Some companies make little water shoes that have a flexible elastic upper with a minimalistic sole. They are supposed to be for walking around on rocks in a creek or along a shore, but barefoot/minimalistic runners sometimes like to use them for their running.
They are sort of like Vibrams, but without the toes and a lot cheaper ($5-$15). Some people report getting 200+ miles of running out of a pair of $6 water shoes. There are many different types of water shoes, and particularly if you are looking for them in non-summer months, finding them in local stores may be difficult. This page aims to review all the water shoes out there, as they pertain exclusively to running.
I will be adding more shoe reviews as I see more water shoes and try them. If you have tried running in a pair of water shoes please contribute your review of them to this list by emailing me at matt@sitegonebad.com or commenting below.
Traits of a Good Running Water Shoe
There are certain attributes of water shoes that make them better or worse for running:
- Upper Durability — Will the stitches hold together?
- Outsole Durability — Does the rubber rub off too easily?
- Sole Thickness and Shape — Should be flat, flexible, no arch, with a bit of padding, and a wide toe box.
- Upper Breathability — Do you want mesh to keep you cool or neoprene for warmth?
The Running Water Shoes:
DBX Water Shoe
Price: $10-$15
Upper Durability: Stitching has already loosened a bit because I pulled one shoe on too fast.
Upper Breathability: Mesh, keeps your feet pretty cool.
Outsole Durability: In some spots tread worn off to smooth after only 4 miles
Sole: no arch, no heel, slightly padded, gravel running feels great. Wide toe box.
I bought these the night before a sprint triathlon and am very happy with how well they worked. They were very comfortable and the mesh upper kept my bare feet very cool. I only ran 4 miles in them and it wore off some of the tread already, but it might be because my achilles tendon was swollen at the time (due to over-training and under-stretching) so I had to scuffle along more than usual. I hope to get many more miles out of these water shoes once my tendon is back to normal. They are extremely comfortable and I did not even begin to provoke any blisters. I also wore them canoeing and they do work very well for their intended purpose.
I believe these are Dick’s Sporting Good’s own house brand, so you can only get them at your local store, or order them online from Dick’s. I highly recommend them. One reviewer on the Dick’s page said the insoles slip out but mine are secure and look like they will stay that way.
The tread is a bit worn at the outside ball of the foot after only 4 miles in a triathlon, but I was scuffling a bit because of a swollen achilles tendon.
Speedo Surfwalker Water Shoes
I think I saw a pair of these at Kohls for $21. I will have to recheck to make sure it was the Surfwalker that I saw, as listed on their website (now only $15). They were very good quality but their soles had a raised heel, which is unforgivable.
More reviews when more is known…
Yes, the DBX water shoes appear to be available only at Dick’s Sporting Good’s, where I have purchased a couple pairs in the past months. Retails about $15, but my last purchase rang up at just under $10, which was a pleasant surprise.
Regarding the sole slippage comment: I too had experienced sole slippage with my first pair. Mostly with my right foot, which pronates as I run. In my case, I noted two factors: One was that I was prematurely and unevenly wearing down the shoe’s rubber tread (and exerting tangential forces on the sole, in relation to the shoe’s tread) as I learned to adjust to minimalist running with water shoes; my feet AND those shoes took a pounding! Second, summer heat and foot sweat played into it. I continued to experience sole slippage during the entire summer, despite my adaptation in running posture and gait to the minimalist shoes. But once the weather cooled and temperatures dipped below 60 degrees, I had no further slippage.
It’s now November, and temperatures barely peak 40 degrees, and I have no complaint with these shoes save a right sole that is tattered and worn thin at the heels and toes. Feet stay comfortably warm, in spite of the mesh top. And the second new pair of shoes is in ready reserve.
I ended up removing the insoles because they began to slip around too much. The rubber by itself is not uncomfortable, though it does seem to collect stench more easily than the insole. I’ve had my DBX water shoes for about a year now and maybe have run 60 miles on them, and the sole has worn through on my right outer forefoot. I will probably buy another pair for this year.