Best water shoes 2025: Picks for fishing, the beach or adventures

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

Playing around in water can offer endless entertainment. But if you’re worried about slipping on rocks, stepping on something sharp or making contact with something that might sting you, water shoes can put your mind at ease.

Coming in various different styles from kayaking shoes to boat-style fishing shoes, water shoes cater to all manner of needs and wants.

We have put a range of options to the test to help you find the right ones for you, from quick drying sandals, to barefoot shoes ready to conquer whatever the wilderness throws at them.

Best water shoes 2025

• Best overall: Astral Loyak 
• Best fishing shoe: Columbia Bahama X Relaxed Shoe
• Best for watersports: NRS Paddleshoe 
• Best for adventuring: Xero Aqua X Sport
• Best for hiking: Merrell Maipo Explorer Sieve
• Best value: NRS Arroyo 
• Best for river running: XtraTuf Kiata Drift
• Best for casual splashing: XtraTuf Riptide Sandals

How we test

We put all our outdoor gear through rigorous testing so you know you can rely on it when you need to. For water shoes, we assess the comfort of each shoe in and out of the water noting the level of protection the sole provides. We also look at how much of the ground you can feel when wearing them for balance, how much grip they afford you on submerged rocks and how much sand or grit gets inside of them when wading through a creek.

We also test how much water they absorb and how long they take to dry, weighing them before they go into the water and then once again after they have been worn in the water. We then weigh them every few hours in consistent temperature and humidity conditions to see how quickly they dry.

Why trust us

Tim has been professionally testing consumer products since 2008 and works on a variety of outdoor products including water shoes, hiking and trail running products. 

Along with the rest of the Buyline team he creates honest, unbiased reviews to help you find the right product for you, no matter your needs or budget.

Best water shoes 2025

1. Best overall: Astral Loyak

2. Best fishing shoe: Columbia Bahama X Relaxed Shoe

3. Best for watersports: NRS Paddleshoe 

4. Best for adventures: Xero Aqua X Sport

5. Best for hiking: Merrell Maipo Explorer Sieve 

6. Best value: NRS Arroyo 

7. Best for river running: XtraTuf Kiata Drift

8. Best for casual splashing: XtraTuf Riptide Sandals

Our verdict

Water shoes is a varied area and the right shoe for you will not just be down to personal preference but also very much what you will be using it for.

The Astral Loyak come out as my favorites of the bunch on account of them being versatile enough to use in everyday life, on a boat, at the beach or wading through a creek somewhere climbing over rocks. A great blend of style and functionality give them the edge, although they do take a while to fully dry out so don’t expect to submerge them one day and them be dry as a bone waiting for you the next day without going some lengths to dry them out.

If you are looking for something to keep you warmer or provide foot protection during watersports check out the NRS Paddleshoes which offer a blend of flexibility and fit tight enough to keep the sand out. 

Columbia’s Bahama X Relaxed Shoe are a fantastic pair of fishing shoes that also won’t look out of place at a tiki bar, although the lack of sensitivity in the sole makes them more suited to standing around in the water as opposed to climbing over obstacles.

If adventure is what you are looking for in a water shoes the Xero Aqua Sport X are the ones. I’d hazard they won’t win many beauty contests and the barefoot style won’t be for everyone, but they will serve you well whether you're scrambling over rocks or kayaking.

For more all day hiking that might just involve splashing through a river the Maipo Explorer Sieve are up to the standard you would expect from Merrell and feel like you would have to go to great lengths to wear them out.