It’s difficult to find a destination that has had more wild swings in fortune and history than Berlin.
The capital of Germany has played host to years of unfettered creativity and to some of humanity’s darkest times.
Its current state of prosperous reunification provides an excellent travel window to see for yourself all that Berlin was and is – and maybe get a glimpse of what it will be.
In no particular order, here’s a sampling of some of Berlin’s top attractions:
You might be surprised to learn that building on the Pergamon, one of the top museums of Europe, was only started in 1910. Construction continued until 1930. But within its walls are impressive exhibits that date back thousands of years.
Among the museum’s highlights:
– The Market Gate of Miletus, a remarkable example of Roman architecture that dates to around 100 A.D.
– Part of the reconstructed Throne Room facade from the royal palace in Babylon at the time of King Nebuchadnezzar II’s reign (605-562 B.C.)
– The namesake Great Altar of Pergamon, from around 170 B.C. Pergamon, located in modern Turkey, was a major cultural center of the Greek world.
You can also see outstanding examples of Middle Eastern and Islamic art.
The Pergamon is so good it get its own section in this roundup, but it’s part of a set on Berlin’s “Museum Island” in the Spree River. You may want to make some time for the other four. Here’s a quick take on each:
– Bode-Museum: On the northern tip of Museum Island, highlights include sculpture from the medieval period to the late 18th century as well as Byzantine art.
– Neues Museum (New Museum): Head here if you love all things Egyptian. Its bust of Queen Nefertiti is the showpiece exhibit.
– Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery): Opened in 1876, it shows paintings and sculptures from the neoclassical period through early modernist art. See works by Caspar David Friedrich, Edouard Manet, Adolphe Menzel and many others.
– Altes Museum (Old Museum): As the name might imply, it was the first entry on Museum Island, opened in 1830. It has works from classical antiquity, including a renowned collection of Etruscan art.
Germany is often found at the epicenter of world history, and the Reichstag is often at the epicenter of recent German history.
It was completed in 1894. It’s reputed that Kaiser Wilhelm II regarded it as “the pinnacle of bad taste.” It was the home of the German parliament until 1933 when fire badly damaged the building. The fire gave Hitler the pretext he sought to suppress dissent. After reunification of East and West Germany, it again became the nation’s governing center in 1999.
Along with a storied history, it’s a wonder for the eyes. A fairly new addition, its glass dome above the debating chamber is a marvel. If you really want to soak this place in, it’s suggested you come for a midweek visit when fewer tourists are around.
Reichstag: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
Frederick William II commissioned the gate as an entrance to Unter den Linden, which led to the Prussian palace. It was started in 1788 and finished in 1791. The neoclassical gate with 12 Doric columns was still relatively new when Napoleon’s French army overtook Berlin in 1804 and he took its crowning statue away as a spoil of war. (It was later returned).
It was part of the scenery for Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s. In the Cold War years of the 20th century, it was the ultimate symbol of a divided city, with the Berlin Wall shutting off access for East and West Berliners. It was the backdrop for President Ronald Reagan’s memorable challenge to the Soviets to “tear down this wall.”
Today, it’s a potential wall of tourists you’ll face, but it’s worth it to be on ground where so much history has been made.
You can find numerous places throughout Berlin with remnants and reminders of the Wall. They include the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and Potsdamer Platz, to name just three.
Gleeful Berliners started rapidly knocking down the bulk of the hated wall back in 1989 in the wave of revolution that swept throughout Eastern Europe. But at the largest remaining intact portion, you’ll find the East Side Gallery.
It’s an open-air gallery where you’ll find many dozens of inspiring murals painted on the wall.
East Side Gallery: Mühlenstrasse 3-100, 10243 Berlin, Germany; +49 30 2517159
Tiergaren is to Berlin what Central Park is to New York: the city’s lungs, the central green gathering place.
The park was once royal hunting grounds until Friedrich III, Duke of Prussia, turned the area into a “park for the pleasure of the general population” in the late 17th century.
World War II took a serious toll on the park, but it has since bounced back. You’ll now find locals and tourists jogging, skating and cycling along tree-lined paths.
Tiergarten contains or is very close to numerous tourist attractions, including Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz.
Tiergarten is just below the Spree in the Mitte borough of central Berlin.
Berlin’s live-and-let-live attitude
Berlin’s live-and-let-live attitude
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Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
Why not travel the world while you’re in Berlin?
You can take such a “trip” at the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum, where you’ll see climate-controlled rainforests and meadows.
