Merrell Men's Hydro Cove Water Shoes

Product Information

At the other end of the price spectrum we have the Primus Trail III All Weather FG water shoes, which we recommend only for serious trail runners (or any athlete likely to use them frequently enough to justify the expense). Designed as a water-resistant version of the brand’s original trail-running sneaker, they noticeably repel water when stepping in a puddle or running through creeks (but will take on water if submerged for any period of time). The materials are exceptionally high quality, although we found that this results in a considerable breaking-in period. Of course, for sandal-style water shoes, the drainage is almost a given—since there’s barely any upper and the water touches your feet and toes directly.

If you’re buying shoes for activities that involve a lot of time in the water (think: paddling or surfing), the Body Glove Men’s 3T Barefoot Cinch Water Shoes could be a good fit. We wore them on a week-long fishing and canoeing trip in northern Minnesota and found that they performed well, with the caveat that they weren’t particularly protective or comfortable to wear on an extended portage over rough ground. The unique three-toed design is easier to don than five-toed shoes, but with the same barefoot feel. Because the shoes are so flexible, there’s no break-in time required.

Shoe Finder

The rubber outsole, on the other hand, is just that—meaning that any water shoes should have a rubber outsole since the material is waterproof and durable. But there is a rubber-like alternative worth highlighting: EVA, a plastic foam polymer that is lighter and more flexible than rubber. EVA can be better than rubber since its lightweight qualities make it excellent for walking with water shoes. On the aquatic outings we evaluated how well the shoes repelled water, their traction and drainage, and how well they supported and protected our feet on a variety of different terrains. We also noted whether the shoes fit differently or chafed when wet and whether they showed any signs of wear and tear afterward. Finally, we recorded how long it took each pair to dry when left in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.

The shoes were scored on a scale of one to five for comfort, drainage, protection, durability, traction, and value, and the overall scores were used to determine our category winners.Water shoes should get wet, but shouldn’t stay wet. Having a drainage mechanism helps water shoes—specifically the upper—stay dry, therefore keeping your feet dry in the meantime. Most of the time, the drainage comes from perforation—often in the form of holes and ports—at the upper or outsole. These holes or ports channel the water inside the shoe out, even when your feet are in the water. A great example of water shoes with drainage is Crocs’ slogs—those holes!