20 Best Shoes For Whitewater Rafting (2023 Updated)

These are the perfect thing for surf ski. You want something on your feet to walk on rocks or reef if necessary, but it’s got to be flexible enough to feel the rudder pedals. I like them so much I got a pair for my brother too.

They would be great in any type of kayak as well, ocean or WW. I’m size 10. 5 and their 11 fits well. He is 12. 5 and their 13 is perfect for him. I’m in them straight 4 days a week 8 months of the year.

For Lake Michigan in the winter I wear a neoprene sock under my dry suit and these over that!.

I have racing kayaks and surf skis that you need to be able to work the rudder pedals with just your toes as they are small and on top of the foot plate. The foot plate is designed so you can maintain contact with the rest of your foot to keep power in your strokes while operating the rudder pedals with just your toes.

This requires a flexible water shoe and the Kinetic is perfect for this. I have worn them in numerous distance races of 50-72 miles and probably over 5,000 training miles over the last five and a half years.

I also use them during my kayaking classes as we practice a lot open water rescues plus self rescues and spend a lot of time out of the boat working alongside individual students so the lightweight Kinetic is welcome.

I wear the Kicker Remix in my other boats without rudders as I’m usually in a situation where I’ll need traction and a thicker sole to hike around sandbars and other obstacles. I normally wear a 10. 5 and so ordered a 10 first and then went to an 11 as the 11 had the best fit.

I was looking for lightweight shoes for travel and water crossings while backpacking, and bought these on a whim while walking through REI. I haven’t seen the gray ones, but the blue look really, really good in any casual setting and are very comfortable.

They are flexible deck shoes, so they don’t offer a lot of support while walking and have significantly grippy soles. They are light and pack down small so they’ll be great for travel. The reviews all say go up a half size, but be mindful that if you plan to wear these barefoot most of the time you won’t want too much extra room without socks.

I’m normally 11. 5-12 men’s and went with an 11. Barefoot or while wearing thin socks they fit PERFECTLY, although I wore them working out the other day and my toes do touch the ends when doing pushups and things like that.

If you are between sizes like me and aren’t able to try them in store, I’d suggest ordering the size above and below and returning the other one when you decide. I was surprised to end up with a size smaller than my normal shoe.

These are what I expected from reviews and product description. A low profile, lightweight shoe great for water and land alike. I got these for paddle boarding after cutting my foot on a rock, they go in and out of the water quickly and drain well.

The shoe fits snug and my feet don’t slide around but I have plenty of room for my toes to spread and my feet to feel the way I’d like them to for balance. The only con I’ve noticed so far is in really sandy put ins, when you get sand in the shoes it doesn’t rinse out super well when the water drains.

I think this is the case with almost, if not all, water shoes though that aren’t’ sandals. And I’m pretty sure I’ve only noticed it because I am very particular about sand in my shoes. Overall a great shoe, I look forward to use for water activities, camping and traveling.

Durability seems good so far (though I’ve only used them for a few weeks now).

I’ve tried a lot of water shoes and found them all lacking in the “keep the grit out” arena. However, these shoes. perfect! The sole is thick enough that you don’t feel sharp rocks in the creek and lose your balance and they have a good grip.

They are also comfortable walking in the park. I wouldn’t do strenuous hiking in them, but they are great when walking my dogs in the woods. I usually wear an 8. 5 and ordered a 9 as suggested. It was a bit of a squeeze to get them on and they were snug, but not uncomfortably tight.

Which is the point of a water shoe. I have worn them with (thin) socks and without and either way there was barely any gravel that sneaked inside. These are worth every penny and more. Plus, they came with two pairs of laces!.

Quetico boundary water trip first use. Great performance, very comfortable, arch strap keeps the boot snug when portaging. This is a wet boot and I was wearing wool boot liner socks. I wear a 10 to 10 1/2 but went up to an 11 as this is not a hiking boot and liked the extra toe space.

