7 Best Waterproof Sprays for Shoes of 2021 [Buying Guide]

Best Waterproof Sprays for Shoes

Let’s just face it right off the bat: shoes go through a ton of torture.  Plain and simple.  Think about all of the clothes that you have in your wardrobe.  Which item goes through the most consistent torture day in and day out.  It’s easily your shoes.  You change shirts a lot more often, plus you’re not dragging them on the ground.  Jeans or shorts are the same way.  You’re not forcing them to go through unreasonable amounts of pain and agony.  Today, we are going to be taking a look at one way to keep your shoes looking as nice as the day you first got them by looking at the best and most popular waterproof sprays in our buying guide.  We’ll break down all that you need to know about them and we will be reviewing some of the top examples out there.  So, let’s get it started then!

Top Waterproof Sprays for Shoes Comparison Chart

ProductFeaturePriceWhere to Buy?
1. Apple Brand Garden Rain and Stain RepellentVery versatile$$Check Price On Amazon
2. Kiwi Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water RepellentSuper strong in heavy rain$$Check Price On Amazon
3. Sof Sole 7.5 Ounce Water ProoferMaintains breathability$Check Price On Amazon
4. Rust-Oleum NeverWet 11 Ounce Boot and Shoe SprayEasy to use trigger application$$Check Price On Amazon
5. ForceField Protector Waterproof and Stain Resistant Protectant SprayQuick dry time$Check Price On Amazon
6. Sof Sole Outdoor Gear Silicone Waterproofer SprayLong lasting waterproof bond$Check Price On Amazon
7. ECCO Shoe Care Repel Waterproof Spray ProductPFC-free$$Check Price On Amazon

Waterproof Sprays for Shoes Buying Guide

Use and Abuse

You might be saying to yourself that you change out your shoes fairly often, maybe every single day, much like you do with your ‘regular’ clothes.  So, surely they can’t be going through all that much, right?  Wrong, simply put.  Shoes still go through a ton of pressure, even when conditions are at their best.  Walking in them outside is very hard on a pair of shoes, and when you factor in any water at all, it becomes an even tougher deal for them to overcome.  Part of taking care of them is going to be, naturally, waterproofing them.  It may seem to be a little overboard at first, but you’ll be thankful you did it when you have the same basic looking shoes as you did when you initially bought or received them!

How Water Damages Shoes

You may or may not realize this fact, but water is not good at all for shoes.  This is one reason why it’s truly mind blowing to see people assuming that they can safely put their shoes in the washer without any consequences at all.  That notion is incredibly untrue.  Water, to keep it nice and succinct, is hurtful to shoes.  Anytime you go outside and walk through puddles, on soggy ground, or just where rain is falling on them, it affects how your shoes look.  You may not notice it right away, but there will be a changing of the color on them fairly soon, at least as far as any of the white portions are concerned.  The color white, eventually, is going to start to turn into a yellow musty sort of color.  That is because of oxidation.  This is a natural process that takes place over time as a result of water getting on them.  One way that you can combat this is to use a waterproofer of some kind.  Before we move on, it’s also important that we point out that white shoes are NOT the only ones that can turn colors.  So don’t feel that you are out of the proverbial woods just because of that!  Other materials and colors are subject to the same kind of thing, or a similar concept, so you should be well aware of that before you try and overlook this whole guide!

Thinking About Materials

One of the things that will determine how successful- or not- a spray is is going to be the intended target of said spray.  Not all shoe materials are the same, therefore they might need a special spray in order to treat them properly.  Leather and synthetics act totally different and require a different level of TLC to one another.  You wouldn’t treat a pair of shoes with leather the same as you would another pair, since leather is so much harder to take care of and has its own unique properties.  To make sure you are getting something you truly need that will work for your shoes, make sure to carefully read over all information.  You could even damage your shoes if you use the wrong stuff, so it’s very necessary to be wise and take in all of the available info before you make a decision that could contribute to the downfall of a pair of your favorite shoes.

Discoloration

We talked a little bit earlier about how oxidation can occur and how shoes can turn colors.  Another way that this happens, though, could be as a result of the spray itself.  It’s not fun process to go through and discover, but sometimes you end up finding out that the spray that was intended to fix your problems actually ends up causing other issues.  This just goes to show that no all sprays are created equal and that you should not just take it on face value that it will automatically do what it promises to do.  One way to make sure this is not a rampant hill to climb for you is to make sure that you only spray a small portion of the shoe.  If you notice that part turning colors, then you will have an idea to refrain from use.  That is, unless you want to turn them some other new funky color.  In which case, have at it, we guess?

