Rubber Soul: Ugly-Cool Shoes That Rock During Monsoon

Meet Rishi. Works in design, is sneakerhead, and treats his sneakers the same way he treats his friends- with love and care. But come monsoon and he surrenders. The Jordans, The Vans, suede boots—all go back in the boxes and bubble wrappers. Out are the ugly crocs and those rubber shoes that epitomise the arrival of heavy rains officially.

From being that cool sneakerhead, now his cool status seems to be in question as every other dude ought to bring those crocs or so-called “waterproof” out for a dip in the muddy puddles. They better not be white ‘cause that’s a big no.

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Allegedly, the uglier the crocs – you know the Shrek crocs –the cooler they are. At least in India, where you don’t enjoy rains unless you are either inside your house sipping a hot brew, watching the rain pour down from a distance, or if you do go for a drench, it’s under the moderate shower (you’d be glad to not be under the heavy rains ‘cause that sh*t slaps hard – no pun intended)

So yeah, Indian monsoons calls for utility wear on the foot, at least. You really can't resist the rubber slip on flip-flops, the ones make the back side of your trousers a free canvas for absurd art.

So, while, flip-flops are a normcore’s “wet dream”, the perforated, marshmallow-like monsters- crocs- you once mocked but are the footwear equivalent of the apocalypse bunker and rubber sneakers the least favourite pair you own, is monsoon really that bad for people who love a good pair of footwear?

Although, the rains certainly threaten to ruin our plans, soak our socks and test our faith in civic infrastructures, but footwear? That’s where you fight back, yeah?

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Maybe your saviours might be Chelsea boots or the Gore-Tex tech equipped shoes, can’t rely on mesh shoes. The truth is, no pair of shoes, except rubber-made ones, can claim to be waterproof 100 percent.

To be honest, the monsoon chappals cannot be equated to Balenciaga. Can’t call them luxury footwear or couture sandals. But they are definitely, street-approved and secret weather warriors.

It is true that monsoon changes the game entirely. It doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all sense of style. We have a few recommendations that are stylish, street-approved and waterproof for the monsoon:

Cloud 5 Revolve Waterproof

₹ 21,099

Don't let the minimalist design fool you. These shoes are engineered for downpour domination. The breathable membrane keeps your feet dry without turning them into steam rooms and speed-lacing system means you're out of the door before the next clap of thunder.

Nike Reactx Rejuven8 Triple Black

₹ 11,999

The dark knight of rainy-day sneakers- stealthy, breathable, and built like a tank with a degree in biomechanics. Nike's futuristic runner gets a blackout treatment that hides every puddle splash, every muddy scuff, and every poor life choice made in the rain.

Birkenstock Boston Bold Gap

₹19,990 

Some shoes whisper wealth- Birkenstock Boston Bold Cap is one such pair. This elevated clog takes the classic Boston silhouette and gives it a storm-ready twist with a chunky, weather-resistant outsole and a bold rubber toe cap for splash protection.

Adidas Rain. Rdy Hiking Shoes

₹ 8,599 

Going on a trail in the rain ? Grab these babies that are waterproof, breathable, and styled like it's ready to headline a techwear runway. Built with Rain.RDY tech to repel water while letting your feet breathe, these shoes are your all-terrain answer to monsoon mess. Also, has the best grip meaning you'll not slip and fall in a puddle.

Cros Echo Wave Atmosphere

₹ 7995 

You can't write a list on monsoon footwear and not mention crocs! So here we are recommending Crocs Echo Wave Atmosphere molded from fully waterproof Croslite, it's built to handle puddles, downpours, and all forms of urban splash zones. They are super light and ridiculously comfortable, and designed to look like alien armour for your feet- the Echo Wave takes ugly-cool into beast mode.