The Best Water Shoes of 2024

Truth be told, not every day or trip involves an adrenaline-spiking adventure where you need ultimate foot protection to keep yourself from slipping off mossy rocks and falling over the edge of a high waterfall to your death. The Speedo Surf Knit Pro ($45) is just the water shoe for these days when you must protect your feet while walking over the boiling hot sand between the parking lot and the beach umbrella. 

Later, you may want to leave this hot sand beach and visit the ample resort buffet for a huge shrimp cocktail and a piece of cake. The Speedo Surf Knit Pro will get you there in style. Remember, the only real contest in life is whether you feel happy or not. Relaxing water shoes and shrimp cocktails make us happy, especially when we’re also drinking endless cold $2 Belikens in Belize.

These water shoes are simple — an all-white, zero-rise, grippy sole topped by a fun, stylish, stretchy top. They stick to slick surfaces, protect your little piggies from sunburn, and you can wear them to dinner. 

And, let’s be honest — no matter how famous Speedo is in its small way, we’re stoked that it is more than just banana hammocks. The Surf Knit Pro packs down small and won’t take up much room in your vacation pack.

Would we use this shoe in situations where we need high-performance and dependable secure footing for sports? No. However, we must sheepishly admit that we relax more than our Instagram action shots suggest; we like spending many enjoyable days just chilling out near the water.

For that, the Speedo Surf Knit Pro shoes are ideal. They’re about convenience and enough to get by, with a twist of style, and perhaps an umbrella drink near the pool.

The Xero Aqua X Sport ($130) was spawned from the barefoot running movement, created by runners from Boulder, Colo. Initially, the founders of Xero offered a completely minimal “shoe” consisting of a couple of strings and a thin rubber sole, a design based on the sandals used by the genetically gifted Tarahumara runners in the Copper Canyon in Mexico. 

They took their creation to Shark Tank but didn’t secure a deal. Luckily for us, they persevered, and today, Xero offers a wide range of shoes. The Xero Aqua X Sport is a lightweight, capable water shoe, but it’s also a running shoe to protect your feet on coastal runs that mix beach, rocky paths, and pavement. 

We love this water shoe because it fits well and the fit can be dialed in with a low-profile set of elastic laces. The shoe’s tops are open mesh, making them light and breathable. However, this feature also lets in a lot of sand when running on the beach.

The lightweight rubber-lugged soles protect your feet and stick to the ground while letting you feel the sticks, stones, and sand you’re running over. These shoes would also be ideal for SUP paddling, kayaking in tight boats, and rock hopping on the river shore.

Finally, the Xero Aqua X Sport packs up very small and, if traveling, won’t take up a lot of room in your bag. On its website, Xero states they have donated $52,000+ (USD) to the Tarahumara Children’s Hospital Fund, so you can also feel good about this purchase. 

To quote Monty Python’s Flying Circus: “And now for something completely different.” Enter the NRS Paddle Wetshoe ($70). The wet world of water shoes is broad. Some water shoes target hot climates, other cold locales. The NRS Paddle Wetshoe remains a fantastic choice for cooler water adventures.

They look like a typical neoprene bootie, which they are, but also are not. The NRS Paddle Wetshoe is constructed from petroleum-free Terraprene, a sustainable alternative to traditional neoprene. Terraprene is made from limestone and recycled tires, so you will feel good wearing it. They are also woven with titanium adhesive throughout for additional warmth and strength.

We’ve used a variety of NRS booties for years and always found them to be good quality. The NRS Paddle Wetshoe is no different. For this test, Nathan used them while fly fishing from the coast of a Caribbean island where he walked on sand and extremely sharp rocks. Although the sole of this water shoe feels quite thin and flexible, it protected his feet well.

In addition to 3mm of rubber, the NRS Paddle Wetshoe includes a 2mm plastic shim and 5mm insole for additional sole protection. The mid-shin height kept the sand out and the additional enforced protection on the toes and heels kept my feet protected. 

