Customer Reviews Ryka Hydro Sport Water Shoe

I needed a pair of water shoes because I was going on a cruise to Mexico and Belize and Costa Maya with my husband and sons. We all love adventure and all sorts of outdoor and beach and water activities. My family and I went snorkeling and cave tubing and we also did a lot of other outdoor water sports where we needed a water shoe where your toe was covered to participate. I researched a lot of different styles of water shoes. After raising three grown sons, my body has had some wear and tear. I have recently had a cortisone injection in my right knee and I also have some arthritis in both of my hips. I really wanted to try to find a water shoe that had more support than some of the water shoes that are flat with no support, especially if I was going to be walking around all day. Plus when I travel I travel light and I don't pack a lot so I also need a multi purpose shoe that I can wear for more than one activity. This shoe looks and wears like a lightweight sneaker. I does however have a great ventilation system, so these shoes dry very quickly, much faster than a regular sneaker would. It could be worn all day as a sneaker and if you went in the ocean or on a water ride at an amusement park and got it soaked, it would dry very quickly. When we went cave tubing we had to walk approximately two miles from the time we got off the bus to the time we started our expedition. We walked over gravel small rocks and uneven terrain. These shoes were great and other people who wore flat water shoes were complaining about how much the rocks hurt the bottom of their feet. I had no pain wearing these shoes at all. It has great support. We were also allowed to jump off of our tubes and go swimming in the river and there were big boulders and rocks on the bottom that we had to walk over and around and the rocks were very slippery. I sure was happy that I was wearing these shoes, they also have great traction. I couldn't be happier with these shoes. It was a great investment and good decision. I highly recommend them. If you buy them I don't think that you will regret it. I know that there are water sandals where your toe is covered but the heel of your foot is non covered. I am glad that I purchased this shoe instead because whenever I am swimming in the ocean I don't want to cut my foot on coral, or on a rock that I cannot see. I'm looking forward to more adventures wearing these shoes. Happy travels. Thank you Zappos!

Buying these water shoes was a mistake. I have always worn Rykas for water aerobics and loved the style of my previous Rykas. The current ones have the following issues: they expand in water and become too wide, the laces don't budge so that adjusting the width is almost impossible, and most annoyingly and the insoles cling to wet feet and ripple out when the shoes are removed. I'm very disappointed with this style. I can't return them because I've worn them, so I'm stuck with shoes that aggravate me every time I wear them.

For those with concerns about the long laces - this is what I did: Tied several knots in the lace to shorten it up. Also this prevents the slide from sliding completely off the laces when you take the shoes off. See pic! Writing a second review as I don’t think I’m able to edit to add to the one I just did.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love these shoes. This is my 5th pair in this style and prior to this current style I wore previous styles of Ryka water shoes. I teach water aerobics classes (19 yrs now) and this shoe is the best pool shoe I’ve ever had. It offers protection from rough surfaces, cushions from impact when doing higher intensity classes and even offers a little bit of drag to work the muscles a little extra. I have a bunion on one foot and these shoes are so comfy it doesn’t even bother me. Also, I wear a size 10.5 but I order the 11. It’s slightly roomy but after a few weeks, it’s almost like it shrinks a tiny bit and fits perfectly. Also, be aware that the bottoms are slick on wet floors and pool bottoms the first 4-5 wearings but that improves quickly. If you exercise in a pool and need foot protection due to diabetes, impact protection due to joint or muscle issues or even just added stability, you won’t be disappointed. Rinse the chlorine from them after each use (I rinse mine in my washing machine with my suit) and they will last about a year of 3-5 wearings per week.

Perfect for water aerobics! As supportive as any cross trainer with cushioning and it stays on perfectly! Don't worry if you have a narrow foot. You can adjust the width with the laces!

I love these shoes. I bought them for our trip to Sea World and Busch Gardens this spring break. I wore them all day for days. We walked for miles. We got soaked by Shamu and the rain. The shoes dried so fast. I wore them without socks and had no rubbing or blisters. They look great and are super light weight. My new favorite shoe.

I purchased the Ryka Hydro Sport shoes in hopes that I would have more support & no slipping during my water aerobics class. I wore them today for the first time and love them. I could tell a huge difference in support from the speedo water shoes I had worn previously!! There was minimal slipping when running in the water (honestly, I think some of the slipping issues are due to the paint on the bottom of the pool). I used the tightening fastener for the laces and then tied as usual. They stayed put throughout the 45 minute class. I ordered two sizes, one my true size and one a half size smaller. The true to size fit perfectly. Love this shoe so far.

First of all, I would like to thank Zappos. I ordered these shoes on a Monday early afternoon and had them Tuesday! As my dog loves the water, I knew I had to purchase a pair of water shoes. After researching & researching, I found these shoes and read the reviews. One review in particular cinched the deal for me by stating she could adjust the width of the shoe to fit her feet. True!True!True! I take a D width and these are just fine. Thank you Zappos again for the wonderful customer service. You people are amazing!!!!