Don’t Be Fooled

Marketing today is as good as it has ever been.  If you want to sell a product, if you have the money to do so it will be sold.  It might not sell for long after its debut if it’s not very good, but it will attract people at the beginning if you take a bold plunge into the marketing world with both feet.  Alas, this is one thing you need to keep in mind: these sprays are put out by shrewd marketers.  You’re going to see a lot of claims, but at the end of the day you need to temper your expectations.  For example, if you see that a spray claims to work for two weeks, it’s probably not going to last that long.  That doesn’t mean they are lying, mind you.  It just means that the lab work shows it was possible.  Lab work and real world scenarios are not the same, though, so you should expect less than advertised.  We’ve worked in a lab before.  As close as you can get to real results, there are sometimes factors that stand in the way.  Don’t be fooled by this, even if something sounds really, really good and can’t be passed up on.

Capacity

One thing that is related to price, which we will discuss below, is going to be the overall capacity of the bottle of spray.  Most sprays out there on the market, believe it or not, do a good job of giving the same general amount of ‘spray’ with each use.  That means every time you mash the button, or whatever the mechanism is, the spray comes out the same.  This means that you can take and look for bottles that have more ounces in them.  You can find this information by simply looking at the bottles.  They will have marked on them how much actual spray is within them.  They can’t trick you here.  You won’t really have a ton of dead air, like a bag of potato chips, so that’s great news to know!

Price

Price is always going to be factor, no matter what the item is that we are buying.  That’s also the case, as you could have guessed, with waterproof sprays.  With that being said, there are some slight nuances for you to be fully aware of.  For one, the price of a waterproofer is not really fully indicative of the cost here.  There is another factor at play, and that is the pair of shoes you are going to be waterproofing and taking care of.  If the pair of shoes on hand is an expensive pair, or even mildly expensive and not easy to replace, then you are not going to care, or should not, care as much about the price of the spray.  Even if the spray is somewhat expensive, it would be worth it for you to try in order to protect those shoes.  The good news for you is that most sprays are quite affordable and can be bought for much less than a pair of shoes that you’d take the time to waterproof would cost you.  That means you should be happy with all of them, even if some of them will range higher in terms of the price to you.  Another thing that should be pointed out is that sprays can last you quite a long time.  You don’t need to use a ton on one pair of shoes, so unless you are treating a bunch of pairs at once, it is very conceivable that you will have a bottle last you for months on end!  How long just depends on the size at hand and how much you use it.  As a famous aunt once said, “it’s not how much you spend, it’s how much you save!”

When You Should Waterproof

There are plenty of examples of why you should waterproof your shoes, but how do you know when the best time to do so is?  Here is the section where we will look at three specific types of situations where you would want to waterproof your shoes.

– It’s a big day.  Let’s say you are going to a big, formal event and you want to make sure you look really nice.  Of course, if that’s the case, you’re going to want to have shoes that look their best.  One way to maximize their looks is to waterproof them.  You’ll want to do this a couple of days before the big event, and you will want to make sure that you do this every two or three times you wear them, unless those events are spread out quite a bit.

– You are wearing them to work.  Work wear, as you will not be shocked to find out, takes quite a beating, regardless of the type of clothing it.  When it relates to shoes, it takes an even bigger one, so you really need to take care of them.  The best way to help fight through the drudgery of the work grind with your shoes is to apply the waterproofing to them each week right after you have finished your last shift for the week.  This will help you better remember it and make it more of a habit.

– If you wear the same kicks daily, you will want to do so as well.  No matter the quality of a product, the more often it is used, the less shiny it is going to appear.  If you just can’t think about putting your favorite shoes away for a while, then it’s best to give them a fresh coat of paint every couple of weeks.  Doing so will ensure that they remain looking as new as possible, all the while you still get to wear them and show them off while doing your own thing.

Preparing To Waterproof

As with all sorts of tasks in the real world, there are steps to follow to find the most success possible.  You can’t just make fire without a plan, after all.  You need some wood, some kindling, something to start it with, and you need it to be in a wise area.  Much like that, you need to prepare your shoes a bit before you can waterproof them.  Here are three simple but important steps to take before you do so.

