Comfortable Sailing Shoes for Every Boating Need
The best sailing shoes will keep you steady aboard; will not damage the deck and will be comfortable on long passages. Here is what we wore aboard.
We’ve tried all sorts of shoe combinations aboard. For five of us, with completely different needs and tastes, and with limited space – it is not easy!
In this post I am sharing what worked for us, and what did not. I hope I can save you some time and money this way.
As always, I would not recommend what we haven’t or wouldn’t purchase and try ourselves. All of the writing in this post has been human-generated by me, it takes a lot longer, but it is worth it.
Visit our Boating Gear Page with all kinds of other useful items.
Sailing Shoes – Our Top Picks
If you can, buy all three. Then you are set – for any weather, occasion and terrain.
Best Casual
Made for wet decks and fast drying. I love the not-so-preppy looks.
Best for Boating Life
I lived in these shoes while living on our boat – hikes, beaches, showers…
Best Boots
From cruising to fishing – slip them on and go. Comfortable and soft.
Casual Sailing Shoes
We love casual everything. Casual sailing shoes are comfortable and look like running shoes, but are designed for quicker drying and not slipping.
Sailing shoes will not mark the boat deck (you will be reading that one a few more times).
The soles are built to provide good grip on wet boat decks, which I find to be the best feature of them all. Especially for those sailors who love the rail-in-the-water and waves splashing over you feeling (while your wife is yelling to spill wind).
Speaking of rail in the water, make sure you have the right safety gear too, I have a great post to help you:
Essential Boating Gear:
What is a PFD? Easy Guide and Common Questions.
12 Safety Gear Essentials for the High Seas.
10 Most Reliable Sailing Life Jackets (Adults and Kids)
First Aid Kit Aboard – Supplies and Organization
13 Gadgets for Boaters
27 Important Tools for Boaters
Regular street shoes are not slippery either, why wear special ones?
Street shoes are designed for walking and running forward. Boat decks are rarely flat, and there is a lot of balancing while walking on deck, during a passage. Sailing shoes provide good grip in any direction.
Not convinced? Want to see if your own shoes might work?
Try them. Walk around on a wet deck (at your own risk) and see how slippery it gets. Then dip them in the sea and let them dry, see how and if they keep their shape.
The shoes designed for boating have already passed such tests, taking the safety and durability guesswork out and leaving the looks as the only variable.
Deck Boots
When we sold our second boat, I really wanted to take my boating boots along. But I did not. Boating boots belong aboard. Street rain boots do not.
To be perfectly honest, the only time we used shoes and boots aboard was while sailing in the colder US East Coast. Once we started cruising tropical destinations, we all preferred to stay aboard barefoot.
We also all took turns kicking rigging and cleats, in every tropical destination.
Sailing boots do come in handy, especially when you need your feet dry, protected and you want a good grip on deck.
Boating boots similar to the ones I had, are often used on fishing trips. Fish guts on canvas shoes? No, thank you.
When Joe and I met, a number of years ago, he was a commercial fisherman in Montauk, NY. There was no barefoot walking aboard those boats. For fishing boats, the color of the soles is not that important, the boots are working tools.
For other important tools for boaters, read my Captain-reviewed post:
27 Important Tools for Boaters (Great for Gifts 2023)
Keep in mind that it might be a bit harder to pull them on and off, compared to regular rain boots, for example. Once you are in the boots, your feet and ankles need to be well-supported.
The looser feel of street rain boots is not a good idea on sloped decks and while balancing around.
No captain I know would allow muddy rain boots aboard, by the way.
Best for Boating Life
My most favorite shoes for all of our island hikes are Teva sandals. I found mine on sale and bought them before we sailed away. But they held up so well that I ended up buying four more pairs for everyone else aboard.
I used up all of Joe’s West Marine points for those extra four pairs!
