What “SUP” with water shoes?

While I love bare-footing on a SUP, there have been plenty of times I wish I had a pair of water shoes. To wear or not to wear water shoes will depend greatly on the type of paddling you do, how experienced you are, and when and where you paddle.

For surf I definitely go barefoot, but on a river, there’s nothing like the protection of Vibram soles on my feet. In a lake, like Tahoe or Donner, it greatly depends on the paddle-mission-of-the-day and the time of year. Early season paddling demands protection from the cold. A nice fitting pair of neoprene booties that comes up over the ankles is an excellent choice. Later in the year or a SUP yoga class, shoes are a no-go. The muscles in our feet help us to control the board, aid in balance, and feel the subtle movement of the water under the board that allow us to adjust stance for stability.

Some SUPers want to wear shoes for ease getting in and out of the water on the rocky lake shore. Other SUPers just can’t leave their shoes behind. If you’re thinking about getting a pair of water shoes for your next paddle adventure, here are some considerations to think about.

• You want a shoe that fits well. It cannot slosh around when it gets wet otherwise you’ll lose a lot of control on a board.
• Pick a shoe with weeping holes to shed water. Think about this if you are newer to paddling. A sopping wet shoe on your foot is more like a weight than a flipper should you take an unexpected swim.
• Look for a shoe with flexibility.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to water shoes.

• Neoprene is a must for cold weather paddling or cold-water paddling. Just because it’s a nice hot sunny day doesn’t mean the Truckee River is warm. I also like neoprene for sunrise and sunset paddles. When I’m paddling early season, I wear neoprene booties that come well over my ankle. For the river, I would choose a neoprene shoe.
• Deck shoes are a great option for a mid-summer flat water paddle. Deck shoes have non-slip soles and weeping holes to shed water. They’re also quite stylish if pier-hopping on Tahoe is the activity of the day.
• Water shoes come in a variety of styles, from the Vibram Five Fingers to quick drying mesh aqua shoes. Personal preference is your best bet here.

Whatever shoes you choose, here’s a pro-tip: attach a Velcro strap to the shoe in some way, whether around the lower laces or through a weeping hole. This way, if you decide to barefoot it after all, you have a quick attachment point to fix your shoes to the board. Just because you’re an amazing paddler doesn’t mean your shoes know how to stay on deck. I’ve lost a few flip-flops this way. Not only do I feel horrible for littering flip flops into a lake or the ocean, I also must buy another pair!