The boat shoe was created in 1935 by Paul Sperry. Sperry sought to design a shoe that would successfully grip the deck of a boat without leaving scuff marks behind. He was inspired by watching his cocker spaniel run across ice without slipping and mimicked the traction pattern of his dog's paw on the sole of his shoes. The men's boat shoes were also designed to prevent scuff marks on floors. Though the shoes were originally designed to be worn by sailors, the shoes quickly become a fashion staple in America, England and France. HealthyFeetStore.com embraces the quirky design by offering a selection of boat shoes by some of the best boat shoe brands like Dunham and OrthoFeet. Our shoe selection proves that boat shoes aren't strictly for sailors anymore.