Whether you’re a year-round water rat, or you’re lured by the summer vibes of lakes, rivers, and ocean—you’ve probably encountered the need for appropriate footwear when you, oops, didn’t have it. Stepping on sharp rocks, getting stabbed by waterborne sticks, or even having your soles poop out from lack of support are all things that might cause you to turn around and quit your adventure early.
My new favorite all-purpose shoes when I hit the water are the Danner Rivercomber Water Shoes.
I live on the coast, and my surf-town’s uniform footwear choice is usually slippas, or three-point sandals. They’re pretty versatile, especially when you’re used to them, but they don’t do much when the going gets difficult. Dialing up the performance with solid water shoes is always a good bet.
The Rivercomber’s nonmarking Vibram outsole directs water away from the foot, so you don’t slide around when you’re walking on wet surfaces. The lightweight, drainable EVA midsole works together with the OrthoLite footbed to provide optimal cushioning and support, as well as heat dissipation and air circulation. They also dry out fairly quickly, so you’re not stuck with a soggy shoe the next day.
The knit upper is made with Cordura, which is abrasion resistant and also breathable. The holes in the knit are small enough that even small pebbles won’t make their way into the shoe. The shoe has a sock-like fit around the ankle, as well as laces to adjust and secure the perfect fit for your foot.
The shoes are extremely lightweight, just 17 ounces per pair, so there’s no reason you can’t bring them along the next time you head out to water-based adventures.
The women’s Rivercomber shoes come in two color combinations, wild dove/bright blue and bronze/birch, and list for $90 on the Danner site. The men’s version of the shoes are priced the same, and they also come in two color combinations on the Danner site: goblin blue/charcoal and red/orange.