The best water shoes we tested
Best slip-on water shoes: Teva Outflow CT Universal Water Sandals
Best lace-up water shoes: Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacers
Whether you’re planning on swimming in the local river, the beach or the pool, a pair of the best water shoes can help keep your feet safe and stable. Unlike typical waterproof shoes you’re probably thinking of, water shoes are more similar to waterproof sandals since they’re meant to be worn completely underwater and dry fast. However, water shoes tend to have closed toes for more protection than sandals.
Our team scoured the internet to pinpoint 12 top-rated water shoes, then put them head-to-head against one another to see which were worth buying and which fell flat. We sent a dedicated tester into the outdoors to hike in each pair and hop around on slick creekside boulders to assess the shoes’ strengths and weaknesses. Next, we performed controlled at-home tests to spot-check durability, dry time and protection. After testing, two pairs of water shoes stood out from the pack.
Boasting an extra-grippy sole as solid as pricier brands, the Teva Outflow Universal Water Sandal stayed comfortable and stable on wet and dry terrain. Made with eco-friendly materials, these water shoes also provide excellent toebox protection. A men's version is also available.
Not only were these lace-up Croc LiteRide 360 Pacers wonderfully quick to dry, but they also matched more expensive shoes in our grip tests on slick rocks. They were also comfortable on neighborhood walks and stylish enough to wear around town after a water adventure. A men's version is also available.
Best slip-on water shoes: Teva Outflow Universal Water Sandals
Teva is known for its extra-grippy, ultra-durable hiking sandals, and we weren’t surprised that one of its dedicated water shoes took home our top prize. This new addition to the Teva lineup performed as well as its more expensive competitors on dry trails and slick creek rocks. Plus, it dried quicker than everything we tested that wasn’t a Croc-style shoe. The fact that it comes doused with an all-natural anti-odor treatment was just gravy on top.
One of the first things we noticed when taking this pair of hiking-specific water shoes onto the trail was how robust the toe box felt. Designed to minimize stubbed toes and other injuries in streams and murky lakes where you might not be able to see the bottom, this feature quickly became one of our favorites when hopping around on wet and dry rocks near Boulder Creek. We also noted that the Outflow Universal Water Sandal was incredibly durable in our at-home tests, looking as good as new after multiple hard scrapes against a rock wall.
On both dry, dirt paths and wet, slick rocks near the creek, one of our testers noted that the Outflow gripped just like her favorite hiking shoes, allowing for safe and easy water exploration and quick dips in the stream when she wasn’t hiking. In practice, these Tevas’ grip tested as well as the more expensive Keen Newport H2 on both damp and dry surfaces.
The shoes also provided enough mesh in key areas (namely the heel and toebox) to keep errant small rocks and silt out, though it wasn’t as full-coverage as the Astral Brewess 2.0, which are both grippy and built with a thick weave to help keep out silt and sand.
Unlike many of the shoes on our list, the Outflow comes in full and half sizes to let you dial in the perfect fit. I wear a women’s shoe size 7.5, and I noticed that these shoes fit perfectly true to size and were easy to slip on and off, thanks to their quick-cinch bungee cord lace. This made it easy to toss them on and cool down in the creek or use them as comfy camp shoes — no cumbersome, dripping laces required. The design is also crafted with 30% recycled Spider Rubber, which is grippier than ordinary shoe soles and helps hikers stay safe when scrambling on wet rocks. When I took them on a 1-mile test stroll through my neighborhood, they remained comfortable, form-fitting and grippy.
Lastly, it feels important to note that Teva took care in creating the Outflow Universal Water Sandals with earth-friendly materials, like a 100% recycled polyester linings and lightweight 20% recycled EVA foam midsoles. The brand also includes a one-year limited warranty against defects, so you can rest easy after your purchase.
Best lace-up water shoes: Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer
One of my favorite things about being a gear tester is occasionally getting proven wrong by an affordable design I might have initially written off. That was the case with the Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacers, which cost a fraction of the price of many of the other lace-up water shoes we tested.
Crocs always seemed like a novelty shoe brand. I assumed it sold cushy, lightweight and casual footwear that wasn’t the least bit tactical or functional. When it came to the LiteRide 360 Pacers, though, I was dead wrong. First, these were the only sneaker-style shoes we tested that weren’t made of absorbent fabric. This meant they dried in under an hour while many of our other sneaker-style shoes took nearly five hours to air-dry. While I only tested them in temperatures up to 90 degrees, I did notice that even though they are manufactured with a stretchy, plastic-like material up top, they are also heat-mapped to provide adequate venting.
