20 Best Shoes For Water Sports (2023 Updated)

I don’t usually leave reviews on anything (certainly now footwear), but I felt like I needed to share my experience with these Astral’s. We were getting ready for a trip to Costa Rica and I needed some footwear that would work in all kids of conditions.

I’ve tried Teva-like sandals in the past and I just don’t find them comfortable, so I’ve used old-school sperry boat shoes in the past, but those aren’t super ideal for all the stuff we were going to do on our trip.

Anyway, I came across these and I’m glad I did. I find them extremely comfortable to walk in and they grip really well on wet surfaces. I thought the little holes at the front and back would be kind of useless on clearing out the shoe from water, but they actually worked really well.

Honestly, I really love these shoes.

I’ve not had any opportunity to use them for the intended purpose of water sports yet. However, I’ve walked and ran in them for a few weeks now since they’re light weight and provide good grip on asphalt.

They seem durable enough for the task. I prefer to wear toe socks with them for added comfort, and I still get good ground feel through the soles. I have fairly normal feet, men’s size 9 (US), and I measured ~26.

5 cm from the back of my heel to the end of my big toe. The first Vibrams I bought years ago were size 42, which felt like a good snug fit in the store. However, wearing those for longer than an hour at a time would induce some pain in my big toes where the pockets put pressure on the end of them.

I ordered these in size 43. Barefoot, they are slightly loose. The rear adjustment strap seems limited by placement of the Velcro. I can make it tighter, but then the Velcro strap becomes less secure.

Wearing toe socks, I leave the rear strap in the default position, and the shoes are quite comfortable even after an hour of walking and running. Ideally, 42. 5 would be ‘perfect’ for me but Vibram doesn’t make half sizes.

Overall, I’m pleased with my purchase, especially having bought them on sale!.

First thing. Color. I am so happy I purchased the grey. I learned from the older kmd’s that unless the material was on the thicker side (like the v trek) you then feel the heat from sun. Amphibious design is so true.

That mega grip outsole truly made the difference for me for traction in wet conditions. Regardless of grass, mud, sand, asphalt or concrete. You’re glued to the earth like a magnet! The thickness is just right being under 6mm when combining the outsole and insole.

This is a perfect inbetween from the Kso evo (being 3mm) and the v run (being almost 8-8. 5mm) You get best of both worlds so to speak. You still get ground feel without feeling like you are completely barefoot and you get the comfort of a shoe without noticing you are wearing one.

I am going to be buying the v alpha next very soon because of my high like and love of the v aqua and its mega grip outsole. Here’s what is crazy about the v aqua. You don’t have take the shoe off to get them to dry.

They have drain holes! Like over 12 of em! And they actually work at draining the shoe of water. Its great. Seriously. Like just sit and watch your whole family as the go back to their tents and campers to change into dry shoes while your just sitting there like.

If they would only listen to me for 3 min about why I wear shoes shaped like feet then they too could have self drying lizard grip feet shoes of AWESOMEness. But I digress.

First off, the quality on these is top tier, they’re comfortable on the upper and have a great grip. Unfortunately these five fingers aren’t made for me (my feet). I have a medium narrow foot and found it really difficult to put on, especially the pinky toe.

The shoe rubbed on my pinky toe too much and I could tell it would be a problem in real world use, so that is why I’m returning them. And yes they were the right size cause once i had all toes in they fit perfectly (except for my pinky toe).

If you have a wider foot and space between toes, these are perfect for you.

As a party barge captain i find they work great all day on and off the boat. Rubber soles protect my feet from rocks and the traction on lake slime is unbelievable! The are very comfortable, with one exception, when worn for too long, the inside stitching for the cable tie on top rubs my feet raw in a small spot.

I can only wear them with waterproof bandages applied first. If this could be fixed by the manufacturer, I’d definitely buy another pair!.

Great water shoes very comfortable and easy wear. This is my second pair which is a bit upgraded from my first ones. I took good care of them and actually had them for a couple of years so I look forward to wearing these for a few fishing seasons.

I use it for kayaking. Fits great. Dries fast. Very light. Traction is very good in and out of the boat. Heel protection and cushioning is excellent. Surprisingly supportive. Sole cushioning and anti slip qualities are excellent.

Allows for a great feel for the foot pegs.

I own quite a few pairs of Xero shoes since the early days of the sole and laces kit, but if I were to keep only one pair, this is it! I initially bought them for a swimrun race (alternating open water swimming and running), for which they are definitely a great fit, but use them now for triathlon running and regular running as well.

