4 Types of River Shoes Every Paddler Needs

Choosing the right river shoes can make or break your rafting or kayaking trip. The best river shoes protect your feet from rocks, sun, and cold water while giving you good grip on slippery rocks. Here’s a guide to the four types of rafting footwear every paddler should pack.

After rafting and kayaking on countless private river trips in all kinds of weather, I have some strong opinions about the best river shoes for rafting and kayaking. When I started boating, your choices were simple: Wet suit booties or a pair of old running shoes that you didn’t mind getting wet and stinky. If the water was cold, you wore neoprene socks underneath. (And in a pinch, that system still works.)

Foot gear for river running has improved exponentially in the last couple of decades. The best water shoes for rafting and kayaking provide a solid mix of foot protection, traction on wet surfaces, and comfort. 

Closed-toe river shoes for rafting and kayaking

No innovation has made more of an impact on my comfort and safety while rafting as closed-toed mesh river shoes, specifically the Astral Brewer. For the first time, I could scramble up rocks to scout a rapid without stubbing my toe on a rock, getting gravel caught under my instep, or slipping on wet boulders.

Although they are sturdy, I have worn out two pairs in the last 10 years or so because they are my top shoe choice for both cold and hot trips. Here’s what I love about them, and what you should look for when shopping for mesh river shoes.

• Mesh fabric to keep gravel and water out: This is the key benefit. If you have spent too much time standing on one leg while trying to dig rocks out of your river sandal, you know what I’m talking about. The mesh fabric also helps river water drain quickly.
• Closed toe: I am a complete klutz when walking on a smooth path, much less a rocky trail. A closed-toe river shoe prevents my feet from being impaled by sticks or bashed on rocks. Plus, your feet won’t get sunburned: I’ve found it nearly impossible to keep sunscreen on my feet on river trips.  
• Lace closure: The simple lace closure stays tied and allows me to loosen the shoe to accommodate neoprene socks underneath when needed in icy water.
• Good traction: The Astral sole is the best I’ve worn for gripping wet rocks, an essential safety consideration especially on the Rogue River and other rivers with notoriously slippery rocks. 

Although I think the classic Brewer design is fine for most river-running needs, Astral also makes the Astral Rassler 2.0 Water Shoe, which resembles a hiking boot and provides even more protection. 

• Astral Brewer 3.0  
• Astral Rassler 2.0 Water Shoe

River sandals for camp and short hikes

Although I know that many paddlers wear nothing but river sandals on week-long river trips, I’m not one of them. For the reasons mentioned above, I’m a fan of closed-toed shoes on the river. River sandals are camp sandals in my world view. But river sandals were made for running rivers, and they are an indispensable part of your river gear. 

Tevas rocked the boating world when they first appeared on the scene nearly 40 years ago. Invented by a raft guide, these shoes solved the obvious problems with existing solutions: Sneakers or running shoes took forever to dry when soaked, and of course flip-flops immediately flew off boaters’ feet. Tevas introduced a strap system that went around the heel and over the instep to keep the sandal secure while allowing water to drain freely. 

Today, several brands offer shoes billed as river sandals. In addition to Teva, which continues to make solid river sandals, I recommend the Chaco Z/2 Classic and Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D for river-running. I prefer Chacos because they have a serious contoured footbed that fits my high arches. I’ve found that the less space between the footbed and the bottom of my instep, the less sand and gravel I have to dig out.

Also, I am a between-the-toes person, and Chacos offer more choices for thong-style sandals. Downsides of river sandals for me are the tendency for the straps to become tighter and tighter around my big toe. But Chacos have lots of adjustment points to dial in the fit, and that has worked well for me.

A new contender in the river sandal category, and my second favorite, is the Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D sandal, which is especially comfortable for those of us who like in-between-toe straps. Made by a company based in Missoula, Montana, these sandals have a soft, flexible cord-like strap between the toes that is very comfortable. The base version doesn’t have much arch support; the Cairn Evo C and Cairn Evo 3D have more.

My top pick remains the Chaco because of the arch support, adjustability, and variety of styles. But Tevas, Chacos, and Bedrocks are all great choices in river sandals. 

• Chaco Z/2 Classic for women; Chaco Z/2 Classic for men
• Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D sandals for men and women
• Teva Hydratrek sandals for women; Teva Hydratrek sandals for men

Neoprene boots and socks for cold water

When you’re paddling in icy water, the best way to keep your feet toasty is neoprene boots or socks. I’ve found that it’s hard to get these things to fit precisely, but they are indispensable in cold weather. Here are a few I can recommend:

• NRS Comm-3 Wetshoe: These are unisex boots that come only in whole sizes. They have a warm, 3mm neoprene upper and a decently grippy outsole. 
• NRS Women’s Paddle Wetshoe: An ingenious combination of neoprene sock and bootie, these have high-traction soles and come up high on the calf for extra warmth. I love the strap over the top of the instep that helps dial in the fit.
• NRS Kicker Remix Bootie: My favorite paddling shoes / kayaking shoes for 20-plus years, these booties are low-profile and have terrific grip. They come up low on the foot so they’re not the best choice for rafting, but they are the perfect kayak shoes for a decked boat as they are soft and pliable.  

• NRS Wetsocks: You can probably do without investing in neoprene booties if you have neoprene socks that you can wear under your Astrals. I always carry neoprene socks in my gear just in case someone else on the trip needs an extra layer. I recommend a snug fit for extra warmth and to increase the chances that they’ll fit inside your closed-toe shoes. (An option: Look for a used pair of closed-toe shoes in a size larger that you can wear with neoprene socks.)

Hiking boots or running shoes for camp comfort 

Even in warm weather, sometimes my feet just need a break from being wet and exposed. My feet seem to be particularly prone to cracking when they are soaked all day in Astrals, then exposed to blasting sun. Nearly every night on a multi-day river trip, I slather A & D on my feet, pull on cotton socks, and put on running shoes or hiking boots for the evening. And I love having real shoes for hikes. 

Hiking and running shoes are truly a personal preference, and you probably already know which ones work for you. But here are the models I keep coming back to:

• Brooks Ghost Max: The cushioning is heavenly, so these make great camp shoes in addition to being my go-to running shoes for more than a decade. I usually have a newer pair that I use for everyday running and bring my older pair on river trips.
• New Balance Hierro: A member of our river crew has declared these the best current trail running shoes, and they’re a perfect pick for river hikes.
• Vasque Horizon Hiking Boots: I brought Vasque boots similar to these on a Grand Canyon trip, and I appreciated the extra support and long hikes

Four pairs of river shoes might sound excessive, but each serves a unique purpose: protection, comfort, warmth, or recovery. The right combination ensures your feet stay safe and happy from put-in to take-out.