These Crocs are also seriously comfortable, especially compared to other Croc-style water shoes we tested, like the Merrell Hydro Moc Water Shoes and the Xtratuf Riptide Sandals, both of which had less arch support and were less comfortable to stroll in overall. Made with the brand’s proprietary, pressure-mapped LiteRide foam, the shoes feel like walking on clouds from the moment you put them on. I wore them out for a 1-mile neighborhood walk with my dog one morning, and they felt just as comfy as my favorite casual sneakers. Plus, they are a cinch to take on and off. Just slide them on and tie your shoelaces like any regular tennis shoe.
Though this pair of water shoes wasn’t as traction-heavy as the grippiest shoes on our list (that prize goes to the pricier Astral Brewess 2.0), they came darn close when I hopped along a series of creek-submerged boulders and algae-covered rock stairs on the edge of Colorado’s Eben G. Fine Park. They were especially grippy on dry and wet rocks, and held up well underwater too. Based on how these shoes performed on a wet bathtub surface in our at-home tests, we think they’d be a fantastic pick for boating adventures this summer and fall.
Though we wish the LiteRide Pacers came in a few more colors like their more famous Croc cousins, we appreciated that the hues on hand (like solid white and navy blue) would pair well with our favorite jeans if we went straight to a bar or restaurant after swimming in the nearby reservoir. Though the brand’s warranty doesn’t come near Astral’s top-of-the-line product life span guarantee, Crocs does offer a reasonable 90-day warranty on the LiteRide Pacers, which will keep you protected for roughly three months of fun.
At an incredibly reasonable price of $65, it’s easy to see why we fell in love with the lightweight, quick-drying and surprisingly grippy Crocs LiteRide Pacers. If you’re looking for the absolute grippiest shoes we tested and have the money to spare, opt for the Astral Brewess 2.0. But for the rest of us, the Crocs LiteRide Pacers were easily our favorite pair of lace-up water shoes for boating and lake-lounging adventures.
How we tested
Our editors developed an exhaustive, multiple-question testing rubric to put each pair of water shoes through the wringer. Next, 12 shoes were selected based on the best-reviewed and bestselling products across several industry-leading websites. These water shoes were subjected to a series of real-life and controlled at-home tests to suss out which ones were truly worth the price.
Fit and comfort
- We tried on each pair of shoes and walked around on a sidewalk for 0.25 to 0.5 miles. We also walked in each pair of shoes underwater, on slippery creek rocks and on dry, smooth rocks near the shoreline. During these tests, we paid attention to any blisters or chafing that occurred.
- We noted if the shoes fit true-to-size, based on our tester’s usual shoe size in a hiking shoe.
- We made notes on whether or not each pair of water shoes was easy and intuitive to put on and lace up (if applicable).
- We paid special attention to the comfort of each shoe, compared to our favorite sneakers and hiking shoes.
Performance
- Our tester walked on slick, wet rocks in and around a fast-moving creek near her home with each pair of shoes and noted how the grip performed underwater. Our tester also walked on rocks and a gravel path near the creek and noted how the shoes performed on an ordinary, dry hike.
- We considered if the shoes were designed for water sports as well as hiking or if the design was for water only. We researched if each pair of shoes could have multi-sport usages.
- Where applicable, we took the shoes on a neighborhood walk, a short hike on gravel and a wade through Boulder Creek.
- We marked down the insulating properties of each pair of shoes, when applicable and paid attention to whether or not each pair would work well in frigid water.
- We timed the drying time of every pair of shoes on our list to see which ones dried the most quickly.
Durability and design
- We noted the materials used to construct each shoe and paid special attention to whether or not they were made with eco-friendly or sustainable materials.?We also observed if there were name-brand grip or fabric inclusions, such as Vibram soles.
- We scraped the shoes five times against a rock wall and noted any tears or scuffs.
- We pulled hard on two or three different seams on the shoes five times each to measure the durability of the products’ stitching.
- When unboxing each pair of water shoes, we made note of how the overall quality felt. Did the workmanship seem like it would be long-lasting? We scoured online reviews for clues to the shoes’ long-term durability too.
Price and warranty
- We compared prices for every pair of shoes in each category, noting if the quality scores seemed comparable with the price point in stores and online.
- We wrote down the warranty length and terms for each pair of shoes and noted how it compared to similar water shoes in its category.
Everything you need to know about water shoes
When you’re out shopping for water shoes this year, be on the lookout for three key attributes: grip, foot protection and stability. Our tester also paid special attention to dry time for each of the products we tried, to ensure that funky odors and lake water don’t linger.
Perhaps the most important feature of water shoes is how grippy they are underwater and on slick, wet boulders along the shoreline (or on the deck of a boat), where you’re likely to be hopping around and sunbathing with your friends. The shoes that provided the best traction in our testing had textured, rubber soles that clung to surfaces, even when soaked. Many top brands, like Crocs, Teva and Astral, use an in-house rubber blend designed to grip on wet and dry surfaces.
