Rainy Season Footwear for Chennai: Grip, Drying and Foot Care When the Roads Flood

Why Chennai Needs Its Own Rainy Season Footwear Plan

Chennai gets much of its rain from the northeast monsoon. The India Meteorological Department’s Chennai report on the 2020 northeast monsoon describes October to December as the chief rainy season for this subdivision, with 48 percent of its annual rainfall (447.4 mm) realised in that period. That means weeks of wet roads, damp floors and feet that rarely dry fully. Add the humidity of a coastal city, and footwear choices matter more than they do in a dry climate.

This guide is written for daily life in Chennai: commuting on wet roads, walking through puddles, working in humid shops and offices and managing shoes at home. It is general advice and not medical advice. Related guides: slippers at home versus barefoot and EVA slippers.

What Rainy Season Footwear Must Do

Sandals, Slippers, Shoes or Boots

Rubber or EVA sandals with a heel strap are the practical default. They drain, dry quickly and wash easily. Plain flip-flops are cheap but can slip off in water and give little control on wet roads. Closed shoes protect from dirt and knocks but stay wet for a long time if soaked, so choose quick-drying synthetic uppers and carry spare socks. Rain boots suit deep puddles, but they trap sweat and heat, so wear them only when needed. Leather shoes do not like repeated soaking. If you must wear them, use a waterproofing spray and dry them stuffed with paper away from direct heat.

Easy-Dry Footwear Shoppers Compare

These are examples of footwear listed online. They are retail products, and none is claimed to prevent any skin or foot condition.

Doctor Extra Soft Ultra Cushion Slippers for Men

Listed as lightweight men’s slippers for orthopedic and diabetic use.

View on Amazon.in

Doctor Extra Soft House Slipper for Women

The listing mentions MCR, orthopaedic, diabetic and acupressure features.

Check size and price

YOHO ArchFlex Orthopedic Slippers for Men

Listed with arch support, anti-skid soles and light weight.

Compare on Amazon.in

YOHO ArchFlex Orthopedic Slippers for Women

Listed with arch support, anti-skid soles and light weight.

Compare on Amazon.in

Ortho + Rest Men Slipper

Listed as a super soft, lightweight men’s flip-flop for home and daily use.

See it on Amazon.in

Ortho + Rest Ortho Slippers for Women

A women’s daily-use orthopedic flip-flop, per the listing.

See it on Amazon.in

Grip on Wet Floors

Slips are a larger concern than most people think, particularly for older adults. Look at the sole before you buy. Deep grooves and a patterned tread channel water away, while a smooth flat sole acts like a ski on wet tile. Worn soles lose that channel, so replace sandals when the pattern flattens. At home, wipe the area by the door where wet feet come in, and keep a rubber-backed mat there. Our guide to home slippers explains why a secure, grippy home slipper beats walking barefoot on wet tiles.

Keeping Feet Dry

Dermatologists commonly link the monsoon with fungal skin problems. A piece in The Week quotes a dermatologist advising people to keep a spare pair of footwear at work, choose open sandals when possible and dry between the toes carefully. Another article on Aster Hospitals describes athlete’s foot as a fungal infection that usually affects the skin between the toes.

1. Dry your feet fully after rain, especially between the toes.
2. Change out of wet footwear and socks as soon as you can.
3. Rotate two pairs so each dries fully.
4. Dry shoes with their insoles removed, away from direct heat.
5. Wear clean, dry cotton or moisture-wicking socks.
6. Do not share towels or footwear if someone has a skin infection.

Floodwater and Dirty Puddles

Walking through floodwater is best avoided when possible. Water on Chennai roads can carry dirt, sewage and sharp objects, and a small cut can become infected. If you must walk through it, wear closed protective footwear or sturdy rubber boots rather than thin flip-flops, wash and dry your feet and legs afterwards with clean water and check for cuts. Seek medical care for a wound, swelling, spreading redness or fever, and tell the doctor that you walked in floodwater.

If You Have Diabetes or Reduced Feeling

People with diabetes or numb feet should be extra careful during the rains. Wet, soft skin is more prone to damage, and a small blister or cut may go unnoticed. Check both feet every day, avoid walking barefoot and avoid thin flat slippers. Our guide to diabetic footwear covers the daily checks and footwear features in detail. See a doctor promptly for any wound.

Cleaning and Drying Your Footwear After Rain

• Rinse mud off rubber and EVA with plain water and a soft brush.
• Wipe leather with a damp cloth and dry naturally.
• Remove insoles and dry them separately.
• Stuff wet shoes with newspaper and change the paper once it is damp.
• Do not dry footwear in strong sun or on a heater, since heat can warp foam and crack glue.
• Sprinkle a little baking soda inside once dry to reduce odour.

For more, read how to clean shoes and MCR slippers care.