I didn't find much arch support and the original inserts did not sufficiently protect the bottoms of my feet from the large drainage cavities that are covered only by the insert and a perforated thin fabric. I solved both problems by using orthotics made of a rubbery material and perforating them with an awl using the original perforated inserts as a template for positioning the perforations.

I’m glad I trusted the reviews I read. This shoe is perfect for my needs. I’m going to be in Hawaii and am told to bring water shoes. I’ll be able to walk in these throughout the day and allow them to be wet. They are comfortable, lightweight and dry quickly. They also have better arch support than any other type of water show out there.

I agree with the author who wrote about using these on her trip to Belize/Mexico. These shoes are great and super light weight, and I used these on a trip to Costa Rica in February 2017. When I used them for going in the water, and they drained out quickly not to mention they dried overnight since relatively light and fast-drying material. On rocky places, they had good grip in the water. There were some slippery places too where they provided more grip than being barefoot. I also used them for hiking up/down some ravines and paths full of gravel in addition to walking on steep, uneven roadways. During these hikes, I typically work thin socks to avoid any blisters and keep my feet from the small rocks/sand that would sneak in. The shoes had enough support for the trails and walking for 3-6 miles a day. Plus, because they have a lot of drainage, they also have a lot of aeration, so my feet didn't get too hot. After using them at a rocky beach, I wore them hiking without socks (wet shoes and wet feet), and they were fine. No blisters. Like I said, some small rocks/sand gets in, but it was temporary until I could empty the shoes out, and it really didn't bother me. I usually wear a size 5. I tried a size 5 and 5.5 but ended up keeping the size 5. Initially, I thought the shoe might be a little narrow for me (which I often have issues with), but it didn't turn out to be a concern. Also the shoe laces are the kind where you can adjust one section of laces without the rest adjusting, so they have more functionality. Finally, one thing is that when you get them, each shoe should have a small plastic piece that the laces feed through. I don't know what it's called, but it makes it so that you can secure the laces by pressing on the plastic button and moving the piece up or down the laces. Only one of the two pairs I received had these, and they're not shown in the picture. If you need a multi-functional shoe for a trip, this is the one. I used it more than my sandals given the hiking we did and would take these over any other walking/hiking shoe on future trips.

I walk on the beach for exercise and I needed shoes that would keep sand from getting in and let water out. These are perfect! I don't have to stop and dump out sand when I get to the water's edge (as has to be done with sandals) and if the waves lap over the shoes, the water quickly drains out. I'll also be using these for "wet landings" on a trip to the Galapagos Islands later this year so that after I get from the boat to the island I can keep on going without changing shoes. Customer service from Zappos was outstanding!

In Feb. of this year I ordered 2 pair of these shoes to be certain I had the correct size. Both pair were too large and I put off doing something about it until last week. I called with a question about the shipping label and got everything taken care of including ordering my correct size in a very short time. I even got my new, correct size shoes the next afternoon! The customer service rep explained that since I was in the eastern time zone and had called before 1 p.m. pacific time the shoes would be shipped the same day. I'm sorry that I did not write down the name of the person who assisted me. What a positive experience!

Nice colors! And nice comfy fit! Plenty of toe room...Can't wait to use them in the water! Bring out more colors like lime, citron, etc.

I am very happy with this shoe. I was not sure about the size since I buy 8m in street shoes, 9narrow in new balance athletic, 39 in European. Thanks to Zappos policy, I ordered 8.5 and 9. The 8.5 is perfect . Only thing I have had to modify is shoelaces. They are too long but that was easy to modify . Since I water walk I am especially happy with good fit and good support.

I bought the same Ryka water shoes three years ago. They have withstood daily pool chlorine almost every day for those three years. So, of course, I recently bought the same ones, knowing how sturdy they are. They grip my pool surface really well, and I can do all kinds of water exercises with them, that I could never do in bare feet. They have slight arch support, but I have high arches, so I simply bought some over-the-counter orthotics, and that solved the issue. (The shoes flex enough to fit them in). I also use these shoes for washing my porch around the pool, so that I don't slip and fall. They dry very quickly. I am sure that without the chlorine exposure, my first pair would have lasted many years longer.

Love these shoes! I am 63, the opposite of petite and do water aerobics 2 days a week. These shoes give me great support and traction. They also drain well & dry quickly. After getting out of the water just remember to pull out the insole so they'll drain and dry thoroughly.

These have a really comfortable silky feel when you first put them on. But then there is the thicker leather around the end of the tongue that rubs the tops of your toes. I know if I feel it after two steps around my room, these will not stand up to a day of hiking. Oh well.

I wear a size 8 or 81/2 and with these the 8 was the right fit. Comfortable with good arch support. Works great in the pool.

I bought these for a vacation to Hawaii and I was not disappointed. They were great for all-day support and perfect for walking along waterfalls and other areas that would have ruined my shoes or not been safe in flip flops. I highly recommend them!