Agree with other reviewers that if there are a lot of rocky portages this may not be the right choice. Suggestions for the manufacturer add a stone guard mid sole and weep holes.

Just opened the box and these are going straight back. The quality is not what I expect from NRS. The construction between the 2 boots is not at all symmetrical, plus the rubber sides have been sloppily cut and applied.

I fear they will split after a few wearings. They certainly do not compare to the quality of my previous NRS 3mm paddle boots. Please bring back your QC or expect to lose past customers NRS.

This is an update to my previous review. I had ordered my typical size 11 and they were tight against my toes to the point they hurt. Upon further review with my other NRS size 11 boot I have worn for three years I found they were in fact the same size, BUT, the heal curved up faster making it seem smaller when put flat sole to sole.

This is what forced my middle toe into the front of the boot making it uncomfortable. My service request to NRS was handled by Tiffany. The NRS service I received is as good as the best I have received anywhere.

Tiffany worked with me to send a size 12 in this boot and a size 11 in another. This was after questioning me carefully about what I was wanting to make sure she provided the correct options. Tiffany is great! I received the new boots a few days later and tried both the size 12 of the Men’s Paddle Wetshoe and the size 11 of the other.

Both fit. Next tried the size 12 in my Liquid Logic Remix 69. At 6’2″ my feet go quite a ways in and I was concerned the bigger boot would not fit. But it did. Since it is a Michigan winter and very cold I went to a pool session and paddled for three hours.

No problems, worked well. I am raising my 3 star rating to a 5. The boot seems well made. The fit, due to the design, could be tight for someone like myself depending on where their actual foot length, especially with the middle toe, falls.

Bottom line, the normal size may or may not work. But the next size up worked great. I do like having more room in the front of the boot width wise. My middle toe was back 1/2 inch in other type boot.

Maybe that helps others decide size to order? If too small (or large) contact NRS support. They are wonderful! Replacement boots had no charge for shipping to me and there was a paid return label to ship back.

NRS really takes care of their customers! Certainly my credit card was charged for the two boots I was sent to try. Both boots when sent back were promptly credited once NRS received them back.

A video w/old pal Chad Hoover popped up on my YT feed. He was stoked on these, and he doesn’t crow about gear that doesn’t get the job done for fishermen. The tread is really great for slippery boat ramps and mossy/algae covered rocks.

The Backwater drains well and is breathable so your feet dry out and aren’t pruned up at the take out. The gray color is nice on hot summer days. Your feet don’t feel like they’ve been stuck in a crock-pot all day.

If you’re a half-size order a size up and you can wear a pair of HydroSkin socks and stretch the Backwaters further in to the late fall and early winter months. I have found these very comfortable while using a pedal powered kayak.

The uppers have enough stretch so that the material doesn’t bunch and chafe the tops of your ankles as some surf/dive booties are prone to do. The only thing I would add is a finger loop on the back of the upper to aid in pulling them on.

Taking off wet neoprene boots can be a pain in the hind end. Having a side zip shoe like this is the best option I’ve seen to combat the humidity and that foot suck that makes you struggle to remove your neoprene after a long day on the water.

The velcro over flap is also a nice touch to keep your zipper from getting caught up in a pant leg and then loosening up. Another big plus for me is that the NRS Backwater is protective yet breathable at the same time.

These wetshoes aren’t meant to keep you bone dry. The design is for tolerable water temps but you won’t get swamp feet either. It’s a good combination of circulation and thermal water heating. Probably the most surprising thing to me was the comfort.

On one of my test trips out I actually got out of the kayak and bank stomped for a couple of hours. I wore the Backwater shoes and they were really comfortable. The tread was nice and gripping on the wet rocks and because they rise well above the ankle and lack open vents, I didn’t have to clean gravel out of them after stomping around.

Ventilation but no intrusion is a great plus in my book. I’ve spent way too many days digging rocks out of my water shoes. I love the fact that the shoe has structure and seam reinforcement. Normal neoprene boots are so dang floppy that you feel like a kid wearing their Dad’s socks around.

