A water shoe is a type of

footwear Footwear refers to garments worn on the feet, which typically serves the purpose of protection against adversities of the environment such as wear from ground textures and temperature. Footwear in the manner of shoes therefore primarily serves ...

that is typically used for activities where the feet are likely to become wet, such as

kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits faci ...

. Water shoes are usually made of mesh and have a hard sole used to prevent cuts and abrasions when walking in wet, rocky environments. They may often have tiny holes on the bottom or sides of the sole to allow for quick water drainage, which keeps helps the wearer's feet dry faster, keeps the shoe light, and prolongs the lifespan of the material. Additionally, most people do not wear socks with water shoes.

Types

There are several types of water shoes based on the needs of the wearer, ranging from something that resembles a sock to footwear that can function as a sneaker or even a boot. * Water socks－Maintains the feeling of being barefoot when engaging in water activities. Ideal for swimming and can sometimes be worn inside scuba gear. * Water shoe－The most common type and can be worn casually in and out of water because it functions as a normal shoe. They can be designed to be able to handle light hiking. * Water sandals－Has the fastest water drainage and allows for sand to easily pass through the shoe and fall out.

History

Water shoes are also used to protect people's feet in waters with sharp-rocked floors or

zebra mussel The zebra mussel (''Dreissena polymorpha'') is a small freshwater mussel. The species originates from the lakes of southern Russia and Ukraine, but has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas and has become an invasive species in ma ...

s, in which case their primary purpose is not to keep the wearer's feet dry. In some areas such as the

Finger Lakes The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located south of Lake Ontario in an area called the ''Finger Lakes region'' in New York, in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional ...

, wearing water shoes has become essential due to the infestation of sharp-edged

mussel Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which ...

References

Sports footwear {{sport-equipment-stub