Among the checklist of what to wear paddling, solid footwear is not to be overlooked. The best pair of water shoes will keep you on your feet carrying a boat or board down steep trails and over slick rocks. They’re comfortable against footbraces for a full day on the water. Should you need to jump into action and rescue a fellow paddler, the right pair provides the confidence for sure-footing without hesitation. And, as paddlers, our water shoes are often our footwear of choice on and off the water.
So, how do we find out which shoes meet the needs of paddlers? By wearing down the tread on as many as we can.
Best water shoes for 2025: Our top picks
- Best overall: Astral Loyak
- Best neoprene bootie: Level Six Creek Boot 2.0
- Best sandal: Chacos Z/1 Classic
Best water shoe overall
Astral Loyak shoes
$99 | astraldesigns.com
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Why we love them
A minimalist and high-performance water shoe providing first-class grip and comfort? Yes, please. The adaptable Astral Loyak manages to do all the above while looking like a classy, casual shoe. The Loyak is self-draining and dries quickly on the water or packs flat to slide on in camp. Its thin and super-grippy outsole promotes balance and ground feel—what the pros call proprioception.
Reasons to buy
- G.15 Rubber compound and Loyak tread provide confident “stickiness” in riverbeds
- Quick dry canvas with 3D airmesh upper
- Removable EVA midsole
- Minimal profile fits well in most kayaks
- Stylish look fit for paddling and travel
Consider another if
- You need more substanial midsole support
- An open sandal is preferred
- You are looking for Astral’s stickier G.ss rubber compound
Bottom line
A sauve, low-profile design—the Loyak is a much-loved shoe.
Best sandals for all terrain
Chacos Z/1 Classic sandals
$105 | chacos.com
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Why we love them
The Z/1 Classic from Chacos is a long-time favorite in the outdoorsy crowd. First released in 1989, it’s not uncommon to hear folks boast of wearing their Classics for 20-plus years. With just a single buckle and one continuous piece of webbing, customizing fit is dead easy. But it’s the traction, durability and versatility that made this the standard for rugged hiking sandals. The stiff and heavy sole of the Z/1 Classic is boot-like in feel and takes some breaking in. No toe thong makes these sandals easy to pair with socks, if you must.
Reasons to buy
- Available in ChacoGrip or customized with Vibram outsole
- Open design lets the dogs breathe on summer days
- Beefy midsole for foot support
Consider another if
- You need the protection of closed-toe water shoes
- You prefer a low-profile sole
- You’re on the search for a paddling-specific shoe over a multi-sport sandal
Bottom line
If you own a pair of Chacos Z/1s, you already have a classic paddling sandal on your feet. The Z/1 has been a go to choice for years and is just as at home on desert river trips as it is on afternoon paddleboard sessions.
Keen Newport Retro sandals
$130 | keenfootwear.com
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Why we love them
Keen’s Newport sandals boast the support and protection of a shoe with the breathability and quick-dry nature of a sandal. The sole of these ultra-comfortable kicks offers good arch support on the topside and is ready to tackle any terrain underneath. Newports have a secure feel thanks to their lace-capture system paired with nylon webbing, and they last for years. No wonder they’re a favorite among paddlers. Keen’s signature toe cap offers little piggies protection. Expect lots of comments with this eye-catching tie-dye pattern—mostly compliments.
Reasons to buy
- Protective rubber cap covers toes
- Bungee adjustment combined with webbing upper
- Razor-siped lugs for added traction on wet surfaces
Consider another if
- You need a truly enclosed shoe
- You’re not a fan of bungee adjustment systems
- You need a low-profile sole
Bottom line
When Keen introduced the Newport, they produced a sandal solution bloody- and bruised-toed paddlers had been waiting for. The Newport holds up to this day as one of the best hybrid sandals to tackle the outdoors on land and water.
Best sandal for wet rock Spidey-grip
Astral Webber sandals
$110 | astraldesigns.com
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Why we love them
Astral first ventured into the sandal market in 2022. The Webber pairs the chunky webbing of Astral’s award-winning life jackets with its stickiest G Rubber compound for grip. Maintaining a stable shoe-like feel, the Webber sandal offers the adventure footwear triad of adjustability, durability and breathability.
Reasons to buy
- G.ss, Astral’s stickiest rubber compound
- Flat, razor-siped treads
- Canvas upper adjusted with PFD size buckles
Consider another if
- The buckle size and placement isn’t your cup of tea
- Your foot shape doesn’t mesh well with the footbed
- You’d prefer a closed-toe
Bottom line
Astral’s water shoe lineups have been praised as some of the grippest rubber compounds available. The Webber brings that confident grip to the sandal front.
Best low-profile bootie to fit in the snuggest of kayaks
NRS Freestyle Wetshoe
$67.95 | nrs.com
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Why we love them
The lightweight NRS Freestyle Wetshoe is so crazy flexible that we can roll it up and fit it in a regular-sized coffee mug. Constructed with a three-millimeter neoprene upper for warmth and a three-mil neoprene insole for added comfort, the Freestyle offers a sock-like feel. Ideal for cramming big feet in small boats and long days kayaking; less suited for gnarly portages and rough, rocky environments.
