What's your footwear of choice around lakes/beach/ocean?

I don't shoot near water TOO much given my home location but in NZ+OZ I'm about to spend a lot of time in just those places, sometimes day after day after day.

So I've done some research but would really love to hear from people who actually do it - what do you guys wear in these situations?

What I've come up with is:
- Barefoot - pretty darn easy, but water will be colddd. Could also potentially hurt feet or slip on rocks
- Sandals - I'm not really a sandals-wearing person (though flip flops I do) - they'd at least provide grip around rocks but get covered in sand
- Watershoes - these could work I suppose, an improvement over sandals? But sand might get in and get very uncomfortable real quick?
- Neoprene socks - I guess like a wetsuit - I don't think sand will get in? Should help with water/temperature but I'm thinking I'd still need to wear something over them for comfort/grip?

Now I'm not swimming out into the ocean, but those typical locations walking along the beach (lots of dry sand) and to the water's edge (waves, wet sand) and then around rocky outcroppings (potentially slippery rocks, waves)

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18253726
... but water will be colddd. Could also potentially hurt feet or slip on rocks

- Watershoes - these could work I suppose, an improvement over sandals? But sand might get in and get very uncomfortable real quick?

You're right about the neoprene socks needing sandals to go over them. They are also a pain to put on, would not even consider them. I like watershoes and if sand is involved I'd rather take them off and go barefoot.

What do you mean by cold water, unpleasant or cold enough to require protection. If you need a step up from the watershoes for protection/cold you could look at kayaker's booties. They have a range of models however none of them will pass as dinner wear

I have something like this for such places. Not the same brand, a local one but nice and sturdy.

https://www.amazon.com …fRID=4883G0GMYE​ZE3Q18TF5E

Part shoes, part sandals. But quite comfortable. Any covered sand is washed with the sea water itself. The amount of sand accumulated is not much though.

Having said that, the climate around seas, that I visit, is warm and stepping in sea water is highly sough after. If cold water is your concern, may be you need something more. Hope this helps.

Probably barefoot, unless there are critters that might find me tasty.

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18253726
I don't shoot near water TOO much given my home location but in NZ+OZ I'm about to spend a lot of time in just those places, sometimes day after day after day.

So I've done some research but would really love to hear from people who actually do it - what do you guys wear in these situations?

What I've come up with is:
- Barefoot - pretty darn easy, but water will be colddd. Could also potentially hurt feet or slip on rocks
- Sandals - I'm not really a sandals-wearing person (though flip flops I do) - they'd at least provide grip around rocks but get covered in sand
- Watershoes - these could work I suppose, an improvement over sandals? But sand might get in and get very uncomfortable real quick?
- Neoprene socks - I guess like a wetsuit - I don't think sand will get in? Should help with water/temperature but I'm thinking I'd still need to wear something over them for comfort/grip?

Now I'm not swimming out into the ocean, but those typical locations walking along the beach (lots of dry sand) and to the water's edge (waves, wet sand) and then around rocky outcroppings (potentially slippery rocks, waves)

Any situation where you will be in the ocean above ankle deep water:

Forget flip flops: they are not safe. They come off easily and if stuck in sand will pull the plug leaving litter in the ocean and you with one less ... more landfill. Flop flops and sandals don't protect anything above your underfoot. Imagine an unknown terror tearing at your tootsies ... are you going to pull back, lose your footing to keep yourself safe and likely lose your gear or keep your gear and lose a toe? Your instinctive brain is going to be processing self preservation.

The best solution is zip up diving shoes or booties, they have a sole, will keep your tootsies warm protect your feet well and will last a decade if you wash them after use.

I live in Hawaii, sandals all the time. All the time. Reefs or Rainbows.

zurura wrote in post #18273185
I have something like this for such places. Not the same brand, a local one but nice and sturdy.

https://www.amazon.com …fRID=4883G0GMYE​ZE3Q18TF5E

Part shoes, part sandals. But quite comfortable. Any covered sand is washed with the sea water itself. The amount of sand accumulated is not much though.

Having said that, the climate around seas, that I visit, is warm and stepping in sea water is highly sough after. If cold water is your concern, may be you need something more. Hope this helps.

This is exactly what I wear. It gives you support, are slip resistant and dry off easily in the sun. Bare foot is really bad as you will either stub your toes or cut yourself on coral or sharp rocks. Flip flops are ok, but they don't provide the support and can slip out from under you when scrambling over rocks.

+1 on the Keen sandals. I wear them all the time and they are safe and comfortable.

i think depends on location and/or water temp.

I prefer barefoot on a sandy beach, but in lakes and such with lots of rocks I go with sandals like suggested above.

In a freezing water though, I've found NRS socks very useful:
https://www.amazon.com …Cuff-Black/dp/B003V96W68/

Barefoot if it's a sandy beach. But that's here, where the water is not too cold in the winter.

If there are too many rocks, i usually wear my hiking shoes and in that case i avoid the water.

zurura wrote in post #18273185
I have something like this for such places. Not the same brand, a local one but nice and sturdy.

https://www.amazon.com …fRID=4883G0GMYE​ZE3Q18TF5E

Part shoes, part sandals. But quite comfortable. Any covered sand is washed with the sea water itself. The amount of sand accumulated is not much though.

Having said that, the climate around seas, that I visit, is warm and stepping in sea water is highly sough after. If cold water is your concern, may be you need something more. Hope this helps.

Yep.

If I'm headed for a beach shoot, I'd leave home wearing footwear that will carry me all the way from portal to portal without further thought, not just for the beach itself.

Chacos sandles or Keen sandles if I need a closed toe where it may be rocky.

I think I'll look for those keen or similar. I found some clearance priced north face sandals that I jumped on, but unfortunately I didn't realize at the time they don't have any back strap... oops!

kaitlyn2004 wrote in post #18253726
- Barefoot - pretty darn easy, but water will be colddd.

If the water will be too cold for bare feet then it will be too cold for sandals!

I use NRS wet shoes for kayaking and they seem like they are exactly what you're looking for.

Salomon watershoes. If there's a problem with sand or silt, I wear a pair of Injinji toesocks. REI carries them, but you can find them on Amazon as well.

https://www.amazon.com …w-Toe-Socks/dp/B002WN2L6Y