Unlike traditional hiking boots, water shoes should be made with rubber and foam that conforms to whatever lumpy, bumpy surface you happen to be standing on, because the more surface area of rubber you have touching the ground, the better the shoes can grip and remain stable.
Another thing to think about, especially if you’re buying shoes for swimming or playing in a river, creek or lake is foot protection. Do the shoes provide adequate protection for stubbed toes? Are the ventilation panels on the sides of the footwear large enough to allow loads of silt and small rocks into the shoe, causing an uncomfortable hike back to the car? Traditional hiking sandals might not provide enough coverage across the entire foot, which is why specifically designed water shoes are important if you plan on being in and near natural bodies of water as the weather warms.
Lastly, great water shoes should help keep your gait even and stable on rough, rugged or rocky terrain. Just as you would expect in awesome hiking shoes, your heels, arches and forefeet should feel supported, and your toes should have enough space to splay out so that you can keep your balance. Beware of water shoes that are too squishy underfoot; they might not keep your feet and ankles as stable as something with harder or sturdier soles.
Other water shoes we tested
Though the Speedo Surfknit Pro impressed us with its solid grip and its numerous colorways, it ultimately lacked the versatility of a hiking sandal that would make it worth the price point. This is a great choice if all you need is a swimming or paddling water shoe.
We weren't impressed with the quality of these shoes and think you should spend a little bit more on a better pair.
Despite the thousands of great reviews, at first glance, the DLGJPA water shoes seemed cheaply made and less comfortable than the others on our list. Though their grip was decent, the $30 price tag and lack of a warranty made them seem like less of a bargain. We’d recommend spending roughly $10 more on one of our other favorites on this list, like the Speedo SurfKnit.
These shoes are made using a wetsuit-like material that would be great for cold-water activities.
Of all the shoes we tested, these would be the best for cold-water adventures and kayaking. The wetsuit-like material easily keeps out most rocks and silt on hardcore boating adventures. They were the only shoes that provided significant insulation in cold water, and their grip held up to other top brands, like Speedo. Ultimately, their lack of versatility as hiking shoes outside the water was their main downfall.
While we loved the fun tie-dye colors offered by Merrell and the one-year limited warranty, the lack of a strong underwater grip put these shoes lower on our testing rubric. Plus, for a bit less money, you could just get yourself a pair of our favorite lace-up Crocs.
This pair of Keen sandals was fantastic, but their price was too high compared to others we tested.
We loved everything about Keen’s Newport H2 … except the price. If money is no object and you love the way Keen’s hiking boots fit your feet, you’ll likely fall in love with these sandal-style water shoes. They offer amazing protection against stubbed toes, have odor control and come with sincerely impressive traction in and out of the water.
These shoes weren't easy to put on and take off, but they are extremely grippy.
If you’re a fan of Astral’s extra-grippy water shoes, you’ll likely enjoy this more wallet-friendly version of its Brewer/Brewess. It tested just as well in the grip gauntlet as its pricier sibling but came with two confusing sets of shoelaces and was slightly trickier to pull on and squeeze out of.
A close runner-up to our winners, the Astral Brewess had the best grip of all the shoes we tested. But they took longer to dry than other shoes we tried.
These shoes boasted the absolute best grip of the bunch, and they were stylish enough to wear to the local watering hole to boot. Astral has long been a leader in the water shoe industry, and though our tester loved this comfortable, form-fitting sneaker, the price tag and dry time were both a bit high.
For just $10 more, we think our lace-up pick, the Crocs LiteRider 360 Pacer, is a better overall water shoe.
We wish that Xtratuf’s original lace-up version of the Riptide weren’t discontinued because this Croc-style slip-on, much like the classic Shania Twain song, didn’t impress us much. We loved the extra-grippy sole but think your money could be better spent elsewhere.
While we loved these water shoes, barefoot shoes aren't for everyone and these are a bit too pricey.
If you want a pair of ultra-light water shoes to strap onto your pack for creek crossings on your backpacking trips this year, this pair of Xero Shoes may be your ideal match. They were durable, grippy and the lightest shoes we tested. That said, they were also some of the most expensive water shoes on our list, and we found them a bit too niche to take home a top award.
There’s a lot to like about Salomon’s Tech Amphib 5, which seemed as grippy and at home out of the water as it was on wet, submerged rocks. Unfortunately, our tester found the heel shape a bit loose and noted that the shoes were one of the slowest to dry, which might be problematic on a multiday lake trip. That being said, these are excellent hybrid shoes for hiking on both dry and wet trails.
