If you enjoy participating in summer water adventures like kayaking, beach hiking, or snorkeling, you probably already know the importance of water shoes. These innovative shoes are specially designed to give you the traction, grip and protection your feet need in wet environments. Like most footwear options, there are an overwhelming number of women’s water shoes available, and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts have likely found out the hard way that many don’t live up to their claims.
So to find the best water shoes for women, we tapped a team of shoe experts, podiatrists and our own shopping editors to find out exactly how to shop for the perfect pair and which ones they wear themselves. Ready to get started in both water sports and seaside activities? Check out the nine best water shoes for women below.
The Best Water Shoes for Women
Sizes: 6 to 11 | Colors: 27 options | Materials: Rubber, mesh fabric | Closure style: Speed lace | Maintenance tips : Machine washable
These may look like regular sneakers, but they feature a quick-drying mesh upper and a grippy outsole that provides ample traction in wet and slippery conditions. Our deputy business editor, Izabella Zaydenberg, owns a pair and says they’ve always been “comfortable for several hours of wear,” adding that they’ve never caused any irritating chafing or blisters.
Zaydenberg swears by these grippy laces to prevent slipping on wet surfaces and praises them for providing excellent foot protection: “They kept my feet from getting hurt on shells and rocks.”
While they drained extremely well, she noted that the shoe itself took longer than expected to dry completely, but they were still comfortable when wet and didn’t make any strange noises. And she’s not the only one who’s a fan: over 15,500 Amazon shoppers have also given these cute water shoes their stamp of approval.
- Drain quickly
- Comfortable
- Support
- Very protective
- Good traction
- Some buyers said it took longer than expected to dry completely
Sizes: 6 to 11 | Colors: 2 options | Materials: Synthetic materials | Closure style: Speed lace | Maintenance tips : Hand washing
“The Techamphibian 5 are great slip-on water shoes that drain and dry extremely quickly and feature Salomon’s signature Contagrip outsole that grips rocks and slippery surfaces really well,” Ashleigh McClary, Gearhead at Backcountry.
They have an adjustable heel and quick-release laces, so they’re easy to put on and adjust for the perfect fit – and they’re just as easy to take off. Additionally, their ultra-rugged sole makes them a highly protective option for rocky beaches or those known for containing sharp objects. Their quick-drying upper makes them an ideal choice for water sports and traversing riverbeds and rocky shores.
“Your foot remains protected, but it’s so ventilated that you’ll barely notice you’re wearing shoes, unlike flip-flops,” says McClary.
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