Reasons to buy
- Low-profile design fits in low-volume bows
- Graphene-infused interior adds potential warmth to neoprene
- Thin rubber outsole provides better traction than barefoot or minimal neoprene sock
Consider another if
- You prefer a breathable upper fabric
- You’d like a shoe with substantial support
Bottom line
Nobody wants what used to be unaffectionately referred to as “rodeo foot” or to wipe out trying to carry your kayak over the rocks in bare feet. The Freestyle Wetshoe is the Goldilocks water shoe for those seeking barely there foot protection.
Best water shoes for anglers
Columbia Tamiami PFG Shoe
$80 | columbia.com
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Why we love them
Comfortable and stylish, the Tamiami from Columbia is a worthy water companion. This budget-friendly sneaker is part of Columbia’s performance fishing line and features a water- and stain-resistant mesh upper designed to repel fish guts and grime. Its super grippy, non-marking outsole keeps you rubber side down on slick surfaces, while midsole ports aid ventilation, cooling and dry time. Equally suited to shorelines and martinis at the club.
Reasons to buy
- Omni-Shield Blood ‘n Guts stain resistance valued by anyone spending time outdoors
- Breathable mesh upper
- Micro-siped lugs for additional traction
- Style means no need to change out of them for an after-fishing meet up with your buddies
Consider another if
- Lace-ups aren’t the lines you want to re-tie
- Mesh isn’t a durable enough upper for your needs
Bottom line
The Tamiami PFG Shoe is a stylish and well-designed water shoe from a major outdoor apparel brand.
Best souped-up redesign on the classic bootie
Level Six Creek Boot 2.0
$75 | levelsix.com
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Why we love them
The redesigned Creek Boot 2.0 from Level Six is a souped-up version of the classic neoprene bootie. This second-generation, ultra-flexible bootie provides increased stability and durability thanks to a reinforced rubber sole and stiffening in the mid shank for ankle support. Vulcanized rubber extends onto the boot’s three-millimeter neoprene upper, minimizing wear in high use and vulnerable areas, like the toes and heel. Slide on and secure with Level Six’s fast lace system.
Reasons to buy
- Three-millimeter neoprene upper
- Bungee lace system and hook-and-loop cuff strap
- Sole reinforced with stiffening mid shank
Consider another if
- You prefer the design and breathability of a shoe
- You seek thicker underfoot support
Bottom line
The Creek Boot 2.0 manages to put a good deal of juice under the hood of the modest neoprene bootie.
Best water shoe for cooold weather paddling
GUL Power Boot
$43.50 | gul.com
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Why we love them
Designed with a toasty five millimeters of neoprene and Titanium 2 lining, Gul’s Power Boot is super warm for year-round paddling adventures. A reinforced heel and toe add durability to this bare-bones bootie, perfect for paddlers who want to simplify their kit.
Reasons to buy
- Five millimeters of neoprene
- Low price
Consider another if
- You’re looking for the features of a shoe
- You want something breathable
Bottom line
If you want neoprene boots nearly as thick as a winter wetsuit for the coldest days, the Power Boot has you covered.
Best for the expedition-bound
La Sportiva TX Canyon shoes
$189 | sportiva.com
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LA SPORTIVA BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSAVER
Why we love them
The TX Canyon from Italian brand La Sportiva is a burly water shoe for the most rugged terrain. Designed with canyoneering in mind, the TX Canyon has more support and protection than almost any water shoe. The upper boot uses Ariaprene with hundreds of tiny perforations and two drain valves on the arch to maximize water-shedding. Ideal for kayakers requiring sturdy footwear in demanding conditions.
Reasons to buy
- Vibram outsoles thought out for every type of terrain
- Perforated Ariaprene upper is like a breathable neoprene material
- Encompassing foot support
Consider another if
- Your kayak is tight on space around the footbraces
- Something less full-on will work just fine for your needs
Bottom line
If you are rolling out topo maps to plan how you’re going to reach the river, pack yourself a pair of the TX Canyons.
What you should know about buying water shoes
Choosing a water shoe requires give and take, so it’s best to decide what’s most important to you.
A sandal might be ideal for warm days, especially if you’re a paddleboarder planning to slide them on and off—however, you lose the enclosed protection and insulation of a shoe. Meanwhile, the classic bootie is generally cheap, keeps feet warm, but the feel, and often thinner outsole, differs from the common comfort of a lace-up style shoe. Shoes also generally allow better airflow on your feet. The bigger outsole on shoes though may be an uncomfortable, even impossible, fit inside some kayaks.
Tread and rubber compounds also play a role in choosing footwear. Deeper lugged treads provide good traction to dig into rugged earth. While treads with a flatter, larger surface area tend to provide better grip on wet rocks, docks and boat ramps. Rubber compound matters too. A firmer rubber will be more durable, and these shoes generally have a thicker midsole for foot support. A softer rubber compound will provide more gecko like traction, similar to a climbing shoe, and tend to have thinner midsoles but less lifespan. Brands today balance these factors out to a point, but ultimately lean toward which factor the design serves best.
It may be tough for you to find an opportunity to test different shoes. Finding out what people like where you paddle can be a great conversation starter at the boat launch, and clue you into what factors are valued on your local waterways.
Why trust us
The team at Paddling Magazine have in the realm of a combined century’s worth of years paddling experience. We’ve worked seasons as guides and instructors, have traversed Great Lakes, and lost count of our epic portages. We’ve worn through all the shoes that have made our list, and have some funky foot tans to prove it.
Sensible shoes, it means practical and strong rather than fashionable and attractive. That’s about right. | Feature photo: Kaydi Pyette