The fact that they are so breathable and water-permissive, with a sole thick enough to protect from sharp rocks, yet light weight and close to the ground, makes them totally unique and unseen before.

I have 2 pairs of HFS for road running, but hurt my left forefoot this summer when landing on sharp rocks in slightly off-road terrain, for which they do not offer sufficient protection in my opinion, the sole of these being thinner and more flexible.

Before that, I used a pair of Speed Force but the shape of the shoe tip I felt was not ideal for me (rather narrow and rubs a bit on my nails). I also tried the Prios, but the mesh is too thick for my taste, I get warm and swetty feet in them.

I tried the Aptos in the office, but the sole has a shape with raised borders that doesn’t feel comfortable and they feel loose, maybe my feet are too thin for them. I also use Z-trail sandals for walking and running during the summer, on the beach and around the house.

I am totally convinced and used to running with Xero shoes, which are the exact opposite approach to solving my flat feet issue as were the hard orthopaedic insoles of my childhood and arch-support running shoes I thought I was condemned to use.

I developed my calf muscles and strengthened my arches, which now provide active support and balance. This doesn’t happen over night, though. Walking in zero-drop shoes with minial soles, however, feels a bit less convenient and actually fatiguing for me over time, since it makes me want to prevent the heel from hitting the ground first (which naturally occurs for me), to protect my knees, by adopting a cat-like style pushing down the foot tip first.

Maybe I could also mention that I never had any failure on any of my Xero shoes over all these years, all of which I still own. Big thumbs-up to Xero team and its founders, for leaving the sharks in their tank and keeping the faith to create great shoes for us all to enjoy! Kudos from Switzerland!.

One of my favorite things about Xero shoes is how responsive the ground feel is. There is just enough rubber to keep your foot protected, but you can still feel everything. That is not the case with this model.

Perhaps it is stiffer to provide extra protection from unseen rocks being that it is an aqua shoe. My primary reason for picking up a pair was for playing early morning disc golf when the grass is still wet with dew, and as long as I am on some sort of outdoor turf surface they feel fine but they definitely are not an all day shoe for me once I get back on a hard surface.

I was also expecting a bit more body to the shoe itself similar to all of the other Xero shoes I own, but it is just a skin covering. Which that is okay, it just makes them look very small on my feet, more like an aqua sock than a shoe.

This isn’t a complaint, more just something to be aware of. The tongue does try to bunch up a little bit, but there are some sacrifices that have to be made in order to accommodate what the material is trying to accomplish so that is not a big deal to me.

Overall, I would definitely think this could be a great shoe for someone looking for a hiking or trail shoe in wet areas or creeking, something where you need a little extra protection than going barefoot or even a softer sole Xero would provide but where you don’t want to have to go around in wet shoes all day.

But if you are looking for an everyday shoe, I would recommend a different model, as this is more of a specialty shoe in my opinion.

My first pair of Xero shoes were Men’s Prio in Olive. They look great and are incredibly comfortable, but the best thing about them is that they totally changed my gait and subsequently eliminated my chronic knee pain! Living in Florida we do a lot of activities outside and involving boating and fishing so I recently purchased the Aqua X Sport.

I was looking for a light shoe that I can go in and out of the water and not get bogged down. A bonus would be if the shoes would be stable on the deck of my boat. Well, I have not been disappointed! The Aqua X Sport are incredibly comfortable and so light you hardly even know you have them on! Water drains from the shoes very naturally through the mess upper.

The mildly lugged bottom gives great traction on dry and wet surfaces. As for my bonus wish, the shoes seem to hold the deck of the boat just fine. I have not, however, had a chance to test the shoes on the deck of a wet deck, i.

e. during a rainstorm. Whatever the material that the bottom lugs are made of seem to “stick” just fine to the deck of a boat deck under normal conditions. The bottom line for me regarding the Xeroshoes Aqua X Sport is these extremely comfortable, light and “water resistant” shoes are great for anyone who wants the foot freedom of a wide toebox shoes that are comfortable and functional both on dry land and in the water.

I bought these with high hopes because of all the great reviews and honestly they’re just water shoes so I’m sure they can’t be that bad. I could barely wear these. After 2 hours my feet were literally raw.

The padding in the shoe has little holes in it that were imprinted into the soles of my feet. I could barely walk by hour 4 and I wasn’t in a situation where I could just take them off we had to wear them.