  1. Make sure your shoes are dry. If they have just been doused, you will want to wipe them down and ensure they are fully dry and ready to go. If you fail to do this, even by a smidge, it will not absorb correctly and you’ll just be wasting spray and dollars.
  2. Take a dry brush and clean out any lingering debris. Listen, few of us do this, but this is just good advice regardless of whether you use a spray or not. Cleaning out that random loose debris every now and then just makes your shoes look better and certainly helps them perform better for you. Unfortunately, if you have a pair of shoes with a whole lot going on in terms of patterns and designs, then you will find yourself taking more time to complete this step.
  3. Take a dry cloth and wipe down your shoes. The brush is going to take that gunk and force it up so that it can be seen, but it will not totally extricate it from the scene. By putting in a little bit more work via good old elbow grease, you can wipe it away and make sure you’ve got your shoes in a reasonably clean state ahead of using the spray that is going to restore and maintain their superior appearance.

Failure to do all of this is basically going to mean you are putting a fresh coat of dirt on top of your shoes.  That just defeats the purposes and wastes your money and time.  So don’t bother if you don’t take your time and put in a little bit of effort to do it the right way.

Steps To Take After

That’s not all that you need to do, though.  That’s just the start.  Waterproofing your shoes is not rocket science, so don’t let this discourage you.  By the same token, though, you do need to know this stuff in order for you to have the most effective time possible when you do apply the spray.

– After you have made sure they are nice and clean, you need to make sure you are in a good place for application.  You should make sure to be in an area with adequate ventilation, first and foremost.

– After that you know you are protected personally, make sure that you spray it at an arm’s length.  This way you don’t end up taking the spray to the face.  Make sure to wait until the wind dies down, if there is any, if you choose to do this outside.

– Don’t just take the button and mash it down.  There will be a temptation to this, but it’s not one you should allow to take over.  The best policy is to spray in short, quick spurts.  You also want to make sure that you are evenly distributing it throughout the shoes on both sides.  You don’t want to put twice as much on the right shoe as you do on the left one.  You may even want to practice a tiny bit if it’s your first time on a paper towel or something of the such to get the technique down so that is will be even.

The Top 7 Waterproof Sprays for Shoes of 2019 Reviews

  1. Apple Brand Garden Rain and Stain Repellent

Starting off our list today is a great choice if you are going to be going through a lot of rain and will also fight off all sorts of staining as well. This product is made using natural ingredients which ensure that no colors change as a result of using it. It also means there will be no sticky residue left, which is a very welcome and necessary sight that makes sure that you don’t have any kind of annoyances lingering around.  If you know you are going to be getting wet, you can just apply it and it will be there to make sure that your shoes don’t change colors.  In addition to being able to work on a range of shoe types, it’s also even been effective on items such as bags, wallets, and furniture, too, among others.  Made in the USA, they have excellent customer service and will work with you to ensure that you like what you see, making it very difficult to look past them.

Pros:

  • Very versatile spray
  • No stickiness left behind
  • Will not change colors
  1. Kiwi Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent

Coming up next is a company that is so well known with shoe cleaning products that it doesn’t need an intro at all. This repellent is one that is used best out in nature for campers and the like. If you are hiking or going outside where you know a ton of moisture is around, you will want a step up in protection from what you typically see.  While this is usually used for tents and for tarps and the like, many have found it come in handy during literal flash floods.  that’s a huge endorsement of a product if you have ever heard one.  It works on a range of different material types, too, so that should not be something that holds you back.  One thing you do need to keep in mind, though, is that it does have a residual smell that does hang around.  This means you will need to be patient and let it air out some before you attempt to try and put them on and wear them as per usual.

Pros:

  • Super strong in heavy rain
  • Great for the outdoors
  • Tried and true name works on tons of materials

Cons:

  • Smell is very strong and takes time to get rid of
  1. Sof Sole 7.5 Ounce Water Proofer

Sof Sole is well known for their work in the shoe industry, so their inclusion here is also not a surprise at all. This is an offering that comes in and will please athletes all around the world. In addition to being able to make sure that staining does not take place and that water doesn’t damage your shoes, this product works very, very well at maintaining the breathability of your shoes.  Some items out there will clog up your shoes and won’t allow you to get air, but this is not like that.  This means if you’re on your feet and on the move that you’ll be able to stay that way without overheating.  You can use it on other things, such as jackets and hats, too, and you can easily apply it and have it dry within a few minutes.  They claim it will work for up to two months as well, which may be a bit overzealous but is still very impressive nonetheless.

