The 10 Best Kayaking Shoes: Kayak Water Shoe Reviews
Ready to go kayaking but found yourself standing on the edge of the water with bare feet? It sounds like you're in need of some water shoes for kayaking. But not any shoes for kayaking, the greatest, most magnificent, the very best shoes for kayaking you could possibly hope for! But how will you find the best kayaking shoes for you?
Have no fear, KayakBuds are here, and we have created this handy buying guide to help you, yes you, to find the best kayaking water shoes on the market whether you're after women's kayaking shoes or kayak shoes for men. We have the shoes for you.
However, first, we should look into what shoes to wear kayaking and what types of shoes you need for the types of weather and terrain you may intend to tackle.
Let's take a look at our buying guide and dive straight in.
Why Types of Shoes Do I Need For Kayaking?
Kayaking is such a fun sport and can be made even more enjoyable when wearing comfortable fit and useful kayaking shoes.
Water shoes for kayaking have become an essential accessory in any kayakers' kit bag. The best water shoes for kayaking will provide comfort, protection and keep your feet secure, toasty and dry.
The type of water shoe you pick roughly depends on the temperature you intend to be paddling in. Most shoe manufacturers tailor their designs to the temperature of the water. If you’re looking for warmth, you'll want to look for airflow.
It also depends on the type of kayaking you want to do. For whitewater rafting, low-profile shoes would be better as they often have good grip and are easy to slip in and out of the boat. However, always be aware that you may need to go ashore unexpectedly and climb over rocks so you need some with a little protection such as rubber outsole. On the other hand, if you are going to complete long river runs or overnight tours, you will require a shoe that can be comfortable all day while going in and out of water as well as being suitable for walking.
Why Does The Weather Matter?
When searching for the best water shoe for you, it is essential to consider the weather you'll most likely be kayaking in, the terrain your shoes will face, and the temperature of the water you're paddling in.
The last thing you want is to be caught with shoes that have smooth thin soles with no grip if you need to be clambering up slippery rocks or walking across pebbly beaches in the freezing cold, finding they provide no insulation to keep your feet warm. Then to find you have to wade into the icy water to catch your kayak from floating away with the tide. In this scenario, your feet will be unhappy, wet, and frozen solid.
In order to get the most out of your water shoes, you need to research your kayaking trip and the type of terrain that you will be tackling. Otherwise you'll be caught out up the creek without your shoes never mind without a paddle!
How to Choose the Best Kayaking Shoes?
Before purchasing the best kayaking shoes for you, it's essential to consider the materials, temperature, protection, water resistance, or draining as well as size, fit, shoe height, and design. Luckily, we've collated everything you need to know, so you're not going into purchasing blind.
Materials
Usually, kayaking shoes will be made from neoprene. This is the same material used when making wetsuits, and it's perfect for kayaking shoes because of its flexible, non-slip, and lightweight properties.
Some manufacturers sometimes combine the neoprene with materials like titanium to ensure better performance and increased durability.
Neoprene is a warm and breathable fabric which tends to keep you at a generally comfortable temperature whatever the weather presents.
Kayaking shoe soles are made using tough rubber, much like lots of regular shoes, to protect the sole of your feet from any harm while walking on rough terrain or jagged river or sea beds.
Terrain, Weather, Temperature
How to find the best type of shoe you need for the temperature it will likely be when you're paddling?
If you're looking for the best shoes for canoeing in low icy cold freezing temperatures, you'll want to look for something with thickness and insulation to keep your feet dry and warm, especially in cold water. There's also an option of kayaking booties to wrap the warmth around and further up your leg.
If you're looking for the best kayak shoes for hot summer weather, you will want to look for a breathable material or perhaps some sandals for kayaking to truly let your feet breathe.
As for the terrain, you need to consider the grip of the shoe before tackling jagged rocks or slippery mossy stones. It is crucial to have as much grip as possible as kayakers often face slippery situations. The combination of moss, rocks, smooth surfaces, and water is something not to overlook when looking at a shoes grip.
Protection
Aside from warmth, the primary purpose of a kayaking shoe is to protect your feet. The rubber sole needs to be thick enough to block any sharp impact to your feet inside and textured enough to aid your grip on the terrain.
The thickness of the fabric will aid protection against the cold and protect your feet from the cold water.
Water Resistance and Water Draining
Speaking of protecting your feet from the water, you may want to consider the importance of water resistance when you're looking for the best kayak shoes. If you intend to buy a summer pair of kayaking shoes, water resistance may not matter to you as much as some kayaking shoes with breathability and drainage. In fact, some water seeping into the shoes might be a welcome cooling surprise in the hot weather.
Size and Fit
Kayaking shoes should feel like a second skin. A very snug fit with no gaps so you can avoid any chaffing, rubbing, or blistering, which will be inevitable considering the wet environment.
