Johnston & Murphy's new waterproof shoe collection is great for business-casual dress codes - here's how 3 different styles feel

My first impression of the Johnston & Murphy XC4 Prentiss Moc Toe was that they were incredibly squeaky. Each step I took walking on the hardwood floors of my apartment sounded like a Donald Duck allergy attack. Once I got past the noise, the shoes were really comfy from the first time I wore them. Unlike most sneakers, I didn't have to wear them in because of the ultra-cushioned pad that lays under your heel.

The next thing I noticed was that the waterproofing was totally legit — I poured some of my water bottle onto my foot and it literally bounced off the shoe. Plus, there's no tongue, so you don't have to worry about any seepage coming in from the top of your shoe. The XC4 Prentiss Moc Toes are now my definitive go-to shoes on any rainy day.

Normally I would walk right past the Johnston & Murphy shop — the traditional styles are a bit too, well, traditional for me. But on a recent trip to the mall, my eyes were immediately drawn to a pair of XC4 Prentiss Plain Toe sneakers. When did Johnston & Murphy get so Cole Haan, and why didn't anybody tell me?

When we got the opportunity to try the new line for Insider Picks, I chose the black XC4 Prentiss Plain Toe, which has a brown back for nice contrast and subtle details like two-tone shoelaces — features that are a bit more fun and youthful.

But I also like that it's based on traditional styling, so I can dress them up with a blazer, or down with joggers. The shoes don't have a typical tongue, and it's worth noting that some people might be turned off by the stretch collar design.

The full-grain leather and sheepskin lining are incredibly soft, but the initial brand-new smell reminded me of cheaper synthetic-leather kicks. It will be interesting to see how these hold up, but they feel very well made.

When I put them on, it was the most trying experience — it's so tight, you really have to shove your feet into them with some force. At first, I thought I had chosen the wrong size or they run a bit small. However, once I'm wearing them, they do feel comfortable when I walk, as the leather is stretchy, but there is some discomfort from the tight pressure placed on the top of my feet. It turns out that the footbed is removable to accommodate wider feet, so that was a problem solved. However, after removing the footbed, I found the shoes a bit loose and less supportive. I can't tell if the shoes will break-in over time, but if you want the footbed, I recommend going up half a size if you have wide feet.

The XC4 Prentiss Plain Toe is waterproof and provides thick cushioning and support, and I was able to test out both features during a downpour. As I was running to catch my train, I was very surprised by how comfortable the shoes were, even more so than many of actual running shoes. I definitely felt the cushioning as my feet hit the pavement. And the pair was a champ during the heavy rain: I ran through puddles without ever getting water inside, and the shoes dried pretty quickly and there are no signs of blemishing.