6 Best Water Shoes for Women (Beach, Hiking, Water Aerobics)

If you need a shoe that you can wear on the trail, in the water, or even around town, aqua shoes are just what you’re looking for. They’re an excellent choice for any activity that requires a breathable, quick-drying, casual shoe.

Many of the best womens’ water shoes have a stylish design that looks like a sandal or sneaker, but they are actually a hybrid shoe that can provide equal protection at the beach or on the trail.

Whether you enjoy snorkeling, strolling on the beach, or hiking on rough terrain, a good pair of water shoes for women will keep your feet safe and dry, but also be stylish enough for day-to-day wear.

See Also:

Our 6 Favorite Womens’ Water Shoes

ProductDurabilityArch SupportColors
best-water-shoes-womenKeen Whisper SandalHighGood40+
top-aquatic-shoes-womenZhuanglin Aqua Water ShoesMedMed20+
womens-water-hiking-shoesMerrell All Out BlazeHighMed9
swim-shoes-for-womenRyka Hydro SportHighGood9
water-sandals-womenAleader Quick DryingMedPoor11
womens-water-aerobic-shoesSpeedo Surfwalker 3.0MedPoor6

Water Shoes for Women Reviews

#1 – Keen Whisper Water Sandal

best-water-shoes-womenKeen’s Whisper Sandals for women are an excellent choice for day-to-day activities that require a breathable, quick-drying shoe. These water shoes for women are stylish enough to wear out for a casual lunch or running errands, but still rugged enough for outdoor activities like hiking and water sports.

These sports sandals for women feature a bungee lace closure to provide a secure fit. They were also designed with an internal support mechanism that has been anatomically engineered to give superb arch support.

Quality and comfort is what makes these Keens arguably the best womens’ water shoes for hiking.

Keen sandals are famous for being extremely comfortable and cradling the natural contours of your feet, making them an excellent choice for active water sports, like stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking. For added convenience, these water sandles can be washed right in your washing machine on the gentle cycle and air-dried.

We love the extra toe protection and feminine styling of Keen’s Whisper sandals. They have a daintier, more fitted design than most other women’s sports sandals, but they are still rugged enough for active use. The soles have been specially designed to provide excellent traction in all types of slippery conditions.

Women love these sandals for in the city, on the trail, or at the beach, making them a great shoe to take on vacation. Although they are a little on the pricey side, they are well made and should last for several seasons. Keen’s Whisper sandals are available in a vast assortment of colors and a wide range of full and half sizes for women.

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#2 – Zhuanglin Quick Drying Aqua Water Shoes

top-aquatic-shoes-womenZhuanglin’s aquatic shoes for women come in more than 20 stylish colors and a wide range of sizes. They are 90% fabric with a rubber sole and have a stylish design that’s great for everyday wear, in and out of the water. The durable and breathable mesh uppers allow your feet to breathe, keeping them cool and dry.

These womens’ water shoes feature a Solyte midsole that is exceptionally lightweight and durable with excellent bounce-back for walking and other activities.

Zhuanglin designed these shoes for excellent traction in wet or slippery conditions with a Water Grip outsole, so they’re great for boating and around the pool.

Wearers also appreciate the ComfortDry sock liner that provides optimum cushioning and a cooler, airier shoe environment that dries quickly. They’re comfortable enough where a pregnant woman aboard a boat could wear these for safety and comfort.

We love Zhuanglin’s midfoot webbing system that gives these shoes an adaptive and supportive fit. They’re great for everything from the beach to short-distance hiking.

The drainage holes on the bottom are a huge plus for water activities, especially water aerobics. Zhuanglin’s water shoes for women are a great choice when you need a shoe that dries quickly and keeps your feet cool.

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#3 – Merrell Womens’ All Out Blaze Sieve Water Shoes

womens-water-hiking-shoesMerrell understands that men and women are built differently (similar to women’s life jackets) and have created a women’s version of their popular All Out Blaze shoes with those differences in mind.

The womens version is available in sizes ranging from 5 B(M) to 11 B(M) US, with a 1-inch heel and 3mm lug depth to better fit women’s feet.

The synthetic sole includes the same Unifly midsole to improve cushioning and flexibility, while the open design of the water proof leather upper shoe provides protection and superior water shedding capabilities.