Husband says they are comfortable, tough, yet still flexible. They were featured in some kayak blog he reads. Got them for fishing in the kayak. Should mention there was some sharp objects on shore, he did not see and the object did NOT penetrate the shoe.

So , pretty Impressive for a water shoe. Durable.

I have severe pronation issues, and this shoe offers no support to protect my feet to do standing and jumping exercises in a pool. The materials and shoe laces are fine. I would need a water shoe that is built for stability, meaning there is actual material built up under the arch to support the arch to walk and move.

Currently, the Brooks Addiction design is what I wear plus a custom orthotic with anti pronation plates added on. In order to wear a water shoe without an orthotic I need the shoe to offer much more stability.

I appreciate being able to try and return easily. I did find they run a half size bigger than my Brooks, so I would need to wear my measured size 9 rather than the 9. 5 that I ordered. It would be awesome to see anew shoe design that would help me more.

These are very nice shoes. They are light weight and provide great support. I rated them a 4 (really 4 1/2) only because I don’t like the stitching of the tongue inside the shoe. It causes the tongue to roll up a bit, so you need to reach in and flatten it before slipping your foot in.

Also the laces are long and flop around. I’ve slipped mine inside the crisscrossed laces to keep them from flopping and getting stepped on. These are minor issue, so over all the shoes are great.

I was looking for a versatile shoe that I could use on slippery, wet rocks but also for hiking… these fit the bill. On a recent trip to Acadia, I decided to climb the iconic Precipice trail and used these shoes to do it.

The climb is a 1000 ft granite rock wall with boulders and metal rungs to climb up and over. The conditions were quite dry, but I didn’t slip or slide once on the rocks. Great grip considering these are “water” shoes.

I LOVE my new pool shoes! They are the best I have ever had by far. They the most comfortable I have owned. I do not know how found them but I am most certainly glad I did. They were delivered early.

I most certainly would recommend.

Needed this for my sons school trip. Came quickly. Good quality shoe for a great price. He has large feet & this fits perfectly & can be tightened.

Bought these for a trip to French Polynesia. Hoping to go snorkelling and am advised it could be ‘corally’ underfoot. Haven’t tried them yet but they look ideal for the job

I bought these water shoes for my dad. He’s an avid water-sport guy – kayaking, fishing, creek-walking. He was fed up with his old water shoes because they didn’t give him any protection from harsh river and creek beds.

He asked me to get him a pair of sneakers but instead I chose this pair of water shoes and he’s beyond pleased. Honestly, he wears them in and out of the water. The bottoms are Michelin branded, as in the tire company and offer incredible protection for his feet.

The material of the upper shoe provide all-day comfort. And the vents drain all the water. It’s a perfect water shoe. I highly recommend. I did get a half size bigger because I read another review that indicated they were a little narrow.

The half-size up fits him well.

I use these for everything! Boating, rock climbing, biking, walking along the rocky water banks, yard work, strolls around the neighborhood – everything! Very stylish and comfortable for being a ‘water shoe’.

I get more compliments on these shoes than any shoe before. Even bought my daughters (10 and 16 years old) a pair because they loved mine so much. I’ve had mine for 10 months or so and still going strong.

And I’m hard and active with these shoes. They clean up very well. The laces NEVER come undone if you double knot and there’s no reason to untie because they slip on and off so nicely. The comfort is more than I ever imagined coming from a water shoe.

This is more of a tennis shoe feel. They dry very quickly after getting wet. Can’t say enough wonderful things about this shoe! I came back to order another pair for myself just in case this gets discontinued.

My first time wearing these shoes, we hiked almost 2 miles with the last half mile through the river. Feet were in great shape with no blisters. Shoes have held up well through a few trips. Glad I purchased them instead of cheap throw away water shoes.

Think I’ll wear them around town also.

Great quality product at a great price. Second to none when it comes to customer care. Very happy with C H Marine. Thank you.

Good fit, sturdy sole with great grip.

Too small but ok product

This is a great and versatile shoe. I sail a bit and this shoe is perfect for both boating and land-based activities. I also took it to the gym with me and it worked fine there. The shoe looks great and it’s super light and comfortable.

I like it so much, I plan to get one more pair in a different color soon. Please note that they run a bit smaller. I normally wear men’s 9. 5 and have another Sperry shoe that is 9. 5. However, this one runs smaller to I had to get a 10.

