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Who doesn’t love spending time near the sea? Whether we’re relaxing on the beach, splashing in the waves or partaking in our favourite water sport, there’s just something about good ol’ H20 that revitalises both mind and spirit. However, if your local body of water is a bit rocky, then late-night walks along the beach with your trouser legs rolled up and feet in the water aren’t an option.
Well, they weren’t, not until the divine intervention of water, or aqua shoes. Like a trainer-flip flop hybrid, they'll prevent you from losing your footing and standing on uncomfortable objects. To help you navigate the waters, read on to discover the best men's and women's water sandals and shoes from Amazon and eBay for your next swimming, snorkelling or kayaking adventure.
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Water shoes can be a great accompaniment for any type of beach or water-bound trip, but some nuances make different styles better for different occasions. In our buying guide, we’ll be looking at this among the other main factors one needs to consider before hitting ‘Add to Basket’.
The first thing to consider is the different style of water shoes. Luckily, the inventors of such magic kept things pretty simple, so the silhouettes mirror those of everyday shoes or trainers, and often have the same benefits.
The most common water shoe is a standard lower-cut type, much like a trainer. These will consist of an upper which is cut around the ankle and some type of fastening system across the bridge, a sole, and often a pull-up tab on the heel to help put them on.
These are probably the best choice if you want something that you can wear in the sea or on a walk as they’re more protective than other options. Plus, you’ll still be able to nip into a café at the end of your day without looking too strange.
The next option is the far more casual slip-on. These have the same silhouette as a lower-cut shoe, only without the fastening system. Instead, these water shoes will use a more elasticated material to stay securely on your feet.
This style is a smart choice if you want to keep the cost down as they’re usually the cheapest option, making them a great pick for the odd beach holiday. However, they’re not as versatile and won't fare as well if you have to hike to your secret swimming spot.
Although they're certainly considered invaluable to some water sport enthusiasts, your least versatile option is water boots. This style of water shoe is ideal for teaming with a wet suit if you're heading out scuba diving, surfing or snorkelling. Owing to this, they're usually made of sturdier materials and use either a zip or Velcro closure.
These can be on the pricey side, so you’ll want to be sure that you’re going to get the most out of them and that you really do require that much protection. But one dip in the North sea without them, even in summertime, and you'll understand the qualities they bring to the table.
Often the upper material of a water shoe is determined by the style. For example, low-cut casual styles will tend to be made from synthetic materials. This could be nylon, polyester, PVC or another fibre, but they all share similar qualities: they're breathable, lightweight and quick-drying.
As mentioned, with slip-ons you can expect to see more elasticated materials such as lycra or spandex. This switch is logical – the user needs the stretchiness to slip them on, but the material also has to bounce back to keep the shoe in place. Just be aware that they're usually a little thinner so may not offer as much protection.
You can expect boots to be made from the same material as wetsuits: Neoprene, which retains heat well and provides ample protection. If they aren’t made from Neoprene, then they'll be EVA. This fabric has a similar texture only without the heat retention, but they can be a good cheaper alternative.
When considering the sole material of your water shoes, there is one clear winner to look out for: gum rubber. Manufacturers choose this material due to its slip-resistance and durability, which should ensure that it will be a long time before you feel any sharp stones on your feet again.
The only time this could change is if you are opting for some boots, in which case you can look for EVA or TPR. Both materials are slightly more flexible, which in turn gives those jumping up on a surfboard a little more freedom. Plus, they’re also lighter, which again has its advantages when swimming or partaking in water sports.
If you’re already thinking of opting for some slip-on water shoes, then you can go ahead and skip this section altogether. If not, and you’re in the market for some with fastening closures, then you’ll likely want to know your options.
For low-cut shoes, the best type of fastening system is speed laces. They're structured like a regular shoelace, using eyelets. Where they differ though, is that they have a simple toggle which can be squeezed and pulled until they’re tight and comfortable, instead of needing to be tied each time.
The other options, Velcro or zips, are more likely to be found on boots. However, there is the possibility of crossover onto lower styles. These are both solid options, but they are known to collect dirt. You’ll want to make sure that you stay on top of cleaning them, otherwise, you might be unable to close them properly after a while.
While not extremely important, additional features are always nice, so we’ve found a couple worth keeping an eye out for.
For standard styles or slip-ons, check to see if there's an additional drainage feature. These will come in the form of little holes on the sole of the shoe. This addition will stop the build-up of water, reduce the risk of bacteria growing (no smelly shoes!) and help them to dry quicker.
If you're after some boots, you could see if they have any additional heating tech. This will, as you probably guessed, help keep your pads warm even when you’re deep below, or far behind, the waves.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mabove Quick Dry Water Shoes | £20.99 High Mid | Do Anything, Go Anywhere | ||
2 | Vifuur Water Sports Shoes | £12.88 Mid | Have a Little Fun With the Numerous Design Options | ||
3 | Raoendis Water Shoes | £19.99 High Mid | Quick-Drying, Breathable and Comfortable | ||
4 | Osprey OSX Aqua Wetsuit Boots | £9.99 Low Mid | Keeping the Cost Down for Those Starting in Water Sports | ||
5 | IceUnicorn Sports Aqua Shoes | £26.99 High Mid | Who Says You Can't Have Style and Functionality? | ||
6 | Lvptsh Aqua Shoes | £17.49 Mid | A Sturdy Hybrid Built for All Marine Terrains | ||
7 | Saguaro Non-Slip Shoes | £13.99 Mid | Your New Favourite Summer Beach Slippers | ||
8 | Nalu Hook and Loop Wetsuit Shoes | £6.95 Low Mid | Cleverly Designed to Dry Quickly and Keep Feet Cool | ||
9 | JIASUQI Aqua Socks | £6.99 Low Mid | A Lightweight Pair That Are Ideal for Mud and Guck | ||
10 | Gul Neoprene Wetsuit Boots | £40.35 High | Warm, Technical and Secure Water Boots |
Ensuring a safe experience every time, this pair from Mabove offer practically everything you could ever want from their purchase. Following the brand's vision of 'Do Anything, Go Anywhere', this multifunctional pair are astute in any water-based scenario, whether you're pottering through a local lake or riding onboard your well-earned yacht.