Were they too hot for tropical climates? Yes. However, in any temperature of water other than dishwater warm, the NRS Paddle wetshoe would not be too much. The 3mm Terraprene will help keep your feet warm, especially in the waters of the Colorado Rockies where Nathan lives.

He used these booties while snorkeling down cold rivers (yes, it’s a thing … one looks for fish, habitat, old junk, lost paddles, sunglasses) where he loved that the shin height upper tucked under the leg of his wetsuit for warmth. He also used them while paddle boarding on high mountain reservoirs where warmth and protection are necessary. Given the name, and NRS’s longtime focus on paddle sports, we know these booties are also ideal for cooler water kayaking and raft trips.

The only drawback to this shoe for our tester is the extra-wide toebox. While this large toebox allows for a natural foot position where toes can spread wide, it also means water can get trapped in the toebox, depending on the volume of your foot.

These shoes are also unavailable in half sizes, so they may not fit like they’re custom-made for your feet. Overall, we found the NRS Paddle Wetshoe ideal for its intended uses, and we’re sure you’ll get years of quality performance out of a pair. 

On its website, Merrell says it took its most popular trail running shoe and modified it for use in the water — by changing some of the materials and adding vent holes along the sides. This description fits very well, and the long-named Merrell Moab Flight Sieve ($110) feels just like this. The shoe is lightweight and comfortable, offers a rugged rubber sole under a thick, squishy midsole, and there are just enough holes in the side to let water in and out quickly.

The design offers excellent toe protection and enough material around the ankle and Achilles to protect this sensitive area. At first glance, they look more like trail runners than water shoes.

We tested these by hiking mountain trails to fly fish alpine streams and lakes in midsummer. They performed well on the trails and in the creeks, providing good support and foot protection while hiking. They also drained and dried quickly after stepping out of the water.

The Merrell Moab Flight Sieve is a one-quiver shoe because it can be used for hiking, trail running, and wading in the water. It offers more versatility than most of the shoes in the water shoe guide. However, it is a little too high-volume to fit inside closed kayaks and will take up more room in your bag when traveling.

One could wear a thin sock for more protection when hiking to the water. Sand gets in easily on sandy trails or creek beds, and again, it’s hard to wash out without taking the shoe off and rinsing it.

The shoe’s design looks rather complicated. It’s a mix of materials, cords, and straps. Merrell has started to incorporate more recycled materials into its shoes, and this model includes a variety of recycled materials, which we love.

The lace system is a stretchy bungee cord with a toggle tightener. This bungee is very long, so once you’ve worn the shoes a few times and dialed in the length of lace you need, you may want to cut this to shorten the lace. Don’t forget to burn the ends of the cord to seal them again to prevent unraveling.

Overall, the Merrell Moab Flight Sieve is a high-performance, versatile water shoe that is also lightweight and comfortable. It opens up the possibility of adventures that mix a variety of terrain and activities — hiking trails, wading through water, peak bagging, fishing, and more.

Since the day they launched, Keen shoes have elicited a strong emotional response. If you love them, you really love them and will purchase pair after pair for life. They look unusual and distinct. The Keen Hyperport H2 Sandal ($125) is the same, with a chunky, thick, bulbous sole, colorful webbing, and large holes along the sides. You will not mix and match these shoes with clothing for dinner out. They scream, “I am having fun in the water!” or “I am on vacation and ready to play!” Or something emphatic like that.

We tested these in all-day sessions — from walking the dog on a rough riverside path to stick-throwing sessions on a sandy beach, from working at our desk to running out for a quick paddle on a nearby lake in a sit-on-top kayak. Change the day, vary the activities, and repeat.

After wearing them on and off in various situations, we found the Keen Hyperport H2s to be a very capable water shoe that offers excellent toe protection, a wide toebox, good arch support, all-day comfort, durability, and quick put-on or take-off. The stretchy inner neoprene hugs the foot well, and this fit can be improved a little by tightening the adjustable bungee that laces up the shoe.