Got these for swimming in NY lakes with rocks and mussels and whatnot, and was thinking they would kind of double as all-day shoes. They are great in the water for going up rocks, in and out of the boat etc, and could also be ok for all-day walking or biking.

The problem is once they have been fully submerged they won’t be dry again for at least a day. If you were doing like a kayak trip or all day boating where you are in and out of the water you wouldn’t really notice, but they start to feel kind of gross if the rest of your body is drying out, and especially the next day when they haven’t quite dried out.

I have had a pair of Sperry shoes for several years. I needed another color, so purchased this option since it replaced what I currently have. The first pair were not comfortable. They were too tight and the innersole was harder than my current Sperry pair.

I exchanged for a larger size, but it isn’t much better. I am thinking about returning them for a refund.

I bought these water shoes to replace another pair that are older and starting to wear out. I found them on Your site at a VERY REASONABLE price. I wear these type shoes as slippers around the house and I wear them outside IF I need to.

Stylish and comfortable; I bought them for my husband to go kayaking and he loves them. I will buy a few more to have as backups, you can’t beat the price and they are well made.

Perfect for beach strolling and are comfortable to walk on pavement as well. Appreciate the toggle to tighten around the ankle. Sized right.

I am 75. I kayak fish, I hike, I do all sorts of things. Although at this age you start to have foot problems so supportive shoes become very important. Foot problems are really a showstopper. I mean really, dead in the water, showstopper.

I did read the comments about how huge these shoes are, and they look like clown shoes, however, I don’t feel that way and I am in love with them. I don’t care what they look like. I like the way they look and I really like the way they feel and support my old feet.

I wear them even when I’m not kayaking. I am going to get another pair. I am so totally happy with these. I can’t believe they even have arch support! I would also like to mention that they were true to size.

One other thing, I do not have a wide foot, I have a medium width foot. They just feel roomy, they do not feel like they’re too big, and I don’t think they look big. I bought a size 9, and they are perfect.

I bought these for my daughter’s first job where she works at the local park renting canoes and kayaks. Thought the closed toe design would protect her feet while easily going in and out of the water all day.

I still think they would, but when they arrived they were WAY to wide for her feet. I don’t think it’s fair to classify these as a M when they clearly aren’t. Looking back the reviews should have told me as much.

They seem to be a great shoe, I just wish they were close to her 9. 5M size. Not sure I want to hassle with a return on a $30 item or will just end up donating them to Goodwill.

I bought these thinking those large dark areas were mesh, they are just open holes. I already have brown sandals and was trying to replace good water shoes. If the style is what you want, be aware that they run wide and are stiff.

Hopefully they will get more comfortable with time.

Bought the amphib bold 2s and did a canoe trip and the mesh had a hole within 2 days. Good thing is Salomon will stand by the warranty and give you a code for the price of the item. Bad thing is the site is drastically under stock on anything good and you’re forced to use the code for something in the same category.

I’ve been waiting since august for restock to replace. But an ever worse thing, they rarely restock and your code is only good for ONE year. Sounds like a great deal on their end. What happen to the Salomon we knew.

I have had 6 pairs of their shoes with no problem. But when you do have a problem, expect to run into more.

If there was anyway to rate this product lower, I would. The shoe is comfortable at first. Then, after a few uses, it starts to unravel around the toe. It is not a durable water shoe at all. If you’re planning on buying this, do yourself a favor and buy a pair of water shoes from Walmart.

They will last much longer with the same comfort for 20% of the price. Side note: I am a river guide of twelve years. If you want a quality water shoe, go to Astral. They are much better shoes for the same price.

I’ve had these shoes for about 8 months and they are my favorite athletic shoe EVER. My feet dry quickly when I sweat or go hiking in wet conditions. I also use them for the gym, running, and walking.

The tread makes them great for non-slip grip. I love the sleek design, breathable material, and neutral colors that look good with anything! I have the black/white pair (with a little bit of green). I’d buy the earthy green ones too except for that ugly pop of peach (barf! Why not use grey?).

Please keep designing more neutral colored shoes!!!.

I got these lightweight dry leather hiking shoes and I am impressed after using this pair of shoes. This inexpensive model is comfortable, supportive, and is a recommended shoe for those hiking in dry environments like the desert.

Its sole is grippy and best for traction on dry rocks while upper leather is more durable than other synthetic materials and lighter in weight. I love this shoe as a do-it-all day hiker for warm-weather activities like desert hiking that do not require a waterproof membrane.

