two water shoes at the beach

​Source: Pixabay

It is that time of year where water shoes are needed for many of your outdoor activities. Between fishing, hiking in wet areas, and wading in the creek, this clothing item really comes in handy during the summer.

Choosing the pair that works best for you can be tough, since there are so many different choices on the market today. Let’s talk about our favorite ten pairs and see if any of them will be a good fit.

First, we are going to discuss how we decide on our ratings for the best water shoes, so you know exactly what to look for.

​Table of Comparison

How We Chose Our Ratings

colorful water shoes at the beach

​Source: Pixabay

Above anything else, it is vitally important to us that our reviews are 100% honest and trustworthy. To make sure this is the case for every review we write, we take a few steps in our research.

First, we make sure to read a wide variety of customer reviews and testimonials. This allows us to see the broad spectrum of praises and complaints that each product receives from its buyers. It also allows us to pinpoint any widespread issues that may have occurred with an item.

We also make sure to thoroughly research every aspect of the product specifications, as well as any accessories that come with the item. That way our readers know exactly what they are purchasing if they go with an item on our list, and there are no surprises.

Lastly, we make sure to look into the company’s reputation as a whole. This is an important aspect for many customers, as most of them want to know what they stand for and whether or not they want to support them.

For this particular review, we will be looking at a few different qualities when it comes to the best water shoes. Pricing, overall quality, durability, aesthetics, and comfort will all be considered in this list of our favorites.

Our Top 7 Best Water Shoes

Now that we have discussed our ratings, here are our absolute favorite water shoes for the year 2018.

Vibram Signa

Vibram Men's Signa, Black/Yellow, 41 EU/8.5-9 M US
  • Abrasion resistant stretch polyester mesh upper
  • Drainage holes
  • Wave grip outsole, Zero Drop

The first pair of shoes on our list are the Vibram Signas.

Vibram is one of the leading companies when it comes to outdoor footwear. They have many, many different designs for shoes that cover all sorts of different terrains.

Their water shoe, the Vibram Signa, is no exception to their high quality, amazing products. These shoes are incredibly comfortable, well built, and extremely durable when it comes to wearing them in the water – they have everything a great water shoe should have.

The very protective upper build of the shoes offers a comfortable stretchy mesh to cover your foot, it is flexible and allows your feet to move and breathe as they need to. However, it is also incredibly strong, because the mesh is infused with polyester, meaning it won’t rip at the first sign of a rocky terrain.

water shoes

In addition to the breathable holes on the top of the shoe, there are also strategically placed holes throughout the shoes design. This is a wonderful feature because it stops you from having to take the shoes off after being in water and having to drain them yourself. Nothing is worse than walking around with soggy shoes, and Vibram definitely knows that.

The only potential negative aspect we have come across with these shoes is that they do have a rather narrow fit, so keep that in mind if you want to purchase a pair.

Aleader Mesh Slip-On Water Shoes

ALEADER Men's Mesh Slip On Water Shoes Navy 7 D(M) US
  • Breathable and durable air mesh upper allow the foot to breathe
  • Solyte midsole provides an exceptionally lightweight midsole with excellent bounce-back and durability
  • Water Grip outsole provides exceptional traction in wet and slippery conditions

Next up we have one of the best water shoes out there from Aleader. These shoes are breathable and great at keeping your feet cool, and also have the added bonus of being quick-drying footwear as well.

These can be very comfortable worn without socks, and they have shoes on the soles to allow them to drain on their own. When you are walking on a water-logged surface, you won’t be weighed down by these water shoes.

They are incredibly durable and made of the breathable mesh to allow your feet some natural air, and they consist of Solyte midsole for the rest of the shoe to make them lightweight. On top of that, the outsole has incredible traction, meaning you won’t slip or fall even in really wet or dangerous conditions.

ALEADER Men's Mesh Slip On Water Shoes Navy 7 D(M) US

This shoe is also designed to securely fit on your foot. We love this feature, because with the materials and water, a lot of water shoes tend to slip around quite a bit, which is pretty dangerous.

One con to keep in mind when it comes to these shoes is the simple fact that they won’t really keep out stones or sand, which can be irksome. Rocks that are up to the size of gravel can get wedged into the treads of the soles, which is important to keep in mind if you want to buy these shoes.

Speedo Surfwalker 3.0 Water Shoe

Speedo mens Surfwalker Pro 3.0 athletic water shoes, Speedo Black, 10...
  • Updated speedo water shoe
  • Stretch upper allows for pull-on entry and secure fit
  • S-trac outsole offers no-slip grip

These incredibly cushioned shoes are some of the most comfortable water shoes on the market today. Speedo is known for their excellent athletic wear for all terrains, and the Speedo ​Surfwalker 3.0 design is no different.

While these shoes are cushioned very well, they also offer ​​100% neoprene on the upper and ​rubber sole for breathability and easy drainage. The soles are also incredibly tough and textured, meaning they are great on any terrain, even out of the water.

Speedo mens Surfwalker Pro 3.0 athletic water shoes, Speedo Black, 10...

On top of that, these shoes are completely skid proof, as their soles are a new, innovative design that prevents any marks to occur because of them.

