For aquatic or amphibious adventures, the best water shoes make all the difference. If you enjoy any of the activities, like – kayaking, coasteering, canyoning, exploring waterfalls, wild swimming, SUP-ing or just exploring your local beach and its rock pools, the best water shoes will vastly improve your time spent in the water.
Our detailed guide includes an extensive list of the best water shoes, with different pairs suitable for various activities. In general, a good pair will provide protection, drain effectively, and dry quickly, as well as providing a secure grip when travelling between wet and dry land.
And yes, they provide numerous performance-based advantages, but modern versions also exude style, ensuring that you never have to compromise fashion for function. While the Keen Newport H2 Sandals may have topped our list, we have also included a pair of water shoes for budget-conscious buyers (the DigiHero Water Shoes), a pair for children (the ever-popular Teva Hurricane XLT2), and even a pair of Astral Brewess 2.0 because, realistically, no list of the best water shoes would be complete without them.
Benefits of Water Shoes:
The allure of water shoes spreads significantly beyond their correlation with warm-weather adventures. This adaptive form of footwear showcases an extensive range of benefits that make it a top option over traditional sandals or shoes when stepping into watery realms. With their quick-drying, moisture-wicking materials, water shoes are designed primarily to keep your feet dry and protected.
Also, their extraordinary grip on slippery surfaces provides a sense of stability, allowing you to maintain your balance even on slick rocks or moss-covered surfaces. In contrast to their open-toed variations, water shoes protect your soles from sharp objects and hidden underwater hazards, allowing you to explore without concern of injury.
The Best Water Shoes We Recommend in 2023
We found six water shoes that meet a variety of demands after testing hundreds of pairs and researching others. Grab a pair before the summer ends and go exploring.
Best Overall: Keen Newport H2 Water Shoes
Budget-friendly water shoes: DigiHero Water Shoes
Sneaker-inspired water shoes: Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer
Affordable Water Sneaker: Wave Runner
Best Value Water Shoes for Women: DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Dryingles
Best Value Water Shoes for Men: Speedo Surf Knit Pro
Best Water Shoes For Kids: Teva Hurricane XLT2
Best Versatile Water Shoes: Astral Brewess 2.0
1. Best Overall: Keen Newport H2 Water Shoes
With Exceptional Durability And Adaptability
Keen Newport H2 Closed Toe Water Sandals combine the ventilation and quick-drying properties of sandals with the safety, protection, and durability of closed-toe water shoes. The quality and functionality of the design are built into a higher but reasonable price.
What distinguishes the Newport H2s from Tevas or Chacos is the game-changing, rigid toe bumpers that protect your toes, perhaps even more so than most footwear. The shoe’s rubber toe cap protects the wearer’s toenails from sharp rocks, uneven terrain, and anything else that could be hazardous in the water or on land. In addition to being machine-washable, this is a great deal.
Best suited for: Any warm weather not adventure
Pros:
- Outstanding Toe & Heel Protection
- Amazing for kayaking in warm conditions
- Durability for modest hiking as well
- Stretchable cord for simple adjustment
- All of the benefits of quick-drying and breathable sandals, with the added protection of a reinforced toe box.
- Superb arch support
Cons:
- Inadequate for paddle boarding
- Sand quickly gets underfoot (but also easily gets out).
2. Budget-friendly water shoes: DigiHero Water Shoes
Water shoes on a budget
If you don’t use water shoes frequently or have a limited budget, the DigiHero Water Shoes are an excellent option. These flexible, comfortable, and quick-drying knit shoes are just a small percentage of the price of our other recommendations. Furthermore, they come in a range of colors and patterns, that range from black to fluorescent.
The water is the best place to wear these shoes. These water shoes don’t offer much support and aren’t great for walking, so bring another pair of shoes to change into later.
DigiHero shoes are soft and light because they are made of thin polyester (we assume it’s polyester, since the company doesn’t say). They also lay almost completely flat, which makes them easy to pack.
Pros:
- Lightweight and protective
- Fast-drying
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Ineffective in arid regions
3. Sneaker-Inspired Water Shoes: Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer
Water Sneakers for Men and Women
Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer shoes (men’s and women’s) appear and feel like sneakers, unlike most water shoes. Whether you’re walking on a tropical island beach (lucky you) or wading in a brook, you’ll fit in when you land.
Moreover, the LiteRide 360 Pacer is an improved version of our previous Crocs water-sneaker recommendation, the LiteRide Pacer (men’s and women’s), which was still available in some sizes.
They’re as light as air. The body of the LiteRide 360 Pacer is composed from EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam, which is light, soft to the touch, and waterproof—these shoes weigh nearly nothing, even when wet. Plus, they’re easy to slip on and off (the laces can’t be tightened, as they’re simply for show), and in our tests they were comfy right out of the box, with no break-in time required.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Fastest Drying pair
- Comfortably cushioned ie. totally wearable around town.
Cons:
- Shoes cause ankle and foot blisters.
- Decorative laces don’t fit well.
4. Affordable Water Sneaker: Wave Runner
Slip resistant
Choose the Wave Runner quick-drying water shoes for hassle-free diving, snorkeling, or kayaking. The mesh elements around the foot are elastic and non-slip, and the entire shoe is unbelievably light.
The shoes’ outsoles are strong and anti-skid, resulting in longevity, while the drainage hole sole keeps your shoes as dry as possible.
This particular style of water shoes gives you the much-needed confidence boost that beginners require when wearing their equipment. You need not be concerned about losing your footing or getting blisters when walking on slippery surfaces.
And, you must order them at least one full size smaller than your regular shoe size.
