With the Mercedes-Benz Sailing Cup having just wrapped up, we thought we’d turn our attention momentarily to the world of sailing and some of the style that goes along with it. Whether you’re the captain of a new 43 foot Beneteau or just want to look like you are, summer’s the perfect time to add a dash of sailing into your everyday life. And one of the most used and easiest elements to add into your sailing style is your footwear. Boat shoes look great with almost anything; they’re exceptionally comfortable; and if you have a boat, they’re extremely functional, as they drastically increase your traction on what can be very slippery surfaces. In the world of boating shoes, it goes without saying that we need to feature Sperry Top-Sider – I mean, they practically invented boat shoes. I take that back – they did invent boat shoes.
In the 1930’s, amidst a cold Connecticut winter, a Captain by the name of Paul Sperry noticed that his dog Prince was able to maintain a surprising level of grip when running on icy conditions. Observing the cocker spaniel’s paws, Sperry discovered it was the hundreds of tiny cracks and cuts going in various directions that allowed him to maintain this grip. Applying his newfound discovery to his own footwear, Sperry used a pen knife to cut siping into the outsole of a rubber sneaker, and the world’s first boat shoe was born. It’s this design of wave-like grooves that were instrumental in the success of the Authentic Original Sperry Top-Sider introduced back in 1935, and it’s also the inspiration for Sperry’s latest patent, called Razor-Siping, that’s being utilized today.
In selecting which Sperry Top-Siders to feature, truth be told, we really could have picked any. They all look fantastic, and the Sperry Authentic Originals are one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable shoes in the world (of all the shoes I own, they’re easily one of my favorites). But rather than opting for the more conventional Classic Boat Shoes that you’re already familiar with, we instead wanted to draw attention feature a pair of Sperry Top-Siders from their Performance line. What is the Sperry Performance Line you ask? Simply put, it’s a range of boat shoes that blends classic Sperry style with industry leading comfort and traction.
It’s an offense we’re all guilty of it – we’ve worn athletic shoes on a boat for their vibration dampening abilities, but in doing so, we’ve given up traction. And that’s the compromise Sperry Performance boat shoes address. While they offer superb levels of vibration damping technology, the Performance line maintains the patented siping that’s made Sperry famous. Traction remains excellent; comfort remains better than that of your favorite athletic shoes; and they look great. Of course, you don’t need to be on a boat to enjoy the Sperry Performance shoes – they’re equally as comfortable on land. Wherever you’re using them, here’s a pair of our favorites from the Sperry Performance line that you’re going to love.
Men’s ASV Classic Boat Shoe ($140)
For the gentlemen, the must-have shoes in the Sperry Performance line are the Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes. The classic styling looks great anywhere, and functionally, they may very well be the best boat shoes money can buy. They’re exceptionally comfortable when spending a day at sea; they’re supremely easy to clean; and they’re engineered extremely well. To be honest, after owning a pair, there’s nothing I can find fault with. Some of the technologies that make the Sperry Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes so great include:
- Proprietary ASV Technology with Ant-Shock and Vibration Properties (helps reduce shock forces up to 40%)
- Superior Traction through Hydro-Grip™ Rubber for Better Footing
- Enhanced Agility with Unique Upper Designed for Improved Flexibility
- Quick Drying Materials for Low Water Absorption
- Internal Drainage to Remove Water from Around the Foot for Better Comfort
- Anti-Microbial Linings Protect Against Bacteria that Cause Odor
- Non-Marking, Rubber Outsole with Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction
Women’s ASV Athletic Boat Shoe ($130)
From a technical standpoint, the Sperry Women’s ASV Classic boat shoe is virtually identical to the Men’s ASV Classic boat shoe. Both feature Sperry’s ASV anti-shock and anti-vibration technology, both feature Hydro-Grip rubber footing, and both feature a non-marking rubber outsole with Wave-Siping. Where the two differ is styling. While the Men’s ASV Classic features the more classic Sperry look, the Women’s ASV notes a more modern, sporty look. They look great on a boat, but honestly, my wife (who loves athletic footwear) wears them everywhere, as they’ve become one of favorite pairs of shoes. As with the Sperry Men’s ASV Classic boat shoes, technologies on the Sperry Women’s ASV Athletic boat shoes include:
- Proprietary ASV Technology with Anti-Shock and Vibration Properties (helps reduce shock forces up to 40%)
- Superior Traction through Hydro-Grip™ Rubber for Better Footing
- Enhanced Agility with Unique Upper Designed for Improved Flexibility
- Quick Drying Materials for Low Water Absorption
- Internal Drainage to Remove Water from Around the Foot for Better Comfort
- Anti-Microbial Linings Protect Against Bacteria that Cause Odor
- Non-Marking, Rubber Outsole with Wave-Siping™ for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction
If you’d like to learn more about Sperry Top-Sider, you can find their full range of range of boat shoes at the official Sperry website. I love my Sperry Authentic Originals and my ASV Classics, and as I said earlier, you really can’t go wrong with any Sperrys. They invented the boat shoe, and 75 years later, they’re still the best.