The holes along the sides of these shoes are large, which allows for lots of air to the sides of the foot. However, this also means you may need to wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn in these spots. Water washes through the shoe easily. As with almost all water shoes, sand comes in easily but is not as easy to wash out. But it’s easy to remove them, rinse them out, and slip them back on again. Also, there is so much toe protection that your toes may get hot if you are not wearing them in the water or cooling off your feet occasionally in the water.

The shoe’s sole combines a softer foam midsole with a harder rubber called Aquagrip. Keen claims the design funnels water away from under the shoe for more true traction on all surfaces.

Overall, the Keen Hyperport H2 is a high-quality, versatile water shoe good for a wide variety of activities and adventures. The look is not for everyone, but if you love Keen, you will love these shoes.

XtraTuf, the brand that became famous for rubber boots in Alaska and other extreme environments, has branched out into a wide variety of shoe styles. The XtraTuf Kiata Drift Sneaker ($115) is a lightweight, fully enclosed sneaker-style water shoe that will appeal to many people who embrace and believe in the XtraTuf name.

These shoes look more like traditional sneakers than water shoes, and they perform in a similar way. The upper material has a variety of hole sizes to let water in and out. A rubber band lightly reinforces the toe and heel, and the non-slip rubber sole offers foot protection and a bit of arch support. A traditional lace system tightens the whole system. The fully enclosed shoe offers complete sun protection.

For all the XtraTuf Kiata Drift Sneaker’s many good points, it won’t be a shoe for everyone. It feels like the ideal use of this shoe is around casual boats, walking on the pier, or the boat deck, where sun protection and the non-slip sole perform well. The stylish upper and sneaker-like design means these will move seamlessly from the trail to town or from the boat to the brewpub.

The TUFGRP sole includes many separate knobs which provide excellent grip but can also tear off individually over time. The shoe also runs about ½ size big, so the 10.5 we tested fit more like an 11.

Overall, the Kiata is not an all-around water shoe for a variety of outdoor adventures but a more specialized shoe ideal for use on or around docks and boats.

Teva sandals changed the water world for many when they first hit the rivers, beaches, and backyard pool parties of America many years ago. Many of our gear testers wore them religiously, not taking our Tevas off in summer until the Velcro peeled from the nylon.

When Nathan first strapped on the Teva Outflow Universal ($110) water shoe, he wasn’t thinking about this particular shoe’s awkward and not-very-cool name, but about his summer memories of Teva times. The Outflow reminded us of an enclosed Teva sandal, but we soon realized this was more of a water sneaker than a simple water shoe. 

The Teva Outflow Universal water sneaker offered the most foot protection and the most customizable fit of all the water shoes we tested. First, our feet were completely enclosed, cushioned by a thick sneaker sole with excellent toe protection. Second, the three-strap system (like the traditional sandal) lets us dial in a great fit over time. 

We say over time because this shoe does take time to adjust the fit correctly. When our tester first took these out of the box, he threw them on and took off down the beach. Within a short time, the hard plastic tab on the outside of the shoe wore a small blister into his ankle. Needless to say, Nathan’s first impression wasn’t the best.

However, he adjusted the straps until they felt comfortable and no longer rubbed his ankle to find that a somewhat looser fit worked best for him. He also felt the shoe did not drain as fast as other water shoes in this guide. And, on long days, he had to occasionally take the shoes off to de-prune his toes.

However, with the level of foot protection offered by the Teva Outflow Universal, Nathan would not hesitate to use these shoes for hiking, paddle boarding, wading flats while fishing, pleasure boating, biking, running, or any outdoor sport. They are too bulky to fit nicely inside enclosed kayaks but would be fantastic while portaging the rapids that make one pucker. 