These wetshoes fit like a shoe. The reinforced heel and toe box are great additions so wear and tear won’t happen for many, many miles.

I just used these booties for kayaking, scrambling over rocks, up and down banks, and fording streams in Ecuador for a week. They have fabulous tread! I had to take a guess at the size since I’m female but with the help of the NRS sales staff, we nailed the size.

Since I wear them over my drysuit, I need extra room. My normal shoe size is an 8 regular. The men’s 9 is perfect when worn with a thin Smartwool sock! They are made a little differently from the Paddle Wetshoe so the upper part drains, making it a little less warm than the Wetshoe which is almost all Neoprene.

This isn’t a huge issue but I would like to see this shoe’s tread used on the Wetshoe. A lot of accidents happen on the river rocks from people slipping and this tread is so much better.

I’m so happy that I’ve finally found my do-it-all pants! I prefer to wear pants even in the summer. I’ve worn these paddling, jogging, dog-walking, and hiking (on groomed trails, these won’t last if your trail requires you to bushwhack frequently).

Love the loose fit, deep front pockets, and the short inseam. Fantastic value when they go on sale! The sizing does run large. I’m 5’2 and have muscular thighs and calves. I was so surprised that my 30″ waist fit into a small, with room to cinch down even more.

The listed 26″ inseam is accurate as I measured the same thing at home – another bonus for short individuals! MPG please make these pants in more colours!.

This is my second pair, which I use for slippers because they have elastic laces and will stay on my feet. They don’t have any arch support but otherwise make fine slippers. I have used them as water shoes on a long canoe trip, but the soft bottom is hard on your feet when you are walking over rocks.

I bought 2 pair of these Rogue Waves thinking that they would be awesome for my winter activities and summer water days. The only real complaint I have deals with the traction. The outsole tends to pick and hold grains of pebbles and rocks.

If wearing them inside the home especially on a hard surface after whatever activity u have done outside, the outsole releases the pebbles and rocks throughout ur trek until u take them off. I’m in a constant battle sweeping my hardwood floors more then I would like to on a daily.

As for being snug they are true to fit, especially if wearing a sock. Plus they are pretty comfortable as a daily. I have not yet touched out to or needed customer service from Huk as the quality of the boot so far seems good.

Would I recommend these boots, YES and NO. Again the only complaint I have is the outsole carries and releases more maintenance inside my home after playing outside. This is why I give them a three star review.

I was pleasantly surprised by how light these are. They are easy to take on and off with the tabs. I am usually a 44. 5 EU sizing and the 11US are 45EU, so they fit just right with an extra pair of socks since 1/2 sizes aren’t an option.

They are very comfortable and easy to spend all day in and get better than average traction on hard surface and don’t leave scuff marks. Another thing to note is that they do not provide a lot of insulation if you plan on using these for cold weather applications.

You will likely need another pair of socks, but are nice for warmer weather as they dont make your feet sweat like those suffocating rubber boots or heavily insulated winter boots.

I purchased these for my teenage son. He wears them bass fishing and also to his work as a greenskeeper at a golf course. I had ordered the 14 as some reviews suggested ordering a size up. In his case he needed his regular size 13.

I ordered the 13 before sending back the 14 just to be sure. HUK was awesome with returns. My son loves HUK and has had many of their shirts over the past 3 years. He wears them all year around. School, fishing and the golf course.

I’ll start by saying I’m not a big hiker. I purchased these shoes for general outdoor wear. I’ve owned Keens of multiple types in the past and they are always comfortable on my feet. I like the wide forefoot and general fit.

These NXIS run larger than my previous Keen shoes. I exchanged a size 12 for size 11. 5 and still have plenty of room. I’d guess these run a whole size larger than my other Keen hikers. Also, previous Keens had a tongue that was padded and larger on the top that kept the tongue centered on the front of the foot.

Not so with the new NXIS. I miss this feature. Over all though this is a well made, comfortable shoe.