If you are going to do something similar, check if you might need something important for the boat first…
It is easier to share where I have not worn my Teva sandals. They were comfortable, durable and left me with zero blisters while walking for miles to grocery stores.
Our boys are not fans of sandals, so it took some convincing to have them on during longer hikes. Flipflops are not OK for climbing over sharp coral, prickly bushes and rocky sea bottom.
In fact, I like them so much, I have included them in my super popular guide:
51 Classic Gifts for Boaters (Cruisers Approved 2023)
I wore mine in public marina showers too, they dried very fast. And they did not smell! They started smelling when we returned to land life, cause land life stinks 🙂
For more boat life gear:
My Composting Toilet Aboard – Love-Hate Relationship (Pros and Cons).
My Washing Machine Aboard – Forget Bucket Laundry!
19 Best Boating Bags. Tips How to Use Them.
9 Sailing Outfits for any Season and Reason
27 Perfect Books for Boaters.
I love the great foot support Teva sandals provide. They have lots of models, but I like this kind, because they allow ventilation, while not letting our feet slip.
The last thing I need aboard is a sprained ankle, on a remote island, because someone decided to hike in flip-flops.
Classic Boating Shoes
When you think “boats and shoes”, your brain inevitably inserts a pair of Sperry. They are so popular, it can be kind of irritating, because I have yet to see a boat broker not wearing a pair.
Ah, if shoes sold boats…
Joe received a pair of the these exact Perry shoes, as a gift when we were on our first boat and wore them until they fell apart. He wore them on deck, while we were underway, to adjust sails, everywhere.
Another excellent classic boating gift, would be an excellent book, here are ideas:
25 Useful and Adventurous Books for Boaters. Gift Guide.
He mostly wore the shoes aboard to keep the soles clean. So, in our case, despite their great looks, the Sperry’s were assigned to deck duty, exclusively.
I am not a fan of leather aboard. Leather and salt water will create a mess of a shoe. If you plan to wear them ashore and to sell boats, that’s a different story. But then they cannot be called “sailing shoes”.
Performance Sailing Shoes
Helly-Hansen Men’s Skagen F-1 Offshore Shoes
For those needing a reliable offshore boating shoe, the Skagen F-1 Offshore Shoe is very highly reviewed.
We have not tried them personally, but from being on the water for such a long time, I can tell what features make them a reliable option.
The insole comes out, which is great, because you can rinse them and dry separately. The material dries quickly. The soles are designed to resist slipping in any direction, which is what matters the most to me in adventurous offshore sailing.
For offshore adventurous sailing, you will also need reliable boat gadgets:
According to some, the shoes run a bit big. However, keep in mind that once they get wet and dry, they might feel different.
We have noticed with all of our shoes aboard (it does not matter that much for sandals), that when they have been soaked with salt water, rinsed and dried, they are a little stiffer, and feel a bit smaller.
If you wear such performance sailing shoes aboard, it might be best to not wear them off the boat. The soles are really meant for decks and you will inevitably drag dirt back on deck. It is not easy to get stains off the gelcoat, we have tried it.
Favorite Sailing Shoes in Europe
One of the well-reviewed performance sailing shoe brand is Musto. They are a UK company, but they do ship to the US. I don’t think they have retailers in the US. Let me know if they do, and I will include a link.
Their racing sailing shoes have all the specs of a solid performance sailing shoe, as well as the good looks to go along.
Another thing you do need for a solid sailing performance, is solid sailing skills. Here are a few very useful recommendations:
11 Valuable Boating Subscriptions and Courses
Unlike the dinghy and watersports shoes I am reviewing below, these are perfectly OK to wear if just sailing for leisure and needing good ventilation with great grip as well.
Shoes for Dinghy Racing
Gill Edge Boots for Dinghy Sailing and all Water Sports
These dinghy sailing boots are specially designed for good support, during strain on your feet and ankles, while dinghy sailing or surfing. That is why they look more like thick socks and fit very snugly.
