Astral Men's Loyak Water Shoes

Product Information

If you’re looking for a casual trail-to-town shoe with an exceptionally comfortable fit and stylish look, the Hemp Loyak trainer is an excellent choice. The first step to purchasing a solid water shoe is understanding the types you'll find on the market. Before we dive deeper into this section, take a moment and consider what you're buying your water shoes for, the weather you'll likely encounter, and any features that you need to suit your adventures best. Understanding your needs will help you narrow your search for the best shoe. Neoprene Booties Designed with the same balanced geometry as the Loyak and all Astral footwear, Donner Hemp trainers also provide a natural foot positioning and a supremely comfortable fit. While they too have a 1mm drop, their soles are chunkier and raised higher from the ground, with 4mm divided lugs and a sole made from AGRO G® Rubber which provides even greater abrasion resistance and grip. For those on the hunt for a water shoe that functions just as well on the river as it does on a side hike, reach for this versatile shoe

We've tested a variety of footwear, including the best men's sandals and the best women's sandals, which might be a good alternative to water shoes. We also have recommendations for the best paddling gear, including vater vessels like the top-rated SUP boards and the best kayaks and our favorite paddles to go along with them. This comfortable water shoe offers a wider toe box, and is best for gals with a bit wider feet looking for something that will last both on the river and off-trail With two of the brand’s most popular hemp trainers in our collection, the Astral Hemp Donner and the Astral Hemp Loyak, we’ve taken a look into the specifications of each one to help you decide whether Astral hemp shoes could be the right choice for you. Are you an avid paddler or a water lover? Our list of the best water gear features top-ranking products, including our favorite kayaks, the best SUP boards, and top PFDs. Don't forget about proper sun protection when out on the water. A pair of top-rated sunglasses can help improve visibility and prevent sun damage to the eyes, and a protective sun shirt can help keep the sun's rays off your skin. On a budget and looking for a deal? The Speedo Surf Knit Pro offers the best performance for the price. The simple slip-on design makes adding insulation and pulling it on and off easy. This will do the job if you need solid traction on slippery surfaces. We also appreciate its lightweight construction, which offers excellent sensitivity and can easily be stashed away.

If you struggle with stability on the sand, we recommend this pair of sandals that provides a wide platform for traversing uneven dunes. The Shore Shoe’s wide, flat sole helps evenly distribute your weight, so you can walk confidently along the shoreline. We don't rate shoes on style, but using the Loyaks for months both on and off the water has convinced us that it might be worth calling out these shoes as notable for their looks. Our testers frequently get compliments about these shoes, and their good looks make them especially versatile. For the price, you get not only a great water shoe but a shoe that fits in at the bar and even at work. Sensitivity Designed for comfort, these roomy beach shoes aren’t ideal for high-impact activities—in that case, we’d recommend a more streamlined option like Astral’s Loyak Water Shoes.

For sandals that can help you navigate the beach with ease, we like these Chacos. They combine comfort, functionality, and style, whether you’re strolling leisurely down the sand or hiking a new shoreline. And we love that they’ve received the American Podiatric Medical Association’s (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, meaning a group of podiatrists has determined that they promote good foot health. This pair from Z-Joyee is our favorite if you’re in the market for new, budget-friendly water shoes. We like that they mimic walking barefoot, but still provide enough traction and protection for beach walking. The wide toe box allows your toes to splay out, promoting better foot health, stability, and a more natural gait. Astral’s Donner Hemp trainers are similar to the Hemp Loyak in many respects but have several key differences that make them more suited for higher levels of performance. Like the Loyak, the Donner is created with high-quality hemp uppers that provide superior breathability, rot resistance and an exceptional level of durability to cotton. However, the Hemp Donner also features additional benefits such as water resistant laces, a padded ankle cover and welded reinforcement at key areas of the toe, heel and eyestays.Our water shoe testing uses six different metrics with the following percentage weightings of the overall score: The brand notes that these shoes run a half size large, so you may want to size down. But we like that the bungee laces are easy to adjust, for a close fit. We performed more than 15 individual assessments on each pair during testing. The most critical metrics we assessed were comfort and traction, together equalling 50% of the total weighted score. We wore them on short canyoneering adventures, strode around sandy beaches, waded through shallow creeks, navigated mossy shorelines, and scrambled about an 18-foot rubber gear boat. We were on the water on days with weather ranging from 80°F and sunny to 25°F mornings with icy put-ins. We sought out the opinions of fellow water enthusiasts about what is important to them in their water shoes and kept these points in mind as we evaluated our lineup side-by-side. Upper Material: 77% Hemp / 23% recycled polyester with welded reinforcements on the heel, eyestays and toes. Additional Features: Heel cup with padded ankle collar. Medium arch support. Water resistant laces.

Note from the Editor: On November 3, 2023, we added videos to highlight our hands-on testing and included new recommendations for each award winner. Related: Best Water Shoes for Men Value depends on how you want to use your new water shoes. You can get a neoprene bootie for a lower price than a more versatile shoe, but those booties will be limited purely to boating. If you need shoes that can protect your toes on a side hike, you'll want something more versatile, but that increased versatility will likely come with a higher price tag. Suppose you're doing more of a water-accessed canyoneering or hiking trip. In that case, it's worth spending the extra money on a more durable shoe like the Salomon Techamphibian 5, which sacrifices a bit of sensitivity and flexibility on the water but offers improved comfort and traction over traditional booties. The versatile Loyaks aren’t just ideal for walking—they’d also be a good choice for water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding, or snorkeling. Although they don’t come in as many sizes as other shoes on our list, we love their casual, stylish design that can take you from the boardwalk to the beach (and basically everywhere in between).

Proper traction for beach walking is important to prevent slips and falls, as well as to ensure comfortable walking, Pinker says. Both experts recommend wearing shoes with comfortable, supportive insoles and flexible rubber outsoles that have enough grip for mixed terrains.