Our water shoes are light, quick-drying barefoot shoes for the beach, rock pools, rivers and the pool. You might know them as aqua shoes, swim shoes or beach shoes. The Saguaro Abyss has a wide toe box with room for your toes to spread, a thin, flexible zero-drop sole and a quick-lace toggle, so it's easy to get on and off at the water's edge. It's a unisex style, so it works as water shoes for women and men. Pull the toggle snug and head for the water.
Where to wear water shoes
Take them to the beach, the rock pools at low tide, river crossings on a hike, kayaking and paddle-boarding, a weekend at the dam, and around the pool. They're made for water days, not all-day town wear. For that, have a look at our everyday barefoot sneakers, or read how barefoot shoes and aqua shoes differ.
What to look for in water shoes
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Quick-drying: the shoe dries fast, so you're not squelching back to the car after a swim.
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A thin, flexible sole: a layer between you and hot sand, shells and stony riverbeds, while you still feel the ground underfoot.
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A wide toe box: room for your toes to spread, with no pinching at the front.
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A zero-drop sole: your heel and toes sit at the same height, like standing barefoot.
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A fastening that stays put: a quick-lace toggle pulls the shoe snug before you get in the water and loosens in a second afterwards.
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Light weight: easy to pack in a beach bag or a backpack.
Water shoe sizing
Saguaro sizes run slightly large. If you're between sizes, the smaller one is usually right, and a snug fit matters in the water so the shoe doesn't slip off. The Abyss is in stock in UK5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. We don't have sizes below UK5.5 at the moment. Not sure which size to pick? WhatsApp us on 075 111 2222 and we'll help you choose.
Delivery and our Sandton showroom
We deliver water shoes across South Africa, with free delivery on orders over R1,000. If you're in Johannesburg, try them on at our Sandton showroom: Unit 22, Inospace Olympia Works, 11 Olympia Street, Sandton. We're open Tuesday 09:30–14:00 and Thursday 09:00–15:00.
Water shoe questions
What is the difference between water shoes and aqua shoes?
There isn't one. Water shoes, aqua shoes, swim shoes, beach shoes and water sneakers are all names for the same thing: light, quick-drying shoes made to get wet.
Do you need aqua shoes?
Not for a soft, sandy beach. They're handy on hot sand at midday, in rock pools, on pebbly riverbeds, on boat decks and anywhere else you'd rather not go barefoot.
What kind of footwear should you wear on the beach?
For walking on the sand and going in and out of the sea, wear a light water shoe that dries quickly and stays snug when it's wet. For lunch at a beach café afterwards, switch to a pair of everyday barefoot sneakers.
Which barefoot shoes are best for water?
Choose a barefoot shoe made for water: quick-drying and light, with a thin, flexible sole and a fastening that stays put. The Saguaro Abyss is our barefoot water shoe, with the same wide toe box and zero-drop sole as the rest of the Saguaro range. Our everyday barefoot sneakers are made for dry land, so keep those for town.
Are water shoes waterproof?
No. Water shoes are made to get wet and dry quickly, not to keep your feet dry. To stay dry on rainy days, look at our Brisk I rain boots.
Where can I buy water shoes in South Africa?
Order online at solz.co.za for delivery anywhere in South Africa, or try a pair on at our Sandton showroom on a Tuesday or Thursday.
