dash of LA cool.
Cop a pair of Tommy boat shoes, and you can rest safe in the knowledge that you’ve bought from one of the best.
Office
In-house brand products at Office always manage to strike a balance between quality and affordability. The London-based retailer, which took its name from the fact that it used to display products on old office furniture, has been kitting out style-conscious guys since the ’80s.
Over the years it has built a reputation as a go-to place to grab a pair of top-notch boat shoes, and it’s easy to see how.
Timberland
While it’s best known for making reassuringly sturdy boots co-signed by rap royalty, Timberland has its roots firmly planted in America’s boating country.
As such, the company knows a thing or two about making boat shoes. In fact, next to its 6” work boots, this is probably the silhouette that the Massachusetts-based label is most renowned for.
Rockport
When Rockport started out back in 1971, its father and son founders had a clear vision: to make smart shoes that were comfortable enough to be worn every day.
The business’ boat shoes are created with comfort and wearability at the forefront of the design process; it’s just an added bonus that they look good, too.
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