Leather soled shoes are comfortable, breathable, and elegant but can you wear leather soled shoes in the rain? In this article, we will go into the details of whether or not you should wear leather soled shoes in the rain.
So, can you wear leather soled shoes in the rain? While you can wear leather soled shoes in the rain when they are relatively new or freshly coated, it is not advisable to wear them in the rain as the leather soled shoes can get slippery, promote mold or mildew growth, or warp.
These are usually because leather soled shoes still retain a good amount of their porosity even after they have been treated or waterproofed.
To learn more about wearing leather soled shoes in the rain, keep reading this article.
What Are Leather Soled Shoes?
A leather sole is the outermost bottom of the shoe that usually features one or more layers of leather stitched to an outsole.
The term “leather sole” is sometimes used in reference to shoes that have rubber soles with a leather-like appearance, but this is technically incorrect.
Leather soled shoes are very popular in both casual and formal settings. They can also be considered luxury items because of their expensive price tag.
One of the primary reasons why leather soled shoes are considered luxury items is because they offer a very refined look that can’t be found in other types of shoes.
This is because leather soled shoes are usually sturdy and durable due to the fact that they now feature a rubber sole that is stitched to an upper of leather.
This type of shoe in particular also features a very high level of comfort because the rubber sole allows them to be flexible and lightweight.
One of the other main reasons why leather soled shoes are now usually preferred by luxury brands is because they have found a way to make them last for a very long time.
This is in part due to the fact that leather soles are now usually made with rubber soles, which can be replaced.
This allows luxury brands to sell shoes with leather soles at a higher price point without having customers complain about the durability of such products over time.
Leather soled shoes are now also preferred in informal settings because they can be considered very luxurious, comfortable, and sturdy.
Reasons Why You Should Not Wear Leather Soled Shoes In The Rain
1. Leather Soled Shoes Are Not Waterproof
Leather soled shoes are not waterproof and can absorb water, therefore, making your feet wet. This is probably one of the biggest worries when it comes to wearing leather soled shoes in the rain.
This is mainly because leather as a material is porous and still maintains a good amount of porosity on it even when it has been treated and painted with a waterproofing agent.
What you will often see is that when the leather soled shoes are new, they tend to be waterproof and will resist water very well.
However, as time goes and the leather shoes see some wear on them, the waterproofing agent tends to fade and no longer works as well, therefore rendering it more porous.
The sad news is this happens so fast that you hardly get to enjoy the waterproof feature of your leather shoes.
This is also why it’s advisable that you do not wear dressy or formal leather shoes in the rain because you will ruin your leather shoes.
This makes wearing leather soled shoes in the rain a bad idea as it will not be able to maintain your feet dry in the rain.
2. Leather Soled Shoes Are Slippery
Another thing to keep in mind when you are wearing leather soled shoes is that they can be very slippery.
Leather soled shoes become very slippery when worn in the rain due to the smooth nature of leather on the ground.
This is because when you are wearing leather shoes, your feet will be sliding around in them instead of gripping the floor.
This will make it very dangerous when you are walking around in leather soled shoes and can increase your chances of slipping and falling, which can be very dangerous.
This is one of the reasons why it’s not advisable to wear leather soled shoes in the rain.
When you are walking on slippery surfaces like tile or marble, wearing leather soled shoes will make it even more dangerous to walk around and you may slip and fall.
This is something that has been tested and proven over and over again.
So, to prevent yourself from falling especially when it’s raining, leather soled shoes might not be the best option for you.
Even though this is the case, there will be some people who still want to wear their favorite leather soled shoes in the rain.
So there are a few things you can do to ensure your leather soled shoes have a good amount of traction such as roughening the leather sole or adding grip pads, etc.
However, I will strongly recommend that you consider wearing a rubber sole instead of leather as it will provide a better grip and will be much safer.
3. Leather Soled Shoes Can Warp If Worn In The Rain
Another reason why it’s not advisable to wear leather soled shoes in the rain is that they are prone to warping.
This is mainly because leather soled shoes are made of very thin and fragile fibrous materials that do not do well when it is constantly exposed to water.
This is why it’s not advisable to wear leather soled shoes in the rain because you will be exposing your expensive shoe to a lot of water and it can warp if you do.
This will make leather soled shoes very weak and fragile to wear in the rain as they are not made to be exposed to water.
This is why it’s advisable that you choose rubber soled shoes or other alternative materials for your shoe instead of leather as those shoes will not warp and can be worn in the rain.
4. Leather Soled Shoes Gets Mold When Worn In The Rain
Before you put on your leather soles shoes in the rain the next thing you will need to consider is that it’s very likely they will get mold on them.
This is because when you wear your leather soled shoes in the rain, the water or moisture build-up in them will get trapped inside the shoe.
This can be attributed to the porous nature of leather and its high absorbency. So wearing leather soled shoes in the rain will give the leather shoes the perfect environment for mold and mildew to thrive.
This is because mold and mildew like to grow in areas that are damp, dark, and warm.
