The Best Water Shoes: Staff Picks

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 here.

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 Crossamphibian Swift 2. Designed for recreationists who like to run through soaked terrain, these shoes feature a snug fit similar to Salomon's other running styles. "It doesn't slip around when my feet are wet," proclaims one co-op member who uses the shoes on stream-filled jaunts. The key is an elastic ankle cuff that cradles your foot and blocks debris, plus a mesh upper that drains water in seconds once you transition to dry land.

A hard rubber compound outsole and siped lugs let you cruise on soft singletrack and muddy trails, although the stiff outsole on the Crossamphibian is less grippy on underwater rocks, which one co-op member noted. Pro tip: It's a good idea to slow to a walk and consider trekking poles when navigating riverbeds, regardless of your footwear. Each pair is made with the equivalent of 1.75 post-consumer plastic bottles, two ears of corn and 10 grams of bamboo fibers to reduce impact during the manufacturing process. Buy here.

When your plans entail a little hiking and a lot of water play, reach for the Chaco Odyssey, the only water shoe in our guide built specifically to support your feet when you're carrying a daypack. Chaco uses a dual-density EVA midsole like the foam found in traditional hiking shoes. With a firmer density around the forefoot and a softer feel at the heel, the Odyssey provides ample arch support so you can tack a hike onto your day of water exploration without the dogs barking. They even make a kids' version, for your little outdoor explorer.

These amphibious, hiking hybrids are built to handle H2O: Chaco uses a mesh upper beneath buckles secured by a polyester webbing that crisscrosses the top of the foot. The takeaway: "More protective than flip-flops but more breathable than running shoes," reports one co-op member. And, thanks to an antimicrobial treatment, the shoes resist odor-causing bacteria despite countless transitions in and out of the water. All this combined with the brand's trademark rubber outsole and 3mm lugs make the Odyssey an ideal crossover shoe. Bonus: We love them with—and without—socks. Buy here.

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.