Best Water Shoes? Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport Review

I have been on a LONG search for the best water shoes with a closed toe. I think I’ve finally found them in the Aqua X Sport from Xero Shoes!

The Search for the Best Water Shoes

I live in Florida and do a lot of activities with the Boy Scouts of America. With the Boy Scouts, for any activity, you must wear closed-toe shoes. This includes water sports like white water rafting and tubing.

I have tried everything from cheap Walmart water shoes to my most expensive pair; Keen sandals. Most of them last one summer camp with the Scouts and my Keen’s are just supremely uncomfortable.

As you can see in the pic above, my Keen’s are not your typical Keen sandals. Once they’re wet, they stay wet for days. Sand gets in between the paracord outer and my foot. This creates wonderful abrasions on my feet. Good times.

Aqua X Sport Review

Xero Shoes was kind enough to send me a pair of their new Aqua X Sport shoes to review. Xero calls them “activity shoes,” but I saw them as a possibility for the best water shoes I could get with a closed toe. Here’s the description from Xero Shoes.

Featuring an open mesh upper that sheds water, adjustable lace locks, and a non-absorbent tongue, this ultra-packable activity shoe is perfect for everything from paddle boarding to mud runs and anything in between.

– Xero Shoes

I absolutely love these shoes. They’re super comfortable and I even wear them as normal tennis shoes during the day. The mesh upper lets pretty much everything flow right out of them. I have used them on the beach and do get sand in them, but it doesn’t get trapped in between the shoe and my foot.

The Aqua X also has great tread. Better than any water shoes I’ve ever used. Aggressive enough to keep you stable on wet rocks, but small enough to still be a minimalist shoe.

Of course, like all Xero Shoes, the Aqua X has a nice wide toe box and zero drop sole. This gives my foot plenty of space to spread out and provide that barefoot feel.

Xero made the laces from shock cord with a lace lock, instead of tied laces. It’s a great set up that allows you to have the shoes as tight or loose as you need them. I caution you with the tongue on the shoes, though. If you get a crease or fold in the tongue, it will irritate the top of your foot. It’s not really a “negative,” but you need to be a little conscientious about keeping the tongue flat against your foot. As long as you do, they are amazingly comfortable.

Conclusions

Pros

• Very comfortable
• Great flow of water through the shoes
• Closed toe, for when you need it
• Great tread – better than any water shoes I’ve owned
• Great looking shoes!

Cons

• The shoes are a bit pricey for water shoes. However, you can use them for so many activities that it’s almost like getting two shoes in one
• Make sure the tongue is flat or you will experience pain and abrasions on the top of your feet