Cheap $5 walmart water shoes or name brand water shoes?

[NutsAboutGolf]

Just curious to if you guys think "quality" aqua socks/water shoes eg $30 are worth it for an annual cruiser?

[cb at sea]

If you will wear them everytime, then it's probably worth it. I've never brought "water shoes" on any cruise or to any beach!

[helpmesailaway]

I bought a pair at Walmart but returned them and got a pair from Lands End. I have never used water shoes before but after stubbing my toe - I decided to give them a try. The Lands End ones were on sale and much better than the Walmart ones. They look strong enough to wear to and from the beach - and supposedly they dry fast.

Still waiting to actually try them

[NutsAboutGolf]

Doing the DRF in Jamaica, rays in Grand Cayman and dolphin thing in Cozumel. Pretty sure we'll get good use; just don't know if cheap will fall apart on us.

[reallyitsmema]

My Wal-mart water shoes have made it through two cruises so far with a jet ski excursion, Dunn's river falls climb, Labadee rocky beach, Coco cay beaches, and a few other beach trips. My son's did all that but then disintegrated on a 5 day white water rafting trip.

[NutsAboutGolf]

Originally Posted by reallyitsmema

My Wal-mart water shoes have made it through two cruises so far with a jet ski excursion, Dunn's river falls climb, Labadee rocky beach, Coco cay beaches, and a few other beach trips. My son's did all that but then disintegrated on a 5 day white water rafting trip.

Thanks for sharing

[grandmato4]

IMHO the less expensive ones will be just fine for the annual cruiser. Mine were bought cheaply and DH's are more expensive because I couln't find the less expensive ones in his size when I was looking for them. Often we have no beaches on a particular cruise that we need to use them. Other times we find one beach on a cruise where they're needed. Five cruises since I bought the ones we have and used twice so far. Used once here at home.

[MrsPete]

Originally Posted by helpmesailaway

I bought a pair at Walmart but returned them and got a pair from Lands End. I have never used water shoes before but after stubbing my toe - I decided to give them a try. The Lands End ones were on sale and much better than the Walmart ones. They look strong enough to wear to and from the beach - and supposedly they dry fast.

Still waiting to actually try them

I have Lands End water shoes, and they're probably five years old. I can't say that they get lots of use, but they're holding up very well. They're great for water sports and rocky beaches.

Mine are actually a child's size, and I bought them at Sears on clearance for something like $5.

[4merlurker]

If they are only $5 consider them disposable and throw them out after the cruise....

~Connie

[Cruise_ology]

I got my shoes for $8 on sale at target. We hiked in Ocho Rios, climbed rocks, beach at Grand Cayman and Labedee. They are in Great Shape! I say Cheap...there is too many other things to spend money on for the trip than shoes!

[STARFISH*4]

had some from walmart i paid a buck for on clearance and hubby had some he paid more for from a sporting good store...we went tubing down the river last year and his fell apart...mine were just fine....i still have a pair from walmart that has a tiny whole where my foot got caught in rocks climbing dunn river falls...other than that they are just fine....if they only last ya a cruise or two...the $5 is worth it...look for the other $$$ brand maybe on clearance after the season if you want to TRY a pair of the $$$
kind!!!

[iheartbda]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

If you will wear them everytime, then it's probably worth it. I've never brought "water shoes" on any cruise or to any beach!

If you just go to the beach you don't need them.
They're called water shoes because you wear them in the water.
I sure wish I would have had them for Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman since there were lots of stones intil you got into deeper water....ouch.

Certainly depends on what you're doing if you need them. We have needed them many times for snorkeling and they're a "must have" for Dunn's River Falls..

OP....go cheap. My cheapos have held up for 7 years and even survived a fair amount of walking in them.

[NutsAboutGolf]

Thanks everyone! All my local walmarts were sold out Going to venture a little further today. I did find some speedo brand for $17 shipped, will have to settle for those.

[Cori]

Hi, we both use the cheepo kind and have worked just fine, for about 3 may be 4 cruises, save our feet , and when snorkeling my DH does not use the fins because they never have big enough ones to fit him properly , so he just uses his water shoes , works fine.
Cori

[OttoCal]

I love my land's end ones so much I got a second pair.
They can be worn more than just as 'water shoes'.
I wear them boating on our lake at home if I might or might not get in the water- they look like sneakers enough that they look decent with a pair of shorts.

I will wear them around town if we are headed to a snorkel excursion, and not worry if they get wet in the boat even though I am not wearing them in the water since I have my fins on. You can wear them out to lunch after snorkeling.

These shoes have decent support and I am comfortable wearing them around for a full day, which to me makes them totally worth the price.

[we're sailing away....]

My only thought which is lighter

[dmdiver]

Instead of the $5 ones at Walmart, I splurged & got the $8 ones. They look like mary janes, so they looked fine with shorts, too. They were sturdier, whereas the aqua socks (which I used when I had a pool) are softer. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. They are also easier to pull off in swift water when they are soft like that.

DH couldn't find any his size at Walmart, so he ended up getting some at Academy. I think they were $15-$17 there. They look similar to sneakers & have slits in the sole to help the water drain out instead of just sitting in the shoe.

The extra firmness in our water shoes made them more comfortable for walking around.

[thatksgirl]

I have had water shoes and Teva's....Teva's are by far the best way to go. Why? I buy the Teva sandles that just have the straps that go across the toes and the heel - nothing gets trapped inside them - as in sand, gravel, rocks like water shoes collect AND they go where you go and you never have to change your "shoes" for any other activities. They are soooo versatile!! Just my thoughts

[jeepndd]

I had the el cheapos and Dunn's River Falls, they shredded. They are more expensive but if you are doing something like Dunn's River Falls the sneaker style shoes will give your feet better support.

[mamasue]

DH and I also got the cheapo ones from Walmart.... $1 in the clearance!

We wore them river tubing in Jamaica last year.... and went snorkelling almost daily in Egypt for 7 weeks this summer.... from a rocky beach....

They're fine.... we're taking them on our cruise next week!!!!

Best $2 we ever spent!!