Water Shoes

Recent Water Shoe Reviews

Sockwa G4

A minimalist stream crossing and camp shoe that also works well for sea kayaking. Excellent traction but thin soles don’t give much protection against sharp rocks. Neoprene offers some warmth but can also get moist or clammy. I came across the Sockwa G4 about three years ago in a search for a lightweight shoe for crossing creeks and hanging out at camp on longer hikes where grams matter. I have crossed cold water creeks up to about knee deep and quiet water estuaries up to about crotch deep using… Full review

Pakems Chamonix - Mesh

Chamonix mesh style shoes from Pakems are great water or camp shoes for backpacking. The mesh drains water easily, but the firm, solid sole is contoured to provide good traction. In a pinch, I could hike in them if my hiking shoes failed. Pakems provide a secure platform on slippery rocks and fold flat so they are compact in the pack. They are comfortable to wear in camp. They also make a good travel shoe. Pakems are a packable “real” shoe with a sole and sturdy fabric, but with a clever design… Full review

Simari Water Shoe

I'm always looking for good water shoes to use on my canoe and kayak adventures. Recently a company called SIMARI sent me a pair of water shoes to evaluate. I took the opportunity to try them out on a recent island vacation where I spent most of my time beachcombing and kayaking. For the price (about $20) these are very good water shoes. They are comfortable to wear, have good grip and drain water well, but at first glance, they seem a bit flimsy and only time will tell how durable they are. For… Full review

Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve

Good for creek crossing, quick dry up, but less traction on slick surface. Not for hill terrain. I've just bought the Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve on 20th Oct. 2018. First use was just walk around camp area on concrete pavement which has some dirt on the surfaces. I slipped and nearly fell. Then I went light hiking and crossed some creeks. This time the shoes work quite okay. Second use was on 27th October. This time on uphill terrain and I walked with high awareness. The shoes are not suitable for… Full review

Fitkicks Originals Men's Edition

Lightweight shoes great for water crossings or in camp, but maybe not both in the same day. Solid feeling sole protects the bottom of your feet while light minimalist upper keeps feet clean yet letting them breathe. With most of their weight coming from the footbed, these shoes trade lower weight for less protection. Marketed as a casual shoe for non-specific use, but this review is written based on their use as water and camp shoes. Specs: 8.7oz/247g for the XL size pair on my scale MSRP: $21.99… Full review

Clorts 3H025

This is a review of a water shoe made by the Chinese company CLORTS. These shoes were an unsolicited gift, sent to me by the company. I guess they had seen some of my other reviews on my YouTube channel, "The One Canoe", and wanted me to try out their product as they are new to the North American market. I put the model 3H025A water shoe through its paces on a recent canoe trip on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada. This was the kind of trip where you are constantly in and out of the canoe, so your… Full review

OOFOS OOmg Low Shoe

A terrific water shoe that can double as a recovery camp shoe. Lightweight and doesn't absorb water. Getting ready for a long-distance backpacking trip in the Sierra of California I knew I would need to bring along a shoe for the numerous water crossings I would encounter. Almost reading my mind I got an email from a marketing rep for Oofos with information about their new OOmg Low Shoe. This was the first foray from OOfos into a shoe like sandal. I instantly saw the potential for a combination… Full review

Adidas Terrex Climacool Parley Boat Shoes

These lightweight breathable water shoes drain water out as fast as it can go in. For the ecologically minded, the shoe is made with "Parley Ocean Plastic" recycled from ocean and beach plastic cleanups. The Adidas Terrex Climacool Parley boat shoe is a lightweight, breathable boat shoe that will keep your feet cool and drain water super fast. What caught my eye when I first saw these boat shoes was the fact that they were constructed of a yarn made with "Parley Ocean Plastic". Anything that can… Full review

Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve

Good compromise between a shoe and sandal that works well wet or dry. Background: I have only had these for four months but have walked around 100 km (60 miles). So far they have been very good. I got them for use in water on a trip to Lord Howe Island (World Heritage listed and fabulous—look it up), but my hiking boots fell apart on the first day so I finished up wearing them for everything: hiking, kayaking, coral reef walks, dinner, the lot. Comfort: Great, straight from the box. These are… Full review