Look at the kids today — they are all wearing a shoe that rhymes with Mocs. Not just as water shoes, but as fashion with all sorts of odd giblets stuck in the tops. Nathan hadn’t worn Crocs since an ill-fated cave hike in Laos where those slippery suckers on his feet slipped on a dark cave floor and almost slid him into a dark sinkhole in the limestone.

But he admits he still likes the concept, and the Merrell Hydro Moc ($60) is a water shoe in the same vein. You might get confused between the two if you’re not a purist, but tomato tomato, potato potato. 

Over the years, Nathan has owned and worn many pairs of Merrell shoes and always found them good quality and affordable. The Hydro Moc is the same. However, it’s a bit of a weird water shoe. Even Merrell celebrates the weirdness. Also, the camo color scheme Moc sent us to test made our tester feel like he had baby alligators wrapped around his feet.

As Nathan wore them on the river, on an offshore boat trip in the tropics, and around the beach, he found them to be a comfortable water shoe that performs well. Do they breathe well? Yes. Do they drain well? Obviously. They are full of large holes.

Did the Merrell Hydro Mocs stay on his feet well? Yes. Do they stick to shore rocks without slipping? Yes. Can we wear them with socks in the fall when we go to a bluegrass-pumping pumpkin carving dance party and still fit in with the locals? Yes. Could we wear a wack-colored pair in NYC with a thrift store blue corduroy suit and look right? Yes. There are many wins here. 

Are they for you? Only you can answer that personal question. Will your kids find your new Merrell Hydro Mocs cool? Perhaps, maybe. Perhaps, not. Answers are elusive. Are they weird? Definitely. 

Overall, the Merrell Hydro Moc is a comfortable, well-performing water shoe that contains 10% algae and seaweed mixed with flexible plastic. It is affordable, long-lasting, and comes in many fun colors, so you don’t have to wear the alligator-attracting camo if you don’t want to. 

A pared-down version of the more substantial NRS Paddle Wetshoe, the Kicker Wetshoe ($58) is a simple, pull-on design with a single strap over the top of the foot to keep them on. The big question is: are you a person who prefers a tall, zippered boot style for your cold water shoe or a smaller, more packable version?

The NRS Kicker Wetshoe shares many features with its big brother/sister, the Paddle Wetshoe — a reinforced toe and heel, 3 mm petroleum-free Terraprene neoprene made from recycled tires and limestone, a plastic shim for additional foot protection, and a sticky rubber sole to protect your feet from rocks, urchins, and other sharp things.

We used these to wade in the river, fly fish in the warmer months of July and August in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and paddle board at alpine lakes. We found them comfortable and warm.

The ideal user of this water shoe is a person who wants foot protection and some warmth in a very simple and minimal package. There are drawbacks to this design. First, they don’t protect the ankle in rocky environments. Second, in fully active situations, like getting flushed through a churning rapid, this shoe design feels like it might wash off as it comes off rather easily. Third, they only come in full sizes, so if you wear a half size (ex. 10.5), the ½ size up may feel too big.

If you swim rivers or snorkel down current in the ocean and need to walk back after your drift through the water, the NRS Kicker Wetshoe does pack down flat enough that you can stuff these into a tight shirt like a rash guard or wetsuit top, put on your fins, do the swim and afterward put them on to protect your feet on the hike back home.

You will know if you’re the type of person looking for the NRS Kicker Wetshoe. It won’t be a shoe for everyone, but it has been made for many years and has a devoted following in the paddling, rafting, SUP, and beach walking communities.

The XtraTuf Riptide Sandal ($55) is another shoe in the Croc vein. They’re designed to be casual and simple. No fuss. These extremely comfy shoes come on and off easily and offer just enough protection to cross the hot parking lot and walk on some easy surfside or riverside rocks.

Performance-wise, the lightweight Riptide has small holes on the top and a few bigger holes horizontally parallel to the sole. This lets in air but also sand and small rocks. Luckily, it takes mere seconds to take them off and rinse the material out. The soles of the shoe are soft and flexible and offer no more than basic protection.

