The 6 Best Men’s Water Shoes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Oct 17, 2024

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These shoes will keep you stable and protected, through light puddles or heavy currents.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Clay Halton

Having fun in the water is a summertime staple. Whether it’s at the beach during a family vacation or a weekend on your friend’s boat, there’s something spiritual about being in nature’s swimming pools. But without the right gear, you may risk cuts, bruises, and perhaps even some nibbles.

We found and tested out some of the most popular water shoes available for men today, putting them through almost every imaginable circumstance like Connecticut’s rocky beaches, North Carolina’s beautiful lakes, rivers, and more. The six shoes below are the best we found for protection, traction, durability, and comfort.

They’re a great value from one of the best names in water sports gear.

Water does collect in the toe box, adding a bit of weight before fully draining.

We think the Speedo Men’s Surf Knit Pro is the overall best water shoe you can get. It features a breathable polyester upper and a water-resistant outsole that provides the grip you need in multiple water types. We tested these on several kayaking excursions, wearing them on wet rocks, muddy banks, and more and always felt confident in their stability. Their ergonomic design hugs your feet, sealing comfortably around the ankle to prevent sand or small rocks from getting in, and the toe box prevents irksome toe stubs. Perfect to take to the swimming pool or the beach, these shoes particularly excel at keeping water out. We found the outsole did a great job of preventing water buildup, allowing for water to quickly drain from the shoe.

At a very affordable price and offered in five different designs, these quick-drying shoes offer great traction, durability, and versatility — perfect for all of your aquatic adventures.

The Details: Size 7-14 | 1 pound | Polyester and rubber

They work in casual settings as well, eliminating the need to change shoes.

They’re a little hard to put on and take off.

The Columbia Men’s Drainmaker XTR shoes made it to our list thanks to their sneaker-like comfort, quick drying time, and rugged construction. Designed to endure different water activities, we tested these while swimming, fishing, and even playing in the pool — and each time we felt extremely confident in their traction and security. The upper features a blend of mesh and webbing to ensure fast drainage and drying, a plus when you have to wear these for multiple days on end and prefer putting on a dry pair of shoes in the morning. Upon testing these during a fishing trip to South Carolina, we completely immersed them in water and they quickly drained, thanks to their specialized venting system.

Available in three stylish colorways and a wide range of sizes (including half sizes), these shoes are a great choice for those looking for something more resembling a true sneaker. The main thing to consider with these is we found the laces a bit difficult to tie at some points (especially with wet and cold hands), so a quick-lace system would be a nice iteration.

The Details: Size 7-15 | 1.2 pounds | Mesh, webbing, and rubber

They’re strong but not bulky.

These are open-toed sandals, so if you are looking for closed-toe protection, these may not be for you.

The Chaco Men’s Rapid Pro comes with adjustable, quick-drying straps to fit all types of feet comfortably. Made for things like paddle boarding and water exploration, these sandals offer supreme traction with its durable Vibram outsole. In testing, we wore these while walking around the city (they were even worn during a quick downpour, on wet cement and grass) and completely submerged them in a pool for about an hour. We found the footbed to dry off almost instantly while the straps took about an hour. Its small buckle provides customization for different foot widths and the sizing is accurate — we also felt like our feet were secure and always in place.

Available in two sporty designs and nine different sizes, the Rapid Pros may be one of the most versatile sandals on the market, let alone water shoes. Although they were made to meet all your needs in the water, they can also work as casual shoes, as we found out through our trial period.

The Details: Size 7-15 | 1.3 pounds | Jacquard webbing, EVA, and rubber

Breathable, lightweight, and washable, they can be used for everything from the pool to the sauna.

They can be hard to get on and off because the foam is pretty sturdy.

The Kane Revives are dubbed “active recovery shoes,” with special bumps on the footbed designed to encourage blood flow, and we think this sets them up to be incredibly versatile. Made of washable, quick-drying, and lightweight EVA foam, the Revives don’t have any laces or buckles, yet feet remain stable and supported. We wore them at a rocky Connecticut beach, around New York City (subway ride included), and after playing golf, and our feet stayed perfectly comfortable. Made for women and men and offered in over twenty different funky styles, the Revive provides great support, easy wear, and ultimate waterproofing and drainage.