We recommend the try before you buy method to fully ensure the kayaking shoes' comfort and check it's a perfect fit, not too loose and not too constricting.
Shoe Height and Design
As previously said, a kayaking water shoe should fit perfectly, and ideally, they should feel like they aren't even there.
When considering new kayaking water shoes, you'll want to make sure you're looking for the correct height of water shoe for your needs. Kayaking shoes can come in low cut, ankle-high, and knee-high, and all have different uses.
Low Cut
Low cut kayaking shoes are intended for hot sunny weather as they tend to be lightweight, breathable, and thin.
Ankle Height
These kayaking shoes are the most common because they are easy to wear, carry, and they provide a combination of sole protection, breathability, and warmth.
Knee Height
Knee-high kayaking boots are perfect for cold water and winter weather. They usually offer an increased level of water protection. They usually come more insulated and thicker to protect the feet from freezing water.
Zipper
Many shoes have been designed to be easy to slip on and off with the addition of a zipper. Whilst this makes them easy to take on and off, it does allow water into the shoe. In the summer this might be acceptable but in the winter it is unlikely you would want the icy deep flowing into your shoes.
River Sandals
These are a popular option for a more simple paddle, but you should avoid these if you need to do a lot of walking particularly on sandy beaches. The straps on these are also something to be aware of. They can be caught on various obstacles or on items in the boat, especially if it is a sit-in kayak.
It is important to note that if purchasing boots for kayaking, it's best to make sure they don't have any gaps as that can make the difference between a comfortable paddle, especially when they get wet.
Weight and Comfort
The best kayaking shoes should feel like an extra skin. They should feel lightweight and comfortable and as if they aren't there. The last thing you want is for the kayaking shoes to be clunky and heavy, weighing you down when you're wading through the water.
Heel
Some types of kayaking shoe include toe and heel rubber bumpers to aid protection for your feet when facing sharp rock surfaces and tricky terrains.
Traction
The rubber sole of your kayaking shoe needs to have plenty of texture to offer great traction when facing rugged terrain. It would be the same with any shoe. If you were going on a hike, you'd want a hiking boot with the best traction.
You might be tempted to wear flipflops in the hot weather but we don't recommend using them for water sports as they have very little traction and can be slippery and therefore cause injury.
Breathability
If you are after a summer water sports shoe, you'll want to make sure it's breathable. This is why you could consider a kayaking sandal or a breathable water shoe that's quick-drying and drains quickly.
The 10 Best Kayaking Shoes
Now we know what to look for in the best kayaking shoe; let's find the best kayak water shoe for you!
1. Neo Sport Premium Kayaking Shoes
When engaging in water sports, you're going to want a great all-around kayak shoe, and we think we've found the best option. The Neo Sport Premium Kayaking Shoe is a high top boot made from durable 3mm thick neoprene and rubber. The combination of these materials and Neosport's innovative design are specifically manufactured to keep your feet warm.
These kayaking shoes have a heavy-duty zipper and come with a comfortable insert sole, and a high traction sole to provide great protection for your feet and prevent any punctures while also aiding your balance.
In addition to that, the soles and seams on this kayak shoe are glued to reinforce the shoe further so that the water shoe has a long life and a lasting performance.
The Boundary Water Shoe by NRS is a high top warm and waterproof shoe. Intended for warm cold conditions, this kayaking shoe is made with 5mm waterproof neoprene and features glued, double taped, and blind stitched seams to keep your feet dry and warm.
These boots are comfortable, sporting a 7mm neoprene insole that sits on top of a high traction wrap-up sole, ensuring great protection and extra support, the kind of support you would expect from regular shoes or a good friend.
These boots have ladder buckle straps at the tops of the shoes and on the insteps. This will ensure peace of mind when you find yourself trudging through the water and mud that you've not likely to lose your boot!
This is a great boot for winter kayaking and cold weather.
The Aleader Quick Drying Aqua Water Shoes are a great summertime budget kayaking shoe option.
This shoe is stylish with a range of colors available in both men and women. They are manufactured using hydroponic engineered mesh combined with lateral contrast stitching making it lightweight and breathable.
This fabric enables you to swim or kayak until your heart is content without feeling weighed down by a heavy, soggy shoe filled with water.
These kayaking shoes feature FluidFlow technology, where the rubber sole uses a mesh-like rubber pod construction system allowing for easy drainage and a non-slip high traction outsole.
These water shoes are designed specifically for kayaking use but can be a great choice for any other watersport like sailing, stand up paddle boarding, and surfing.
They are manufactured to give you the best traction possible no matter what kind of weather conditions the universe is throwing at you. In wet or wind, these shoes will remain non-slip.
The kayaking shoes are lightweight, breathable, and made using 3mm neoprene, which will help your feet retain the heat your body creates, and it will dry quickly once it's drained. The stitching has been considered as not to encourage any blistering or chaffing, and with a loop and hook strap, you are able to slip the kayaking shoes on and off easily.
