Water Shoes: Different Types, and When You Need Them

Not all “water shoes” do the same job. From creek crossings to surf sessions, choosing the right pair can mean the difference between comfort, performance, and safety. Here’s a quick guide to the main categories -- and where Dragonskin® Booties fit in.

Flip Flops

Flip-flops are the minimal, iconic, water-friendly shoe. They're perfect for sunny-days, so long as the day isn't too strenuous. They usually have grooves (called sipes) in the rubber outsoles to improve grip, making them great for wet decks and docks. Additionally, they dry fast and are easy to rinse. Downsides: they’re not water proof shoes (nothing in this category truly is -- look for quick-drain designs), sand can chafe under straps, and they’re too loose for action sports. Great for: casual beach days, paddle launches, short walks to swimming holes. Not great for: strenuous hikes, environments where foot-feel matters, or when you need a secure connection to your shoe.

Amphibious shoes

These are the chunky-sandal-meets-sneaker option: breathable mesh uppers, sturdy, drainable outsoles, and enough structure to hike in and then walk straight into the water. Think Keen-style sandals. They’re great “don’t overthink it” beach shoes for travel, river hikes, and days when you’ll cross streams. Downsides: they’re heavy, bulky, and dull the feel of the ground, so they’re not ideal as shoes for action sports, or anything where you want to keep some feeling beneath your feet.

“Aqua shoes” (also called water shoes)

Do you think they're wearing water shoes?

Ultra-light, sock-like slip-ons with thin, quick-dry uppers and a flexible rubber sole. You’ll see versions marketed as a mens water shoe or ladies water shoe, often in S/M/L sizing. They’re inexpensive, packable, and fine for tide pools, boat decks, and as casual beach water shoes. Just remember: they’re meant to shield your soles from sharp rocks or shells, not to be true water proof shoes. And they’re not built to handle hazards like stingray barbs; if you’ve ever witnessed the “stingray hop,” you know why that matters. However, they are generally good for investigating tide pools, walking around on rocks and looking at seashells, or a generic day at the beach. Sometimes they lean further towards fashion accessories than useful shoes. For example, they tend to be gendered more frequently than the other types of water shoes – you’ll sometimes see them marketed under terms like “best water shoes for men”, “water shoe for women”, and other things like that. Those products tend to prioritize fashion over durability and functionality, so if you’re looking for something that you can use a long time without breaking, you may want to steer away from products advertised like that.

Wetsuit booties (surf booties)

These are close-fitting neoprene “surf water shoes”, meant to stay snug in fins or on a board, keep your feet light, and preserve feeling through your feet. These are _usually_ intended to keep your feet warm in cold water. They’re the standard shoes for surfing, bodyboarding, diving, and cool-water swims. Traditional surf booties offer warmth and grip, but very little puncture resistance; in testing, basic neoprene provided almost no protection against stingray stings. The cheapest options are made entirely of neoprene, and will keep you warm, but offer no protection. Top-of-the-line options have water-tight seams for improved warmth, and rubber panels that improves durability but still gives relatively little protection.

Where Dragonskin® Booties fit

Dragonskin® Booties sit in the wetsuit booties category -- but with a key difference: a close, athletic fit plus purpose-built protection. We designed our stingray-resistant “reef booties” to stay nimble in the water while helping guard against serrated, venom-carrying stingray barbs. Our booties do keep you warmer than no booties at all, but that’s not the main intent. Stingrays generally prefer warm water, so we focus primarily on adding protection to your bootie. It’s the only bootie purpose-made to protect from stingray stings, and we test it against real stingray stings. If you surf, swim, or wade in stingray-prone zones, they’re a smart upgrade over typical surf booties.

Quick picks

- Beach lounging and boardwalks: sandals (light, quick-dry).
- Hiking and travel where you’ll splash through water: Amphibious shoes = good water shoes.
- Casual wading, tide pools, beach walks: Aqua shoes = cool water shoes and budget-friendly beach shoes.
- Action sports (surf, bodyboard, swim, dive): If you’re worried about the cold, traditional wetsuit booties are perfect for you. If stingrays are a concern, you need Dragonskin®.

Whether you’re searching for something with durable functionality, a stylish mens water shoe, or cool water shoes for women, match the shoe to the job. For high-performance shoes athletes can trust in stingray country, check out Dragonskin® Booties.