The Best Water Shoes: Staff Picks

Go from water to land and back again with our favorite water-loving shoes.

Heather Balogh Rochfort

13 reviews with an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars
Two stand up paddle boarders make their way along an inky-blue flat-water river.

The water is the best place to keep cool when the temperature heats up. But whether you're hiking, boating or strolling the seashore, you'll need a pair of shoes that can stand up to slick, wet conditions. Enter, the water shoe. Once upon a time, high-performing, hydrophilic kicks were rarer than unicorns. Not so today: Clever designs and updated technology mean modern water shoes dump water, grip slippery surfaces and allow airflow, effectively preventing dank feet.

So whether you plan to run, hike, boat or hang at the water's edge, we've got a shoe for you. (Check out our recommendations for hiking sandals too).

Staff Picks:

Find our quick recommendations here or read on for our staff and members' favorite water shoes available at REI:

Whether kayaking, canoeing or rafting, our staff loves the Astral Loyak for its grip on slick boat surfaces. A siped rubber outsole (slits in the rubber improve traction, similar to a car tire) is the secret ingredient, combined with shallow treads that provide maximum rubber-on-surface contact on piers, in whitewater and along riverbeds. "The grip over rocks on land and in water is fantastic," praised one co-op member who used the shoes on a summer canoe trip in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. "And they felt so comfortable, wet or dry."

You'd think such a rugged shoe would be bulky, but you'd be wrong. The thin outsole and hydrophobic mesh upper are flexible enough that you can actually roll the Loyak into a ball. In addition to enhancing your underfoot ground feel, this creates a minimalist shoe that resembles a barefoot-style sneaker and helps keep sand and other debris out. Fit note: The snug fit and stretchy mesh ankle collar offer agility on boats, but some feel the shoe is too tight. If you're between sizes, consider sizing up. Buy the women's. Buy the men's.

Meet the Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport, a water shoe grippy enough for paddle boarding and burly enough to battle beach grit. Our staff swears by these kicks for slippery surfaces and SUP adventures where you're moving frequently in and out of the water. The open mesh uppers dump moisture the second you hit the shore, helping to eliminate the feeling of waterlogged shoes. "The problem with most water shoes is that they get bogged down with water," reports one customer reviewer. "These are so light you almost forget you're wearing them." The shoes also ventilate well due to a nonabsorbent tongue, quick-dry lining and a pair of toe guard drainage holes near the pinky toe.

Instead of traditional laces, Xero uses quick-pull speed laces to lock down a snug fit that, "doesn't irritate your feet even when you're kneeling for long periods of time," according to another customer reviewer. The fit is generous with a roomy toe box and zero-drop platform to encourage ground feel and a natural gait. Also, the removable 2mm insole adds a bit of customization; remove it if you want more of a barefoot feel to help keep you grounded on your SUP. Buy here.

When sloppy puddles and river crossings overtake even the most ambitious of waterproofing, reach for the Salomon Tech Amphib 5. Ideal for recreationists who like to hike through soaked terrain, these shoes feature a snug fit similar to Salomon's other styles. The key is an elastic ankle cuff that cradles your foot and blocks debris, plus an anti-debris mesh upper that is meant to get wet but drains water quickly. "Most water shoes are not sturdy enough for trail hiking — these are perfect — light weight and sturdy and grippy enough for slippery creek beds and wet trails," says one customer-reviewer. A durable rubber outsole and siped lugs let you cruise on soft singletrack and muddy trails. Some reviewers found the fit to be comfortable enough to wear everyday with the heel tucking down so you can wear the shoes slipper-style. Buy the women's. Buy the men's.