Finally, a neoprene stretch collar allows for an easier time putting on these shoes without compromising the fit.

As with many water shoes, be sure to test fit before going out on a hike, as you may need a slightly larger or smaller size for the perfect fit. Once you have that fit, however, these shoes make a perfect partner for most of your outdoor needs.

They remain comfortable even after long hikes, and can be used to forge creeks and even swim in without any problems. And while they won’t protect against everything, the amount of sticks or rocks that manage to get in is far less than with similar shoes.

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#4 – Ryka Womens’ Hydro Sport Water Shoe

swim-shoes-for-women

If you want the best womens’ water shoes, then sometimes you need to specialize. Rykä, a company devoted to women’s athletic footwear, proves this with their Hydro Sport cross training water shoes.

Beginning with a flexible rubber sole that includes a water drainage system and sticky rubber for extra traction on wet surfaces, these shoes are made for a wide variety of terrain and aquatic sports.

The synthetic mesh upper portion is complimented by a webbed midfoot cage designed for superior medial and lateral support while all materials are made chlorine resistant to add to the shoes’ durability.

A removable, perforated nitracel footbed adds cushioning, while the narrower heel, increased instep volume, and roomier forefoot make the fit perfect for the shape of a woman’s feet. This high-performance hybrid water shoe is available in sizes ranging from 5 B(M) to 12 B(M) US and is easy to put on and remove so you can spend more time enjoying the water.

While many people prefer to remove the insoles to speed up drying, the overall design allows for a fast drying time even with them still in place. They hold up well when doing mixed sports, such as triathalons or relays that involve both running, swimming, canoeing, or other sports.

The design is one that has been employed by Rykä for much of their 25 years with little change, although the current model does not offer elastic laces. This has proven a hindrance to some of its owners, as the locking mechanism doesn’t hold up as well as a stretching lace in some more involved swimming events.

Be sure to look for some elastic laces if you plan to use these aggressively in the water.

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#5 – Aleader Quick Drying Water Shoes

water-sandals-womenAleader’s quick drying water shoes for women have a stylish design that’s suitable for everyday activities where a lightweight, breathable, quick-drying shoe is required.

They come in 11 fashionable colors and a full range of sizes and feature an easy to slip on and off design with no laces required.

You’ll never have to worry about waterlogging with these amphibious shoes from Aleader. Their FluidFlow technology allows water to flow freely through the shoe and drain quickly. These shoes also feature a durable, breathable fabric knit upper that’s perfect for walking, watersports, and other athletics.

We also love the shock-absorbing outsole on these shoes. Not only does it give a supportive fit, but it also provides excellent grip and traction in slippery conditions. They’re the perfect gear for kayaking.

For some users, sand getting inside the shoes was an issue, but that’s probably going to be the case with any shoe that has excellent drainage. Aleader’s water shoes are perfect for casual, day-to-day activities both in and out of the water.

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#6 – Speedo Surfwalker 3.0 Water Shoes

The womens’ Surfwalker 3.0 water shoes from Speedo have the typical open mesh, slip-on style design we’ve come to expect from traditional water shoes.

These water shoes for women feature a lightweight, four-way stretch upper that provides a secure fit and easy on and off. Mesh panels are also included for ventilation and faster drying time.

We find these shoes to be excellent for protecting your feet from hot sand and pavement, as well as sharp objects in the water. These durable water shoes include an S-Trac TPR outsole for improved traction in slippery, wet conditions.

The innovative design also helps to stream water away from the shoe for maximum comfort. Sand and small rocks are not a problem for the Speedo Surfwalkers, thanks to the fine mesh panels. 

Reviewers love these aqua socks for in the pool, as well as at the river, lake, or beach. They’re especially popular for water aerobics in indoor pools where the slippery pool bottom can be an issue. They are incredibly comfortable, and many wearers forgot they even had them on.

Speedo Surfwalkers are perfect for a stroll on the beach, but they’re not meant for hiking or walking long distances.

There were some complaints of these shoes being too tight and the ankle opening too small. Although this is probably intentional to keep the shoes from coming off in the water, you may want to order a size up if you think this will bother you.

Speedo Surfwalker 3.0 water shoes come in six fashionable colors and a full range of sizes for women.

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