What shoes to wear for stand-up paddleboarding?
As we approach the cooler half of the year here in Australia, I start receiving a lot of questions about how to keep warm! I have a whole blog post coming on what to wear on your body, but to kick things off (…pun intended) I thought we’d start with our feet!
Should you wear shoes when stand-up paddleboarding?
Most paddlers prefer to paddle with bare feet. This enables you to have greater grip on the board, you can easily utilise your toes and you can easily put shoes (like sandals/Tevas) on and off for when you launch and exit the water. (Side note: Teva - please sponsor me. I adore you haha. Example of the the Tevas I have multiple pairs of below…)
However, if you’re a paddler who has flat feet or any kind of foot struggles such as plantar fasciitis, please consult your doctor or specialist as they will likely recommend a light shoe with decent arch support. Yes, this means you don’t have as much grip with your toes compared to bare feet, but if you can find a ‘light’ shoe (something like a reef shoe - see below) with arch support you’ll still feel a solid connection to the board.
Should you wear shoes for stand-up paddleboarding in winter in Australia?
When it gets cold, it’s your extremities that are going to feel it the most - hands, nose, feet. When it comes to stand-up paddleboarding, your feet are especially at risk as they are likely to get a little wet as you launch, which can make them feel even colder on the board! Therefore many paddlers consider some sort of shoe or bootie for this time of year.
Personally, I prefer to wear no shoes through Sydney winter as I don’t find it too cold when on the board as the sun keeps my feet warm, however this may not be the case if you’re further South on the Australian coastline (or if you’re reading this from Europe or elsewhere!)
In terms of what shoes to wear for stand-up paddleboarding in winter, there are many variables to choose from and a lot of the time it comes down to personal preference so I encourage you to try in store (where possible) before you buy!
Option 1: Surf Booties
These are neoprene boots (wetsuit material) and these are the preference of surfers around the world when the water gets cooler. Now, there are a few things to note here. Neoprene as a fabric, is designed for IN water. So these boots work fantastic for surfers because when submerged, they gather a small layer of water between the neoprene and your skin and this is what heats up and keeps you warm. Obviously, when you’re on a SUP, this can happen too but you need to get your feet wet first, and then you’re essentially stood in a puddle for the whole paddle. Great for keeping feet warm, but will result in wrinkly feet! If you keep your feet dry wearing surf booties they will likely also stay warm but may start to get sweaty!! (An example of what they look like below - but please note, She SUPs does not endorse any specific brand or style! Please try a few styles and sizes in person as they all fit different!)
The other thing to consider with surf booties, is they often have a thin sole which is great for feeling the board underneath you (which is why surfers love them), but not so great for walking distances. So if having a shoe that can not only be suitable ON the SUP, but also is suitable for walking to/from the water, consider a Neoprene boots with rubber sole (something like these), which is often used by divers! I wore a pair like these ones below on a 4-day overnight SUP expedition in Scotland. They were awesome at keeping my feet warm, and allowed me to easily walk over rocks and uneven surfaces while carrying my board.
Option 2: Reef shoes
Reef shoes (also known as water shoes) are essentially the baby cousin of the surf bootie. They are much easier to put on, much more breathable, but may not be quite as warm. They can also be cheaper as you’ll likely find them at any outdoor, diving or sports store such as Anaconda or Rebel Sports.
If you’re willing to spend a little more money, I also have been liking the look of these Sharkskin water shoes which are fairly new to the market, have a decent sole but also a ‘barefoot feel’ which is great for feeling the board beneath you:
Option 3: Reef shoes or sandals with neoprene socks
I won’t lie, option 3 is probably not the fashionista’s choice but many paddlers love it because it works! The brand Sharkskin (mentioned above) is famous for its unique fabric called ‘Chillproof’. The magic of chillproof is that it’s more breathable than neoprene, it’s fleecy so it feels delicious, and it wicks moisture away from your feet leaving them feeling almost dry. Here’s what Sharkskin have to say:
“Chillproof is an aquatic specific windchill proof, 3-layer composite material with the thermal properties of a 2.5 to 3mm neoprene wetsuit but without many of the drawbacks of traditional wetsuits. Chillproof can be worn under a wetsuit for extra warmth and enhanced wind protection. Chillproof can also be worn by itself as the perfect watersports thermal wear or layered with other Sharkskin garments for extra warmth and insulation.”
The downside of these Chillproof socks is they have ZERO grip on the sole, so they aren’t great for walking to/from the water, and also when on your paddleboard (as they could be slippy). However, if you were to combine these (socks & sandals style) with a Teva sandal (or equivalent) or inside a basic reef shoe, you could have a perfect combo!
Option 4: Bare feet but bring a flask of hot water for afterwards!
As mentioned, living in Sydney I don’t find the winters too bad for stand-up paddleboarding. The worst part is normally getting TO the water as the sand is freezing cold to walk on, but once on my SUP my feet warm up quickly. However, on the cooler days or after a sunrise paddle you can start to feel the early signs of numb feet, so I love to bring with me a flask of hot water in the car (note: not boiling!) to rinse my feet and bring them back to life after a paddle! Once they are rinsed off with hot water, put them into some Ugg boots and they are loving life again! If you have poor circulation or really feel the cold, this probably isn’t the option for you but just thought I’d share my honest experience!
So there you have it! Four options for what shoes to wear for stand-up paddleboarding in winter in Australia. Please note, this blog has been designed for paddlers in Australia and not those in very cold climates. If you are reading this from the UK, USA or Canada etc you probably will want to look into dry suits… and that’s a WHOLE other topic which unfortunately we don’t have time for in this post, but feel free to get started with some good old googling!
Also note, She SUPs does not have any kind of endorsement deals with any shoe companies (but as mentioned… Teva, please, consider it haha!) so this is just based on my personal experience paddling around Australia (and the world) for the last few years. I hope it has been helpful! If you have any other footwear recommendations, please leave them in the comments below this blog so others can see them!
Happy paddling!
Vikki x
Founder of She SUPs