Greenhouses hold everything from orchids to carnivorous plants. And with a scent and tactile garden in the mix, more than your sense of sight will be engaged. The museum holds fascinating fossils and plant models.
Jewish Museum Berlin and Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
It’s difficult to come to Berlin without examining one of the darkest pages in humanity’s history.
At the Jewish Museum, which opened in 2001, you can follow the harrowing journey that was the Holocaust.
But you’ll find there’s more here. With its emphasis on educational work and exhibits, you’ll also learn about the contributions of Jewish people to culture and society through hundreds of years. The complex’s fascinating architecture weaving the old with the new is symbolic of the flow of history here.
You can also visit an immersive, emotionally moving Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe that opened in 2005. The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete slabs of different heights and is open day and night.
If you’ve had your fill of Berlin’s historical and high-art destinations and you’re ready for the city’s funky, creative side, make your way to Monsterkabinett.
It’s something of a rundown, indoor amusement park, populated with strange, metallic beasts and dressed-up humans. And they happen to enjoy putting on song-and-dance numbers for their guests.
Anyone with an appreciation for the surreal might enjoy this offbeat attraction.
Monsterkabinett: Rosenthaler Str. 39, 10178 Berlin, Germany; +49 176 96042630
The Fernsehturm was built in the 1960s by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as a very tall testimony to socialist progress.
It’s one of Berlin’s signature structures with its slender body supporting a sphere to remind people of a satellite. It also happens to be a fantastic place to get an incredible panorama of the city below. You can also enjoy a bar and revolving restaurant at the tower.
This is the closest way to get to swimming in the Spree River without actually getting in it. (Its waters don’t exactly have the reputation for being the cleanest in Europe).
But at Badeschiif, a barge serves as a floating swimming pool right in the river. At the pool, you can get great views of the Spree, the Oberbaumbrücke bridge and the TV tower.
The beach area around the Badeschiff is also a gathering point for recreation and entertainment for many Berliners.
Badeschiff: Eichenstrasse 4, 12435 Berlin, Germany; +49 162 5451374 (check the website for opening and closing times from May to September)
Berlin continues to add layers to its history, and the Computerspielemuseum delightfully captures the past few decades of video games.
You’ll find more than 300 exhibits, including rare original games and classics you can play (such as Space Invaders and Frogger). You can also enjoy various 3-D simulators.
This square dates back to the late 1600s and is one of Berlin’s top tourist draws. Visit here and you’ll see why.
For one thing, it’s graced by impressive statues and buildings. In the middle of the square, you’ll find the statue dedicated to German poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller.
The German Church and the French Church are major structures you’ll find on the square. There are also plenty of cafes, shops and hotels here.
It’s also home to special events throughout the year – from summer concerts to a beloved Christmas market in December.
A facial and oral pain doctor explains what causes tension in the sides of your face and shares five ways to relieve TMJ-related pain
(Photo: Ayana Underwood/Canva)
Published August 9, 2025 02:47PM
Dealing with any tension in the body is a real pain. But a tight, sore jaw can be mind-numbingly painful at worst and annoying at best. Learning how to relax your jaw can protect you from a host of unnecessary issues.
According to Nojan Bakhtiari, a facial and oral pain specialist, headaches, teeth damage, sleep disruption (and negative repercussions on mental health), and, of course, general pain can all be attributed, at least in part, to a clenched jaw.
What Causes Jaw Tension?
Most jaw tension is created by daily, relatable habits—even would-be relaxing ones, including sleep or yoga. Bakhtiari cites “daytime clenching,” the sort that happens during exercise or stressful work events, and nighttime teeth grinding as predominant culprits.
Other contributing factors? “Excessive caffeine, medications (such as stimulants), and oral habits including nail biting, cheek biting, lip biting, and gum chewing,” he says. This cocktail of conscious and unconscious quirks can create undue pain that can ultimately impact your overall health.
TMJ Disorders
Jaw pain and headaches are often related to TMJ, or the temporomandibular joints, which frame your jaw. You have two of these joints. To find them, place a finger from each hand on the sides of your face just slightly in front of your ears. Open your mouth. You should feel your jaw unlock. Issues with your jaw joints are caused by TMD (temporomandibular disorders). TMD may include disc disorders or even problems with the muscles used for chewing. While the causes of TMJ pain are common, addressing it requires some finesse.