The dinghy sailing shoes are made for racing, surfing, being in and out of the water. They are not suitable for casual cruising.
Your feet will get hot, if worn for a long time, especially if not wet.
They are meant to fit a big snugly, so others have mentioned they run small. Maybe order two sizes and return one. It is what I usually do.
Water Shoes
Some beaches we have been at, have fine white sand, as far as the eye can see. These are ideal for photos and bare feet.
We typically wear our sandals if planning a hike in and out of the water. Water shoes are another great option, and are light enough to just throw in your dry bag and put on if needed.
I have seen people wear them on paddle boards and kayaks. They allow better freedom of movement in the water, compared to sandals.
If you plan to balance on anything in the water, and expect to fall in, I would either go barefoot, or use flexible water shoes.
Flip-Flops for Boating
Why would you need special flip-flops aboard?
These boating flip-flops have been made with non-marking soles. They are not the traditional street flip-flops.
When we wear street shoes on land, they must be taken off in the dinghy, before we climb back aboard. But flip-flops just need to be rinsed in the ocean and are ready to wear aboard as well.
I always had flip-flops inside the boat, everyone made fun of me, but my feet were dry.
The best use we have found for flip-flops, while living on a sailboat, has been in public marina showers. Warts take a very long time to heal.
Speaking of being healthy aboard, check out my very useful guide:
And speaking of bathrooms, we mostly used our own composting heads:
My Composting Toilet Aboard – Love-Hate Relationship (Pros and Cons).
I bought everyone a pair of $1 flip-flops from Walmart (those days are gone, I think they now start at $3), and they were THE public shower footwear.
Flip-flops also drag zero sand from the beach. Do check the soles for any small pebbles stuck on, otherwise they will scratch the gel coat.
Great Sailing Shoes for Kids
Below are my recommendations for kids’ boating and sailing shoes. When we moved aboard, our kids were 8, 10 and 12 years old. So, we did go through several sizes of shoes and flip-flops, and clothes. They are not cheap!
Our kids turned into teens aboard, if you have some of your own, you must read this:
Long-Term Traveling with Teens. Kill me now.
But keeping little feet protected is important, as long as you can catch them. Just like on the photo above, their favorite kinds of shoes were always none.
Kids’ Sailing Boots
Kids’s deck boots might be the favorite shoes for kids to wear, because they are easy to take on and off.
If their feet must be dry aboard, boat boots are probably the easiest option, especially in colder weather.
My guess is, these will make it off the boat, for puddle splashing. Just rinse the soles and check for small rocks stuck in the soles, so they don’t end up scratching the deck gel coat.
Kids’ Boat Shoes
Sperry Unisex-Child Sea Ketch Washable Boat Shoe
For the Sunday brunch at the yacht club, these classic Sperry’s will complement any outfit.
Hopping aboard, keep the soles clean and enjoy a visit to a friend’s boat.
Finally, turn them into street shoes, to keep a bit of that salty sailing dream life everywhere you go.
Kids’ Best for Boating Life
Teva Kid’s Manatee Sport Sandal
I used all of Joe’s points to buy everyone a pair of sandals, and we hiked off the marked trails more times than I can count.
Our sandals were open-toe. But our teenagers were pretty steady on their feet.
For younger kids, I would definitely select a closed-toe sandal, there are lots of prickly bushes, and when threading water, tiny shells and pebbles won’t wash in.
As all of our sandals were Teva, I cannot recommend anything different. I wore mine for five years!
Kids’ Water Shoes
Any mom will tell you that walking on rocky sea bottom can hurt small feet. Water shoes are more flexible than sandals.
If you are doing a hike with some water crossing, sandals are best. If you are planning a day at the beach, water shoes will do just fine.
When choosing what to buy, stay away from longer strings, or anything that might get caught and trip a child.
Street Shoes for Boat
The teens did not think sandals were cool enough, I suppose. So, they had their own street shoes as well, which they wore around other people and friends ashore.
