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Finding the right shoes for yourself can be a pain (sometimes quite literally), as there are so many choices, different arch supports, different tread-patterns, and so much more. That is why we put plenty of different shoes through their paces over the years to tell you guys which one we personally would recommend!
Quick Note: While this article may be short right now – as we thoroughly test more shoes (and create our honest reviews of them), this will continue to grow.
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1. Merrel Agility Peak 5
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- So incredibly comfortable
- A more compact design
- The bright colors
- Insane amounts of grip
- They don't do double-duty in the fashion world
- These shoes aren't cheap
For years, Deckers X Lab was my go-to brand! However, Merrel has now topped this list as the favorite shoe I have ever tested on this site. I found them to be incredibly comfortable (even though my feet are incredibly picky), and I very much enjoyed all of the different color options (Merrel gifted me three different variants).
I also enjoyed the more compact design (as I was used to wider shoes), and the grip on the bottom of the shoes was impressive!
The major downsides to this shoe, was the fact that they unfortunately don’t do double duty in the fashion world – it turns out you can’t wear trail running shoes in every occasion. Finally, these shoes aren’t exactly super cheap, and they might push people’s budgets past their comfort levels.
Ultimately, these shoes have found their way to being my daily driver (err walking) shoes, and I’m glad I had a chance to use them!
2. Deckers X Lab X-Scape Baja
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- They wear just like normal shoes.
- They look like normal shoes.
- It can be worn in the water, like water shoes
- Extremely comfortable
- The X-Scape Bajas don't shed sand
- They are quite expensive
- Not super breathable
- They aren't slip-on
I’ve used plenty of Deckers X Lab shoes over the years, and like those, the brand also gifted me these nearly a year ago now. If you are on the hunt for a water shoe that can also be a pseudo-daily shoe for around town after your swim, these are them!
The idea behind them, is that they are a water shoe, but look like a normal shoe. They are made of a “Sugarcane IM-EVA” material, which feels like a hard foam, and are waterproof because of that. The exterior of the shoe has holes all throughout it, to allow for water to run out of them when you make the transition from water to land.
The soles of the shoes are incredibly comfortable, and if it was up to these things, they could be amazing all-around daily driver shoes.
Unfortunately, the only reason they aren’t great as a daily-driver, is because they don’t breathe very well. Even though they have holes throughout the shoe, I still found my feet to get rather sweaty after a couple hours of usage.
Ultimately, these shoes are perfect for someone who needs water shoes that can play double-duty as normal shoes after the fact! Just don’t count on these being your only shoes.