“TMJ exercises need to be tailored to the individual,” says Bakhtiari. “Unfortunately, some classic exercises found online can hurt people who are hypermobile (too flexible).” If you’re interested, Bakhtiari suggests getting evaluated by an orofacial pain specialist first.
5 Ways to Stop Clenching Your Jaw
Fortunately, there is a selection of universal steps you can take to relax your jaw now. According to Bakhtiari, simply noticing the above patterns can help you overcome them.
1. Make Humming Sounds
The sacred mantra of om is more than mentally and spiritually meditative—it can ease physical stress, too. Bakhtiari notes that an om, or any humming sound with an “m,” encourages your jaw to move to a relaxed position.
2. Try to Limit Nail Biting and Gum Chewing
This one is simple. “Break any oral habits such as nail biting and gum chewing,” says Bakhtiari. While these small instances tend to be tied to anxiety, finding other coping mechanisms (think meditation or breathwork) will protect you from greater strife.
3. Cut Down on Caffeine
As noted above, an excess of caffeine and other stimulants can amp you up, causing you to clench your jaw. There’s no need to ditch your coffee and tea entirely—a bit of mindfulness around consumption goes a long way.
4. Develop a Myofascial Release Routine
The myofascial system runs through your entire body, connecting myriad body parts, including your jaw and your hamstrings. Honing a myofascial release routine that addresses your tightest areas may effectively release others; in this case, rolling out your hamstrings may be precisely what you need to help unlock your jaw. You can also purchase myofascial release balls, like these. You can also use a tennis ball.
5. Keep Your Teeth Apart
This simple suggestion can make a big change. According to Bakhtiari, your teeth are never meant to touch—except when you’re eating, of course. Reminding yourself of this fact can instantly alleviate jaw tension.
After getting in late last night, I decided to sleep in for a while, waking up at 6:30am instead of 6:00am. I could hear the NOBOs getting up and heading out, so when it came time for breakfast, I enjoyed it at the picnic table alone. When I got back on trail, however, I noticed that there was one tent left: that of the other SOBO couple I had been leapfrogging since the beginning. I’d probably see them again sometime today.
After a few minutes of climbing, I reached the wide open expanse of an exposed bald. Darn, this could’ve been my campsite last night. There were views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helen’s with no clouds to cover them. If only I hadn’t been so wiped out after the climb. Oh well.
After that, it was a while until I saw the full sky again. The trail took me gently through the forest, past huckleberry and blueberry bushes that had already been well-picked. So many NOBOs and multi-day backpackers passed, it was unbelievable. But I did end up passing someone who I’d been looking for since the beginning. The crazy thing was, I didn’t even know what he looked like, just his name.
A friend from church had another friend hiking the trail this year and told me to look out for him. Well, a friendly guy and his wife passed and struck up a conversation, which doesn’t happen as often as you would think between NOBOs and SOBOs. It took us a few minutes to introduce ourselves, but when he did, a lightbulb went off; it was him! What a coincidence because now, with so many NOBOs passing, I just say hi and move on, but for some reason we struck up a real conversation. How lucky is that?
After a few miles, I sat down to have second breakfast. With 6 miles done so far, the morning was moving steadily along. Just as I was packing up to leave, the SOBO couple from this morning came to have their second breakfast as well. See? I knew it wouldn’t be long until I saw them again.
Since I had finished, I gave them the site and kept going. Then, through a break in the trees, I saw it: Mt. Hood! This was my destination for the day; I planned to camp along an alternate in the shadow of the beautiful mountain. Seeing it so close put a little pep in my step.
As the morning turned to afternoon, the temperature rose, increasing my gratitude for the constant tree cover. It was hot! I found a nice shady Tentsite right before my big climb of the day and leisurely ate my lunch. The menu for today included bread with cheese and meat sticks, jalapeño chips, a cookie, and a few Nerds gummies. Yum!
Fueled and ready to go, I tackled the first 1,000ft climb with ease. After a long descent, I took a quick break to dip my hands in the cool creak before heading to see Ramona Falls. This waterfall is not on the official PCT, but it’s a very popular alternate that is almost the same length as the PCT.
As I walked alongside the creek leading to the falls, I longed to jump in and take a dip. My shirt was soaked from my sweat and I could feel the heat of the day on my cheeks. Still, I knew I would find it annoying to take 2 breaks so close together and have to take off my socks and shoes, so I waited until the falls. Ramona Falls was big and beautiful, with water cascading down the cubed rocky face beneath it. Unfortunately there was no swimming hole, so I compensated by dipping my hands and enjoying the cool breeze that wafted from the falling water.
