Weekend on the Water

So you may have noticed lately that it’s, oh, a billion degrees outside. Sounds like a good weekend to spend in the water, if you ask me! There’s something about being on the water in a kayak or a raft that’s good for my soul. Those traditional water shoes, however, aren’t much good for my soles. When you’re hiking down a hill or scrambling over rocks to get to the river, regular water shoes may hurt more than they help. (Plus, they look a little dorky.)

Answer: water sneakers! All the support and protection of a regular sneaker with the porosity of a water shoe. You get the best of both worlds in a shoe like this:
  The Churn by Teva has a nylon mesh upper (with thermoplastic urethane for support), cushioned insoles, bungee cords to keep them on, and you can pull down the heels and wear them like clogs if you prefer. And don’t you just love the bright blue? (Er, if you don’t, it also comes in a nice gray-and-salmon combination.) Pick yours up at REI for $80—only $40 if you’re a size 11!

How about purple? The Women’s Light Amphib 3 by Salomon has a cushioned insole, lots of breathable mesh, some serious grip, and a die-cut EVA footbed with something called Agion (an antimicrobial treatment that inhibits odor). Sweet—just because you’re on the river doesn’t mean your shoes have to smell like the river! They also come in a gray/tan/blue combo if the purple’s too bright. You can find them at Eastern Mountain Sports for $80.

Want something with a lower profile? The Tsunami by Cudas has bungee cords, an upper that’s almost entirely mesh, and a perforated insole for additional drainage. Only one color (gray with lavender)—pick them up from Amazon for around $40.

Okay, you’re not crazy about the mesh. How about these? The Whisper by Keen has elastic laces, another microbe shield (AEGIS, this time), a compression-molded EVA midsole, and a non-marking rubber sole. Oh, and they come in about every conceivable color: burgundy (shown), black, brown, yellow, black and white, grey and teal, grey with teal accents (different than grey and teal!), tan with lavender accents, coral with lavender accents... I don’t know how you’d ever pick. See for yourself on Zappos—yours for $85.

Now that you’re properly shod, go hit the water, Nature Girl!

Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: 20% off on new fall styles
Bakers: 25% fall boot preview, plus free shipping on all orders
Nordstrom: Anniversary Sale: next season’s styles on sale through August 1
Lord & Taylor: 15% off regular and sale shoes; up to 60% off clearance shoes; take an extra 20% off with clearance pass or promo code SAVE MORE Saks: Free tote with purchase of Manolo Blahniks—use promo code MANOLO2