The only negative for these shoes is the fact that they need laces, and the ones they come with are a little too short for comfort. However, you can always replace them with longer laces if you would like to.

CIOR Quick Dry Water Sports Aqua Shoes

CIOR Water Shoes Men Women Aqua Shoes Barefoot Quick-Dry Swim Shoes
  • QUICK DRY WITH DRAINAGE HOLES: Unique and top-quality sole with seven holes on each bottom to ensure proper water flow...
  • HIGH QUALITY: Breathable fabrics with fine stretch uppers, flexible and comfortable anti-slip rubber soles.
  • FOOT SAFETY: Smoothly necks of shoes prevents feets from chafing. And our rubber soles are thick enough to protect your...

The CIOR Quick Dry Water Sports Aqua Shoes are another pair we really love.

These shoes are fantastic for any water sports, boat activities, or even for doing yoga. They are incredibly adaptable no matter what activity you are partaking in.

They have drainage holes for keeping your feet dry as well as letting them breathe, and they are incredibly comfortable. The shoes are able to be easily slipped on and off, even when wet. On top of that, these shoes are bendable and flexible because of the mesh material they are made of, so your foot movement will not be limited at all.

CIOR Water Shoes Men Women Aqua Shoes Barefoot Quick-Dry Swim Shoes

The only downside to these shoes is their durability. They are said to not last more than a few months of being used consistently. So if you are looking for a pair of shoes to just last you the summer, these would work perfectly, however you may not get more than one season out of them. They are very cheap, so replacing them would not be too much trouble either.

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This option on our best water shoes list is one of our top favorites. The Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve is an innovative and creative design that will keep your feet dry while protecting them on any terrain.

These shoes have Merrell’s Unifly midsole, which is designed to protect your feet from any potential damaging terrain that you will be standing on. It also has fantastic water-yielding properties that keep your feet dry with their Waxy Waterproof Leather Fabric Lycra.

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​They also provide your ankles with some support and protection as well, which you do not see in a lot of other water shoes.

The only negative aspect of these shoes is that their sizing does run a little narrow. Keep this in mind if you decide to purchase a pair of them.

Adidas Climacool Boat Lace

adidas outdoor Men's Terrex Climacool Boat Water Shoe, Collegiate...
  • Upper: climacool open mesh for enhanced breathability
  • Eva tongue perforated eva tongue for enhanced comfort
  • Midsole/ outsole: climacool tooling construction for enhanced breathability and comfort

Next up we have the Adidas Climacool Boat Lace water shoes. These shoes have the advantage of actually looking somewhat fashionable and trendy, while also protecting your feet from moisture and the natural terrains.

These shoes are incredibly breathable, which a great mesh material covering your foot and allowing the shoe to drain on its own. They also work very well for any type of ground you are walking on.

adidas outdoor Men's Terrex Climacool Boat Water Shoe, Collegiate...

Even though they are made by an extremely well-known company, they are still fairly affordable. The shoes are also incredibly worth their price for the quality you get with this footwear.

The only downside we came across with these shoes is simple that they aren’t good if you are going on really long hikes. They aren’t quite as grippy as other designs and simply weren’t made for that purpose.

Keen Whisper

KEEN womens Whisper Sandal , agate grey/blue opal , 7 M US
  • TRACTION: Multi-directional lugs with razor siping help provide superior grip on slippery and wet terrains; Non-marking...
  • SUPPORT & COMFORT: Lace-lock bungee capture system provides a secure fit while offering a quick and easy way to get them...
  • FIT & INSOLE: Built on a women-specific foot form that is wider than the industry norm for improved fit and comfort;...

Last but certainly not least we have the Keep Whisper water shoes.

These shoes were wonderfully designed and come with a patented toe protection that ensures you don’t hurt your feet while wearing them. They also have a very quick and convenient lacing system that makes the shoes very easy to put on and take off.

This design also has a great pattern on the soles to increase the amount of traction you have. Because of this, these shoes are really awesome for hiking as well as any water activities.

KEEN womens Whisper Sandal , agate grey/blue opal , 7 M US

The Keep Whisper shoes also have a footbed to make your feet incredibly comfortable. Their soles are very flexible and lightweight, so you are given the perfect amount of support and cushion. On top of that, they are very easy to adjust if need be.

As far as potential shortcomings are concerned, these shoes really only have one. If you have wider feet, you will probably need to order up a half size for these to fit correctly. These shoes are rather narrow in the toe box.

​​​Buyer’s Guide

man standing on a surfboard wearing water shoes

​Source: Pixabay

Now that we have talked about the best water shoes on the market, there are a few aspects you should consider before choosing a pair to purchase.

There are a wide variety of prices on this list, so make sure you have a budget for these shoes in mind. That way you’re not disappointed when you find a pair you like that is too expensive.

Another thing to keep in mind is your shoe size. If you have wider feet, there are several options on the list that are considerably narrower than others. This is important to keep in mind for the sake of keeping yourself comfortable.

Also, keep in mind what you will be using the shoes for. Some of these are meant for any activity you would like, while others are simply for water activities.

We hope this guide was helpful for your water shoe search, and that you found the perfect footwear for yourself. If you have used any of the shoes on this list, would you recommend them to others?

Last update on 2023-06-05 at 12:32 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API