Are Waterproof Sneakers Worth It? (2026)

“If you talk with the Nikes and the New Balances, they spend a lot of time on their lasts," says Abof. (A shoe last is a form, or mold, that the company uses to design how the shoe fits and feels.) “If it's a New Balance last, they want that shoe to fit like a New Balance shoe,” says Abof, adding that Invisible Fit “is the biggest one way that can most significantly move the needle is making the fit and feel [of waterproof shoes] feel like a standard shoe.”

Waterproof shoes are often still heavier than their regular siblings, but in some cases, GTX Invisible Fit shoes now weigh the same and sometimes less.

Is Waterproofing Now Standard?

Does this “invisible” tech mean we’ll see more of the most popular road shoes now offer waterproofing?

“No, I don’t think so,” says Alex Filitti, full-time shoe tester and founder of Meta-Endurance, a media outlet that's focused on endurance sports. “If anything, brands seem more focused on reducing weight, improving foam performance, and increasing comfort and breathability. Waterproof versions will likely remain as side options or winter variants, rather than becoming standard in the most popular road models.”

Paying the Premium

All the extra tech also comes at a cost. You can expect to pay a weatherproof premium of somewhere between $10 and $40 more for a Gore-Tex shoe or a running shoe with a waterproof equivalent upper.

Here’s a handful of the most popular waterproof running shoes for comparison:

Do You Need Waterproof Shoes?

For most of us, most of the time, the experts aren’t convinced. “I would consider waterproof shoes mainly in cold and wet conditions,” says Filitti. “For example, winter runs in regions where rain, slush, or snow combine with low temperatures. In those situations, keeping feet warmer and drier can genuinely improve comfort. But when it’s 3 to 5 degrees Celsius [37 to 41 Fahrenheit] with rain, I’d still rather prioritize breathability and comfort over waterproofing.”

“For the majority of runners, a well-draining, breathable upper paired with good socks usually works just fine,” Filitti concludes.