The 3 Best Water Shoes for Women

Best All Round Women's Watershoe

Astral Loyak - Women's

Weight per pair: 0.87 lbs (size 8 US) | Drainage: Holes at toe and heel

Our favorite all-around women's water shoe is the Astral Loyak. Our testers love this low-profile and lightweight canvas shoe for days when you're regularly in and out of the water. The large contact surface of the siped outsole boasts the best traction of any model we tested when it comes to gaining purchase on wet rocks. One of our testers said, “I'm impressed with the traction of these shoes, wet or dry!” Thanks to a thin, removable insole, they are also quite sensitive, which helps you quickly adjust your balance. Most of our testers think they look and feel like shoes but perform similarly to neoprene booties.

The main drawbacks of the Loyak are their warmth and durability. Our lead tester noted, “I found it tough to fit any significant layers inside this shoe, and the thin upper doesn't provide much insulation.” Depending on when and where you intend to wear these, this problem may not be an issue for you, but it is worth considering if you plan to paddle in colder waters. A shoe you can layer in, like the DLGJPA Lightweight, might be a better choice if you need a little extra warmth for your adventure. The quick-drying mesh upper of the Loyak is also prone to wear and tear quickly. If a burlier shoe is what you're looking for, the Astral Rassler 2.0 might be best for you. All things considered, we still love these lightweight, low-profile shoes that function in a variety of different situations.

Read more: Astral Loyak review

Best Bang for the Buck

DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying - Women's

Weight per pair: 0.44 lbs (size 8 US) | Drainage: Mesh on upper, drainage holes on sole

Offering high-end comfort and decent traction on rafts and wet rocks, the DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying shoe proved to be an exceptional high-value budget option in our testing. “While the construction quality was not the same as some others, they did what I needed them to do when I needed it most,” one of our testers noted. They were great while our testers navigated a muddy shore and pulled a canoe up a muddy island to the takeout. They work pretty well for hiking rocky streams and are surprisingly comfortable, with a cushioned insole and flexible outsole.

With a higher heel, we found the DLGJPA Lightweight shoes lack some sensitivity, making it a little more difficult to keep footing on slippery rocks and wet raft tubes. We also noticed that small rocks and sand managed to get through the drain holes, sticking into the shoe and sometimes poking through the mesh. “These shoes don't transition to shore as well as some other options, but they would be great for a beach vacation or leisurely kayak trip,” our lead tester said. If you need a shoe that offers more durability, you might consider the Astral Brewess 2.0 or the Chaco Canyonlands. Either of these will do better on amphibious adventures. However, if you need a casual water shoe and don't want to break the bank, the DLGJPA Lightweight might be just the pick for the job.

Read more: DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying Review

Best for Sensitivity

NRS Kicker Wetshoe - Women's

Weight per pair: 1.7 lbs (size 8 US) | Drainage: None

The NRS Kicker Wetshoe impressed testers with great sensitivity. Having the ability to feel the ground beneath you can help you keep your balance on slick or tricky-to-navigate surfaces. Being made from flexible neoprene and rubber, these shoes conform around rocks and other surfaces to help you keep your footing. Our main tester said, “It's not possible to layer these booties on colder days, but they did a pretty impressive job on their own keeping my feet warm.”

With a shoe that's so sensitive to the ground underfoot, we wouldn't recommend wearing the NRS Kickers on sharp, pointy rocks. Our testers found them very uncomfortable on harsher terrain, plus they don't seem durable enough to withstand much abrasion. “These aren't the shoes I would pick for a sidehike,” our tester said. The Chaco Canyonlands, however, are a great option for those amphibious excursions and will stand up better to rougher terrain. Still, if your adventure will keep you out on the waves or in the river, the NRS Kicker will let you feel what's beneath your feet.

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	80	Astral Loyak - Women's Best All Round Women's Watershoe	$99
	75	Astral Rassler 2.0 - Women's	$150
	74	Astral Brewess 2.0	$125
	74	Xero Aqua X Sport - Women's	$130
	67	Chaco Canyonland - Women's	$110
	66	NRS Kicker Wetshoe - Women's Best for Sensitivity	$70
	64	Keen Newport H2 - Women's	$130
	62	DLGJPA Lightweight Quick Drying - Women's Best Bang for the Buck	$30
	62	Aleader Slip-on	$37
	56	Body Glove 3T Barefoot Cinch - Women's	$50

How We Tested

We spent a lot of time splashing around to test shoes for this review. From hiking on muddy trails, to a 24-day trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. We thoroughly evaluated these shoes in the best way we know how – by getting out on the water.

We performed more than 15 individual assessments on each pair during testing. The most critical metrics we assessed were comfort and traction, together equaling 50% of the total weighted score. We wore them on short canyoneering adventures, strode around sandy beaches, waded through shallow creeks, navigated mossy shorelines, and scrambled about an 18-foot rubber gear boat. We were on the water in weather ranging from 80°F and sunny to 25°F mornings with icy put-ins. We sought out the opinions of fellow water enthusiasts about what is important to them in their water shoes and kept these points in mind as we evaluated our lineup side-by-side. See more in our How We Test article.

