20 Best Water Shoes For Boating (2023 Updated)

Ok, let’s start with the fact that I almost didn’t buy this shoe because of some people complained about them not having an insert, and that the mesh was uncomfortable or just plain weird. First let’s look at why I bought them, I needed a shoe that could handle water and dry land every day.

these fit that bill to a tee, so most water shoes have that annoying insert that retains water and squishes out water everytime you take a step, these don’t do that, no insert=no squish. how many times have you worn flip flops that once they get wet you slip and slide right out, one major reason people buy water shoes, that have the same problem, your foot slides around in the water shoes.

I’ve found that the mesh interior sole keeps your foot from sliding around, a little odd at first but the theory is very sound and works very well at draining water away from your feet and drying quickly.

They are as good, if not slightly better than the HUK shoes I have. I would recommend these to anyone who is around water, boating, fishing, or any kind of activity that includes water. they are the fastest draining, drying shoe Ive found that are slip free, both internally and externally.

Bought these shoes and a pair for my partner to take to Karijini National Park- lots of gorge walking, scrambling and swimming. The shoes were perfect and exceeded my expectations. They have good grip and were dry by the next day.

I didn’t wear socks and they were comfortable from the get go with no blisters. They are really lightweight so could go from swimming to walking seamlessly. They also looked great and lots of strangers complimented our shoe choice! Would highly recommend for these types of activities.

They really helped make our experience more enjoyable and safe.

Bought these higher end water shoes for my stepdaughter, and she loves them so much they’ve become her new “go to” summer sneakers! The collapsible heal is perfect for this girl who regularly ruins other shoes by briefly but frequently slipping them partly on and crushing the heals by being too lazy to untie and retie the laces to wear them properly.

Anyway, the girl likes the look, comfort, and flexibility of these (more-than-just) water shoes. Now my only concern is that she might wear them out quickly by wearing them all the time, rather than also wearing her other sneakers, biking shoes, hiking boots, etc.

! Highly recommended, and seem true to size.

These shoes in a word, AWSOME! I really can’t say enough about how much I like the Boneheads. As soon as I slipped them on, my feet said, ahhhh. They are very comfortable due to their design of stretchy mesh breathable fabric.

They are very lightweight and fit my feet perfectly. I wear EEE wide and have a difficult time finding shoes to fit. Columbia offering wide shoes has made me a loyal customer for years. They also dry quickly when they get wet during water related activities and remain comfortable even when they get soaked.

In addition, these shoes are great looking; I get compliments on them all the time. So, what else can I say, I highly recommend these shoes. I feel like a “Bonehead” for not buying a pair in every color while they were in stock.

I bought this shoe for my husband. He has been limited in shoe choices for some time due to hammertoes on both feet. I took a chance based on customer comments and shoe description and then held my breath when he tried them on.

I was thrilled that they fit so beautifully and the look was great—-didn’t look like an orthopedic shoe (which it isn’t). The (wide) shoe offers great flexibility and roominess in the toe area. Thanks Columbia.

This is my 2nd pr of these, just different color. They are very comfortable and easy on/off. Easy to maintain. The only thing I would change is the inner removable insert. It’s all rubber and gets pretty dirty.

Wish it was the cloth covered as in some of their other shoes. Still, great shoes.

Had to wait awhile as they were on backorder, but worth the wait. Very light and comfortable. The heel area is soft and you can slide on very easy for a quick trip to the garage or mailbox. Great for walking also.

Good comfortable boat shoe. I’ve had them for almost a year now and have held up well to daily use and lots of boating, beach, dock and beach wear in Florida. They were a little narrow in the beginning and took some time to wear them in.

Now they are just about perfect. The only thing I would change would be to make the drain holes larger so the water flows out faster. They are not reef runners at all and look nice enough to wear out and about or causal dining.

very comfortable and quite elegant looking. excellent price for the product

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.

I had an older version of vibram’s and I loved them for paddleboarding and other water sports. Well eventually they fell apart and I needed a replacement for them. I researched different styles/makes/models and came across these.

The biggest improvement on this style is the Velcro on the front and back allowing for easier on/off. So far I am extremely pleased with them. The size is identical to my older version, so sizing is the same.

The shoe looks like quality built. I supposedly wear a size 7 but when I ordered a 7. 5, it felt too snug. The entire shoe was tight front and back and size of the foot too. This was without wearing socks, so I felt this was going to be too tight normal daily wear.

I ordered a size 8 and suddenly the entire shoe was loose. Front and rear was loose enough for my heels to drop out of the back of the shoe when walking. Wearing a pair of socks helped, but I really wanted to wear this shoe without socks.

It’s acceptable so I kept it and will just wear it as a casual daily walking shoe.

