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The 5 Best Shoes for Boating in Comfort and Style (Without Slipping!)
When you picture a pair of boaters shoes, what comes to mind? Tan or brown loafers your grandfather wore when weighing anchor back in the day? (Especially if your grandfather was, in fact, John F. Kennedy.)
While the classic boat shoe (often called a dock shoe) will always have a place aboard the high seas of fashion, you now have a lot more choices when it comes to marine footwear.
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The Original Boat Shoe
Before breaking down our boat shoe choices, let's talk about boating shoe history (which is shorter than you'd expect). Far from relics of the age of sail in days gone by, traditional boaters shoes were invented in 1935 by Paul Sperry, the man whose name is synonymous with the leather and/or canvas shoes designed for use on a boat.
Tired of sliding on wet boat decks, Sperry cut tread patterns into the soles of leather shoes. This quick-thinking ingenuity added the traction he needed while scurrying around on swell-rocked boats.
With Sperry's brilliance, the boat shoe was born. And it's been popular ever since.
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Essential Items of Nautical Apparel
Boat shoes are extremely important, but they're only one component of a boater's apparel. Don't get aboard a boat without the right gear for the potential conditions.
Whether I'm climbing into a canoe or boarding a boat, there are three clothing items I carry, regardless of the trip's length or weather conditions: A good hat, a rain jacket and sunglasses.
On the water, a good hat is worth its weight in gold if it protects you from the sun and rain. I use a Headsweats Boonie Hat. Its wide brim shades my face and neck from the sun's rays, and it can also be rolled and stuffed in a pocket when not needed.
Getting soaked to the skin is no fun. It can even be dangerous and cause hypothermia in cold conditions.
Stay dry with a Columbia Sportswear OutDry Ex Blitz Jacket Shell. Finally, when the sun comes up, it's bright on the water.
Protect your eyes from UV rays and make sure you can see with a pair of Sunski Classics Polarized Sunglasses (Available on Amazon). They look great and work well. The brand recently released frames made entirely out of eco-friendly recycled plastic.
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How to Choose the Best Boat Shoes for You
When aboard a boat, you're not always in a perilous situation, but you still need to consider safety. When considering the best boating shoes, performance must outweigh appearance.
Siping & Tread Pattern
Any boater shoe worth considering should offer decent traction. Start by looking at the siping (tread pattern) on the shoe's soles. If you're going for a leisurely cruise, even a modest tread is fine. But if you're crewing a racing sailboat, you need more aggressive siping to keep surefooted during white-knuckle keeling action.
Water Resistance
The best boating shoe's main materials should be water-resistant or quick-dry fabrics.
Ironically, fully waterproof boat shoes are not what you want either. Once the water gets inside, it'll become trapped there and prune your feet. Instead, consider options with built-in drainage ports.
Keep in mind that some materials, like leather, require additional care and maintenance. While other materials, like neoprene, can be treated roughly and are machine washable.
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Better Boat Waterproofing Spray
Check Price on Amazon - Canvas shoes can be sprayed with fabric waterproofing spray to create a waterproof barrier that allows water to bead up rather than sink into the fabric. Use it on canvas, polyester and nylon shoes, umbrellas, bags, Bimini tops and more.
Fasteners
A pair of slip-on boater shoes is great for those casual bayside trips or some deep-sea fishing. But if you're engaging in high-energy marine activities like kayaking or the aforementioned racing, you need a boat shoe to stay securely on your feet. The best fasteners for your boat shoes are laces and, oftentimes, velcro.
Sole Color
The best boating shoes should have a sole that's either white or at least light in color. You'll want to avoid leaving scuff marks on the white decking featured in most boats. If you're considering shoes with dark-colored soles, it might be a red flag that it's not a true boating shoe!
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Better Boat Zipper + Snap Lube
A Matter of Style
As in other areas of life, when it comes to boat shoes, looks do matter. When in doubt, it's sometimes better to be overdressed, so go with a classic brown leather or canvas boat shoe if unsure about the occasion.
On the other hand, a pair of traditional top-siders can also get funny looks from, say, a community of laid-back paddlers.
My top pick is a great go-between when it comes to boat shoes that are casual yet handsome.
The 5 Best Shoes for Boating in Comfort and Style
Let's talk about five specific pairs of boat shoes from brands that know their way around the water. Keep in mind there may well be room in your closet (and lifestyle) for two or more of these options.
1. The Classic Boat Shoe
For many boaters, the best choice is still the classic Sperry Top-Sider Leather Boat Shoe. These timeless shoes slip on and off with ease.
Thanks to the natural leather's durability, they stand up to salty brine and sunshine that often dry out a shoe's materials. A quick wipe-down with leather cleaner and conditioner is an excellent way to keep them bright and shiny.
The soles offer a decent grip on both wet or dry decks. However, you shouldn't trust a pair on super slick surfaces such as those coated with mud or oil. But chances are, you'll probably be wearing Sperry's to the club during cocktail hour, not while out on the ocean.
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2. The Best Boat Shoes for Paddlers
I love kayaking, but I prefer to paddle the harbor and explore coastlines. I don't run rapids or launch off waterfalls. And I'm certainly no adrenaline-junkie drainage ditch kayaker.
Thus, my casual water shoes have always served well. But for those who seek more aggressive outings, a pair of Vibram KSO Evo Cross Training Shoes offers the support for firm paddling control of a kayak (while staying inside of the cockpit).
These Vibrams have superb grip and a natural feel, helping paddlers become a veritable extension of their 'yak.
3. The Best Active Water Shoes
If you're seeking boat shoes to wear aboard a cabin cruiser but also while water skiing behind said boat, then the Speedo Surfwalker 3.0 Water Shoe is a great choice.
These snug slip-on Speedos offer grip underfoot and protection against scrapes everywhere else. Plus, they're quick to dry after and are quite affordable. They're excellent for gripping surfboards and will work tucked inside diving fins while scuba diving.
4. The Best Dressy Boat Shoes
If you need classy boat shoes to accompany a button-down ensemble with khaki slacks, your best bet is the Docker's Vargas Leather Boat Shoe.
These Dockers offer similar moderate performance specs as the Sperry Top-Siders, but they can be polished to a high shine if you need to sport a more refined-casual style.
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5. The Best Boat Shoes Overall
My go-to favorite boat shoes are my Astral Brewer 2.0 Water Shoes. They blend a classic boat shoe and a casual sneaker while featuring laces and a comfortable built-in sock liner (making them comfortable without socks).
The tread pattern keeps you surefooted even on slippery boat decks and docks. Best of all, these boating shoes feature toe and heel drain ports and a highly breathable mesh upper panel so your foot stays nice and dry even after total immersion.
I wear mine in my canoe and kayak and on boats and docks and they never feel out of place.
Remember, it may behoove you to own two or even several pairs of boaters shoes. "The best boating shoe" is very relative: What might be right for one boater, is not practical for another.
If you're serious about life on the water, your feet need options. You have more than one pair of shoes you wear on land, don't you?
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