They are a nice snug fit, perfect for working around the house in, unlike slippers. I also wear them out in the yard to check on the garden and to exercise in where sneakers are sometimes a little heavier than I’ would like.

By wearing these supportive shoes at the age of 45 I feel like a young boy while going out jogging. I like these high-quality shoes as I feel very comfortable and easy by wearing these. I will give five stars to CALCUES for providing us this awesome service with high-quality products on our doorsteps.

A great shoe for day hiking and scrambling in fair weather at a fair price. I will surely buy another pair again.

The above pair of shoes (color black) is my “SECOND” pair bought. My first pair bought from Calceus was perfect and exactly what I needed. Once the above black shoes arrived. I “immediately” ordered a “THIRD” pair from Calceus (color BROWN).

I had to write to Calceus due to the fact I never received confirmation on the “third” order. I finally received an order (#: 20168621) indicating that they found the order and apologized for the inconvenience.

Point of Interest. Last month, I had open heart surgery and have been recuperating at home. These water / hiking shoes have a good solid sole/treading that assures excellent footing and the lightweight of the shoes puts no strain on my heart to lift, carry, etc.

Thank you, Bill.

I took a chance and bought these so that I could wear them on the boat and use in the lakes and rivers here. They are absolutely great. After opening the package I could tell that they were well made with durable materials.

They are very comfortable and the slip resistance is great. I have used them 4 times so far and they’re holding up great. I have used many brands for this same use and they never hold up to the use. I highly recommend these shoes if you spend a lot of time on boats, or off boats in Rocky lakes and rivers where you need a good grip and protection from sharp rocks.

The Big Kids Newport H2 is my “Go-to” summer sandal. I got my first pair nearly a decade ago, because I was working in a warehouse, walking miles a day, and the job required us to wear closed heel & closed toe shoes.

The Women’s styles of Keen sandals all had open toes or heels, but the Kids Newport H2 was covered both places. The first pair I bought actually lasted ALL summer (most shoes I bought broke down in cushion or support after 1-2 months!), so I’ve stayed with the Big Kids Newport H2’s ever since.

I’ve had multiple pairs over the years, in MANY colorways (I currently have the Berry/Peach ones & the Blue/Grey, too), and they’ve ALWAYS been well worth the price! The Kids Newport H2 line is so good, that it’s the brand I always recommend when the grownups of the Pre-K children I work with now (in Early Childhood Special Education) ask for “good brands” of shoes for their children.

As someone who needed “special & supportive shoes” when *I* was a child, I know what to look for in a “Good” & supportive child’s shoe. These ARE great kids shoes. They’re lightweight, offer “just enough” support, WITHOUT being too stiff, they have a nice wide toe box which doesn’t have uncomfortable “pinch points,” AND they have enough flexibility in the soles, to help kids develop strong foot/leg/ankle muscles & joints, and a good, strong, solid walking & running gait.

They’re NOT cheap shoes. but they’re also not “CHEAP” shoes! They’re reasonably priced, and offer growing little feet the type of support AND flexibility to develop into a sturdy base for a growing person.

And as an adult who also wears orthotics for plantar fasciitis (I’m a 6. 5 in women’s shoes, and wear the Big Kids size 5), I can attest to the fact that they DO work well with orthoses, too! The Newport H2 is a GREAT kids’ shoe, holds up WELL to anything a child would demand of a sandal, and offers great value for the price.

And with as fast as many kids “grow out of” shoes & sandals, these are well worth the cost, because they can be “handed down” through multiple siblings or cousins, OR resold easily, if a child grows out of them.

I have been wearing Crocs Swiftwater Fisherman sandals for years. Until they got discontinued. I like the toe guard and the fact that they are both leather and waterproof. So. when my brown pair’s strap broke I needed to find a suitable replacement.

A friend suggested I consider Keen. I was put off at first since they cost about twice the price as I paid for the Crocs sandals. but I really like the style and look of the sandal so I bought a brown pair.

Well, it didn’t take long to break them in so they and my feet became one. I put them on and leave them on all day and never feel like I am wearing a shoe or a sandal. Took them to Mexico last week and will be wearing them to Hawaii next week.

Love these things! So. I just bought the black pair. I only have one pair of feet. so I have no problem investing in shoes. or sandals that treat them like gold.

Got these shoes and am very pleased been on the beach and in the sea very happy

Quality product, very comfortable, light weight and super breathable. Perfect for any activity near water

Very pleased would recommend,,👍