Ah, we met tons of friends on the water, it is a highly sociable lifestyle:
Sailing and Socializing Kids – 8 Ways to Find Friends on the High Seas.
I loved my Teva sandals and wore them all the time. I also had a pair of hiking boots, which I wore when I missed that weird feeling of having socks on. Not very often.
With regular shoes and boating, we had a few rules. Feel free to borrow:
- Street shoes are put on ashore (carry your socks in your dry bag) and taken off ashore.
- Sole color does not matter at all in that case, because they are really just land shoes.
- If you want to hike in hiking boots, keep them away from salt water, inside, at all times.
- Allow for ventilation, if storing street shoes inside cabinets, or they will get moldy.
So, with so many rules, why even bother?
With occasional cuts and scrapes on beaches, sometimes it is best to not soak your feet in salty water. I cannot tell you how many times I have bumped by toes into various corners around the boat, until I got used to it.
Also, teens like to wear whatever they like to wear. Just have a basket under the bimini, for all shoes to live in. Otherwise they will be in the way. Forever!
I am linking to West Marine for browsing, because I can easily return shoes, if they do not fit.
West Marine also matches Amazon prices, for Amazon-sold products, and we always got nice discounts by using points (better than DSW, by the way).
They do not have a good selection of kids’ shoes, unfortunately.
Click HERE to browse for women
Sailing Shoes by Occasion
Day Sail Adventure
What shoes to wear, if invited just for a day of sailing?
If the weather is warm, wear your street shoes and stay aboard barefoot. All boats in good shape should have their decks covered with a special non-slipping coating. Walking barefoot is perfectly fine and acceptable.
If the weather is cold, you should still plan to remove your shoes. Make sure your socks have no holes. Bring a pair of slippers, or a different pair of clean shoes with white soles to change into.
If that day of sailing will be your only one, there is no need to spend money on special boating shoes. But if you choose to buy a pair that you can wear elsewhere, I would buy a pair of deck boots.
Charter Vacation
Going on a chartered boat, for a week or two, in the tropics? I want to come, send me an e-mail.
OK, tropical drooling aside, here is what will work best for a brief boating vacation:
- Expect and plan to remove all street shoes aboard.
- A pair of boating flip-flops can go a long way and the soles are easy to clean.
- A pair of light, canvas boat shoes are a good option, as you can then wear them elsewhere.
- If planning to be at rocky beaches, throw in a pair of light water shoes.
Fishing Trip
If you want to wear your street shoes during a fishing trip, and you are allowed to, bring on a pair that can be easily hosed off.
Otherwise your street shoes will smell like fish forever. OK, maybe not that long, but it’s gross anyway.
The best boating shoes for a fishing trip are deck boots. They are easy to clean, will not slip around the deck, and will not mark and ruin the gel coat aboard.
Be considerate and helpful, then you might just catch the big one, like we did!
Boat Show?
Do you need special shoes to attend a boat show?
Yes. Wear the ones that are not too special.
Boat shows we have attended, in Annapolis and Miami, have been very crowded. And shoes must be removed every time you tour a boat.
Imagine pairs of shoes casually thrown by the boat, right next to the water, with multiple people walking by.
So, for boat shows, wear shoes you can slip in and out of quickly.
Also, wear shoes you will not be terribly sad to lose.
Tips for Selecting Sailing Shoes
- Do not wear shoes with zippers – the zippers will rust very quickly.
- Choose fabric, rather than leather, because salt water will damage leather.
- Aboard, wear shoes designed for boating – with non-slip soles.
- Look for “non marking” as a feature of boating shoes’ soles.
- Keep nice, street shoes inside, but allow ventilation, to avoid mold.
- If wearing street shoes aboard, buy ones with white soles.
- If wearing boat shoes on land, check for and remove small rocks in the soles.
- Rinse and air-dry all sailing shoes, if they become wet after a sailing trip.
