Vessi Walking Shoes Review | Wet Weather? No Problem

I’ve never owned a shoe specifically designed for walking, let alone walking in the rain, but I was truly amazed by the design, fit, and performance of both the Vessi Stormburst and Vessi Pacific. 

The  Vessi line is completely new to me. Dubbing its shoes as “The ideal balance of comfort and style wrapped in 100% waterproof versatility”, the Vessi shoe is a great alternative to clunky rain boots.

Before taking these shoes out for a walk, I held these shoes straight under running water from my sink to see how “waterproof” these shoes actually were. 

The water repelled and rolled right off the waterproof sections of the shoe, the mesh portions absorbed the water like a sponge, and surprisingly none came through the shoe. There was no need to wipe the shoes off, and the shoe was fairly dry within a few hours.

The Vessi Stormburst and Pacific Sneakers are both great for anyone that can’t let a little (or a lot of rain) stop them from adventure seeking, or just performing daily life errands.

Vessi Pacific and Stormburst Overview

Who hasn’t found themselves with plans and then rain in the forecast? What to wear becomes the biggest issues as you know you need to be comfortable, but most of your shoes are just going to be waterlogged instantly.

Meet a stylish and comfortable new option!

The Stormburst come in either high top and low top options, with nine colorways between them both. I received the low top, in the light sundream/alpenglow colorway, a beautiful combination of pale pink, and pale orange.

The Pacific comes in one standard sneaker fit, and five colorways. I received the warm white version. Immediately I was drawn to both colorways, neither loud or vibrant.

I found the muted tones to be quite calming and serene, maybe in contrast to the stormy weather these shoes are meant to be worn in.

Out of the box, these shoes are more stiff than a traditional running shoe. There’s no give at the toe,and they don’t bend very well when trying to flex forefoot to heel. Just to give you a sense that they aren’t so much meant for workouts, as they are for casual wear or long days at say the amusement part.

They are extremely comfortable to stand and walk in.

The Stormburst and Pacific are designed for the rain, and because of this were noticeably hot to wear during summer in the midatlantic. I live in an area that had its fair share of storms this year, so I jumped at the chance of  taking these out in the rain.

Both shoes do an impressive job of repelling water. The shoe is not entirely waterproof. There are fabric sections of the shoe on the upper and side panels that don’t repel the water, but soak it up like a sponge, and surprisingly the water never came through the shoe.

Quick Take

Vessi Pacific and Stormburst Fit

Unfortunately not all shoes in the Vessi line, come in half size,  I received booth shoes in a size 11. My normal size is 10.5, and both were a little too roomy, the Pacific fitting a little bigger than the Stormburst.

I can’t say sizing down to a 10 would have solved the fit problem, but in the size I received, walking for more than a few blocks felt clunky and laborious.

As a low top versus a normal sneaker fit, the Stormburst did a  better job of securing my foot in the shoe, decreasing a lot of slippage at the heel.

The Pacific, not so much. The width on both shoes at the toe box felt a little too wide, although the mid portion felt snug, and wasn’t as noticeable. I wasn’t able to walk more than a few blocks before the shoes just became too heavy and clunky to continue on.

I’m positive this is more indication of wrong sizing, rather than improper fit. 

Vessi Pacific and Stormburst Feel

It’s hard to give a good gauge on how these shoes feel, because both pairs of shoes were too big. Are they comfortable? Yes. Extremely.

Do they do a great job of repelling water? Absolutely. Although stiffer than an old pair of running shoes most of us grab for inclimate weather, the Vessi line is a proper choice for walking around on casual rainy days, or hiking in areas that may have sections of water. 

The outsoles are really grippy, and didn’t give at all during the few rainy walks around the block I took.  The rest of the shoe is high cushion and soft but not  squishy.

I did find these shoes to be a bit warm for the midatlantic summer humidity , and a bit heavy to walk around without a clear destination. I think this is a common issues for waterproof gear of any type, even in rain running jackets we see once you fully block water from coming in you reduce the air flow out.

If you’re looking for a pair of shoes that can effortlessly go between functional and casual for rainy days, I highly suggest trying a pair of Vessi’s. They have a great return policy, if you’re in between sizes like I am!

Who Tried It?

Hi, I’m Alison Staples, a black coffee enthusiast, lover of a good 10 mile easy run and often found running in different run groups in the DMV. I’ve also been an RTTF Running coach for over 4 years and I love finding ways to help athletes enjoy more miles comfortably. You can catch me on Instagram @alioop_0_o_runs.

What to read next?

• Check out other water-proof shoe options
• See our list of the best walking shoes
• Get tips on walking 2 miles a day (your health will thank you!)