How to Choose Shoes for Wet, Rainy Races

Big marathon goals call for fast marathon shoes. And fast marathon shoes mean light marathon shoes.

But the light, speedy supershoes most competitive runners reach for on race days must make some sacrifices to get down to the standard 7.5oz or less. And often, that sacrifice comes in the form of grip, with slick outsoles sporting just a thin layer of rubber. 

That’s well and good, if conditions cooperate. “If you look at the bottom of your shoe, and it’s completely smooth, that is for the perfect sunny day,” says Kai Ng, known as Run Coach Kai, a USATF and RRCA certified running coach. Any precipitation — especially on a road slick with car oils — and you run the risk of slips.

Falling isn’t the only concern when your marathon day looks like it’ll be a wet one. Lee Firestone, D.P.M., a podiatrist and certified running coach says water can make runners more prone to blisters and chafing, especially if the fit of your shoe is at all off. And in colder weather, wet feet pose a risk of frostbite, he adds.

So what’s a runner with supershoe goals but a rainy race day forecast to do? Wet weather doesn’t necessarily have to mean putting your carbon plated dreams back on the shelf, but it does require some thinking ahead.

Have a Plan B for Rainy Days

To know how your race shoes fare in wet weather, you have to test them in wet weather — ideally long before you have a clue about whether race day will include precipitation, says Elizabeth Corkum, known as Coach Corky, a New York City-based running coach and personal trainer. “You don’t have to run in the rain every time there’s a possibility of rain, but you can think of it as an opportunity to iron out those hypotheticals that could happen on marathon day,” she says. “See what your footwear feels like, with grip, with comfort, and how heavy they feel in the rain, so that when you have the scenario of your race day looking wet, you don’t have to start over with your shoe search.”

Try out a marathon-pace effort in your race shoes on a rainy day, and if you feel at all at risk of slipping, that’s an indication that you’ll need to have tried-and-tested backup shoes should the forecast call for lots of rain on the day of the race. While it may be tempting to risk wearing the speedy-but-not-grippy racers you’ve dreamed of PRing in, wearing shoes that feel slick could cause you to tweak your form. “You’re probably going to start trying to grip with your toes and do other weird things,” Corkum says. “Doing something even really small over 26.2 miles could cause really big issues.”

As long as you test them in the rain, those backup shoes can probably just be your go-to trainers, as most lightweight training shoes — like the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13 or the HOKA  Clifton 9 — have decent grip but are still breathable enough to shed water. That’s key — shoes that don’t shed water efficiently can leave you feeling like you’re slogging along buckets of rain on your feet. Or, if there’s a “super trainer” already in your shoe-lineup (like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 or New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2), that could be a happy medium, says Nick Krouse, who manages footwear at Fleet Feet, as those shoes have the propulsive plate of a supershoe but with more grip and durability since they’re made for more everyday wear. 

Whatever you do, don’t try out anything new on race day because you’re suddenly worried your shoes won’t perform in the rain. “Changing shoes at that point — there are just so many variables that might have nothing to do with the weather that can be far more problematic for you,” says Corkum. “If we don’t know how a shoe responds to a two-plus-hour long run, there’s the possibility that the toe box is no longer going to feel adequate, for example. And rain even in shoes that you know can cause problems, so if you’re going with something that’s totally foreign, it’s a huge roll of the dice.”

Should You Race in Waterproof Shoes?

It may seem obvious that when you’re racing in wet conditions, you’d want to be wearing waterproof shoes. But while that may be true for short road or trail races, most experts agree that wearing waterproof shoes for a marathon doesn’t make much sense.

For one, if you’re running in rainy weather for several hours, water will likely still find its way into your shoe despite the waterproofing protections, says Coty Campos, manager of GTX and Weather Protection Product at New Balance. “Waterproof shoes are great because the shoe itself doesn’t collect water, but if you’re out there long enough, eventually the water will drip down your legs and into the shoe,” she says.

And once water is in your waterproof shoe, the same membrane built to keep water out will actually just keep it in. (Same goes for all your foot sweat.) Waterproof shoes are also going to be heavier and less flexible than their counterparts, says Mark Mendeszoon, D.P.M., a podiatrist who owns two running shoe stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania, which can sometimes make for an uncomfortable ride.

The Best Supershoes for Grip

Not all fast shoes have a grip problem — opt for these and you don’t have to choose between speed and safely navigating slick roads.

Adidas Adizero Pro 3

As far as traction goes, it doesn’t get much better than an outsole made of Continental rubber. At 7.5oz, Adidas’ racer isn’t the lightest of the supershoes, but it’s also not the heaviest, and its relatively wide profile could be a bonus when navigating turns on slippery roads. Another selling point: Evans Chebet wore the Adizero Pro 3 this year when he took the top spot in Boston in the rain. 

Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite

PUMAGRIP, the rubber compound Puma uses for many of its outsoles, is a fan favorite, and one of the stickiest, grippiest, most durable road options on the market. The Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite weighs in at 7oz — pretty standard for a supershoe — and its highly breathable upper should shed water with ease.

Asics Metaspeed Sky+ or Edge+

Corkum and Krouse both recommend Asics’ supershoes (sister racers built for stride-runners and cadence-runners, respectively), which feature the brand’s proprietary ASICSGRIP, a rubber compound that’s light but has real teeth.

Quick Tips for Rainy Races

Keep your shoes dry as long as possible. If you’re going to be waiting around in the rain at the starting line for any length of time, wear a pair of old shoes you’re ready to get rid of, suggests Corkum. (Hopefully, volunteers will collect and recycle or donate them.) Keep your racing shoes protected in a plastic bag, and wait till the last moment to swap them, so you can at least begin the race feeling dry. (Same goes for socks!)

Run the tangents. The more you’re taking sharp turns and moving side-to-side, the more you’ll be testing your shoe’s grip, and setting yourself up for a potential slip. Avoid those testy turns by running the tangent, says Krouse, and try to resist weaving around your fellow runners. 

Make smart sock choices. When it comes to keeping your feet (relatively) dry and comfortable during rainy days, your socks are just as important as your shoes. Avoid thick fabrics that will hold lots of water; instead opt for a thin, technical, moisture-wicking material (like a nylon or polyester blend). And just like your shoes, try them out before race day, ideally in a variety of conditions, to make sure they work for you. One pro tip from Krouse: Opt for a crew-length sock, since the extra material can act like a sponge and wick water away from your feet and up towards your ankle.