I like the shoes the grip the look. Only problem is i thought they would be a little more airy. My feet were a little sweaty and when removing shoe the inner sole of inside shoe was coming out. And when i washed them after the day of fishing.

They took longer then expected to fully dryout. I will say they dont keep stains came out very well. When putting on shoe the side of shoe where the tongue is kept wanting to slide down in shoe. Its minor but you need to sit down to put on.

Not a slip on type of shoe. Other then them dislikes it is a good shoe.

I bought this exact style of shoes four years ago prior to going on a cruise. I wore them 90% during the 17 days – including while walking all around Europe. I have worn them countless times since. I decided to buy a new pair – but not because the first pair had worn out.

In fact, they still look great. But I wanted another color. These are just as great. They are stylish, comfortable, have great traction, and fit perfectly. They are very true to what your normal size is.

I have a lot of shoes, but most just sit on a shoe rack – because these are the ones I prefer.

I bought these shoes because they look great, and that still remains true, but the sizing is off. Bought a size 14, which is my size in Nike’s, but these were too big and my heel was slipping out. Then I bought the 13’s, and to my dismay, they were too small, and I could feel strain on my toes from touching the end.

The worst part is that they make you pay $7 for shipping AND returns. I bought a whole set of golf clubs online and shipping was only $10. It’s just ridiculous, especially when there was no store to physically try them out.

Because I refuse to pay more in shipping, I am just going to keep the 14s and get some insoles. It’s also good to note they aren’t very comfortable to walk a lot in, compared to my runners. So I would probably need insoles anyway.

This is my second pair of these. I wear the first pair near daily to work. I do wear different safety toed shoes at work. I fish in them on our boat. I have worn them into the water to secure the boat too.

They took longer than I thought they would to dry, but they are not water shoes. Very comfortable, easy to get on and off without tearing the heel or any other part. I will buy another pair when I see them in a different color.

After reading the reviews and seeing the ill conceived “water resistance” heading, I felt I should write a review that perhaps could clarify what the shoes are intended for. These shoes DO NOT REPEL WATER, nor were they designed to do that.

These shoes are boat shoes as well as water shoes. After a three day trip on the Bighorn River in Montana, I can attest to the fact these shoes are great. The soles provided perfect, no slip traction while casting on the drift boat and then when it was time to wet-wade, they were fantastic submerged in the water, protecting my feet from rocks and the river’s bottom.

I can not recommend these shoes more. They work and do do perfectly.

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

Some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. Stylish enough to wear wth casual clothes. Haven’t wore them boating yet but have certainly wore them while running errands…

Most comfortable boat/fishing shoe I’ve worn and I’ve worn a slew of them. Great all around shoe for comfort. I have 2 pair and I am hoping that they will be as durable as they are comfortable.

After traveling 35 miles across wave pounding sea and standing up fishing all day I didn’t have sore aching feet and calves like I usually do. These are great!

I love my Xtra tuff sharkbyte canvas deck shoes. They are so cute and comfortable. I wear them barefoot and with socks. They are a bit hot on days when the temperature is over 90, but I just wear them barefoot and it gives some relief to the heat.

They fit great, true to size for me. I usually wear a 6 1/2 to 7 and I purchased the 7. They are perfect, not too big or any movement when I walk. Just enough room in them to be worn with socks and not too big to be worn barefoot.

I live in Eastern Kentucky and it’s so muddy here because of all the rain we get, these are great for that. They are easy to wipe clean and just easy to wear with anything. Definitely recommend. I definitely want the other colors as well, maybe they’ll do a lavender purple camo for us outdoor kind of girls in the future.

Great shoe with a non slip/marking boat sole. Have ruined one pair by mowing the grass and pressure washing in them. I wear an 11. 5 in every shoe I own, these included. Do fit a tiny bit tighter than a normal sneaker but both pairs loosened up after getting wet once or twice and 2 weeks of wear.

The shoe fabric is almost impossible to stain if you treat them. Only downfall is they have very little grip on grass. But then again they aren’t made for grass.

These shoes are awesome. They are lightweight, comfortable and fit great. Keep my feet dry. No joke I don’t often right reviews like this but I right these shoes workability on wet surfaces and in wet areas on land and the water.

These shoes have a thinner sole than the extratuf boot and are not stiff whatsoever. I was able to put them on and comfortably work in them the same day. However I don’t really care for the leather patches and there is a little red “x” sewn in the side I don’t care for either.

Other than that worth the money. Wish they had different colors or just plain ones but great functionality for sure. Let’s see how they hold up, haven’t had them long. Thanks for reading.

Good price, great shoes. Very comfortable. Bought another pair now, for Family. Thanks