You will Also Need These
Shoes storage
With five of us aboard, the shoe chaos was real!
I had a plastic crate, which I would tuck under the table, in the cockpit. The problem with that was that it would slide around and slowly scratch the deck.
A wicker oner will stay in place better. And will look much nicer. When browsing, look for a laundry basket, because you want a larger size. Keep it open, for ample ventilation.
Speaking of laundry, here is a post about my beloved washer:
My Washing Machine Aboard – Forget Bucket Laundry!
Dry bag
The best way to carry shoes and prevent them from getting wet, is to use a dry bag.
We had six dry bags aboard. I loved them. We took most with us, when we sold the boat.
So, let’s say I wanted to wear a nicer pair of shoes out in town – I would put them in my dry bag, hop in the dinghy barefoot, and change when I got to the dinghy docks.
Here is an entire post to help you choose the best boating bags:
19 Best Boating Bags. Tips How to Use Them.
Waterproof socks
Cold and wet feet is a nightmare combination.
If you sail in colder climates, having a pair of waterproof socks can be a gift that keeps on giving. They are also ideal for fishing trips, for hikes, that might make your feet wet.
I would not buy them for use in hot and tropical climates, where it is best to keep plenty of airflow to your feet.
These will make a great gift for any boater too.
Guest Matt
But how do I tell them to take off their shoes?
Don’t.
Let your mat speak and you offer a pair of nice, clean slippers, which I am linking to below.
I would not use the mat aboard, because it has a black backing. If you use it aboard, only use while you have guests over, then put it away.
This mat is best used right by your boat, on the docks, if you are at a marina slip. At marinas, all street shoes must come off, before anyone sets foot aboard.
Disposable Guest Slippers
“Can I offer you slippers?“
What better way to tell your guests they must remove their shoes!
These slippers are amazing, super light and can be worn multiple times, before falling apart. I always have a pair in my carry-on when flying.
The white soles are great for your boat too. Just be careful walking around. They are not meant to sail in or walk on a wet and slippery deck.
Between the mat and the guest slippers, if they don’t get it, your need different friends.
FAQ About Boating Shoes
Do I need special shoes on a boat?
Yes, you need special shoes to wear on the boat. They are designed with non-marking and non-slip soles and are often waterproof, or quick-drying.
Can I just go barefoot sailing?
Yes, we did it all the time. But you want to wear shoes, to protect your feet, if you want to keep your feet dry, to keep warm, or during races.
Do boating shoes make a good gift?
Boating and sailing shoes make excellent gifts. They are a personal gift, so I would double check about sizes, or turn it into a gift-giving shopping trip.
Can I wear sneakers sailing?
You should not wear sneakers sailing. Sneakers are designed to run forward. Sailing shoes are designed to prevent slipping in all directions and made from waterproof, or quick-drying materials.
Do you wear socks with sailing shoes?
You can wear sock with boat shoes, which are not meant to get wet. Sailing shoes, which are designed to get wet must be worn without socks. Socks will retain moisture against your skin – an ideal environment for fungus and bacteria.
What is the shoes etiquette on boats?
Street shoes must be removed before you climb aboard. You can change into clean boating shoes aboard, or walk barefoot, whatever you are comfortable with.
Sailing Shoes Conclusion
I really hope you found this post helpful. I speak from personal experience and some of the advice you read might not be what you find in sales ads. But this is what worked for us – a regular liveaboard family with kids.
The best sailing shoes are the ones you will wear and feel safe in; kind of like the sailing jackets I recommend.
If you have a different brand, or pair of shoes you absolutely love, while sailing, send me an e-mail, I would love to add them to the list.
More Useful Everyday Boating Gear
Below are additional guides for all kinds of useful and fun boating items. Each was created with lots of love and experience.
If you enjoy them, please consider subscribing. Thank you.
My Washing Machine Aboard – Forget Bucket Laundry!
19 Best Boating Bags. Tips How to Use Them.
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