The Waterproof Shoes Women and Men Need for Travel: Testing Out Vessi’s Footwear, Gear and Apparel
Canadian brand Vessi offers a solution to so many travellers’ problems: comfortable, stylish and completely waterproof gear that works 100% of the time. Keep reading to learn more about my experience putting Vessi’s products to the test on my recent spring trip to the Lake District in England.
My feet and socks are completely dry as I stand in a stream with my Vessi Stormbursts in the Lake District, England.
For a long time I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of catch-all shoes, perfect for travelling during in-between seasons or wet climates that I’m not scared of getting wet. I’ve also been searching for waterproof gear that I don’t have to worry about getting soaked on my travels, and damaging my spirits and belongings along with it.
I’ve had my eye on the Canadian brand Vessi for quite some time now, so Chris and I decided to give some of their shoes and gear a try. This was ahead of my early spring trip to London, England, and a van trip through The Lake District, northeastern England and southern Scotland and Edinburgh, so the timing of testing out their waterproof gear couldn’t have been better.
If you’re on the hunt for some fantastic gear and waterproof shoes women and men can use on their travels, then definitely keep reading to hear my thoughts on Vessi’s latest waterproof gear.
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The Performance and Comfort Vessi Offers Travellers
All smiles thanks to the comfort and performance of my Vessi Stormbursts on a hike in The Lake District, England
Vessi’s brand has been growing for quite a few years now. What began as a small company with a few pairs of waterproof shoes has expanded to include gear like backpacks, gloves, outerwear, and even socks and apparel.
For travellers looking to simplify their packing list, Vessi’s products eliminate the need to double-up on functional pieces of clothing, footwear and equipment. Their pieces aren’t only comfortable, breatheable and 100% waterproof, but many of their pieces are stylish, too. On my most recent trip with my new Vessi gear in tow, I was overjoyed about the fact that my pieces worked so well with the rest of my wardrobe, and didn’t feel out of place in my suitcase.
After trying out a variety of Vessi’s pieces on my trip to the United Kingdom, I can say with complete certainty that they aren’t falsifying any claims about waterproofness. All of my pieces didn’t only keep water and dampness out, but the water never even seeped in. It was a relief to see the water bead off everything with ease, and to even step in giant puddles, or walk across shallow rivers and streams without having to worry about anything getting wet.
In some of the hiking areas that I was putting my Vessi shoes to the test, specifically when I was walking through streams and rivers, I could see others watching me with curiosity. If only they knew just the kind of footwear I was working with, they’d understand exactly why I had the confidence to walk straight through water.
Their Waterproof Shoes Women Can Get Excited About
There are so many different styles of Vessi shoes that it can be difficult to choose when it comes to picking out from their women’s collection. Of the shoes that I tried from Vessi, my favourite shoe—hands down—was their Stormburst High Top. I’ve learned that they’ve come out with a low top version of this shoe, too, which I think will make an excellent addition to their offerings.
I’ll take a moment now to talk about the Stormburst, and some of their other most popular shoes for women, too:
Stormburst High Top
Vessi Stormburst High Top with the Lifestyle Crew Socks
Like I said, this was my favourite shoe of the Vessis I tried by far. The Stormburst ticked a lot of boxes for me when it comes to choosing a travel shoe: it’s lightweight, can pack up relatively small considering its size, it’s completely waterproof, and it has an excellent grip, offering the technicality needed for hiking.
I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call it a true hiking boot for all terrains, since it doesn’t offer ankle support, but its tread is solid and I was very comfortable on the moderate hikes I used them for in the Lake District.
I’d recommend the Stormburst High Top if you’re looking for something that mimics a hiking boot, planning on walking through terrain where you’d want your ankles covered, or if you’re looking for a great all-around multi use shoe that can be worn casually or technically on the road. I ordered mine in “Frost White” because I like its clean look, and how bright it is with my wardrobe.
I know they’ll get dirty, but the great news about Vessi is they also include instructions on how to wash and care for them, so I’ll be putting that to the test over the years, too.