I needed a waterproof shoe with good traction for a fast approaching trip to the pac northwest. I didn’t have a lot of time to shop, so I just stuck with a brand I have a ton of experience with, these shoes did not disappoint.

I usually bounce between keen and Merrill depending on what’s available at the time, and I find them to be comparable in most situations. Out of the dozens of hiking type shoes I have had from these brands, these are probably my favorite.

My only negative comment would be that I find them a tad bit heavier feeling than other reviews lead me to expect. Having said that, I don’t find them heavy on long treks, just not abnormally light.

I little stiff when I received them but they’re actually breaking in great. I work in greenhouses and need a waterproof shoe that is actually waterproof. I have to say that these are the first shoes I’ve purchased that actually fit the bill.

I’ve only had them for 2 weeks so far so I can’t speak to the durability of them. I’ll have to post another review if they start to fall apart.

I paddle both canoes and kayaks, and bought these boots for situations where the water is too cold for river sandals, but air temperatures are not quite cold enough to wear my heavy duty neoprene/fleece lined boots.

I’ve used the Kokatats 3 or 4 times so far, and they do keep my feet dry. Ask me again in a year to see if they hold up to extended use. There are two design flaws to these boots. First of all, the tube that contains your calves (from the ankle up to the knee) is rather narrow.

It’s so snug that I have to roll the tops down to get the boots on or off. On the other hand, no water gets inside. I guess many folks have skinnier legs than I do. Secondly, there’s a cord lock to secure the bungie immediately below the knee (which I don’t need anyway).

That’s dandy if you’re in a kayak, but for canoeing, it doesn’t work at all. I kneel in my canoes most of the time, and that would kill me! I cut off the fabric loop that held the cord lock as soon as I took the boots out of the box, and burned the edge of the remaining fabric so it wouldn’t fray.

If the designer had put the cord lock on the outside (rather than in front), it would be much more canoe-friendly.

Love the way these boots look and feel. They were a little hard to get on. I bought the men’s 11. I wear a women’s 12 medium or 101/2 to 11 men’s hiking boots so they are sized appropriately. My lower legs are thin.

A little narrow for men’s sizing. They were a little tough to put on. I have yet to use them in my kayak, so I will review again after that. It’s too cold in Wisconsin right now.

My last pair lasted 5 years of regular kayaking (t least 30- 40 paddles per year). They are a good all round boot, although not if you need to get out in deep water (something i avoid). Kayaking in winter, I use toe warmers in very cold conditions, and these don’t work too well with these boots ( not enough oxygen gets in ).

However, apart from these conditions, these boots are excellent. I have a size two sizes above my shoe size to accommodate thick socks if necessary. I generally don’t walk long distances,although I have used them continuously in Quetico for several two week stints, and they did fine with most portages.

For the really long ones, I changed into my hiking boots. After 5 years, they are no longer totally waterproof and the toggle elastic around the ankle is loose and annoying, but 5 years with constant use it pretty good in my book.

I am about to treat myself to a new pair, and can confidently recommend these as a good product.

My shoe size is generally a normal width UK 11 so on advice ordered a UK 12 to accommodate a sock and a dry suit sock. It’s a fantastic fit and there’s sufficient room to flex the toes without the boot wallowing about.

The sole isnt the thickest however it’s ideal for tramping down to the Ericht or the Garry and the grip is ample on paths and wet rocks. The material has a plush inner making for a warm boot and I’m happy to add that it dries out slightly faster than my standard boots.

There’s a touch of colour to the boots if that excites your fashion concerns. I had tried the Palm Paw but these were ridiculously large and slightly snug across the foot. Overall I’m well impressed with the NRS watershoe and would recommend them for large feet and tight spaces.

PS thanks to Northshore for a rapid dispatch of the shoes and some great advice.

They’re like wersuits for your feet, only they’re much easier to put on. These kept my feet warm theough the apring but aren’t too hot in summer. I kept rhem on today after my paddle session to help put our dock in for the summer.