The laminated rubber sole provides great traction and won't let you down even in less than perfect wet conditions.
We know what you're thinking. This is a hiking shoe, so why would it be on the best shoes for kayaking list? Well, originally designed as a hiking shoe, the Keen Newport H2 shoes are actually great water shoes as well!
A sandal that's sturdy, comfortable, and quick-drying. Made using a combination of polyester webbing, which is quick-drying and machine washable, an EVA foam cushioning insole for comfort, and a sole, which is razor siping for premium grip quality. The lining ensures dry feet, whether you're paddling in the water or working up a sweat on land.
This is an excellent choice of shoe to ensure the best arch support for your feet as well as outstanding sole grip and comfort.
You may think Crocs have no business getting involved in this buying guide, but we beg to differ! Their swift water shoes are surprisingly good and provide you will all the shoe features you need when out on the water in your kayak.
These shoes come in men's, women's, and kids sizes so you can kit the whole family out. You can use them in the water and on land without concern for comfort and support. They are made using a crosslite material and designed with an easy-draining mesh upper.
These shoes are lightweight and flexible with good traction. The best thing about this shoe is that they are versatile shoes that make them a useful and great purchase.
These water shoes are made with 3mm nylon neoprene and have a thick versatile rubber sole allowing you to go from land to sea feeling comfortable all the time.
If you're looking for a great pair of waterproof shoes that fit snugly and tightly around the ankles keeping any sand or dirt out as well as the cold, these are an excellent choice.
They are comfortable and able to keep your feet warm when conditions are less than ideal.
With a slip-on design, you can slip them on and be on your merry way!
Vibram footwear has a signature look sporting their FiveFinger toe outline, ensuring the shoes fit like a kind of foot glove.
The innovative design keeps the warmth in using a stretchy fabric wrapping around each toe to ensure they are all individually cosy, and with an abrasion-resistant mesh upper, it also remains breathable. No sweaty feet here!
These shoes are thin and flexible making them comfortable for any activities in and out of the boat. They are also slip-resistant because of their wave grip rubber sole making the shoe prepared for any wet surfaces.
The shoes fit snugly and are fastened using a hook and loop system to give a custom fit feeling. They are machine washable on a cold setting and air dry.
This is a great water shoe to feel at one with the earth and as if you are wearing a second skin. Wear these shoes and feel connected to the surface you're walking on.
The STOHLQUIST Tideline ankle cut kayaking boots are reliable and warm.
With a 5mm neoprene upper which wraps around your ankle, the warmth from your natural body heat will be retained and the cold kept out.
These boots are ergonomically designed. You'll feel as if your walking on air. They feature vulcanised rubber outsoles which provide grip when dealing with slippery surfaces and with added heel and toe rubber caps to ensure your non slip safety.
The zippers are non-corrosive and the boots come in men's and women versions.
These boots are durable, comfortable and reliable, you can count on them for traction and warmth. A good purchase for any kayaker.
10. Neosport Low Top
These Neosport Low Top shoes are made using premium quality neoprene, making them warm and breathable and with all of the seams sewn and glued with durable bonded thread these shoes are built to last.
The sole is constructed using a flexible soft thermoplastic rubber which has excellent traction because of their aggressive treads, it should be noted that the soles are slightly thin so not ideal for multi terrain and jagged surfaces. However they are puncture resistant and abrasion resistant.
They use a hook and loop adjustment system for a custom fit feel, and an ankle barrel cinch shock cord to easily slip the shoes on and off.
These are great shoes for a durable, low cut shoe for water sport use only at a reasonable price!
Our Top Pick!
After much consideration and plenty of 'sole searching,' we have sifted through shoes, sandals and booties, looked at surfing, sailing and kayaking, and concluded that the best kayak shoe to make your feet sigh with relief is the Neo Sport Premium Kayaking Shoes!
These shoes are ready for action!
Their neoprene synthetic fabric combo make them comfortable and durable and ready for any kayaker from beginner to pro to get their feet stuck into.
They are versatile and multi purpose allowing you to use them in a range of water sports. So, you can finally try out kayak-polo-quidditch and have no concerns about slippage!
Not only can you attempt catching some sort of kayaking golden snitch, you can use the it on rocks, land or jagged terrain with no worries of puncture as the Neosport Premiums are puncture resistant and durable.
Never forget that what you put on your feet can make or break your day out on the water, turning a fun filled dream of a trip into a pebble filled, icy cold nightmare. Always remember that your shoes are required to dry quickly, stay light and be as comfortable at the beginning of your trip as at the end of your trip! Research the type of kayaking you will be doing, the temperature of the water, the terrain you will be traversing and how long it will take you to complete your trip to ensure that you have a wonderful time on the water.
Follow this guide and find the best kayaking shoes that fit like the slipper you deserve!