After a few snacks and getting my body temperature back to where I wanted it to be, I continued on, ready to tackle the last 4 miles and 2,500ft of elevation gain. The beginning of the climb wasn’t bad, but with about 1.5 miles left to go, I started getting tired. My shirt was soaked with sweat once again, and the sun stood high in the clear sky. The one thing that kept me going was the promise of an unforgettable campsite in Paradise Park.
Once I reached the top, I knew that all the hard work was worth it. Mt. Hood stood clear and unobstructed in front of me while alpine meadows filled with wildflowers greeted me. It was peaceful and serene at the base of Mt. Hood.
And I wasn’t alone in wanting to camp in Paradise. There were a number of other campers scattered about, but it didn’t seem like many thru-hikers were up here. Eventually I found the perfect campsite and sat down to dinner and the greatest show on earth: the sunset. And this time, it didn’t disappoint. As the sun lowered towards the horizon, its rays softly warmed my face. I could see mountains upon mountains stretch out before me while Mt. Hood stood at my back. As I ate my dinner, the sky took on a rosy then fiery hue. Being so high in elevation, the sunset seemed to last forever. I have to say, I think it’s been the best one on trail yet.
Paradise Park truly is paradise. As the sun fades, I can see Portland, Vancouver, and other towns along the Columbia River twinkling in the distance. The crickets chirp softly while the muffled sound of a snowmelt stream burbles in the background. Tonight is an amazing night.
And that’s a day in the life of a PCT SOBO hiker!
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Water shoes are essential for protecting your feet from sharp coral, slick rocks, cold water, mosquitoes, and sunburn. The best water shoes keep you steady on paddleboards, comfortable on beach runs, secure while wade fishing or portaging kayaks, and sure-footed around pools and rocky riverbanks.
Lead tester Nathan Ward is a lifelong adventurer who has paddled his fair share of rivers across the globe. He tested water shoes in the heat and saltwater of the Caribbean and the icy snowmelt of the Rockies. In 2025, wildlife guide and outdoor enthusiast Ryan Kempfer took over testing. He put water shoes to the test on SUP and rafting adventures on Wyoming’s Snake River, and along river banks throughout Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
We tested 15 water shoes side by side to compare support, grip, style, protection, adjustability, drainability, durability, and wearability. We have you covered, whether you’re looking for the versatile performance of our favorite water shoes, the Astral Brewer 3.0, or the value of our top budget pick, the Teva Hydratek Closed-Toe Sandal.
Editor’s Note: On August 9, 2025, we updated our Best Water Shoes Guide to add our most versatile pick, the KEEN Newport H2, for its rugged toe protection and river-readiness, and the Astral TR1 Mesh 2.0 for its quick-draining design and grippy outsole.
We tested shoes, including the Xera Aqua X Sport, in the warm waters of the Caribbean and the cold waters of Colorado; (photo/Nathan Ward)
How We Tested Water Shoes
Our Testing Grounds & Process
Choosing the best water shoes today represents a tricky challenge. Nearly every footwear company offers a “water shoe.” Some of these are legitimate shoes that can be used for all sports, while others are nothing more than simple socks with non-slip rubber on the bottom.
To find the best water shoes, we put dozens of pairs to the test across a wide range of environments. From paddling rivers in Colorado to wading through rocky shorelines in Baja, we evaluated performance in real-world conditions. Our testing included paddleboarding, kayaking, creek hiking, fishing flats, and scrambling over slippery rocks. We paid close attention to traction, drainage, comfort, and durability over months of use. Whether it was long days on the river or quick dips at the local swimming hole, every pair earned its place on this list through hands-on, multi-sport testing.
Our Expert Testers
Nathan Ward headed up this test, first packing all the shoes for a trip to the Caribbean and then testing them on the shores of the Arkansas River in Salida, Colo. Nathan is a lifelong adventurer who has kayaked rivers in the Himalayas, wade-fished Rocky Mountain rivers and tropical flats, paddled SUPs on oceans/inlets/lakes/rivers, snorkeled rivers, gingerly crunched over sea urchins, and spent too many hours on the decks of swimming pools watching his son swim back and forth.
