Vessi Review: The Ultimate Sustainable Travel Shoes

I received Vessi’s in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate travel shoe for a while. If my destination is known to be rainy, I have worn a pair of walking shoes and packed a pair of rain boots. However, I pack light and typically only bring a personal item and/or a carry-on. That makes the space in my bags limited. In addition, I try to limit the new products I purchase for travelling and only purchase items I know I’ll absolutely need, or will wear time and time again. Cue: Vessi. Recently, I heard of this Canadian brand who makes waterproof shoes. Were my packing woes over?! Let’s see with this Vessi Review.

Vessi Overview

There are so many great things about Vessi, besides just being comfortable and waterproof. They are 100% vegan and creature-free, lightweight, eco-friendly, sustainable, and are backed by a 365-Day Guarantee. They are available in women’s, men’s and kid’s sizes. Women’s and men’s Vessi’s are available in 9 different styles (as of April 2023) and 2 kid’s styles. Note: Vessi’s are typically a slim to standard widths and are not currently available in a wide width.

One of the main reasons I wanted to try Vessi’s was to solve my issue of packing light. I prefer to pack with only a personal item and/or a carry-on. No checked bags for me! In the past, I’ve packed a pair of rain boots for rainy destinations (Vancouver and Scotland specifically) and only wore them once. While I am so glad I had rain boots for those rainy days, they aren’t the best walking shoes and they are bulky to pack them and only wear once. Sure, there are packing tips to save space, such as putting socks in the boots to save space. However, rain boots are still heavy!

One thing I’d like to note: waterproof shoes generally also trap sweat. So far, I’ve noticed my feet do feel warmer when I’ve worn Vessi’s for the day in the office. I’ve worn them in colder months outside without excessive sweating and will report back after wearing them in warmer months. However, it is something to note when you’re considering purchasing a pair of waterproof shoes.

I’ve been wearing my Everyday Move for about a month now and am happy to report they are both comfortable, and waterproof! I wore them around Portugal for two weeks and they passed the travel test. No blisters and no wet feet.

Are Vessi Shoes Actually Waterproof?

Yes. Dunked in the St. Lawrence River and held under running water from the tap, I’m happy to report they are 100% waterproof. Note: they are waterproof if liquid touches the outside of the shoe. While they do have an elastic ankle to stop water getting in the top, I do not recommend dunking your foot past the ankle as the inside is not waterproof.

Pricing

Prices range from $110-$195 CAD, so they aren’t cheap. They do hold clearance on specific items, so you might be able to get a pair at a discount. Overall, the fact that these shoes can replace both a pair of running shoes/everyday shoes AND a pair of rainboots does speak to their value.

Sizing

Vessi’s sizing is in full sizes only: i.e. 5, 6, 7, etc. Each pair of shoe has a recommendation to size up or down if you are usually a half size. That being said, all their shoes are regular width, and aren’t great for people with very wide, or very narrow feet!

Personally, I’ve found their recommendations for sizing to be accurate. I sized up in the Everyday Move for a more relaxed fit and am glad I did. They do usually fit a bit snug at first but stretch out a bit over time. The ankle is a snug fit, to ensure no water gets in from the top, which may bother some people.

If you wear orthotics, the sole is easy to slip out to replace with your orthotics.

Vessi Review: Everyday Move

I’ve been wearing these as my main shoe for about two months and I’m completely sold. I won’t go back to another pair of sneakers! I’ve mainly used them for running errands and a few long walks. The fact that they are waterproof means I wear them more than a classic pair of sneakers. The fact that they are comfortable make them perfect for walks around the neighbourhood!

I will note that, while I did size up as per the website recommendations, they are a snug fit! That way they can remain completely waterproof. So, be prepared to break them in a bit.

I was concerned that I was going to get blisters from the heel, since they are so snug, but they never rubbed or caused me discomfort! They are easy to slip on with the heel loop and I don’t even have to retie them every time I wear them. I also wore them on a 4-hour grueling hike in Madeira. I would have recommended proper hiking shoes for that hike; however, my Everyday Move sneakers were still comfortable till the end!

As for sweat, my feet do get noticeably warmer while wearing these. There was a heat wave in Portugal and I was walking 20,000+ steps/day in 25-30°C and my feet were sweaty by the end of the day. They fit snug and I think they hold the heat in a bit more than a hiking shoe.

Overall: I recommend these shoes for people looking for a comfortable, waterproof shoe to do activities like walking and light hiking! However, if you have very wide feet or are a very sweaty person, these might not be for you.

Vessi Review: Weekend Sneaker

The weekend sneaker is marketed as a “reimagined court sneaker [that] combines unmatched comfort with a relaxed silhouette for easy wearability.” These are a unisex shoe, and designed a bit more masculine than I personally prefer. They are a great weekend urban adventure shoe. As always, they are waterproof!

I find them incredibly comfortable to wear for the day and to wander around the neighbourhood. They fit looser than the Everyday Move shoe which people may prefer.

Vessi Review: Boardwalk Slip-on

The third pair I’ve tried for their most recent campaign is the Boardwalk Slip-ons. They are a lightweight waterproof knit and marketed for “life on or off the water”. Personally, I love these! They will be my go-to casual shoe from spring to fall. While I did get a white pair, Vessi claims that they are easy to clean. I will report back if I need to clean them after wearing them for a season!

They are a slip-on shoe, but I find I still need to adjust the heel a bit. If you’re looking for a shoe that doesn’t require any adjusting, I don’t think these are it. They are less warm than the Everyday Move, which would be better for someone with sweatier feet than me.

The boardwalks were surprisingly very comfortable walking shoes. I think I was expecting them to be more of a shoe that you slip on and casually hangout in. However, I wore them for days in Portugal walking 20,000+ steps in them/day and they were still comfortable by the end of the day.

Overall: I recommend these shoes for people looking for a comfortable, waterproof and casual shoe! They fit less snug than the Everyday Move and breath more for those who sweat more than me!

Disclaimer: this post details my personal experience with Vessi’s and your personal opinion and experience may be different than mine.