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It's always a relief as we head out for a day of activities with unknown variables, confident my kids' feet will be protected and will dry fast if a soaking occurs. Great water shoes are comfortable from the first use and even look good, too. Good water shoes have to do at least three things well: They need to protect the bottom of the foot, stay on securely (even during swimming, running, or other high-intensity activities), and they need to dry quickly once out of the water. When the playing is over for the day, my wife or I can simply hose off their water shoes and let them dry, or toss them in the washing machine if things got truly dirty out there. From playing in their water table to tending the garden (which basically means spilling water and making lots of mud) to running around after a rainstorm, everyday play tends to end up pretty messy in this phase of childhood. North Shore beaches tend to be littered with rocks and shells, and I wince with most steps despite my callused 36-year-old feet there's no way I'd ever ask my young kids to walk around on such surfaces without their feet protected, thus along with the sunblock, hats, and life jackets, every trip to the water involves kids' water shoes.īut truth be told, my son and daughter (five and one, respectively, at the time of this writing) get the most use out of their water shoes not during our frequent aquatic adventures, but right in our home's backyard. My family lives about a half-mile from a bay on the North Shore of Long Island, New York, and our summers involve frequent trips to the beaches where we kayak, canoe, swim, and explore.