Managing Wet Footwear at Home

In many Chennai homes, shoes are removed at the door and the entrance becomes a wet zone for weeks. Set aside a small area just inside the door with a rubber-backed mat, a rack for drying footwear and a washable cloth for wiping feet. Do not stack wet sandals in a closed cupboard, since trapped moisture encourages smell and mould on the footbed. Let each pair air out in a shaded, ventilated spot for a full day before wearing again, and rotate between two pairs when the rain continues for many days. Wash any cloth footwear that has been soaked, and replace foam footbeds that stay damp or smell even after drying.

If someone at home has a fungal skin infection of the feet, wash towels and socks separately in hot water when possible, and avoid sharing footwear until it has been treated. A doctor can advise on treatment, and a household that treats everyone affected has a lower chance of repeat infection.

Which Materials Cope Best With Rain

Our guides to MCR material and EVA slippers explain how these materials behave when wet and how to look after them.

Commuting in the Rain

Two-wheeler riders, bus passengers and walkers each need a slightly different approach. Riders need closed, grippy shoes that will not slip off the footrest, and a spare dry pair at work. Bus and train passengers face wet steps and crowded floors, so a strapped sandal with a deep tread is safer than a loose flip-flop. Walkers should look for raised footpath edges, drain covers and painted road markings, all of which are slippery when wet. Take short steps on wet tile and slow down on slopes. If you carry an umbrella and a bag, keep one hand free for a handrail.

A Simple Pre-Monsoon Footwear Checklist

1. Check every pair you plan to use for worn soles and flattened tread, and retire anything that has lost its grip.
2. Inspect straps and stitching, since wet use exposes weak glue and thread.
3. Buy or set aside one pair that is meant to get wet and one pair that stays dry.
4. Stock spare socks in your bag, at your desk and in your vehicle.
5. Clear space at home for drying footwear before the first heavy rain arrives.
6. Waterproof any leather shoes you intend to wear, and test the spray on a hidden spot first.
7. Check that children’s sandals still fit, because feet can grow noticeably between seasons.

Doing this in early October, before the northeast monsoon begins, is far easier than hunting for a good pair in a downpour, and shops often run short of popular sizes once the rains arrive.

Spending Wisely on Rainy Season Footwear

You do not need an expensive pair for the rains. A solid strapped EVA or rubber sandal with a deep tread often works as well as a costly pair, because the materials are naturally water tolerant. Spend a little more where it counts: a secure strap, a good tread and a sole that does not peel. Skip features that add cost without helping in wet conditions, such as fancy linings that soak water. If you need a closed shoe, choose a quick-drying synthetic upper over untreated leather and carry a spare pair.

Children, Older Adults and Office Wear

Children grow quickly and run through puddles, so choose washable sandals with a back strap and replace them when the toes touch the front. Older adults need a stable, non-slip sole and easy fastening such as Velcro. For office-goers, carry a spare pair of dry socks and a lightweight pair of shoes or sandals to change into, so you are not in wet shoes for eight hours.

What to Check Before You Buy

1. Flex the sole. It should bend at the ball, not in the middle.
2. Check the tread depth and pattern.
3. Pull the straps, since weak stitching or glue fails when wet.
4. Try them wet if possible, at home on a bathroom floor.
5. Check that the footbed does not slide off the sole when wet.
6. Leave a little space at the toes, since wet feet swell and slide.

If you need sizing help, see our shoe size guide.

From Our Choolaimedu Shop

We see a clear change in what customers ask for as the northeast monsoon arrives: grippy sandals, quick-drying slippers and backup pairs. If you are in or near Choolaimedu, you are welcome to try a few and check the sole pattern and straps yourself. We are a retail shop and offer plain advice on materials and sizing, not medical advice.

Common Rainy Season Footwear Myths

• “Leather is fine in rain.” Repeated soaking dries and cracks leather and weakens glue.
• “Thick socks keep feet warm in rain.” Thick damp socks hold moisture and encourage skin problems.
• “Any rubber sole is grippy.” Smooth hard rubber can be slippery on wet tile.
• “Dry in the sun for an hour.” Strong heat can warp foam and shrink glue.
• “Anti-fungal powder replaces drying.” Dryness comes first, and persistent symptoms need a doctor.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor for itchy peeling skin between the toes that does not improve in a week or so, cracks, bleeding, pus, a bad smell, swelling, spreading redness, fever or any wound in a person with diabetes or poor circulation. Avoid using steroid creams without advice, since they can make some fungal infections worse.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Short Version

For the Chennai rains choose grippy, quick-drying, strapped footwear, keep a dry spare pair, dry between your toes and avoid dirty floodwater. See a doctor for persistent itching, cracks or any wound, especially with diabetes.

Keep Reading

Sources

• IMD Chennai: Report on Northeast Monsoon 2020
• The Week: Monsoon skincare tips
• Aster Hospitals: Fungal infections every monsoon
• Apollo 247: Healthy feet during the rainy season

Some links on this page are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure. Foot-health content here is general information, not medical advice.