Pros:

  • Maintains breathability
  • Quick to dry
  • Awesome for athletes
  1. Rust-Oleum NeverWet 11 Ounce Boot and Shoe Spray

Coming up next is an item that is made for all kinds of shoes as you try and fight back against stains resulting from water damage. This product has an easy to use spray bottle, which is a little different with the ‘gun’ setup than most, so that’s interesting and worth noting. It’s super easy to use with the trigger, and it’s able to be applied to leather, canvas, nubuck, and much more, meaning it’s quite diverse in its ability to aid you.  With no silicone base in it, it’s very soft and gentle but will prevent your shoes from having a change in their appearance as a result of using it.  While this has been shown to do a very good job on ordinary shoes, it’s quite commendable for the job it does on work boots and the like, making it well worth a look if that’s what has brought you into the marketplace.  One possible downside to this choice is that it’s made solely for shoes, rather than being able to be used on other things.

Pros:

  • Easy to use trigger system
  • Works on many materials
  • Awesome on work boots

Cons:

  • Not all that diverse
  1. ForceField Protector Waterproof and Stain Resistant Protectant Spray

If you are looking for an offering that will last an extremely long time, then look no further. While you can temper your expectations a little, this one does claim to work for up to 12 months, which is really remarkable, to say the least. On top of that, it’s able to be applied and then dried in a total time of just 23 minutes, all the while being among the cheaper options on the list.  In addition to that, they do a good job at warding off water while still making sure that the shoes remain breathable.  This may not seem like a big deal to some, but it’s not something that some people are going to be able to get around if they can’t breathe during the day.  These even help prevent fading occurring, which does go beyond what is asked of a spray protector!

Pros:

  • Goes above and beyond
  • Slightly cheaper choice
  • Very long durability
  1. Sof Sole Outdoor Gear Silicone Waterproofer Spray

Sof Sole returns to the fray here are #6 with another offering, though this time it’s with a silicone based product. Like the Kiwi we saw earlier, this one is made with outdoors use heavily in mind. With 12% silicone in it, it has added durability and usefulness, making sure you have more waterproofing for a longer period of time.  Thanks to this, it can even be used on tents and all sorts of outdoor gear, too, which is going further than most would have asked or expected.  The thing to keep in mind with this one is that it’s not going to be the best bet for products that have a lot of breathability to them.  It will close them up, so you will not be able to see the benefits of those shoe types, which would be very unfortunate if you spent that money on them.

Pros:

  • Very long lifespan
  • Works on shoes, tents, and more
  • Easy to apply

Cons:

  1. ECCO Shoe Care Repel Waterproof Spray Product

Rounding out our list today is an offering from ECCO, who are quickly shooting up the ranks of companies that are developing products for shoes. This spray is made to work on both synthetics and leathers, making it quite useful for anyone that has a large and varied wardrobe. With a super easy spray applicator, a formula that has been improved over previous iterations, and a formula that is safe to the environment, it’s hard to look too far past them. One of the things they do well is using chemicals that are naturally occuring, so that helps you to have additional peace of mind there. The company has been around a long time, and they have a great and trusted lab, too, so that is going to also drive confidence in the consumer.

Pros:

  • Very trusted company
  • Improved formula
  • Natural ingredients used

Conclusion And Final Waterproof Sprays for Shoes Recommendations

Figuring out a way to keep a pair of shoes nice and pristine is ridiculously tough.  You can try all sorts of things, but at the end of the day many of them can be disastrous to your shoes’ lifespan or will simply not be all that effective.  One way that can help you take those shoes and get much more life out of them, at least aesthetically, is to go with a waterproof spray for them.  By doing so, you will make sure that they don’t get ruined due to water damage, which will make sure that your shoes are able to last longer and look better.  Taking care of your shoes is a no-brainer, and it’s high time that you jumped onboard and agreed to treat them well!

FAQ’s About Waterproof Sprays for Shoes

How Long Does it Take To Dry?

Unfortunately for you, there is no uniform answer here.  The answer is going to depend on the specific spray that you are using and the materials of the shoes in question.  Some materials will dry out much faster than others, while others will take a long time to do so.  The best thing you can do is to be patient with them and to do due diligence when researching.  Don’t assume you can dry them any old way, lest you end up ruining them by doing something rash.

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