Astral Loyak - Women's Review

The classic low-cut shoe, the Loyak, blends remarkable traction and flexibility due to a minimalist design. They feature a stretchy tongue that is stitched around the heel and has thin canvas uppers. Their siped rubber soles deliver superior traction on wet, slippery rocks and rafts.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

We like wearing these shoes. The Loyak's soft footbed, thin uppers, and sticky soles make them feel like an extension of your foot. The tongue is integrated into the uppers, keeping the whole shoe snug around your ankle.

The relatively thin footbed does make for a bit of an issue navigating sharp rocks or gravel terrain. While this gives it incredible sensitivity on slick rocks, it requires you to walk with care. Stiffer outsoles on other models kept our feet happier when walking across such surfaces. They were most comfortable with sockless feet; adding warm layers felt a bit cramped, and they were challenging to put on with the unique construction of the tongue.

While we walked gingerly on pointy rocks, they held up on short scouts and side hikes. We found them a bit too minimalist for more extensive walking, lacking arch support.

Traction

The Loyak is one of the stickiest shoes we tested. Coupled with its sensitivity, we strode confidently onto wet rocks and logs. We navigated a wet gear boat with ease and confidence in our footing.

The outsole is an incredible sticky siped rubber that performs when wet or dry. The lugs are shallow, so while we loved navigating shallow river beds and slippery scouts, they struggled to dig into loose sediment, including sandy and muddy surfaces.

Versatility

The Loyaks look equally as comfortable on a boat as they do at the bank; their quick dry materials make them a great option for travel when one shoe has to fit multiple roles. The slim line profile also makes them easy to stash in a bag without taking up precious space.

They're almost as sensitive and flexible as neoprene booties, but you'd be more apt to wear these around town or to work. Given their ability to pack down to a small size and their low weight, they're a good pick for traveling or extended trips where space is scarce.

Warmth

While it took a lot of red-faced pulling to get a neoprene sock-clad foot into the shoe, the Loyak remained comfortable with layering once on. This ability is thanks to the wide toe box and stretchiness of the mesh. The insole is removable, allowing more room for those truly chilly days. Without adding layers, this model gets chilly quickly due to its thin upper.

However, the mesh and hydrophobic canvas uppers make for an efficiently draining shoe. Some users may consider sizing up if they want to wear this with layers.

Quality of Construction

Due to its minimalist design, the Loyak was not quite as durable as other products we tested. While the stitching and overall quality are sound, we noticed fraying in the canvas and mesh after testing them for a few months on the water. If you expect to be stuffing your toes under the thwart of a raft every day, these are unlikely to hold up for a long season.

The Loyaks aren't meant to be a burly shoe, though. What they lack in durability, they make up for in sensitivity and minimalism. The design and durability of this shoe make it clear they were not made for high-abrasion activities like canyoneering.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity afforded by the thin soles of the Loyak was rivaled only by the neoprene booties we tested. It felt like your whole foot was making contact with surfaces, allowing for great balance and confidence navigating shallow creekbeds and slippery rocks. We enjoyed wearing these on our stand-up paddle board as they provided great connectivity and control.

These were some of the only shoes we tested that we felt confident would not come off in a whitewater swim. Given their flexibility, they curved around logs and rocks easily for better balance.

Should You Buy the Astral Loyak?

With remarkable traction and comfort, the women's Astral Loyak is a great choice for water lovers. They fit snugly with bare feet and warm layers, and their canvas and mesh construction drains water efficiently. They offer sensitivity and flexibility on par with a neoprene bootie, but are stylish-looking enough to be worn around town and to work. For a high-performing, low-profile shoe, you'll want the Astral Loyak. Above the average performance of products we tested, the Astral Loyak seems right on target regarding their price. They are reliable on the water and look good in street clothes. Their water-to-street versatility makes them a great value. Coupled with Astral's stellar warranty, the Loyaks are a great shoe for those looking for the step between a more inexpensive neoprene bootie and a burlier water shoe. And we applaud Astral's successful attempt to make an athletic and aesthetic shoe.

What Other Water Shoes Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a more basic and budget shoe, the DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying may be your best option, delivering surprising comfort and performance in most environments. These quick-drying shoes were some of the lightest we tested, their only significant drawback being their ability to collect rocks in the quick drain holes in the sole. For those seeking more warmth, the NRS Kicker Wetshoe is a simple neoprene bootie with a wallet-loving price tag and a useful design that can meet most needs with good traction and warmth. While not as high-scoring as the Loyak, the bootie could meet your needs well at a lower price if you don't need a substantial shoe.