I’ll also add here that I enjoyed trying out the Lifestyle Crew Socks with my Stormburst High Tops. They’re a pretty basic crew sock. They’re lightweight, and they offer a nice, high length, and a comfortable texture and fit.
Stormburst Low Top
I haven’t personally tried this shoe since it’s a brand new release from Vessi, but based on my love for the high top, I would definitely be interested in ordering the low top next. It offers all of the same features as the high top, including an excellent tread, sleek design and waterproof technology, but is ideal for warm-weather destinations, or places where you’d like to set your ankle free.
Soho Sneaker
I picked out this pair of sneakers for myself and was really excited to try them, especially for being more of a city shoe during my time in London, England. Unfortunately as soon as I put them on, I knew they were the wrong fit for me. I have blister prone feet with pronounced heels, so new shoes are always a risk—it runs in my family.
Sometimes I can just tell that a shoe is going to take a long time to break in, and this was one of them for me. I think it’s because they’re made of a vegan leather upper, which was firm and pushed into my heel and the base of my ankle.
For those who don’t face similar problems with stiff vegan leather uppers, the shoes are sleek and attractive. Although I sent mine back and didn’t put them to the waterproof test, they share the same 100% waterproof promise as all of Vessi’s other products, which I know to be true. I ordered my Sohos in “Ivory White”, and to be honest I found them to be stark—almost too white. Of course all white shoes dull and get dirty over time, but this is worth knowing depending on what your style preference is.
Other popular styles for women that I have my eye on for the future are:
Women’s Weekend: Another city-friendly waterproof shoe that can be dressed up or down.
Women’s Weekend Chelsea: a stylish boot/sneaker hybrid type style that would be great to wear any time of year.
Vessi’s Waterproof Shoes for Men
I love trying out products from a brand like Vessi, because they aren’t complicated. As a matter of fact, almost all of the styles that I already outlined for women are also available in their men’s collection, essentially in the same colours, too.
Chris got two pairs of Vessi shoes and loves both of them. He isn’t as blister prone as me, and I was glad to hear that the men’s styles matched up to the women’s styles in terms of performance and comfort. Let me highlight the shoes that Chris tested out, including some of Vessi’s more popular shoe styles for men:
Weekend
Chris ordered these in the colour “Oak Brown”, which I have to say is a really beautiful colour. Like all other Vessi footwear, they’re 100% waterproof, and I think these shoes are an excellent, multi-use city shoe.
Chris loves how they’re stylish and great for going around the city, but also extremely comfortable, easy to pack and lightweight, multifunctional and purposeful. He’s biked around with them multiple times in Toronto already, making them a great performance and casual shoe. All-in-all, they’re an excellent, all around shoe for any range of activities.
Stormburst High Top
Chris and I try to avoid getting the same thing when it comes to clothes and accessories, but sometimes it’s just worth it to be able to experience the same level of comfort and performance. This is true for the Men’s Stormburst High Top, along with the Women’s. Chris opted to try these in “Peak Black”, which goes together well with his wardrobe, and he feels just as enthusiastic about these shoes as I do.
In his words, they’re a great balance between style, functionality and comfort. I think we both agree that the soft knit upper around the ankle is such a comfortable layer for any terrain, and has the warmth, protection and coverage of a second sock.
Another popular men’s Vessi shoe is:
Men’s Weekend Chelsea: this is essentially the same as the Women’s version, and it’s offered in a similar range of colours.
Other Vessi Accessories and Gear to Take Note Of
Along with testing out Vessi shoes, I also had the pleasure of trying out some of Vessi’s highly sought-after performance gear and accessories. I was just as impressed with these as I was with the Stormburst High Tops, and would recommend them with the same praise.
Astoria Backpack
When I ordered the Astoria, I thought this backpack would be a fun little cursory addition to my packing list for the U.K. I figured I’d use it on a few hikes and call it a day.
Upon reading my airline’s carry on details, though, I realized this 17L backpack was the perfect size for the airline’s personal item requirements. Since I was travelling with carry on only for this trip, it was a done deal.