They're not just for grown-ups. Like its adult counterpart (above), the KEEN Newport H2 for kids and tots is reliable on land and in water thanks to a burly outsole coupled with a sturdy synthetic webbing. But in the kiddos' version, the toe bumper is even more appreciated: "Our 5-year-old has worn the Newports ever since she could walk, and I swear they've saved us a few busted toes," says one mama. The wider-than-usual toe box allows for natural splay, and the hook-and-loop closure is navigable for little fingers. (Nice touch for parents with little ones in the "I-can-do-it-myself!" phase.) Trade-off: Sand and grit can get lodged inside, so be prepared for a few trailside pit stops for emptying. Buy here.

Shop All Water Shoes

Buying Advice for Water Shoes

Water shoes are a type of footwear that performs well in and out of water. There are water shoes for paddling, running, hiking, and exploring the water's edge. Opt for different features depending on the type of activity you plan to do. Some shoes, like the Salomon Crossamphibian Swift 2 and the Chaco Odyssey, for example, feature a cushioned midsole for on-trail comfort and support. A shoe like the Astral Loyak Water Shoes, on the other hand, focuses less on midsole support and more on traction and water drainage for boating.

What's the difference between water shoes and water sandals?

Thanks to a protective closed-toe and closed-heel, water shoes are generally built for more aggressive endeavors, such as hiking or whitewater paddling. If you're eager to go rock hopping or tackle a multi-night paddling adventure, a water shoe is your best bet. Water sandals offer more wiggle room in the toes, but they are best used for calmer activities like fishing or playing at the beach.

What kind of support do water shoes offer?

Construction can reveal a lot about water shoe support. Begin by examining the lacing or strap system: Shoes with laces or webbing straps (as with all of the shoes in this guide) generally provide more support than slip-on water shoes; they also tend to perform better on dry land. Also look at the midsole, or the protective layer sandwiched between the insole and outsole. Shoes with little-to-no midsole (like the Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport Water Shoes) boast ample ground feel but less protection from roots and rocky terrain. Water shoes like the Salomon Tech Amphib 5 Water Shoes have more substantial midsoles and thus offer more support for on-trail adventures.

What kind of drainage should I look for in water shoes?

When you're splashing in and out of the water, you need a shoe that drains quickly so your feet don't become waterlogged. Shoes like the Xero Shoes Aqua X come with built-in drainage holes that help water exit the shoe. Additionally, upper materials can help water shoes drain quickly. Look for shoes with mesh uppers (like the Salomon Tech Amphib 5) that allow water to flow away from your feet when you emerge from the ocean, lake or river.

What kind of traction do water shoes provide?

A sticky grip is paramount in water shoes. If you know you'll be spending more time in a boat than on land, look for a shoe like the Astral Loyak Water Shoes that has shallow lugs (less than 3mm). This means the rubber outsole has all-around surface contact to help reduce slippage. However, if you're planning on spending a fair bit of time on dirt and gravel trails, too, consider a shoe like the Salomon Tech Amphib 5 that has deeper lugs to help grip into soft, mountainous terrain.

How should water shoes fit?

Above all else, be sure to select a water shoe with a snug fit so pulsing ocean waves or surging river currents don't suck your shoes off your feet. Look for features like the elastic bungee found in the KEEN Newport H2 sandals or the quick-pull speed laces found in the Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport. These features help ensure your shoes stay put.

Our Process

We asked REI Co-op staff, members and customers to share their favorite water shoes. They reported back with their top choices for everything from running, to hiking to boating. These are the best water shoes currently available at REI.

Article by Heather Balogh Rochfort. Heather is a freelance writer and author specializing in the outdoors and adventure travel, particularly as they apply to women and families. She is the co-founder of WildKind, an organization educating and empowering families to find their wild. As a lifelong Colorado resident, Heather loves Type-II fun above treeline where the sun is hot and the oxygen depleted. Thing she does not like: rock climbing. REI member since 2008.

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Photo of Heather Balogh Rochfort
Heather Balogh Rochfort

Heather is a freelance writer and author specializing in the outdoors and adventure travel, particularly as they apply to women and families. Her organization WildKind educates and empowers families to find their wild. REI member since 2008.