Our in-depth review of water shoes breaks down into six performance metrics:

• Comfort (25% of overall score weighting)

• Traction (25% weighting)

• Versatility (15% weighting)

• Warmth (15% weighting)

• Quality of Construction (10% weighting)

• Sensitivity (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

This review is led by Sara James and Monica Nigon. With two decades of river experience under her shoes, Sara has tested this gear on committing Class V rivers in California, hiking adventures in the Himalayas and tranquil days in her backyard in Tahoe. As an avid kayaker with a love for photographing river adventures, scrambling on rocks in precarious situations is Sara's happy place and having the right shoes is essential. She also tests kayaks, paddles, dry bags, and cargo boxes.

A passionate whitewater raft guide on the Colorado River, Monica grew up kayaking and canoeing on the rivers and lakes of her home state of Minnesota – she is quite familiar with water activities in all types of extreme weather conditions. Monica has rafted all over the world, from trips in New Zealand to expeditions down the Grand Canyon, and has instructed flat-water kayaking and canoeing to all ages.

Analysis and Test Results

After our months-long testing period, we reviewed our notes and assessments to determine which shoes work best for specific purposes on and off the water. Below, we describe our six scoring metrics and which models stood out in each. Depending on your choice of activity in the water, you may find one particular aspect more important than another, so keep these preferences in mind as you choose the best shoe for you.

What's the Best Value?

Value depends on how you want to use your new water shoes. You can get quick-drying mesh shoes for a low price, but these don't offer much support or comfort in challenging terrain. If you need shoes that can protect your toes on a side hike, you'll want something more versatile, but that increased versatility will likely come with a higher price tag. If you're doing more of a water-accessed canyoneering or hiking trip, it's worth spending the extra money on a more durable shoe. For example, while the Astral Rassler and Chaco Canyonland may be two of the most expensive shoes in our lineup, they are also among the most durable. This may make them the best value for you if you intend to use them in water and on land for side hikes and exploring.

At lower price points, you will likely sacrifice some versatility and durability. For example, the NRS Kicker packs a punch for the price with great traction and impressive warmth. And while it performs excellently on the water, it's just a neoprene bootie with a rubber sole, so they don't stretch to service beyond the boat — they certainly aren't the water shoes you want to wear on a long side hike. An option like the DLGJPA Water Shoes or Aleader Slip-On are both featured at a nice price point, but likely won't stand up against the wear and tear of regular river use. However, for casual water pursuits, these options may be completely adequate.

Comfort

We wore these shoes extensively in and out of the water to evaluate how they felt on variable terrain, including slippery trails, wet rocks, and mossy logs. We considered adjustability, including how comfortable a shoe is to wear with socks.

We prefer the Chaco Canyonlands for hikes with creek crossings. The cushioning in these shoes makes them super comfortable and lends arch support. While the NRS Kicker is comfortable sitting in a boat, these glorified booties lack the cushion for longer scouts and portages. Their sensitivity and sock-like fit are a boon for water but are just not ideal for on-land use.

A shoe isn't comfortable if the inside is sloshing around with water all day – they need to drain well and dry quickly. In this regard, we particularly like the Astral Loyak and Astral Brewess 2.0, which both utilize outsole drainage and quick-drying mesh. Likewise, the DLGJPA and Aleader Slip-On feature effective drainage through the sole and the mesh upper. These shoes drained almost instantaneously, taking much less time than other models to dry once back on land.

Comfort is usually the first thing to consider when deciding on a new pair of kicks. We don't want this to impede you from enjoying any adventure. You may find your feet in extreme environments, including very cold water, sandy or rocky lake bottoms, and muddy or root-strewn river banks.

Traction

Trusting that your shoe will hold you in place on slippery terrain is critical. In whitewater environments, you need to know that a simple scout on wet rocks won't result in an unintentional swim or an injury. You may need to be able to set safety support in a critical spot that is challenging to access and requires you to have assured footing. Even if you have a more leisurely day planned by the river with friends, no one wants to be left slipping around on rocks or sliding down a muddy embankment head.

Despite being a low-profile shoe, the Loyak still performs when it comes to traction. Sporting Astral's industry-leading Flexi-grip, the outsole of the Astral Loyak also offers great grip on hard surfaces. However, it lacks the lug depth for gripping well during a sandy scout. Some users noted that after heavy use in gritty conditions, the Loyak's grip can wear down and become a slick slipper; however, we didn't experience any problems during our testing.

The Brewess also sports Astral's superior grip but with a deeper lug pattern that makes it slightly less grippy on smooth rocks but overall more grippy in a wider variety of environments, particularly more sandy or muddy conditions.

The updated NRS Kicker rated higher in traction than the previous model, thriving on hard surfaces, which is typical of a river bootie. But their shallower lugs don't lend themselves well to digging into dirt or sand. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the traction was on the budget DLGJPAs and Aleader Slip On, surpassing many shoes that cost much more.