He is also a lifelong writer, photographer, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker devoted to conservation, river restoration, and wildlife protection. In his adventures and work, he has worn out more than one pair of Astral Brewers. In 2025, Ryan Kempfer took over this guide. Living in Jackson Hole, Ryan tests water shoes on paddleboard trips down the Salt River, raft trips down the Snake, and on hikes and adventures with water crossings. This guide represents the best water shoes on the market. If you’re looking for women’s choices, check out our guide to the Best Water Shoes for Women.
We put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to find you the best water shoes; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Water Shoes
Given the thousands of types of water shoes available, this is a tough question. However, the most simple answer is often the best. Where will you use your water shoes the most, and how often?
For example, will you use them primarily at the resort or the pool, where you need a water shoe to protect your feet from hot sand, sun, and slipping? Then, the Speedo Surf Knit Pro or XtraTuf Riptide Sandal may be the best shoe for you.
Close your eyes, visualize where you will spend most of your water time, and imagine what features will make you the most happy. One of the shoes in this review will work well for you.
Choose the right water shoe based on how you will use it most. TheAstral Loyak is a great choice if you’ll be mostly adventuring; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Use Types
Building on the concept above, different water shoes are best suited for different uses. The most common of these are adventure, lifestyle, and cold. And fashion, of course. Don’t forget fashion.
Sometimes these categories can be combined for a broader range of uses. Regardless of use, every water shoe should protect your feet, stay on, and help prevent you from slipping on wet or slimy surfaces.
Adventure
When we picture water adventures, we think of paddling sups, running whitewater in a raft or a kayak, jogging on the beach, hiking routes that combine trails and water crossings, or wading over sharp coral to fly fish. Your feet need support, protection from rocks, and shoes that stay on if you are washed through a churning whitewater rapid or pinwheeled in the waves. Adventure shoes include the Xero Aqua X Sport, the Astral Brewer 3.0, the Teva Hydratek CT Sandal, the Keen Hyperport H2 Sandal, the Merrell Moab Flight Sieve and the Teva Outflow Universal.
The Xero Aqua X Sportshoes are ideal for SUP adventures, kayaking in tight boats, and rock hopping on the river shore; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Casual/Lifestyle
Casual water shoes are oriented more toward lifestyle pursuits like walking in small lapping waves, strolling around town near the river while you look for a delicious bagel, crossing the gravel between the parking lot and the beach, and stepping across sun-baked hot concrete and sand. You can wear these shoes at the beach, the water park, and the restaurant afterward.
They will not necessarily stay on in waves, running rivers, or any action-oriented water activity. You often find single casual water shoes washed up alone on the edges of lakes, rivers, and beaches.
Why not just wear flip-flops? We love flip-flops, but water shoes definitely stay on better than flip-flops, offer a degree of sun protection, and have soles designed to prevent slipping. The Speedo Surf Knit Pro, the XtraTuf Riptide Sandal and Kiata Drift Sneaker, and Merrell Hydro Moc fit this lifestyle category.
The Speedo Surf Knit Promoves easily from relaxing near the water to dinner and back again; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Cold Water/Cold Temps
To pursue cold water sports, you need a water shoe that will help keep your feet as warm as possible. This often means a neoprene shoe. Or, you can choose a more sustainable option like the Terraprene in the NRS Paddle Wetshoe orKicker Wetshoe. Many companies sell low neoprene booties or socks. For better protection, choose a cold water shoe that covers your ankle and tucks under the legs of your wetsuit.
You also want them to zip on the side for ease. A small tab to cover the zipper so it doesn’t cut into your wetsuit also helps. NRS has specialized in cold water for decades. Its Paddle Wetshoe is the most recent version of a long line of paddling booties.
Another option would be to use the neopreneNRS Kicker Wetshoe. Or, you can put an NRS Wetsockunder your adventure water shoe. If you do this, you must buy an adventure water shoe big enough to fit the neoprene sock. The downside is that the larger shoe size will decrease your warm-weather performance when not wearing the neoprene sock. There are always trade-offs when trying to combine equipment for very different conditions.
The NRS Paddle Wetshoekept our feet warm while paddling high mountain reservoirs and snorkeling cold rivers in winter and spring; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Fit and Sizing
All the water shoes reviewed offer fairly wide toeboxes, although none of them come in a wide option. Wide toeboxes are popular because you can spread your toes out. However, sand and water sometimes collect or pool in a wide toebox. The NRS Paddle Wetshoe and Kicker Wetshoe offer a very wide toebox.
