11 Best Boat Shoes for Men’s Summer Style 2025

<p>Whenever styles people do not like come back, I try to remind people that you don’t need to wear the <em>exact </em>version you would’ve worn back in the day. That’s what makes the style feel new—that new outsole or slightly more dramatic shape or unexpected color. They are an elevated alternative to <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g64377542/best-flip-flops-for-men/” target=”_blank”>flip-flops</a>, a more approachable version of <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g34496573/best-loafers-men/” target=”_blank”>loafers</a>, and a cooler, better (most of the time) option than <a href=”https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g1885/10-white-sneakers-to-wear-right-now-071514/” target=”_blank”>sneakers</a>. It all comes down to which boat shoes you wear, and <em>how </em>you wear them. Long live Boat Shoe Summer. </p>” data-next-head/>

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Barbour

Best No-Fail Boat Shoe

Todd Snyder x Sperry Vachetta Boat Shoe

Vachetta Boat Shoe

Case in point: Todd Synder x Sperry mash-up. Yes, these maintain Sperry’s iconic two-eye design and low-profile. But done up in this chic black, it’s hard to mix these up for a shoe you could’ve worn in a past life. This boat shoe exudes everything a boat shoe should: refined style, a bit of preppiness, and infallible coolness. With foam midsoles for all-day comfort and a suede upper that looks as good as it feels. Plus, the non-marking Vibram outsole keeps your feet nice and grippy on an actual boat.

Most Stylish Boat Shoe

Barbour Deck Boat Shoe

Deck Boat Shoe

Barbour’s boat shoe is all of the upgrades I would make to a stale-feeling boat shoe of yore. It’s got three eyes, a thicker lugged outsole, fun contrast stitching, and a two-tone leather that’s just simply unlike other boat shoes. Boat shoe or not, this is one of our favorite summer shoes yet.

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Best Moc-Boat Shoe

Rancourt & Co. Ranger Moc

Ranger Moc

Dress them up, dress them down, wear them on land or at sea—point is, you’re going to get a lot of use out of ’em. It’s part boat shoe (re: eyelets and non-marking grippy outer) but also part moc (re: handsewn, unlined Horween leather).

A More Classic Boat Shoe Swerve

L.L. Bean Blucher Moc

Blucher Moc

If you want the original boat shoe look with a more subtle twist, L.L. Bean is Esquire’s go-to. These have that same low profile and water-ready rubber sole, but four eyelets and synthetic hiking-style laces make them a bit funky. Admittedly, L.L.Bean doesn’t do you any favors with the photography here. Check out our story for a better look at the style.

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Coolest Boat Shoes

VINNY’S Aztec Suede Boat Shoes

Aztec Suede Boat Shoes

For something with a modern flair, Vinny’s is on it. On a chunky platform gum sole, these black suede boat shoes are a summer statement piece that adds some flair to your dressed-up looks and some refinement to your streetwear fits.

Best Boat Shoe Upgrade

Vagabond Shoemakers Jay Boat Shoe

Jay Boat Shoe

Vagabond is a sneaky fashion find: it makes shoes that are on trend but not too trendy and does it with some of the most comfortable constructions around. These boat shoes have a little more support than your standard boat shoe would, and the four eyelets make it feel more like a dress shoe than a boat shoe.

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Best Summer Shoe

CASTAÑER Nemo Suede Boat Shoes

Nemo Suede Boat Shoes

I am probably breaking some fashion rule by categorizing these as “boat shoes” but they are, kinda! They’re Castaner’s signaure espadrille but with an eyelet system that reads boat shoe. Probably not as function for that on-deck grip, but certainly stylish.

Best Luxe Boat Shoes

Brunello Cucinello Suede Boat Shoes

Suede Boat Shoes

If you want to invest in a truly luxurious boat shoe, there’s no higher vacation-inspired luxury than Brunello Cucinelli. This style is crafted with a suede upper (like, absurdely good suede) and a durable rubber sole, with an apron toe that looks good on or off the docks.

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Most Classic Boat Shoes

SEBAGO Portland Leather Boat Shoes

Portland Leather Boat Shoes

If you’ve tried Sebago’s shoes before, you know the brand is unparalleled when it comes to comfort and style. These boat shoes are cut from the same cloth—they’re endlessly cushiony, timelessly cool, and under 200 bucks.

Best Lugged Boat Shoes

Timberland Three-Eye Boat Shoes

Three-Eye Boat Shoes

If you love your Timberland boots (who doesn’t?), you’ll definitely love your Timberland boat shoes. These pack the same durable, comfortable construction that the brand’s boots are known for, with some serious style points, too. The sit higher on that dramatic lug sole, and we love them for that.

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Best Elevated Boat Shoes

Les Deux Taylor Suede Boat Shoes

Taylor Suede Boat Shoes

Les Deux remakes classics with just enough modern touch to make the stuff never feel outdated. These boat shoes are no different. The tan suede is a fresh change from a darker tan leather, with cool stitching and a gum lug sole.

Why You Can Trust Esquire

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We won’t say something is great unless it’s actually great. Our fashion and e-commerce teams carefully choose every product in Esquire’s roundups.

Every pick on this list—and all our other lists—has been selected through testing and trying it ourselves. We won’t tell you to buy something that we wouldn’t spend our own money on. We’re telling you to buy things we know you’d love, because of how much we love ’em, too.

No two tastes are the same, because no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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