The mud on the “beach” by our river camp is no joke. Literally everyone down there lost at least shoe in the mud — except me. Mine got stuck, too, but the difference is, these do not come off when you pull up.

And the cuff also keeps out the majority of the muck. Everyone else’s feet were caked with mud. My feet had some minor streaks and that was the most dirt that’s ever gotten in. This was actually the only time i’ve had to hose my feet off since I bought them.

Took off one star because these would be perfect if they had just a bit more tread. Yes, the Paddle wetshoes have better tread but they come up a little high on the calf for my liking. Put that tread on the Freestyle and I’ll be a happy camper.

Fit to size for me, solid 9. Paddling a couple of offshore kayaks, baidarka and more traditional , all good through the 10,000 islands S and SE of Naples. Day trips to multi-day. Plenty of protection for the beaches while maintaining flexibility in the cockpit to avoid cramping.

On and off are a bit of work, no lie, but once on, super comfy for a day in the cockpit. I don’t expect waterproof, I get a TINY bit of sand from walking in the water over the cuff, but nothing I have tried does better.

Solid thumbs up.

I decided to pick up some water shoes to wear over my dry suit with integrated socks. I thought this would protect my rather expensive dry suit when landing on rocky beaches. Although it seemed like a good plan, these shoes aren’t the ticket.

They basically will not stay on for walking. The built-in gortex socks are too slippery and you simply cannot cinch these things on tight enough to stay. Especially when they are wet. They are both warm and comfortable while you’re sitting in your kayak and paddling.

But they’re virtually useless for walking anywhere. I intend on buying the higher ankle height booties and hope they are better for walking up beaches.

I wear a 7-7. 5 street shoe with a wide toe box (think Keens). I bought these in a 7 and they fit perfectly! I bought them for SUPing. They are great for walking around while inflating the board and launching into the water.

I walked over rocks comfortably. I went down a star because the sole is so grippy that once I’m on the board I can barely move my foot on the grippy board surface. Now, keep in mind I’m trying to step around my 55 lb Goldendoodle who sets herself in position like a ship’s masthead and I’ve always inched my bare feet around into position.

When I got back ashore, I took the fin off & walked on the board on the grass without my dog, and didn’t have a problem, so I’m thinking I just need to get used to them. Overall, I’m pretty happy.

I’ve had a handful of NRS’s low river booties over the years. This newer model of kicker is nice but the single strap over the top of the foot just doesn’t seem secure enough. This is compounded by the fact that the 3mm is very stretchy and the toe box is quite wide, which also makes them less snug.

It’s probably fine for walking the beach, etc. but for whitewater, I just don’t trust it not to come off, so it’s going back. Previous versions had a combo of a strap and cinch cord around the opening or strap that ran around the ankle and over the top.

NRS, please return to a more secure style. Also they seem to run a little big so if you’re planning on wearing them without any socks, etc. I’d consider going a half size down.

These are pretty and sturdy swim shoes. I wear a size 11 shoe and the 10 fit me perfect. I bought the 10 for my daughter who wears a 9 1/2 shoe and they were big. So I kept the 10 and ordered her a 9.

Very happy with them. Plus they shipped in a timely manner.

My daughter is a size 8, and the shoes we ordered were size 9. The neck of each shoe was too narrow for her foot to fit through, making it impossible for her to put them on. Yes, the neck has an elastic closure, and even opening it all the way did not help.

Returned as unusable.

After researching many wading shoes for fishing, I decided to try these. I ordered the same size as my hiking boots and the fit is perfect. I have very wide feet, but no problems with these wading shoes.

I’ve worn them 5 times in the Potomac on slimy rocks mixed with sand and shell, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I had a couple of slips on the slimy rocks, but I expected that. Felt bottom wading shoes are banned here.

After spending many hours fishing for smallmouth, I’m so happy that not a single time did I need to stop to empty any sand, shell, or pebbles out of the shoes. Great shoes and a great company to deal with!.