Using the versatile lower style, the shoes are practical and utilise all the high-quality materials one would expect from a leading brand. On top of this, as far as water shoes go, they don't look too bad either, maintaining a classy-yet-attractive look with their bursts of bright colours on black.
They might be bold, bright and possibly a little garish. But, the rules change when it comes to water shoes, and who is to say that they can't be a little fun? So with this in mind, we've opted for the Deepsea colourway on these slip-ons from Vifuur.
If the colourway puts you off, never fear, as there are over 30 different designs to choose from, so you'll no doubt find something you do like. These water shoes use all the best materials that you would expect from a slip-on, including spandex uppers and ergonomically-designed and anti-slip gum rubber soles.
These shoes from Raoendis have been crafted to provide comfort, breathability and to be quick-drying. Lucky for us, they succeed in all three. The synthetic upper is sock-like, particularly when you have fastened up the speed laces, plus they dry speedily due to the material and the inclusion of drainage holes in the sole.
Whether you're swimming, surfing or even playing games such as volleyball on the beach, the thick sole material will keep your feet safe and protected from cuts and scrapes, so you can solely (we're not even sorry) focus on enjoying yourself.
Wetsuit boots can be on the pricey side, but we dug deep and found this decent pair for a very reasonable price. Made from 2 mm-thick EVA foam, these won't keep you as warm as the first boots in our ranking, but they'll still do a decent job.
The TPR material is flexible, but still strong enough to protect against cuts and nicks in the water, and the adjustable velcro strap ensures you can find a comfortable and secure fit. If you're just starting in the world of water sports, whether kayaking, surfing or whatever else and don't want to spend big on everything all at once, these should be perfect for you.
As you may have guessed, water shoes are more about practicality than style, which in fairness is how it should be. Nonetheless, it was a nice surprise it was to come across these beauties from IceUnicorn. With a crisp white and navy colourway, at first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was just your average pair of trainers!
With a little more inspection, you'll find this isn't the case. The rubber sole looks as though it is made to mould to the feet, as does the stretchy lycra upper. With the speed laces, these shoes are going to be quick and easy to get on and off, but most importantly, they're superbly comfortable. Who says you can't have style and functionality?
While we have classified these as a low-style shoe, the truth is, they're closer to a hybrid between a lower and a slip-on. This is because they use a Velcro fastening system as well as a synthetic blended elastic material. All in all, this means a securely-fitted shoe, no matter what you're up to in the water.
Furthermore, these water shoes come with a nice thick rubber sole, so you'll be comfortable tackling all sorts of marine terrain. Our favourite part, though, is the drainage holes which help create a cooler, and healthier, shoe environment.
OK, these may not technically be a water shoe, but that doesn't mean they won't be useful for beach-goers. This set from Saguaro is probably closer to a flip-flop, but they're also very similar to slippers, and what are slippers if not shoes for the house?
These long-lost cousins of the ubiquitous Crocs have been designed with comfort and style in mind. They use an EVA sole, which is unusual for slip-on shoes, but this choice of material provides a little more cosiness than the usual rubber soles. Unfortunately, they aren't won't be as protective as full shoes, so be wary of where you plan to walk in them.
These offerings from Nalu are virtually weightless and available in both kids and adult sizes. They consist of a synthetic upper, but cleverly adopt a mesh-style pattern on the side, which in turn helps to keep your feet cool and speeds up the drying process.
Alongside the upper, there is a supremely-grippy gum rubber sole which has an intricate tread specifically designed to keep the user from falling over. However, due to the low price, again, the materials aren't the most robust. Plus, some reviewers have found that the Velcro makes the shoes a little tight.
If you're looking for a simple little set of water shoes that are perfect for splashing around in muddy rivers, lakes or even the pool, these straightforward slip-ons might be right up your street (or should we say stream?).
You see, these Aqua Socks are ultra-lightweight, so they're ideal for mucky places as they won't get too heavy when caked in mud or sand. However, the featherweight material also means they're not ideal for stonier ground, and its fragility makes them better suited to occasional use.
These Gul water boots are certainly the most technical in our ranking. They come constructed from 5 mm-thick neoprene and feature a durable zip down the inside of the ankle, as well as a Velcro strap for extra security.
On top of this, they have a brilliant and robust 'blindstitch' seam construction and durable non-slip soles. Our only concern is that we couldn't find the material of the soles, which is a shame. Also, while good for the surfers or those needing high protection, they might be a little too practical for most folk reading this.
Surfer, wild swimmer, beach-goer or competitive swimmer, whatever your favourite way to spend time in the water is, you'll need to make sure you have the right gear. Find more of our shopping tips and suggestions below!
Whether you are looking for your first set of water shoes or replacing your old ones, we hope you've been able to see some options that will suit your needs. We're sure that if you keep the points of the buying guide in mind you'll find a quality pair to keep your paws safe, so your only worry will be enjoying yourself!
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: Mabove|Quick Dry Water Shoes
No. 2: Vifuur|Water Sports Shoes
No. 3: Raoendis|Water Shoes
No. 4: Osprey|OSX Aqua Wetsuit Boots
No. 5: IceUnicorn|Sports Aqua Shoes
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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