8 Spring Shoes Every Stylish Man Needs For 2025

Image Credit: CLAE

Spring has arrived, so it’s time to kick off the big winter boots and revert back to a lighter approach to footwear. Those heavy leather uppers and thick commando soles are great when there’s frost on the ground and clouds in the sky, but it feels like overkill when the weather begins to improve. But don’t go reaching for the espadrilles and boat shoes just yet.

While spring calls for a different type of footwear, you’ll still need to make sure whatever you shod yourself with can cope with chilly days and the occasional April shower. You need shoes and boots that can comfortably bridge the gap between winter and summer. Think lighter materials and lower cuts, but still enough coverage to keep your feet dry on those inevitable drizzly days.

Below you’ll find a few options that fall into this tricky transitional category – some classics, some more of-the-moment and trend-based.

Suede Chukka Boots

Why You Need Them

If ever there was a shoe built for spring, this is it. The suede chukka is most at home in the awkward transitional months, acting as a stepping stone between leather winter boots and the slimmer, shorter footwear styles of summer.

They’re timeless too – Clarks’ iconic Desert Boot, arguably the ultimate chukka, is over 70 years old and still as popular as ever – and it’s no exaggeration to say they go with almost anything.

How To Wear

Suede chukkas are endlessly adaptable. They work with everything from chinos and lightweight knits to jeans and Harrington jackets. On smarter days, team them with tailored trousers and an unstructured blazer.

Dress them up or down – they’re rarely out of place.

Leather Derbies

Why You Need Them

Spring is when the weddings really start to ramp up again, which means it’s important to have something in your seasonal footwear rotation that you can wear with tailoring.

A classic leather Derby shoe fills this gap, and it’s versatile enough to be worn throughout the summer, autumn and beyond.

How To Wear

Derbies can shift gears depending on how you wear them. Pair with a suit for weddings and the office, or dress them down with smart trousers, a crisp Oxford shirt and a mac.

Even with dark jeans and a merino jumper, they’ll look considered without trying too hard.

Suede Sneakers

Why You Need Them

Every man needs a pair of shoes he can leave by the front door and slip on to run errands or meet friends without really giving it too much thought. This is where a classic pair of suede sneakers fits the bill perfectly.

Understated styles like the New Balance 990 are simple enough to pair with most outfits, comfortable enough to wear all day and have been around for long enough to prove that they’re more than a flash in the pan.

How To Wear

These are your daily drivers. Pair them with jeans, joggers, cargos or tailored shorts—they’ll fit into just about any casual outfit.

Layer up with sweats, overshirts or technical jackets and they’ll still hold their own.

Lugged Deck Shoes

Why You Need Them

This more robust spin on a classic boat shoe is trending at the moment, but that’s not the only reason you might want to consider adding a pair to your spring rotation. They’re also perfectly equipped to deal with the spring weather.

They have a summer-ready look and feel, but they’re still rugged enough to deal with slippery sidewalks and the occasional shower.

How To Wear

Lean into their rugged edge. Style them with workwear staples like chore coats and straight-leg denim, or balance them out with a soft-shouldered twill blazer and relaxed chinos.

They’ll add some texture and heft to spring looks without feeling heavy.

White Leather Sneakers

Why You Need Them

Need we say more? Clean, crisp and endlessly versatile, white leather sneakers should be a permanent feature in every man’s wardrobe, especially in the spring.

They mirror the lightness of the season, and if the weather does take a turn and they happen to get dirty, you can simply wipe them clean.

How To Wear

Simple to style, hard to beat. White leather kicks work with almost anything – from tailored trousers and a tee to cuffed jeans and a hoodie.

Avoid wearing them with formal suits, but otherwise, they’re fair game with anything laid-back and clean.

Penny Loafers

Why You Need Them

A preppy staple that’s walked Ivy League corridors for almost a century, the penny loafer is a smart-casual classic that perfectly suits transitional weather.

The slip-on design makes them extremely easy to wear, and if you choose leather over suede, they’re surprisingly weatherproof.

How To Wear

These walk the line between smart and casual. They look sharp with chinos and polos, easygoing with jeans and a knit, or laid-back with linen trousers and a Cuban-collar shirt.

Think relaxed refinement, with a nod to old-school prep.

Throwback Runners

Why You Need Them

With their shiny metallic overlays and mesh panelling, these throwback running shoes aren’t exactly the most versatile on the market, but they are enjoying a resurgence at the moment, and for that reason we think they’re worth a mention.

Not only are these retro runners comfortable, but they’re also a great way to bring simple, understated looks up to speed and inject a bit of personality.

How To Wear

Dial up the nostalgia by pairing with relaxed-fit joggers, vintage-wash denim or utility trousers. Up top, opt for tees, quarter-zips or retro sportswear-inspired jackets.

It’s all about balance – let the trainers bring the fun, and keep everything else clean.

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison is Ape's Style Editor. His work has been published in Esquire, Men’s Health, ShortList, The Independent and more. An outerwear and sneaker fanatic, his finger is firmly on the pulse for the latest trends, while always maintaining an interest in classic style.