Water Shoes Are Just Regular Shoes Now
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Maybe Decathlon’s transparent plasticNabaiji Aquafuns were the first with their resemblance to the Row’s sock shoes (an observation made by illustrator and sometime Strategist contributorJenny Walton, who spotted them beachside in Italy). Then cameMary-Kate Olsen’s Tevas, theVoya Infinitymodel, which happen to be waterproof (a fact I learned from visual director Samantha Adler’s“Steal My Vacation” packing list). Andthencame our “water-sandal-hiking hybrid” shoe of the summer,Keen’s Newport H2. All of this is to say thatwater shoeshave increasingly become shoes for traversing dry land. Just last week, senior writerLauren Rospotted a mom at a birthday party inthese(while not water shoes, they’re water-shoe-adjacent), and our lead editorLauren Levynoticed another mom at drop-off wearing actual water shoes as shoes. So why not wear your water shoes as regular shoes? After all, ano-show-toe summeris afoot. Below, some water shoes to wear everywhere.
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Nike Aqua Turf
These just might be the newAir Rifts, from the Nike archives.
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Uneek Sneaker - Women’s
Some “uninhibited freedom” by way of bungeelike cords.
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Speedo Tidal Cruiser Watershoes
As sporty as a Speedoswimsuit.
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The water shoesBarbiemight swim in, if she didn’t havepointed-toe doll feet.
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Teva Outflow Universal Sandal
AGrand Canyon river guidecreated Teva’s Original Universals back in 1984. But theOutflow Universalsare seemingly more “adventure sandals” than the original.
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Or there’s this edition of the Outflow. It’s the “ultimate amphibian,” for theCatskills,Hudson Valley, or just a day inSouthampton.
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For the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard or sailboat in Nantucket, these are made by a company that sells canoe paddles, raft supplies, and boating equipment, fittingly.
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Lands’ End Slip On Water Shoes
You can pack them into aLands’ Endopen-top (or anL.L.Bean Boat and Tote) easily.
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While the Decathlon’s Nabaiji Aquafuns aren’t ever in stock online, Cressi’s version is (it’s similar to an all-clearAquafunWalton saw on an Italian man in Marche).
And some more shoes in the water-shoe spirit …
You can’t go swimming in them, but they’resummer shoesall the same.
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Finally,mesh flatsthat don’t show toe.
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Unlike Merrell’s Jungle Moc, New Balance’s new MT10T has a Vibram sole for some more traction.
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Cheaper than Ancient Greek Sandals’ and Vince’sjellies, these are the jellies our writer Arielle Avila throws on after dips in the pool.
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