The shoes are very convenient, but the traction is not reliable in wet/slick rocks and you must wear the shoes with socks to prevent sores from forming on your feet. I bought them for the rivers in my area, and to get to most of them you need to hike, so I thought these would be best.

I admit I didn’t think these shoes would have slip proof traction, so I was not surprised by there performance. All told, I use them all the time and I don’t plan on looking for an alternative, but if I did you can guess what I’d look for.

Boot is great but my downfall of it is sand and lake bottom gets in the crevice of the neoprene back where the zipper ends. This causes me to have to have a pliers handy anytime I have to zip them up.

I give them a dunk in the water every time I put them on to try and get that sediment out but seems to be jammed in there. Love the footing and the fit to them though. All around good boot and ordered 5 more for my employees just don’t love how tough the zipper has gotten within a week.

I’ve been using this for about a year and a half now. They’re great at draining water but will remain damp. Since it’s made of neoprene you can expect warmth, which can be both good and bad depending on the weather and climate where you operate.

Foot sweat will definitely cause a funky smell when wet in warm weather. The collar is also pretty tight. I’m size 10 but a size 12 fits snugly. I’d say order two sizes up, the construction allows for further tightening around your toebox.

The construction is pretty sturdy too, with grippy soles for boat work. It’s worth the price if used with its strengths. TL;DR keeps feet warm but doesn’t dry fast due to neoprene. Order 2 sizes up (mens).

I normally wear Chacos, but needed something to keep my feet warmer for shoulder season. I normally wear a women’s 9. 5/10. I bought these with a little extra room to wear with wool socks and a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks.

They’re great! Only surprise is the more flexible sole provides less sturdy protection than the Chaco. Duh. But I didn’t notice it until it came time to hop out of the boat onto the rocky shore. Pointy rocks were pointy! I had to plan my steps a bit more carefully.

In all, great bang for my buck.

Very good show for water aerobics. Easy to put on and stays securely on during our activities. Good traction. Very light weight. Dries overnight for the next day’s class. I normally wear a size 8 1/2 shoe but I ordered a size 9 in these.

Highly recommend these for water aerobics!.

Love these water shoes–so comfortable and easy to wear! The soles are hard enough that they protect your feet from rocks but flexible and easy to wear kayaking (or whatever water sport you choose). The turquoise color is beautiful! I also put them in the washing machine and let them air dry, and they came out great!.

bought a pair for me and my wife. They fit perfect. Only problem we both have is the fact they hurt after wearing them for an hour or so. I thing it is because they have an arch support which we are use to.

But other than that I love them, my wife not so much, she said they hurt and are uncomfortable. I use them as a boat shoe on my bass boat when I’m fishing. They do what they say. They drain out and dry out fast.

I like them so much I bought a second pair. Just hard to get use to wearing at first due to again I believe there is an arch which I am not use to wearing for a several years. Yes I would recommend this product to my friends.

Very awesome looking shoe. The fit is a little small for me. They are one of the most uncomfortable shoe I have ever worn. The insole they use is very thin and it has no cushioning. I even went out and bought some insoles which helped some but not enough to wear fishing all day.

There is a reason they are giving them away with ads. With the Huk name and high cost of products you would think that their shoes would be the same. Not so. Love your cloths but these shoes I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

These are my first pair of shoes to wear in and out of the water while out on the boat and jet skis. I’m hooked. They fit true to size and are comfortable wet or dry. I wouldn’t recommend trying to play any pickup basketball games in them without socks but for the lake they are perfect.

To say that I have ordered many water shoes is an understatement. Every year for spring break, I think this is the year I get a pair I don’t mind wearing – that work and look somewhat cute too. I just received these today (I ordered the men’s gray and orange even though I’m a girl because the colors are more neutral) and now my work is done! These look like Keds/Vans met a water shoe.

I ordered a men’s 9 and I am a women’s 10. Technically, a size 8. 5 is what translates to a women’s 10 so I’d say these run just a tiny bit small to fit a little loose. If I wanted these super tight, I would have ordered a half size down but I wanted them comfy enough to walk in as well.