Many water shoes do not come in half sizes. Most of the time, you need to order the half size larger. For example, if you normally wear a 10.5 regular shoe, order an 11 water shoe. For more active adventures, look for a shoe that comes in half sizes so you can get the best fit.
The casual Merrell Hydro Mocruns a bit big, so you may want to size down; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Weight and Packability
The shoes that offer the most protection also weigh more. Look at the NRS Paddle Wetshoe, the Athmile Water Sock, and the Teva Hydratek CT Sandal. Shoes with less protection often weigh less. The exception here is the Speedo Surf Knit Pro. It weighs quite a bit for a casual water shoe because it’s built with a fairly thick sole for additional protection.
Most of these water shoes squish flat, so you can throw a rubber band around them and stuff them in your suitcase or pack them where they will take up very little room. The exceptions are the Teva Hydratek CT Sandal, Keen Hyperport H2 Sandal, and Merrell Moab Flight Sieve because they are built more like supportive sneakers. If you’re trying to pack minimally, wear these on the plane while traveling.
The weight, packability, and performance winner is the Astral Brewer 3.0, which is lightweight and doesn’t take up much room.
The Athmile Water Sock is a super-packable option that works well on any budget; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Outsoles (Tread)
Regardless of what type of water shoe is best for you, a non-negotiable feature is a shoe sole that protects your feet from rocks, hot sand, slippery algae, fish hooks, broken shells, coral, limestone caves, burning concrete, and all the other environmental dangers that can damage the sensitive bottoms of your feet. While some things like very slippery rocks and broken glass may best every water shoe rubber sole, the shoe soles in this review, all do a very good job.
Some companies focus more on rubber. For example, earlier versions of the Astral Brewer used the proven nonslip Stealth climbing shoe rubber. Over time, Astral developed its own proprietary rubber, which it calls the G.SS Rubber + Flex Grip Outsole, which it used in the Astral Brewer 3.0. It’s durable, grippy on wet surfaces, and doesn’t mark up the floor.
Another take on a protective outsole is the NRS Paddle Wetshoe, which uses a thin but sticky sole combined with a 5mm inner sole, a 2mm plastic shim, and additional protection on the heels, Achilles area, and toes. The end result is a flexible water shoe that also protects your feet.
The Astral Brewer 2.0 has super-grippy soles yet is also lightweight and doesn’t take up much room; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Support and Comfort
Many water shoes are not very comfortable for long periods, as they’re designed to be worn only for the time you are in the water. As a result, many do not offer much, or any, arch support. The manufacturers know most water shoes are designed to be worn directly on a bare foot without the cushion of a sock, so water shoes are often lined with a material soft on bare skin. If you want some arch support, look to the Astral Brewer 3.0, the Teva Hydratek CT Sandal, the Keen Hyperport H2 Sandaland the Merrell Moab Flight Sieve.
The Teva Outflow Universal water sneaker offered support, great foot protection, and the most customizable fit of all the water shoes we tested; (photo/Nathan Ward)
Sustainability
As we all know, creating sustainable products is a huge challenge. Shoes are made with materials, glues, and compounds designed to protect your feet, not break down easily once they wear out. This is an unfortunate reality, but several of the companies manufacturing the water shoes profiled here are making a sincere effort to design products more sustainably.
We’ve mentioned many of these sustainability initiatives above and you can read about them in much more detail on each manufacturer’s website. To highlight a few sustainability initiatives:
Astral has moved away from PVC, neoprene, toxic glues, and construction processes. Today, it incorporates recycled materials, hemp, and less intensive manufacturing.
Could they all do more? Of course. Can they all do more and still stay in business? We don’t know. However, every dollar bill is a vote, so when choosing shoes, you can make an impact by deciding how to spend yours.
If sustainability is an important consideration for you, spend yours on companies that aggressively pursue sustainable materials and processes, both before making shoes and after the shoes have worn out.
Frequently Asked Questions
For adventure water shoes, find shoes offered in the more exact half sizes. Otherwise, size up.The exception is the XtraTuf Kiata which seems to be sized ½ size too big.
The best water shoe for you will be determined by the water activity you do the most.
These could be fighting words, but we need to add a couple more words to the question. Are water shoes better than flip-flops in the water? Absolutely. Flip-flops float off your feet.
Searching for the best water shoes can feel like navigating a sea of endless options and variations. But fear not — our comprehensive buyer’s guide…
We tested the best flip-flops of 2025 with options for every budget. Top picks include Olukai, Teva, Astral, Chaco & more.