Chris and I are both big fans of travelling with carry on only whenever possible, so a new personal item that fit a surprising amount of stuff in it was a welcomed addition to my carry-on bag entourage. This backpack has a 16” protected laptop sleeve, several secure and durable zipper pockets, and it even has a luggage sleeve to be easily stacked on a wheeled bag.
On top of all these features, it’s 100% waterproof, and easily fits under the seat in front of you on a plane. It fit all my toiletries, laptop, cords, adapters, e-reader and a few other international flight essentials with ease.
One more point I’ll make is I ordered it in the limited edition “Limewash” colour (can you see I have a habit of picking light tones?!). I liked this colour better than black—I also already have several carry on bags that are black—so I wanted to try this out. Right after ordering it I was nervous I’d made a mistake and that it would get dirty on the plane. But after several flights, train rides and being hauled around in a campervan for a week, there is hardly a mark on it! I think its waterproof technology makes it on the more stain resistant side, which is a big plus for me.
Waterproof Gloves
These were another welcome addition to my spring trip in The Lake District. While it wasn’t overly cold during the trip, sometimes it’s nice to have an extra layer on your hands during rain or cooler temperatures. They are absolutely 100% waterproof, as promised, and they even have textured spots on the tip of the forefinger and thumb for using your device on-the-go.
I’ll say that while these gloves are insulated and offer an additional cozy layer, they aren’t appropriate for all seasons. There were a few times when my fingers even felt a little chilly and cold around the 5 degrees celcius mark, so if you’re looking for waterproof winter gloves, these aren’t it.
They will definitely come in handy for many a hiking trip, for use during rainy trips, or just for those between-season trips when I’m looking for an extra layer. I could even see myself enjoying using them on a camping or portage trip and needing to handle things in the rain or wet items from the lake, since they’re so comfortable and waterproof.
The Vessi waterproof gloves are sleek, stylish and offer grip in all the right places
Other Vessi Accessories I have my eye on:
Shoreline Belt Bag: This is a nice looking belt bag that comes in different colours depending on the season. I often wear a belt bag when it’s raining, since it’s the path of least resistance if my belt bag gets wet instead of a larger purse, but a waterproof belt bag sounds like a no-brainer, win-win decision to me. I already own several belt bags, but I love the idea of one that’s waterproof.
Women’s Overcast Jacket: This seems like a great, catch-all, lightweight and 100% waterproof rain jacket layer. I personally love that it seems to pack up small, making it a great item to bring on the road.
Ordering and Gifting Vessi for Yourself and Loved Ones
If you’re considering giving Vessi as a gift to someone you know who loves finding the best travel gear, or if you’re planning on ordering some for yourself, then it’s always worth looking into some of the offers they have on their site.
A great way to give the gift of Vessis is via gift card. They have different denominations of electronic gift cards that you can purchase on their website. If you’re planning to shop women or shop men’s boots or shoes for yourself, then feel free to pick from any of the products listed.
Vessi typically offers free shipping on orders over $120, and 90 days for you to consider a return. These circumstances make it easy to try Vessi for the first time, and their customer service is so helpful if you have any questions throughout the process.
My Case for Vessi: A Game Changer in the Travel Gear World
I’m already looking forward to the next time I can take my waterproof Vessi gear on the road with me!
I’m happy to report that Vessi does offer everything they promise and more when it comes to comfort, style and 100% waterproof technology. I know Chris has already biked around Toronto on many a rainy day in both his Stormburst and Weekend shoes, and he’s already looking forward to his first proper hike in them.
Anyone who knows me well knows that it’s a pretty rare (dare I say risky) move for me to head out on a trip with a brand new, never-been-worn pair of shoes and not only be blister free to tell the tale, but to have fallen in love with them. This was the case for the Stormburst High Tops, and I can’t offer them higher praise. I’m already excited to take them out on their next all-season adventure.
Whenever a little rain started to fall in the U.K. and I was in the company of my Astoria Backpack, Waterproof Gloves or Stormburst High Tops, I didn’t have to worry for a second that my day would be dampened by the rain. The Vessi guarantee allowed me to be completely present on each hike, walk and scenic lookout, which you really can’t put a price on when it comes to travel.
I want to thank Vessi for offering Chris and I these products to test out in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.