I ordered from a different website but love them so much I thought I’d share my thoughts. So yeah, buy them.

I love the sure-footed rubber sole; the look and construction of the uppers; the elastic no-tie, adjustable laces; and the fact that I could easily slip off and use pull loop on heel to put back on, or wear as slip-ons, without harming the heel of the shoe.

Length and width were generous. However, I reluctantly and sadly returned them because I need built-in arch support and a bit more cushion in the sole.

I love on a river. I need something just like this, I sure hope they can hold up. Cuz they just look so cute! I tried finding slippery surfaces to test and wow these things do there job. I feel very confident exploring all kinds of surfaces and am going places I couldn’t before because I couldn’t get a sure footing.

Not a problem now. Life changed! Lol.

I am on the third pair of this exact style. Wore out the first pair after three years of daily use in Arizona and traveling. Wearing the second pair over the past year and they are going strong however the soles are worn.

The third pair is worn sparingly for “special occasions”. I tried on Keens, Tevas and others and found the arch was to high of not in the right place for me. It’s going to be hard to replace this model.

I hope I don’t have too anytime soon.

Picked these up for use out at the rivers. They are Perfect! I use to use regular water shoes. But my feet would always hurt from walking on the river rocks. These shoes I could tell the difference immediately.

The soles are thick and add plenty of cushion when walking over river rocks. The best part is the Toe protection bumper. It covers all the toes. The other water shoes I was looking at it didn’t offer the toe protection that this one did.

When the water isn’t clear and you can’t see what you’re walking on the toe protection really helps!.

This is actually my second pair of these water shoes. The prior pair stunk horribly after getting wet launching my boat in the Florida Everglades where I’d do some bass fishing. I even tried rinsing them with fresh water after an outing but they would just STINK bad where I’d have to throw them out.

I gave it a 4 because, other than that issue, they really were very comfortable after a day of fishing on the boat.

I’ve owned 3 pairs of Brewer 2. 0s and have a pair of Rasslers. I’ve used them to commercially guide, run class V, done mutli-week trips in them, etc. I have a love/hate relationship with Astral shoes.

They are super functional, are comfy, grip fairly well in wet conditions, dry pretty fast, can be worn without socks, can be slid into like a slipper, etc. Feature wise I don’t really have any complaints.

I’d argue there is nothing on the market as good as Astral shoes for whitewater now that 5. 10 stopped making water shoes. My one qualm is their durability. They don’t last that long. My bedrocks sandals last 5-10 times as long as my Brewers in similar conditions.

They just fall apart at certain seems. I had a friend get his reinforced by a local shoe repair place in Ecuador. After reinforcement they looked like they’d last way longer. Astral really needs to make a version that has reinforcement for commercial/rigorous use.

Until something better comes on the market I’ll continue to buy Astrals. But I do wish they’d last longer. If you plan to run serious whitewater I’d recommend the Rasslers. They stay on a bit better due to their height.

They are a bit stiffer though so can be a bit harder to fit into tight boats in comparison to the Brewers.

I’ve worn every version of the Brewer since the original launch in 2012, which was certainly made easy because I work at Astral. However, despite my affiliation, I can truly say “THIS IS THE BEST SNEAKER EVER” at least for 3 seasons of the year.

anyways, some things I love about the Brewer. 1. Street ready. I wear them daily as a causal shoe. Lightweight, breathable, stylish. 2. They are completely ready to play in the water with all the attributes of a great river shoe (specifically grip, quick dry) 3.

Padded interior on the Brewer 2. 0 was a great upgrade. In summer I rock them without socks everyday. Polygiene treatment keeps the odor and funk down. Add socks for extra warmth or comfort. 4. Fold down heel is not a gimmick y’all, its truly amazing.

