It’s almost tradition at this point that on family vacations, someone has to hurt their feet against a rock or coral reefs, get stung by a jellyfish or suffer some type of accident when they go swimming barefoot.
And although there’s some comfort in binge-watching a Kdrama for 12 hours straight with your feet up, you most certainly want to avoid these accidents if you can, and you actually can. With water shoes, you get that along with an enhanced overall aqua experience. Follow along as we tell you all about the best water shoes for women.
At a Glance
- VIFUUR – Best Overall
- Zhuanglin Women’s Aqua – Best for Drainage
- Mishansha Quick Dry – Best Lightweight Fit
3 Best Water Shoes for Women in 2020
Without further introductions, let’s dive into our favorite water shoes for the ladies.
1. VIFUUR – Best Overall
A bestseller and fan favorite, you can imagine why VIFUUR Water Sports Shoes are the best overall. They’re our most inexpensive, popular, and versatile pick, with more than 40 designs and colors. Whether it’s boating, snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, yoga training, walking, or outing, these fits are there to escort you on an epic adventure.
We also love how these shoes are outstandingly lightweight and comfy, about half the weight of our other options, or even less. They use a smooth, breathable, and stretchable fabric for the upper and feature a smooth neck design to avoid chafing.
Besides, they’re quick drying and easy to slip on or off, a common theme in our selections. Additionally, the sturdy non-slip rubber sole is for optimal support and protection against sharp objects.
Despite the support, we would’ve preferred thicker cushioning, but that would negatively impact the lightweight. Finally, note that standard sizing is insufficient here; you need to measure the length of your foot’s bottom.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Many color and design options
- Unbelievably lightweight and comfortable
- Supportive and protective
- Quick-drying
- Easy to put on and take off
Cons:
- Not the thickest cushioning
- Sizing issues
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for versatility, variety, comfort, protection, and more, the VIFUUR Water Sports Shoes, which are undoubtedly the best on this list, are here to deliver.
2. Zhuanglin Women’s Aqua – Best for Drainage
When the Chinese company Zhuanglin released the Zhuanglin Women’s Aqua Water Shoes, we knew we were in for a treat. They have excellent drainage with a drainable rubber sole, which also plays into their excellent traction. Plus, they’re quick drying.
Moreover, this design promises you impressive comfort, durability, and lightweight thanks to the stretchy mesh upper. That also makes for a supremely breathable fit for those hot summer days. It provides arch support, and the drawstrings enable you to tighten these shoes to fit you right.
Though these shoes’ holes drain out water, they might get pebbles stuck in them, so think twice before wearing these to a rocky beach. The good news is that the holes are raised so you won’t suffer any discomfort, and the mesh layer prevents pebbles from penetrating the shoes anyway.
The consensus here is that these shoes are ideal for moving in the water and on land, but not so much for long hikes because they’re, after all, water shoes.
Pros:
- Outstanding drainage
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Breathable
Cons:
- Pebbles might get stuck
- Not for long hikes
Final Verdict
Zhuanglin Women’s Aqua Water Shoes are your go-to if soggy shoes are a big pet peeve of yours due to their outstanding drainage.
3. Mishansha Quick Dry – Best Lightweight Fit
The Mishansha Womens Water Shoes Quick Dry get their lightweight quality from the lycra. They’re not weighed down by water either because the holes create good water circulation, like the Zhuanglin shoes. Also, the spandex upper is lightweight, breathable, stretchable, and salt and wear-resistant.
Excelling in both support and grip, maybe even more than the former pair, these shoes use a sturdy rubber sole and grip and tread to compete with athletic trainers and maintain high traction on steep surfaces.
The design is also very functional and comfortable. Similar to the Zhuanglin shoes, you can slip them on or off and adjust their tightness, and the EVA insole is soft, breathable, and quick-drying. The latter is also helped by the lycra mentioned above.
To top it off, these shoes are available in a range of colors, from pink and purple to blue and khaki green, and you can wear them in and out of water.
The drawback with these water shoes is that you might slip on plaster surfaces because they’re slick. Also, these may not fit wide feet.
Pros:
- Ultralightweight
- Breathable
- Stretchable
- Salt and wear-resistant
- Prime support and grip
- Functional and comfortable
- Various color options
Cons:
- Risks slipping on plaster surfaces
- Not ideal for wide feet
Final Verdict
With the Mishansha Womens Water Shoes Quick Dry, you’re getting exactly what you asked for: a pair of lightweight, durable, comfortable, and overall functional water shoes.
What to Consider When Buying Water Shoes
We thought it’s necessary to highlight the main features to look for in water shoes, so let’s get into it.
Protection
We’ve already established that you don’t want to sit with your feet up all day when you could be out having fun, so a pair of water shoes with low protection would make no sense. You want to avoid injuries from shells, rocks, and sharp objects at sea or on the beach, so you need full coverage and thick soles.
Lace-up shoes are better in terms of protection and support than, say, slip-on shoes.
Tip: Water shoes with built-in toe shields prevent toes from getting scraped or stubbed and toenails from getting broken.
Lightweight
We could argue that this is what makes a pair of water shoes or breaks it. You shouldn’t feel like you’re dragging the weight of your feet along in water because that’s merely impractical in any water sport.
Lightweight is impossible without good water flow, which, in turn, is impossible without multiple drainage holes and well-ventilated fabrics. Furthermore, water shoes should use sipped outsoles that move water aside as you move to control water’s extra weight. And on the plus side, this improves their traction too.
Traction
Speaking of traction, it directly correlates with friction, and the higher the friction, the less likely you’re to slip on a surface, which is more useful than you’d think, especially on boats and such slippery surfaces. In fact, the traction of water shoes should be comparable to that of hiking boots or shoes. Thus, water shoes should feature tread and rubber outsoles to heighten that.
Comfort
Water shoes typically use mesh due to it being breathable and allowing water drainage and quick drying. And mesh’s stretchability makes them easy to put on or take off. Other skin-friendly materials that are good too include rubber, textile, and more. If you opt for textile-made shoes, make sure they’re durable and waterproof, so they’d last you long enough.
The upper’s fabric should be breathable to really give you that snug fit, which stops your feet from wiggling in your shoes. Moreover, rubber soles can elevate the shoes cushioning and give it a good grip. And finally, look for insulation to keep your feet warm.
Aesthetics
Though not exactly an essential, it sure would be nice to go straight from the pool to an outing with friends without a shoe change, so water shoes with high performance and an attractive design are a catch. Some models are available in a multitude of colors and designs.
Bottom Line
We hope you’ve made up your mind about the top pick that you’d easily call the best water shoes for women. If you haven’t, take our word for it: VIFUUR Water Sports Shoes take the cake. Offering versatility, comfort, support, and almost every spec that you’d want in water shoes, you won’t find better than this one!