Top Water Shoes for 2017

If you’re looking for something to simultaneously boost your skill and safety on the water, look first to your water shoes.

What you wear on your feet massively affects your stability, security and paddling performance, so it’s vital you make the right choice.

To help, we’ve picked out the main features you need to have in each water shoe to maximise your development and enjoyment, as well as our top water shoe choices to assist in your decision-making. So, take a browse before you buy.

Waterproof materials and features

First thing to think about when buying new water shoes is their level of water resistance. Having wet feet not only makes you feel uncomfortable and reduces your enjoyment, but it also means you have a higher chance of slipping due to less inner traction and balance. A big task for water footwear designers is creating a shoe that not only protects your feet from dampness, but also gives you a comfortable level of breathability.

Water shoes like Astral Rassler combine quick-drying designs and premium materials to help create the ideal ‘fluid protection:ventilation’ ratio.

Slipping on a pair of Astral’s Rassler water shoes, you soon see the benefit of their fabric technology and water draining ability. These shoes provide incredible levels of comfort — even after continuous soaking — due to their Airmesh material which helps promote drying. Water accumulation in your footwear is a serious hazard when you’re on or in the water, which is why the Rassler’s draining eyelets help to rid your shoes of excess water much faster than normal footwear. This keeps you feet nimble and light in case you have to deal with unexpected, fast-moving water or slippery surfaces.

Waterproof material is used in every decent water shoe. The addition of features that promote speedy drying and drainage only work to add to comfort and breathability, and are definitely worth keeping an eye out for.  

Protection and foot support

With watersports, anything can happen. You could be paddling along a peaceful part of the river one minute and twisting down rapids the next.  

If you capsize, you need to either get to the shoreline or back into your boat ASAP. So, we’re sure hazards lying on the riverbed are a secondary thought. But the bottom of any stretch of water is usually littered with sharp rocks, uneven sections and dangerous debris. That’s why a good water shoe needs to give you excellent foot support and protection, so you can quickly navigate to safety without slipping or cutting yourself.
One of the top water shoes we’ve come across for this feature is Five Ten’s Water Tennie shoe. A truly amphibious shoe, you can do a range of water and outdoor activities wearing these with minimal fear of foot strain and injury. The neoprene upper in each shoe provides fantastic arch support, while the barrel-lace structure keeps your foot securely in your shoe no matter the terrain or surface traction.

Even better, your ankle is completely covered and the strong toecap gives you extra protection from hidden rocks and other objects — particularly useful if you’re wading through murky water and can’t see the seafloor or riverbed.

What about if you’re taking a hike before or after your water trip? Watersport enthusiasts are almost always massive walking fans, so the ideal solution is getting a good water and outdoor shoe in one. Canyoneers from Five Ten give maximum support and protection even in the harshest of environments, which makes them ideal if you like combining water activities with hiking or mountaineering.

These outdoor shoes give you sturdy heel-cages and high-top ankle cuffs that keep you safe from cuts and scrapes without trading off on your range of foot motion.

Chances are you’ll be out on the water or enjoying the outdoors for a large chunk of the day, so you need to make sure your footwear is designed for durability and comfort.

Thick, ultra-grip soles

Being able to walk uphill, on wet surfaces, or even across riverbeds safely and confidently is crucial if you’re a paddler. And of course, all our water shoes feature that specially-designed tread and chunky soles to offer much greater grip and protection than your standard shoe.

A water shoe we particularly like is Astral’s Tri Mesh, which also has the advantage of looking like a normal trainer, so you can wear it for other activities, too. The Tri Mesh option in Astral’s range has an exceptionally high friction level due to its thick, non-mark rubber outer sole which features deep indentations to keep you stable and steady on the ground.

If you want more of a high-top design, we also like the Palm Gradient boot. This water shoe uses special HydroGrip technology to create a rubber sole that clings to any wet surface with every step — offering a dense, near impenetrable barrier between you and sharp objects.

Having sufficient grip prevents a variety of injuries from broken bones to concussion, while a strong sole keeps you safe from things lying on the ground. When you’re buying water shoes, get the thickest rubber soles you can and make sure they have deep cavities (or ‘lugs’) across the shoe’s entire base for maximum grip.

Extra warmth and water protection

On colder days; you might need to consider a water shoe that provides even more coverage and warmth than the ones above. It gets incredibly cold when you’re paddling on open water, and a mix of Arctic wind and icy water is never a comfy scenario when it reaches your skin.

After some research, we think the Palm Nova boot ticks all the boxes when it comes to cold-combatting footwear. These water shoes reach your knees — so your entire foot, calf and shin are covered — and they have an adjustable buckle strap to prevent water from getting in. For us, the best feature of these water boots is the addition of neoprene material.

Neoprene is a popular material for watersports clothing, as it offers incredible water and weather resistance, as well as insulation and cushioning. Pulling these boots on blocks out water, snow and rain, while trapping the body heat you lose in the lower part of your body to help keep you dry and warm in all weather and water conditions.

Water boots are a great option for anyone paddling in autumn and winter, and they’re also good for sea or whitewater kayakers, who are more likely to get waves crashing into their cockpit.

If you want more water shoes options, check out our footwear range.