The Details: Size 3-18 | 8.6 ounces | EVA foam

You can wear them as regular shoes or as slip-ons, thanks to the collapsible heel.

While technically a water shoe, the footbed retained a bit of water that needed more time to dry.

Whether you’re going from beach to bar or lake to lounge, the OluKai Nohea Moku is your right-hand shoe for transitioning from water activities to casual wear. With a versatile style that’ll probably match anything in your wardrobe, these shoes feature a quick-drying, breathable mesh upper. The rubber outsole provides the grip you need, though we wouldn’t recommend doing anything too intense in them — in our testing we found them to be great for street wear or floating in the pool. We think these are some of the most comfortable, well-built boat shoes we’ve tried.

In addition to all the things that make the Nohea Moku a great water shoe in its own right, OluKai offers a one-year warranty and free 30-day exchanges should you have any hiccups.

The Details: Size 7-16 | 14 ounces | Mesh and rubber

Their peppermint-based anti-odor technology and rugged outsole make them the perfect water sandal.

Because of the side cutouts, the shoes tend to capture sand and small rocks.

Made of a quick-drying mesh upper and a soft microfiber interior, the Teva Men’s Outflow Universal water Sandals are created for those who like to hike and play in the water on the same trip. Their EVA midsole and cushioned topsole help make them extremely responsive while their patterned rubber outsole provides the necessary grip for a wide range of conditions. During testing, which included a rainy hike and a beach stroll, we always felt like our feet were supported and protected (especially our toes, thanks to the closed-toe design). And despite their rugged sole and durable design, they were surprisingly light.

Interestingly, the Tevas feature an anti-odor technology that prevents unwanted smells, a big plus if you’re worried about crude smells from muddy lakes. Finally, the bungee cord laces are a nice addition to keep your foot snug and secure.

The Details: Size 7-14 | 11.1 ounces | Recycled polyester mesh, EVA, and rubber

If you’re looking for something different than the above styles, we found this shoe to have some fit issues, but it may be right for you if you have a wider foot.

Tropicfeel AT X: We really liked how quickly the Tropicfeel AT X drained water and provided enough support and comfort to be considered a reliable water shoe. However, priced at well over $100, we thought these should have offered more features and functionality to justify their cost.

Our Travel + Leisure testers took each pair of water shoes on hikes and long walks on the beach for a two-week period.Throughout every situation, we focused on comfort, fit, durability, drainage, traction, and more. Our reviewers wore them on boats, at lakes, around town, and in more scenarios you’d find yourself in when wearing water shoes. We will continue wearing these shoes for a period of six months to collect further insights.

Shoes in general already need to fit well to reduce your risk of injury. With water shoes, the right size is all the more important because you’ll be walking on uneven ground and, oftentimes, small pebbles or jagged rocks. Water shoes should be snug, but not too tight, so when they get wet they don’t slip off.

Optimizing your footwear for a light day at the beach or pool calls for a different pair of water shoes than if you’re hiking or moving around in more aggressive water like a river. Make sure to look for shoes that have the right features for your most intense activity — you don’t want to get caught in extremely strong currents with sandals.

Travel + Leisure / Eric Stegeman

Because the surfaces you’ll be walking on will be extra slippery, a strong grip is necessary. Look for slip- and abrasion-resistant rubber outsoles that can handle smooth, slimy surfaces so you stay safe and standing.

Waterproof shoes are made to keep water out completely while water shoes are designed to handle water. Water shoes tend to look more like socks, whereas waterproof shoes can be regular athletic shoes or hiking boots made with special materials like Gore-tex.

Yes, because water shoes are designed to be worn without socks, interior comfort is a top priority. Though sometimes, your feet can feel constricted due to the need for a snug, secure fit.

Water shoes are designed for use in and around water, so wearing them during casual activities like walking shouldn’t be a problem for them. However, it’s best to err on the side of limited everyday use in order to ensure their longevity.

For this story, writer Joe Niehaus sifted through T+L testing feedback and results to determine the best pairs of water shoes for every scenario. He also tested some of these water shoes during his own adventures. Joe is an international traveler and outdoor enthusiast and understands what users need when it comes to high-quality water shoes.

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