Sperry Topsider

Sperry Topsider is the original boat shoe brand, founded in 1935 by Paul Sperry. Sperry designed his signature shoe after watching his dog run on the ice and noticing that the pattern of grooves and cracks on the animal's feet allowed him to gain traction. Perry designed a leather-upper shoe with a herringbone pattern of grooves on the sole, and the modern boat shoe was born. In 1939, Sperry Topsider began supplying the U.S. Navy with boat shoes, and the shoe became increasingly popular for its non-slip sole, impressive durability, and its white color, which stopped the shoe from leaving marks on boat decks. Sperry Topsider is currently the official footwear sponsor of the U.S. Sailing Team, the U.S. Junior Olympic Sailing Team, and the U.S. Paralympics Sailing Team.