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The Best Retro Deck Sneakers of 2025 Are Finally Back in Stock

Get ’em while you can.

Navy blue canvas sneaker with white rubber sole and white laces on a brown surface.Seavees
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By Brad Lanphear

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Unlimited versatility has kept the deck sneaker at or near the top of footwear popularity charts since the 1960s. Household names like Vans and Sperry dominate the category, but my favorite option of 2025 came from an unexpected brand.

Seavees is a Southern California shoe brand that was founded in 1964, shut down in 1971 and revived in 2008. The current catalog is filled with sneakers and other casual shoes that embody the brand’s Coastal California roots.

Pair of off-white canvas low-top sneakers with white rubber soles and a thin blue stripe above the sole.
The Founders Edition Yacht Shoe is a stitch-for-stitch reproduction of the brand’s original 1964 sneaker.
Seavees

But even the most dedicated fans of modern Seavees were likely unaware that the brand was founded in 1964 by B.F. Goodrich, the famous tire company. At the time, rubber-soled sneakers were overtaking leather shoes as America’s default daily footwear, so it was a smart bet.

The brand’s debut model was a deck sneaker affectionately named the Yacht Shoe. Like many sneakers at the time, it had a canvas Oxford-inspired upper and a rubber outsole, with rubber foxing joining the two.

What set it apart from similar-looking competitors was the heavy-duty rubber and the slip-resistant outsole. But we’ll get to that below.

Navy canvas sneaker with white sole and laces on a teal SEAVEES & B.F. Goodrich shoe box next to a beige drawstring bag.
The Foundation Edition Yacht Shoe comes with an era-faithful shoe box and dust bags.
Seavees

B.F.Goodrich abandoned the side quest in 1969, spinning Seavees off to Converse. Two years later, as “Chucks” were becoming the most popular sneaker on the planet, Seavees got the axe.

It was a pair of those original deck sneakers, found in a Tokyo thrift shop, that inspired the modern iteration of the brand. In 2025, an official collaboration with B.F. Goodrich brought the Yacht Shoe back to life with a “stitch-for-stitch” reproduction.

Top deck

I was fortunate enough to grab a pair of the Founders Edition Yacht Shoes when the initial limited-edition release dropped. I’ve never come across a pair of original 1960s Seavees, but compared to modern deck sneakers that I’ve worn, the quality tops the category.

Pair of navy blue canvas sneakers with white rubber soles and "SeaVees" logo on the heel.
The Founders Edition Deck Shoe has a heavy canvas upper, available in indigo blue, olive green, white and faded black.
Seavees

I’ve been a steadfast supporter of Vans Authentics since high school, and they are still the best value in the category, but the Founders Edition Deck Shoe blows them away in terms of quality.

The cotton canvas upper is heavier, which makes it stiffer to begin with, but it breaks in quickly and holds up longer. Seavees offers the upper in white, indigo blue, olive green and faded black.

Black canvas sneakers with white laces and thick white soles worn with olive green pants.
The Founders Edition Yact Shoe has metal eyelets.
Seavees

It has an Oxford-style split vamp with metal eyelets for the shoelaces. The vamp edge is wrapped in color-matched soft canvas, creating a soft feel around the collar.

A sailor’s sole

As you would expect from a sneaker invented by a tire brand, the rubber sole is the strongest detail. Seavees put in the work to reproduce the uncommon outsole construction that provides exceptional slip-resistance.

Rather than sipping, as you find on Sperry and other nautical shoes, the outsole is formed from thin, wavy pieces of rubber stacked and held in place by the foxing. It provides enough flexibility in each individual piece to conform to a wet surface and create a suction-cup-like grip.

Beige canvas slip-on shoe with a thick rubber sole and blue trim, shown from the bottom side.
The Founder Edition Yacht Shoe has exceptional grip provided by an uncommon outsole design.
Seavees

This doesn’t mean the sneaker sticks to the floor with each step like a piece of chewed gum is on the bottom. But it does provide a noticeably firm footing on wet surfaces.

Availability and pricing

A faithful rebuild and firm grip are all well and good, but the most important detail is that the Founders Edition Yacht shoe looks great. It has the prototypical deck sneaker appearance, which complements absolutely anything.

Moreover, the exceptional material quality means that it will last a long time and only get better with wear. Because the only thing that looks cooler than a new deck sneaker is a well-loved, beat-to-hell deck sneaker.

Seavees originally released the Founders Edition Yacht Shoe as a limited edition, but it’s back by popular demand for the same price of $195, in the same black, blue, green and white color options as last year.

Supplies are once again limited, and there is no guarantee a third production run will happen, so I recommend acting fast if you’re interested.

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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