Protect Your Feet with the Best Water Shoes
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Speedo Women's Hydro Comfort Water Shoe -
ALEADER Kid's Slip-on Quick-Dry Water Shoe -
Speedo Men's Hydraterra Strap Water Shoe -
Teva Men's Dozer Closed Toe Water Shoe -
Teva Women's Churn Evo Water Shoe -
Adidas Unisex-Child Water Slide Shoes -
Buyer's Guide
Whether you kayak, fish, or just want to protect your feet while walking on the beach o r the scorching concrete alongside an outdoor pool, you will want the best water shoes to add to your gear. Water shoes guard the bottoms of your feet with a hard sole. The rest of the shoe is made from fast drying materials like neoprene. As with any other piece of footwear, there are hundreds of styles to choose from. Where you plan on wearing your water shoes will be a factor in determining the right pair. If your are likely to traverse areas with rocks, coral, mussels or shell, you will want a water shoe with a thicker sole than a pair you might select for the poolside. These best water shoes in 2022 were selected because they are made from durable materials, are comfortable and dry exceptionally fast.
Best Water Shoes Worth Considering in 2022
Speedo Women's Hydro Comfort Water Shoe - Best Water Shoes Overall
The Hydro Comfort 2.0 Lace Up Water Shoe by Speedo are the best because they are extremely comfortable, have exceptional traction and dry quickly. The shell of these shoes are made from a single piece of durable fabric that stretches to easily slip on and off, but will not lose elasticity through years of exposure to pool chemicals or salt water. The molded finger hole in the stretch collar makes it even easier to put these shoes on, even when wet. You can rest assured that the textured lightweight rubber soles will grip any wet surface, giving you confidence in your footing around the pool. The foam insoles are very comfortable and do not absorb water. The Hydro Comfort Lace Up s are perfect for water aerobics and comfortable enough for daily wear, wet or dry.
ALEADER Kid's Slip-on Quick-Dry Water Shoe - Another Top Pick
The ALEADER Kid's Slip-on Quick Dry Water Shoes are a great choice for keeping the little feet safe and protected. They are great for water sports whether you are swimming around in a pool or are splashing water at the beach. Being extremely lightweight and comfortable, your little one will enjoy wearing them at pools, water parks, and beaches.
They have a durable drain outsole for quick drying as well as for providing better grip on wet surfaces. The upper is knitted mesh that ensures breathability and comfort. They are also fitted with a quick adjusting elastic strap closure for proper fit and easy on and off. Their insoles are arched to provide adequate support, and you can also choose from a vast range of sizes and colors.
Speedo Men's Hydraterra Strap Water Shoe - Runner Up
Speedo is well known for producing some of the best gear for in the water. The Hydraterra Strap Water Shoes by Speedo are an extremely soft and lightweight pair of water shoes that are perfect for poolside. The single layer of lightweight mesh and side ports ensure rapid draining and drying. Multiple grooves running in various directions line the anti-slip rubbers soles that provide perfect grip any smooth and surface. The Hydraterra Strap is easy to slip on and adjust with a single elastic strap. The EVA foam insole is stitched into these water shoes, so it won’t slip out when you take them off when wet.
Teva Men's Dozer Closed Toe Water Shoe - Honorable Mention
The Teva Dozer III is the perfect combination of a great hiking shoe and a sandal. This hybrid has Durabrasion Rubber soles that give outstanding traction on any surface, wet or dry. The Dozer III is made from tough synthetic leather straps that join a lightweight mesh on the top of the foot. This design give you maximum protection, while still allowing multiple openings for draining. A toe covering offers you additional protection for rocky, shell-covered or other difficult terrain. These water shoes come with all of the added comfort you would expect from a Teva product, including the EVA foam midsole, Shoc Pad and anti-microbial protection.
Teva Women's Churn Evo Water Shoe - Consider
Teva is well known for making some of the best hiking and water shoes on the market. The Women’s Churn Evo made by Teva is no exception. These water shoes are made from durable synthetic leather with fast draining mesh in the upper portions of the design. Weighing only 8 ounces, these shoes give you a lot of support without adding a lot to the profile of the shoe thanks to the Teva Shoc Pad. The Churn Evo drains and dries quickly because of the uniquely designed drainage channels in the front portion of the shoe. Elastic laces provide a custom fit. These stylish water shoes are perfect for travel, work or play.
Adidas Unisex-Child Water Slide Shoes - Best Water Shoes
The Adidas Hydroterra Shandal is the perfect water shoe for hiking in wet conditions. The sole of these shoes have outstanding grip on even the slickest surfaces. Designed to resemble a regular running shoe, the Hydroterra Shandal has elastic laces and a clasp that locks over the top to hold them in place. The outer mesh layer stretches to fit most foot shapes comfortably. One convenient feature of this pair of water shoes is that the heel folds down, making it possible to simply slip on the shoe. These shoes have midsole cushions made from high quality and fast drying EVA foam, ensuring a fast dry and preventing that awkward squishing noise when walking on dry land.
