Best Shoes For Canoeing

By Taylor Jensen

One of the most common mistakes perpetrated by canoeing newbies is neglect of footwear. Any seasoned paddler knows that a good pair of shoes will save you a lot of trouble on the water. A good pair of shoes for canoeing will keep your feet warm and as dry as possible. In fact, proper footwear might just be the most important piece of equipment next to the canoe itself.

In order to find such high-quality footwear, we have comprised a list of the best shoes for canoeing. But, before that, we’d like to point out a few things you need to pay attention to buying shoes for canoeing.

What to look for in the Best Shoes for Canoeing:

Shoe profile: When we say shoe profile, what we really mean is the type of shoe you’ll be wearing. Generally, there are two types of canoeing shoes the high-profile and low-profile shoes. High profile shoes encase your whole foot and sometimes extend past your ankles. These are very warm shoes, and they protect the whole of your foot. Low profile shoes leave a greater part of your upper foot exposed.
Material: As expected, high-end are made of high-quality materials. This makes the best shoes on the market sturdy, durable and lightweight and gentle on your feet. Having a pair of shoes made of top class materials will set you back a few more dollars, but having a bad pair will set you even more in doctor bills from all the cold you’ll be catching.
Weather & Season: Another important fact when it comes to canoeing footwear is the weather. The weather will greatly determine the type of shoes you’ll be wearing – for hot days, you will certainly want to wear a pair of low profile shoes, so you can let your feet breathe, and for winter months, you’ll probably opt for a pair of high-profile shoes to keep your feet warm.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get on with our list.

NeoSport Paddle Low Top Boots

The first product on our list is this wonderful pair of shoes from NeoSport. The shoes are low profile type, making them excellent for warmer weather. However, being made of neoprene, a material known for its heat retention properties, these boot are even suitable for use during less than ideal weather.

The boots featured glued and sewn seams to increase the durability of the shoes, as well as make them as much watertight as possible. The soles of the shoes are made especially resilient to punctures. The boots feature shock cords instead of laces, placed around the ankle, to ensure the fit is as tight as possible. These are our top pick for the best shoes for canoeing because our tester loved that you could hike in them when you went ashore.

What Users Are Saying:

Very warm and snug.
Easily slipped on or off.
They “stick” quite well.
The only stylish water shoes I have seen
Very affordable.

O’Neill Reactor Reef Boot

Another pair of low-profile shoes, the O’Neill Men’s Reactor boots are one of the best and most affordable products on the market. Also, we need to make a disclaimer – although these are called boots, they are actually shoes, since they do not extend past your ankle.

The shoes are made of a neoprene mesh to facilitate durability and to keep your feet warm. That being said, these shoes are great if you plan to take you canoe into some colder waters. The rubber sole of the shoe offers great resistance to damage and provides a firm grip on the surface of a canoe. These are also very lightweight, and offer an extremely tight fit, so you don’t have to worry about them slipping off.

What Users Are Saying:

Lightweight.
Very good fit, will not fall off.
Very warm
Great for canoe, kayak, or diving
So affordable

NRS Kinetic Water Shoes

NRS really takes it up a notch when it comes to foot protection. The NRS Kinetic Water Shoes’ sole and upper regions are made not just of neoprene, but are reinforced with titanium to ensure maximum protection, as well as keep your feet warm and snug inside.

There are also armor patches that guard the upper portions of your foot against physical damage and reduce friction that arises from paddling.

The front of the shoe features a toe box that protects your toes and provides a snug fit so that the shoe doesn’t gall off. These shoes feature a shoe-top cord that will help firmly secure them on your feet, ensuring you don’t lose them in the water. Our testers loved these because they were streamlined.

What Users Are Saying:

Very warm and snug.
Sleek.
Highly durable shoes.
Nice and wide toe box area – the shoes don’t cramp your toes.
Good, thick soles.
Very firm grip on all surfaces.

Promate Beach Dog Water Shoes

As one of the most affordable shoes on the market, the Promate Beach Dog Water Shoes sure do deliver. A three-millimeter rubber sole is just the thing to achieve ultimate grip and traction inside a canoe. The low cut design of the shoes means that they are as light as a feather – so much so you’ll forget you are wearing them.

The shoes offer a very nice fit and are generally warm and snug. They are tight enough no to slip off. The shoes offer excellent protection, and the material that helps protect the upper part of your foot reduces abrasion immensely. Lastly, this pair is very sturdy and robust, so it has a good life span.

What Users Are Saying:

Very sturdy and durable.
They offer a great deal of protection.
Very affordable.
Very good fit – they will never slip off on accident.
So lightweight.
The shoes are warm and offer a snug fit.

NeoSport Pull-On Boots

The last pair of water shoes is another entry from NeoSport. Encompassing all the good things that made the last pair, NeoSport Premium Pull On shoes are lightweight, warm, snug and durable. The shoes are made of neoprene to exercise maximum protection against physical damage as well as the elements.

The shoes are waterproof, through a very heavy duty zipper that will not allow any water to seep through. The neoprene makes the shoes very warm, making them viable for use even in the coldest of weather conditions. The pair is made extra durable to offer as much as possible protection over a decent amount of time, without you having to buy another pair. The soles of the shoes are made so that they offer maximum grip and excellent protection of the underside of your foot.