The Brewer doubles as a slipper for quick entry. As far as sizing I am a 12. 5 and find the 13’s to be spot on. The wide toe box and narrow mid section and heel fits my foot absolutely perfectly. As far as durability they hold up great as my daily driver.

After kayaking in Brewers for many years I recently switched to Hiyaks for a lower profile fit in the boat, and more ankle support. But I still find my Brewers the go-to when I am not sitting inside a whitewater boat (ie canoe, fishing kayak, or inflatables) and daily life off the river.

If I was forced to pick one shoe to wear the rest of my life, the BREWER is that shoe. No question.

I was looking for appropriate footwear for a 2 week October rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. By the time I was confirmed for the trip, it was late summer/early fall, and every place I looked was out of stock on most options except for Moosejaw.

A week before I left, an experienced raft guide strongly encouraged me to try this shoe. Moosejaw delivered in time and I decided to go with the Astrals. BEST MOVE EVER! They’re lightweight, dry fast, super comfortable, and I never experienced any issues in slippery conditions.

Other guests on the trip wearing Chacos, Tevas and Keens had cold feet, blisters, cracked heels and other assorted foot issues, but not me. I wore the Astrals every day in the water, on hiking trails, through mud and endless sand and they still look great.

Previous reviews suggested ordering half a size up, and I was glad I did. These will be my go-to shoes for any paddle sport and maybe for general travel too.

I had one of these the first time round when it was made by HF. To be honest, at the time it was not my first pick (I wanted a Palm something) but it’s the best vest I have ever owned. It had been all around the world and all over the country and held up very well.

Sadly it started wear out and there was nothing I could do but say goodbye. After a few years away from splashing about (mortgage and 2 kids) I thought I’d get back on it and started looking for a new vest.

To my amazement I could buy a new Serpent vest, and I could get the blue one! (Back in the day the blue one was not available to just anyone) however I thought I’d stick with the yellow. I read the label and Astral have made hardly any changes other than a bit more buoyancy and a more eco version using ‘greener’ materials.

When I look at it and put it on, it is the same. The only tiny difference is that on the old one there were two very small pockets on the outside of the chest pocket where I would keep my whistle in one and a Cadbury Fredo in the other, there not there any more.

I wore the old one everywhere. I’ve abseiled into gorges, been dragged up and down rivers and looked good surfing in the South of France. I’ve not got round to doing all this with the new one but I can’t see a reason why this new vest wouldn’t be even better.

To the old farts it’s cool retro, to the young bucks it’s cutting edge, so whatever you are and whatever you have planned this vest won’t let you down Thank you Astral for reviving a genuinely great vest with modern materials and not screwing it up Thanks very much Graham.

The Brewer is by far the best water shoe I’ve worn. The grip on wet rocks, raft frame, rubber, etc is unmatched and I find them to be very comfortable. They drain well and look rad on and off the water.

I finally had to get some 2. 0s after a few years of HEAVY use saw my OGs get retired. Here are a few things that I found I didn’t like quite as much about the 2. 0 compared to original: – more narrow in the midfoot as others have pointed out.

It doesn’t bother me too much after having them on for a while, but if you have wide feet, could be an issue. – while the grip is still great, I dont think it’s as good as the OG. The sole is much firmer in the 2.

0s and maybe that’s why it seems a bit less grippy. Still better than anything else out there though! – the material on the inside of the OG was almost a ripstop type material. The 2. 0 has one that, while soft, I find it can sometimes irritate my feet when wet.

Chalk that one up to a personal problem I guess? I also feel like the OG material dried faster too. – 2. 0s drain well, but compared to the OGs it doesn’t even come close. The OGs had a clear opening in the heel that offered superb draining.

The 2. 0s have a tiny little hole in the heel which leaves the shoe wetter longer. Overall, the Brewer is still the shoe I recommend to anyone that’s on the river a fair amount. I wear them to the office sometimes because they are so comfortable.

So while the 2. 0s feel like a step back to me, still a top notch shoe. (If I wasn’t familiar with the OG Brewer, this review would likely be 5 stars).