However, despite their basic performance, we found ourselves wearing these water shoes more than others. The light, airy feel, mixed with the ease of wearing them, was fun. The shoe isn’t trying to make a statement with flashy colors or an outrageous design, so it is kind of a chameleon to wear along the shore, on the boat, or to lunch. Think slow vacation and not a lot of fast action.

On its website, XtraTuf includes the Riptide as part of its Eco line. They say, “BioLite has been granted a Green Leaf certificate by Intertek, an accredited independent third-party testing facility, verifying that this product will properly biodegrade in bioreactor landfills.” What is a bioreactor landfill? That’s a good question.

The Environmental Protection Agency says, “A bioreactor landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) in which liquids are added to help bacteria break down the waste. The increase in waste degradation and stabilization is accomplished through the addition of liquid and air to enhance microbial processes.” So, the Riptide Sandal can return to the Earth under special circumstances. It’s a stretch, but we highly appreciate all the efforts shoe companies make to improve their environmental record and sustainability.

Depending on who’s testing, the Astral Loyak ($95) could also be in the running for the best water shoe. The Loyak offers many of the same great features that made the Astral Brewer 2.0 our favorite shoe — a wide toebox, zero drop, level fit, good quality construction, lightweight, fast drying, sticky G.15 rubber sole, and traditional laces. The Loyak is good for paddleboarding, side hikes, kayaking, and other light-pressure sports.

The Loyak is a lower-volume shoe and quite flexible so it allows one to fit the feet into tighter spaces, like small kayaks, and it takes up less space when packing for a trip. Like the Brewer 2.0, the Loyak is multifunctional and can be worn on the water or out to dinner. Unlike its cousin, the Loyak has a removable insole so it’s easier to wash the sand out of the shoe after a day at the beach or in the river. 

The Brewer provides more foot protection, which is the main feature that made our tester choose it over the Loyak. The Loyak also only comes in full sizes, not half sizes, so depending on your foot size, you may not be able to get as good a fit in the Loyak. Be aware that the Loyak does run big, so order half a size down, or the shoe will be too big. 

Overall, it’s a close call, and the Astral Loyak will be an ideal choice for many, especially those who don’t need as much support and want a thinner, more flexible water shoe. The fact that it costs $30 less than the Brewer 2.0 may tip the scale in its favor for some. 

Let’s say you’re on a tight budget but still need functional water footwear for basic foot protection. The Athmile Water Sock ($10) is just this. It’s less of a shoe and more of a water sock with a rubber sole. A single pair for yourself will cost less than a six-pack of beer, and water socks for a family of five will cost less than a mountain-town lunch at a restaurant — way less.

The Athmile Water Socks do not offer much protection and zero support, but they are easy on/off and will protect your feet from the sun, hot pavement/sand, and a few short walks across sharp coastal coral. They will probably not last for many trips or multiple years. The thin soles will also not protect your feet from fish hooks, broken glass, sharp shell edges, and the like. 

However, there are a few situations where the Athmile Water Sock really shines, especially for the price. Beyond walks to the pool and from the car to the beach, our tester, Nathan, used these in a few situations where they filled a fun niche. The beauty of these is they take up very little space and pack down nearly flat. 

Nathan wore these from his beach hut outside Isabela, Puerto Rico, across the gravel in the yard, down a hot paved road, and along a burning sandy beach in the sun. From here, he shuffled out across rocks in the water with baby sea urchins stuffed in all the cracks into deeper water where he put on fins and a snorkel.

He then stuffed the flattened Athmile Water Socks up the front of his rash guard and did a long, snorkel swim drifting about a mile with the current. At the end of the drift, he swam to the shore, took off his fins, pulled the Athmile Water Socks from his shirt, and used them to protect his feet on the mile-long walk back.

Is that worth $10? Definitely. Would he step on full-size sea urchins with them? Never on purpose.