These $45 water-resistant ballet flats are comfortable to walk in, lighter than rain boots, and machine washable
I found the Oka-B flats water-resistant enough to endure heavy rains, but they're also cute and comfortable enough to wear on sunny days.
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Oka-B
Sure, there are short rain boots, but at the end of the day, they're still boots and not something you want to wear when it's 90 degrees outside but also pouring.
In the past, I've worn old flats that were still good enough for a commute, but those ended up getting soaked through a few seconds after leaving my building. I've also tried wearing flip-flops but I live in New York City, and commuting in the rain on the subway is gross. So when I discovered Oka-B's waterproof flats, I knew I had to try them.
For my Oka-B flats review, I wore mine right out of the box and there was no break-in period. I was even more pleasantly surprised when they didn't fall apart in the rain, effectively protected feet from city grime, and still looked cute enough to wear all day at work. I've already converted my sister to these flats — she now owns two pairs.
Sizing and fit
As someone with wide feet, I was concerned about these shoes being too narrow, but they actually fit perfectly. I usually wear a size 8.5, but the shoes are only available in full sizes, ranging from 6 to 11. Per the instructions on the Oka-B website, I went up a size and ordered a 9. This was completely the right call.
One of the issues I've had with flats in the past is that a lot of them — especially the cheaper ones — have no arch support. That's not the case with these, which have arch support with massaging beads on top of it. Unlike the jelly shoes of the '90s that gave us all blisters and made everything smell like weirdly comforting plastic, these rubbery ballet flats are actually comfortable. The rest of the soles are made of a grippy light-blue, snakeskin-looking material that helps keep your feet in place all day.
Oka-B handcrafts their ballet flats in Georgia and offers them in over a dozen styles. You can choose from shiny or matte finishes, bright or neutral colorways, and decorative embellishments. I tested the now-retired Georgia Matte Ballet Flat in black, but its newly-improved counterpart is called the Taylor Matte Ballet Flat.
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The first time I wore these shoes in the rain, it was drizzling. It felt great to have the confidence to just walk like a normal person and not do that thing where you only walk on the balls of your feet to try and avoid puddles. They also dried off quickly once I got to my destination and I went on with my day.
But what about a serious rainstorm? Good news — they're effective then too. This is where the traction on the soles of the shoes really came in handy — again, I wasn't sliding around. But I did accidentally step into a deceptively large puddle — one of New York City's iconic sights. Yes, it was gross, but the shoes stayed on my feet and came out unscathed. Given that they were totally submerged though, water did get inside so after I crossed the street, I had to take a minute to stop and empty them out, but that's definitely preferable to having your shoe soak up puddle water like a sponge and get ruined.
Similar to more of our favorite footwear brands like Allbirds and Rothy's, the Oka-B flats are made from recycled materials. The brand even offers a recycling program in which customers can send back their worn shoes for 15% off their next purchase.
Despite being durable, water-resistant, and non-slip, the shoes are still pretty flexible and can fold in half. They're also super easy to clean. I just run mine under the faucet in the bathtub, but the Oka-B website says that you can wipe them clean, throw them in the washing machine, or even run them through the dishwasher.
Cons to consider
The biggest problem I've had with these flats is that if I'm wearing them when it's not raining and it's hot outside, my feet get very sweaty inside. Like, so sweaty that they've flown off my feet mid-walk and I had to find a public restroom to get paper towels to wipe off the soles of my feet. This hasn't been an issue when I've worn them during the rain or in cooler weather, like 75 degrees Fahrenheit and below.
The bottom line
Ranging from $45 to $58, it's a reasonable investment for a pair of shoes to take you through the rainy season. The Oka-B flats are a savvy substitute for rain boots, as they'll keep your feet dry and comfortable all day in a sleek silhouette.
If you're looking for alternatives, the Crocs At-Work Flat is cheaper than the Oka-B flats, but lost their shape quickly when I wore them, so they weren't as durable or cute. And considering that I've worn my Oka-B flats several times when it wasn't even raining — just because they were comfortable and matched an outfit — I do think they're worth it.