Pros:
- The thick but flexible rubber sole is gripping.
- So lightweight, you barely notice they are on your feet.
- Simple and easy to put on and take off.
- Outstanding value for money.
Cons:
- Pebbles get stuck in the soles’ holes.
- Minimal foot support
5. Best Value Water Shoes for Women: DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying
Lightweight, Stylish And Cost-Effective
Type: Minimalist cross trainer | Drainage: Mesh upper
Our fave budget-friendly shoe for women is the DLGJPA Lightweight. This sandal has a cinch closure and dries rapidly in the sun, even in humid climates. It is lightweight and can adequately manage short hikes.
However, durability is lacking, as one would anticipate from a shoe of this quality and price range. After our testing period, the mesh began to fray, so use caution when approaching sharp sticks and pebbles. The larger mesh openings are also easily damaged by picking up small pebbles or grit, and we also observed that these shoes are not as comfortable as some of the more structured footwear we tested. After some use, the drawstring elastic also stretches. However, if you only require water sandals for light-duty use, these will do the job.
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- Lightweight
- Rapidly drying
Cons:
- Less resistant
- Drainage holes allow small particles to enter.
6. Best Value Water Shoes for Men: Speedo Surf Knit Pro
Flexible and Stylish
Type: Slip-on minimalist | Drainage: Porous mesh throughout
On a budget and searching for a deal? Speedo Surf Knit Pro provides the greatest value in terms of performance. The simple slip-on design makes it simple to add insulation and pull it on and off. If you need good traction on slick areas, this will suffice. We particularly like its lightweight design, which provides good sensitivity while being easy to store.
While the Speedo Surf Knit can provide some safety while kayaking, moving around on a boat, or going through a small portage, it falls short of protection. It is also not extremely supporting or long-lasting. If saving money is important to you, these shoes will work well while you paddle and explore smooth areas on land. There is no greater deal for the price.
Pros:
- Slip-on style
- Flexible design
- Excellent appearance and value
Cons:
- Lacks protection
- Drainage is poor.
- Durability issues
7. Best Water Shoes For Kids: Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals
Adjustable for kids for All-Day Comfort
Rubber outsole | Textile upper | Strap closure
The Teva Hurricane XLT2 Kid’s Sandals are a great choice if you want to keep busy kids safe and secure all summer long. Most importantly, they’re comfy and durable, so your kids can have fun without worrying about their shoes.
Futhermore, cushioned and molded footbed provides excellent comfort and shock absorption, making Teva shoes pleasant for kids all day. The hook-and-loop fastening allows for quick adjustments, and the straps may be changed for a secure fit in several activities.
This water shoes robust webbing top is quick-drying, and the rubber outsole delivers good traction and stability on a range of surfaces.
Best used for: kayaking, the beach, wading, and short walks.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Long-lasting
- Easily wipes clean
- Upper material made partially from recycled materials
- Available for men and women as well
Cons:
- Straps rub, and they may need to be broken in.
- Not as secure as a closed-toe shoe.
8. Best Versatile Water Shoes: Astral Brewess 2.0
Looks good both in and out of the water.
Closed toe| Rubber outsole| Canvas and mesh upper| Lace-up closing.
The best-selling Astral Brewess 2.0 (and matching men’s Brewer 2.0) water shoes combine style and functionality, making them appropriate for a wide range of activities both on and off the water.
These shoes have an air-breathable and quick-drying upper that keeps your feet dry and cool for hours on end of wet escapades. When on your feet all day, a padded midsole offers excellent shock absorption and underfoot comfort, with drainage and airflow holes in the front and rear to help shed water rapidly. Extra comfort comes from a removable polyurethane insole.
The non-marking, high-friction rubber outsole grips wet and dry surfaces, avoiding slips and improving stability. These shoes’ toe caps are stronger to defend against pebbles and other hazards too. Non-marking, high-friction rubber outsole grips wet and dry surfaces, avoiding slips and improving stability. The shoes’ toe caps are stronger to defend against pebbles and other hazards.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Excellent Traction
- Versatile
Cons:
- Not as airy as other water shoes
- A little bit narrow fit
Considerations Before Purchasing Best Water Shoes for You
After narrowing your search to a broad style, there are a few factors to consider while buying water shoes.
Traction
Water makes normal surfaces slippery and slick surfaces dangerous, therefore sole grip is crucial. A soft rubber sole or a durable rubber sole with heavy-duty grips will save the day, depending on your use. Running on a muddy track or boating all day will benefit from additional stability.
Comfort
Comfort is key for water shoes. Your experience depends on your shoes, so select ones you can swim/walk/hike in for days. Finding the proper size comes first. Water shoes should fit tightly without heated pressure spots.
Additionally, your comfort may also be affected by shoe weight. Wearing heavy shoes for long durations might cause tendinitis and reduce efficiency. To avoid joint stress during trekking and hiking, keep your base weight low. More light is preferable.
Durability:
Find robust water shoes if you plan to use them beyond the waterpark. After each usage, properly rinse your water shoes to extend their lifespan. Chlorinated water will destroy them faster than you believe.
Versatility
Water shoes come in numerous styles, but if you can compromise, you can save money by getting something adaptable. If you’re an aquatic multitasker, wait for a shoe that does everything.
Water Shoes Maintenance Guidelines
So, water shoes are easy to maintain. After using, rinse and dry in a cool location. Designed to drain and dry rapidly.
Keep it for winter? Simply wash and dry water shoes in a washing machine. After that, store it in a cool, dry area out of the sun. Enjoy your water shoes next summer!