This will especially happen when the leather shoes are not thoroughly dried or aired out after it has been used in the rain.
If you know anything about dealing with mold or mildew, you will attest to the fact that they can be very difficult to remove and clean off any mold that has formed on your leather soled shoes.
So, if you want to prevent your leather soled shoes from getting moldy when worn in the rain, you will need to make sure they are completely dry before putting them away or simply avoid wearing them in the rain.
5. Leather Soled Shoes Will Become Smelly When Worn In The Rain
Last but not least, another reason why it’s not advisable to wear leather soled shoes in the rain is that they will become smelly due to the moisture build-up.
One of the primary reasons why leather shoes are prone to smell is because they have a lot of pores on them which will trap all the sweat – mixed with the wetness from rain when you wear them for a long time and when you wear them in the rain.
This is why it’s not advisable to wear leather soled shoes in the rain because they will become smelly. While smells from leather shoes resulting from sweaty feet can be combated easily by simply properly airing and drying them, this is very difficult to do when you wear your leather soled shoes in the rain.
So if you do decide to put on your leather soled shoes in the rain, make sure they are thoroughly dried before putting them away or avoid wearing them in the rain as much as you can to prevent your leather shoes from developing smells that are not friendly to you or anyone close to you.
Why Or When Would You Wear Leather Soled Shoes In The Rain?
Although I have mentioned a lot of reasons you should not wear your precious leather soled shoes in the rain, you might be able to, however, wear them in certain conditions. Some of these conditions include;
When The Leather Soled Shoes Are Relatively New
If your leather soled shoes are relatively new, you can wear them in the rain because the protective layer on the leather sole will still be new and intact.
This means that the leather sole will still be resistant to water and it won’t warp or wear out quickly like when you wear them in the rain after several months or years of wearing them.
When You Want To Break In The Leather Sole
You can also were your leather soled shoes in the rain a couple of times if you would want to break in the leather sole. To do this, you would want to wear them as much as possible to break them into your feet.
In this case, wearing your leather soled shoes a couple of times a month during the rainy season will help you achieve the goal of breaking in your leather soles.
When You Are Wearing A Shorter Trip In The Rain
You may also wear your leather soled shoes in the rain if you are only going to be out for a short time. In this case, you can wear your leather soled shoes in the rain as long as you are sure they will dry quickly.
This is usually the case when it’s not raining too hard and if your leather soled shoes have been freshly coated or are still relatively new.
If The Leather Soled Shoes Have Been Coated
Also, if your leather soled shoes have been freshly coated or sealed with a protective layer, you can wear them in the rain.
In this case, wearing your leather soled shoes for a short period of time in the rain will not damage them. This is because the protective layer on your leather soled shoes will keep liquid from seeping into them and penetrating the leather sole.
However, you should not wear your freshly coated leather soled shoes in the rain too often as this will remove some of the protective layers on the leather soled shoes and compromise their quality.
When You Have A Budget To Replace Them
You can also wear your leather soled shoes in the rain when you have a budget to replace them. If this is the case, then wearing your leather soled shoes in the rain a couple of times will not be an issue.
What Do You Do After Wearing Leather Soled Shoes In The Rain?
I’m not in any way encouraging you to wear your leather soled shoes in the rain but if you decide to wear them in the rain or you got caught in an unexpected rainfall, then it is important that you take care of them after wearing them.
There are a few things you can do to make sure your leather soled shoes do not get damaged after they have been used in the rain. Here are a few tips;
- Use A Boot Tree
One of the best things you can do after wearing your leather soled shoes in the rain is to use a boot tree. Using a boot tree for your leather soled shoes will help them keep their shape and prevent the formation of wrinkles on them.
Using a boot tree is also important in drying your leather soled shoes after they have been worn in the rain.
- Thoroughly Air Them Out
One of the most effective ways to make sure your leather soled shoes do not develop smells that are not friendly is by giving them time to air out.
You should not wear your leather soled shoes again until they have been thoroughly airing out to allow the moisture from the rain to evaporate and reduce the chances of your leather soles getting damaged.
- Use A Shoe Dryer To Dry Them
If you have a shoe dryer, then ensure that your leather soled shoes are completely dry before wearing them again.
Using a shoe dryer to dry your leather soled shoes after they have been worn in the rain will speed up the drying process and also reduce the chances of them developing mold or bacteria.
If you do not have a shoe dryer, then leaving your leather soled shoes in the sun for a short while to allow them to air out will also be helpful.
Final Thoughts
While there are several conditions when you can wear your leather soled shoes in the rain, it’s not advisable to do so because there are so many downsides such as the leather shoe being slippery, smelly, moldy, etc.
This is why it’s advisable to avoid wearing leather soled shoes in the rain as much as you can to prevent these awful situations.
But if you must wear your leather soled shoes in the rain, make sure they are dry before putting them away, or avoid wearing them in the rain as much as you can.
This way, you will reduce and limit these negative impacts and enjoy your leather soled shoes for longer periods of time.
I hope you found this article informative. Thank you for reading!
