Water shoes get something of a bad rap. When you swim, you may not want something on your feet, and walking on the sand in bare feet is one of the highlights of going to the beach! But, if you've ever slipped while walking on a wet pier, or stepped on something sharp and regretted it, you can definitely see where water shoes can be used.
Here are some reasons you should have a pair of water shoes handy!
Fashion
You may be surprised to know that the water shoes you remember are not the water shoes of today! Water shoes nowadays can resemble anything from a typical sneaker, to fashionable sandal, to toe-separated athletic shoe. While the booty style still exists and has its uses, water shoes offer far more variety and style than ever before.
Foot Protection
If you ever stubbed your toe in flip flops, or stepped on a rock that was sharper than it looked, you know how easy it can be to hurt your feet on the beach. Closed toe water shoes can provide great protection from these hazards, much like a regular shoe can. However, because it is a water shoe, it can drain water far better than regular shoes! That means when you're swimming, you can enjoy the same protection a shoe offers while in the water.
In addition to keeping your feet safe, water shoes can provide excellent support for your foot as well. If you have poor arch support, you can't go wrong with a good water shoe!
Improved Traction
Ever slip on a rock that looked dry and easy to walk on? It was probably because you weren't wearing the right shoes! Many water shoes come with rubber soles on the outside that provide extra traction support to ensure you don't slip and fall when walking.
No Damage to Good Shoes
By design, water shoes are made to go into the water. Meaning that you can wear them in muddy areas, in a pool or beach, or just out in the rain. They dry faster and drain water better, ensuring that if you do walk somewhere wet, you are less likely to get blisters than in a regular shoe.
Because they drain better than a regular shoe, they are lighter to wear in water as well. Regular shoes will fill with water and won't drain properly, leading to a “squishy" feel when they are out of the water. Not only that, but regular shoes can take a long time to dry, and there's a possibility of mold developing in the shoe as well.
Better Temperature Regulation
Cold water can put a real damper on a day at the beach, but water shoes can help with that. Similar to how sticking a single foot out of the sheets can help cool you off in bed, keeping water shoes on your feet can help keep your feet warm and take a bit of the bite out of a cold swim.
Similarly, if the beach is too hot, water shoes have great breathability and can help keep feet cool.
Activities Water Shoes Are Good For
The following is a short list of activities that water shoes are especially good for. This is by no means an exhaustive list:
- Water Sporting events
- Tubing
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking on muddy or wet trails
- Swimming
Water shoes have a great many uses, and can do much more than flip-flops or sandals can. They will keep your feet protected from slips, sharp rocks, sunburns and much more. Next you go to the beach, make sure you have your water shoes ready!