Buyer's Guide
Water shoes come in pretty handy when you go on adventures like kayaking or fishing. Not only will they help bring you closer to the water but they are also specifically designed to prevent bacteria that can form in wet places. So you get to keep your shoes on when venturing into water and also keep your feet happy and smiling! But in order to do any of the two, you need water shoes and for that, you need our buying guide so you don’t get the wrong pair of shoes and end up ruining your water adventures.
Things To Consider When Buying The Best Water Shoes
Breathability
On camping trips or while exploring the backcountry, you might feel the need to cross marshy areas or rivers and streams. Will you let the lack of suitable shoes get in the way of seeing new places? No, right? Then you need to buy a pair of the best water shoes that are made from a breathable material that will help the water to seep out while also offering adequate air circulation for your feet. Trust me, you’ll have them thanking you for it..
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing the right breathable material is that it also has to ensure that water is not absorbed in the shoes for too long, which will only result in super off-putting and smelly feet. Not just that, it can also become a breeding ground for fungus, yeast and bacteria to grow.
So when buying your pair of water shoes, make sure you check the material construction and opt for one that is not only fast drying but breathable as well. The material should not be soaking up water, making your feet heavy otherwise it would be difficult for you to continue on your journey.
Comfort
Something that is of the utmost importance is often overlooked by shoe manufacturers and that is comfort. In an attempt to make your water shoes breathable and lightweight, these manufacturers fail to factor in the comfort aspect and remove the padding from it. And you know what a padding-less pair can do to your feet when you’re hiking all day and need your shoes to be comfortable? Imagine a world full of blisters and pain, that’s how you’ll feel.
Soles provide cushioning to the upper shoe and the best are rubber ones so that everything fits you snug, bringing us to another important tip. Your shoes should never be too loose or too tight as it will end up feeling uncomfortable after only a short period of time, in both scenarios.
Ease
Most people hate tying and untying their shoelaces after the shoes have been wet. This is where the stretchable upper mesh material comes in. This helps you remove the wet shoe with ease and even makes walking much easier while the water easily drains off.
Durability
Water shoes that are available for both genders don’t only provide your feet with the protection and comfort it needs but they are also supposed to last a long time, even when you use them rigorously on your hiking adventures.
Traction
Traction is an important factor to consider when it comes to all types of shoes, but more so in water shoes. If you want a good quality pair of water shoes then you will have to look for one that has special treads in its rubber outsoles.
Support
When you try on different water shoes, keep in mind why you are buying them. The type of water activity you plan to engage in will help determine the kind of support you require. If you are planning on being on your feet for hours and hours then you need to get yourself water shoes that focus on providing good ankle support. However, if you are going to be fish kayaking or boating, you can easily get away with wearing simple slip ons.
Types Of Water Shoes
Depending on the type of water activity you are about to engage in, there are different types of footwear divided into four categories. While some are perfect for fishing, others are better suited for most types of water activities.
Water Sandals
Featuring an open toe design, these are the most common type of water shoes you can find, thanks to their ability to provide your feet with a good grip through straps and good traction with the help of the rubber soles. The grip of these sandals actually make them a very popular option for people who aren’t looking for something that will fare well in rigorous adventures like long distance hiking. They are also not suitable for activities like camping where your feet can be exposed to rocks, branches and other items thanks to its open toe design.
Water Shoes
Maybe not as popular of an option as water sandals are but water shoes are a favourite of anyone who has a love of water adventures. They don’t leave any toes out for anything to fall on and provide plenty of foot protection and comfort. Not to mention the rubber soles that make for excellent traction while also being breathable and comfortable to wear all day.
Wet Shoes
When you think of wet shoes, just imagine a thick pair of water socks. While they are extremely lightweight and have a thin rubber sole for traction, they are not ideal for walking along a path that has sharp rocks likely to poke your feet, leaving you with an agonizing pain and a hatred for the outdoors.
Boat Shoes
They pretty much say it all with their name. These shoes are best if you’re planning on spending extended hours on a boat. Sporting a leather upper and a snug inner, these shoes are super comfortable to wear with a good grip and heel support. But the best part about them is that they can also pass as formal shoes, thanks to the good-looking design and comfort.
FAQs
Can you use normal shoes instead of water shoes?
You can choose to wear normal shoes while on your water adventures. However, they will not be as comfortable or as efficient as water shoes. When wet, they can be dangerous and heavy, leaving you more prone to accidents and unnecessary pain.
What shoes should you use when going kayaking?
It depends on the type of kayaking, whether it is water or flatwater. If you are going water kayaking then you will have to get shoes with excellent traction. On the other hand, flatwater kayaking demands not just good grip but also great breathability.
