We’ve done our job of telling people about the great places of Eastern Europe pretty well these last few years. However, one aspect we’ve missed is telling travelers about the best products and gear for enjoying these magic travel places. Here’s a first in an ongoing series on “stuff you need” to enhance your travel experiences. Today we focus on foot gear for people headed to the Aegean and other seaside wonders.
One thing we’ve found we missed in our duffle bag for Crete Greece beach enjoyment and safety, water footwear would have come in handy on a dozen occasions since our trip by ferry to amazing Crete. From a swim excursion during a layover in Piraeus, to Milatos Beach and even Tsoutsouros in the south of the island, I do not know why we never thought about swim shoes. While the beaches here are fantastic, sandy, and user friendly, the occasional fish hook or sharp rocky outcropping can spoil your day. With this reality in mind, here are a selection of the best water footwear available.
Speedo Men’s Surfwalker Pro 3.0 Water Shoes Black
Selected the best men’s shoe overall by several sources, Merrell Men’s All Out Blaze Aero Sport Hiking Water Shoe is a perfect selection for the adventurous dude who wants to cover all the bases. But if you’ve no inclination for hiking, most great wWater shoes, including aqua socks, are intended to protect your feet from broken glass, sharp rocks, hot surfaces, fish hooks (yikes), coral reefs, and even parasites. Among the best is a show made by Speedo – the Surfwalker 3.0 Water Shoe (above), which are number one “comfortable”, while providing great bottom grip in a breathable shoe. On the down side the biggest complaint against this show is durability, which is mostly owing to the shoe’s breathable and lightweight materials use. I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too in this regard.
For the waterlogged surf tourist out there who prefers sandals, Keen makes the Newport H2 Sandal for versatility and utility. This performance sport sandal features; a bungee lacing system, excellent protection for your feet without sacrificing comfort, and obvious breathability and versatility. The down side on these according to reviewers is they take a while to dry, and are therefore not quite as suited to both water and land environments. They’re a bit pricey compared with some others as well.
Vibram 5 Fingers Mens Signa Water Shoes
One of my favorite designs in this group are the Vibram 5 Fingers Mens Signa Water Shoes, which literally fit like a glove to protect your feet while allowing maximum flexibility and a natural feel. These machine washable synthetic swim shoes are not as well suited to swimming, as the shoes fill with water sometimes. For deck operations though, you’d be hard pressed to find a better solution.
Crocs Men’s Swiftwater Sandals
Solving many of the problems the aforementioned shoes lack, the Crocs Swiftwater Sandal is genius work. These are light and comfortable on land and in water, while at the same time holding the foot well thanks to the mesh upper and velcro closure. The shoes some protection from bumps and scrapes, but they dry super fast compared to some similar models. Some people complain of durability issues with the velcro strap, but other than this there are few negatives. At a bit over €50 euro, this shoe is a few “feet” ahead of the competition.
Zhuanglin Men’s Quick Drying Aqua Water Shoes
Ideally, a tourist traveling lightweight is going to want one tool to suit every condition. And as water footwear goes, the hiking and walking ashore aspect should logically take a back seat to wet performance. My favorite shoe in this respect are the Zhuanglin Men’s Quick Drying Aqua Water Shoes for pretty obvious reasons. First and foremost, they look and feel like you can actually swim in them. They shed water very quickly, dry very fast, and are stylish enough to wear for drinks at the nearby Rethymno (Crete) tavern. Priced at under €30 euro at Amazon and elsewhere, they can also be considered relative “throw aways” compared to the competition. If there is a negative on these shoes it’s the fact their not optimally suited for extreme water sport or hiking. Then again, I said “best of all worlds” – and this they certainly are.