We tested these shoes on many surfaces with the very real danger of slipping. These included icy trails, slick rafts, slippery rocks on the shore, and soggy, muddy side hikes. If you are just as likely to walk along a rocky river bed as a muddy takeout, it's essential that shoes can grip well on both hard and soft surfaces.

Versatility

A more sport-specific shoe like the NRS Kicker is the best choice for in-water use thanks to its sock-like fit, flexibility, and swimming performance. But most of us want one shoe that can do more, and the Chaco Canyonlands earns our wholehearted recommendation for versatility. We reached for this shoe when portaging, approaching the crag for a down-day climb, and to our favorite post-river watering hole. They're comfortable for a variety of activities without sacrificing performance on the river.

Similarly, the Loyak thrives in the water and for casual wear. Its Flexi-grip outsole sticks like adhesive to a raft or rocks, and its design passes as a regular street shoe. However, it lacks the cushioning and support necessary for long hikes or hours standing on your feet.

For a shoe to be versatile, we want to be able to wear it all day. This means it must drain efficiently and dry quickly, which is one feature we particularly loved about the Astral Brewess 2.0. Because of its quick-drying synthetic mesh upper, this shoe drained quickly and dried out nearly as fast. This ability allowed us to seamlessly transition from the river to post-trip hangout without enduring the discomfort of soggy feet. We put them on in the morning, waded around a slippery boat ramp to launch a canoe, went on a muddy side hike, and hung out at the end of a long, satisfying day on the water, all without changing our shoes.

For the general water enthusiast, versatility is key to getting the most out of your purchase. Not only do we want these shoes to perform well when wet, but we often want to wear them for off-the-water activities as well.

Warmth

We love the NRS Kicker for keeping our feet warm with bare feet. This bootie-like shoe utilizes neoprene and your body heat to warm the water and insulate your feet, just like a wetsuit does. That said, river booties like these are meant to fit like a sock, so it was difficult to add anything more than a thinner wool sock for those truly frigid mornings when we needed an extra layer.

We also appreciate comfortable shoes that ventilate well for warmer days or lots of time spent on dry land. These shoes drain well and dry out quickly, with a looser fit that doesn't irritate the skin of our bare feet. Our favorites for these types of days are the Astral Loyak and Brewess 2.0. Both Astral shoes were ideal on toasty floats in the desert Southwest, providing good airflow and drying quickly enough to prevent pruney toes.

You'll likely have to slog through water of questionably cold temperatures at some point in your aqua career. To better prepare for those frigid days, we looked for shoes with sound insulation and enough adjustability for layering. We either want to be well-insulated while barefoot, be able to add thick wool or neoprene socks, or don a drysuit without feeling constricted or having to struggle to pull our shoes on and off.

Quality of Construction

Compared to other shoes we tested, the Chaco Canyonlands and Astral Rasslers led the pack in this metric. Both stood up to heavy use without quick deterioration. The thicker soles allowed us to jump on sharp rocks and stumble over sticks without fear of injury.

After extended use, many of the other shoes tested showed signs of fraying, particularly on the mesh portions of the shoe. The more burly material and stitching used on the Canyonlands and Rasslers meant that these shoes faired much better. We also appreciated the classic lace-up closure; while you might have to do a double knot, it's less likely to wear out than a thin cinch mechanism.

River shoes are subject to a lot of abuse, but you still don't want to buy a new shoe every year because of holes, broken laces, or separated outsoles. Walking along abrasive rocks, swimming rapids, and exploring canyons can wear shoes down quickly. Even if a shoe has an impressive warranty, sending them in and waiting for a new pair is a hassle – potentially leaving you to miss out on an excursion while you wait.

Sensitivity

The most sensitive shoes in our lineup are the NRS Kicker and the Body Glove 3T Barefoot Cinch. The neoprene sock-like fit of booties allowed them to curve easily around logs and rocks, allowing us to deftly navigate a rocky walk to a favorite kayaking play wave. However, anything longer than that 100-yard approach would have caused pain and irritation.

The Astral Loyak also scored highly in this metric, with a thin midsole that is just 5.5mm thick. They were flexible enough to bend around rocks and roots, offering slightly more protection than the Kicker or the Barefoot Cinch. They're a classic kayaking shoe: sensitive enough to navigate shorelines and put-ins but too sensitive to wear for long scouts, and not protective enough for canyons.

More substantial shoes like the Chaco Canyonlands or Astral Brewess 2.0 are good for activities where you're likely to walk as much as you are to float. The specialty-molded “LuvSeat” midsole of the Canyonlands provides protection without sacrificing much sensitivity.

In water sports, you'll often have to navigate uneven and rough terrain on scouts, over portages, and through canyons. Good balance and body awareness in this situation are critical. Differences in sensitivity can mean the difference between a wipeout and deftly navigating a shallow riverbed. But a shoe that is too sensitive often lacks versatility and may even be painful to wear – it's a delicate balance.

Conclusion

On the water, your kicks can either enhance or detract from your experience. We tested some of the best models on the market, evaluating them on criteria that most river rats find most important. We hope our in-depth, independent analysis will help you buy the best shoe for your watery pursuits. Happy paddling!