The 5 Best Sailing Shoes

Paul Stockdale Author Avatar
Reviewed by Paul Stockdale | January 1, 2023
Top Sailing Shoes

Top sailing shoes will be comfortable to wear and fashionable while sailing.

There are a number of top sailing shoes to choose from with each having its own strengths.

The best sailing shoes are:

  1. Best Overall: WateLves Unisex Water Shoes FBN919
  2. Best Budget Friendly: Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes
  3. Best For Racing: MAYZERO Water Shoes
  4. Best Deck Shoes: Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes
  5. Best For Kids: CIOR Kids Water Shoes

These sailing shoes all have different purposes with some designed for racing whereas others are simple sailing deck shoes.

This list of sailing footwear is ideal for all sailing and watersport activities and there are choices for men, women and children.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

1. Unisex WateLves Water Shoes FBN919

Best Overall Sailing Shoes WateLves

The best overall sailing shoes are the Unisex WateLves Water Shoes manufactured by the brand WateLves in Quanzhou City, China and sold worldwide.

Most retailers price WateLves Water Shoes between $30 to $50. The WateLves Water Shoes weigh approximately 456 grams with larger shoe sizes weighing 2 to 3 grams heavier. They are lightweight which makes them extremely comfortable when sailing.

The WateLves Water Shoes fit true to size.

The WateLves Water Shoes are constructed of 92% polyester and 8% spandex, anti-slip rubber sole with a unique pattern for a great grip, 7 drainage holes on each shoe bottom for great drainage and quick drying, elastic lace-up stripe for adjusting the tightness of the shoes and thicker toe caps that provide more cushioning around the toes.

These WateLves Water Shoes are unisex and there are color options for both men and women.

The WateLves Water Shoes come in 42 color options which include black, grey, green, blue, brown, pink, white, gold, orange, red and these shoes are also offered as a mix and combination of these colors.

The WateLves Water Shoes have labels on the side of the shoes which are labeled "Sport.s", "sport.Z" and "sport.N". Different color options have different labels on the side. However, these shoes are offered with no label on the side too.

The WateLves Water Shoes come in 13 shoe sizes. These shoes come in a size 3 men to a size 13.5 men and a size 5.5 women to a size 15 women. The insole length of these sailing shoes ranges from 7.48 inches for the smallest pair to 10.11 inches for the largest pair.

With 13 shoe size options, these shoes can be worn and fit by the majority of adult foot sizes.

The advantages of the WateLves Water Shoes are:

  • They are breathable: With 7 small drainage holes on the soles, these shoes are breathable and help prevent feet from sweating
  • They fit comfortably: With the elastic fabric, these shoes fit comfortably on your feet and can stretch and mold around the shape and size of your feet
  • There are plenty of color options to choose from: This shoe has 42 color options to choose from which is a great amount of choice for people
  • The rubber soles of the shoes improve the overall grip: The rubber soles of the shoes help provide great grip which is useful when sailing and walking on slippery sailboat surfaces

One disadvantage of the WateLves Water Shoes are they will not keep your feet warm in colder weather.

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2. Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes

Best Priced Sailing Shoes Zhuanglin

The best budget-friendly sailing shoes are the Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes manufactured by the brand Zhuanglin in China and sold worldwide.

Most retailers price Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes between $20 to $30. The Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes weigh approximately 425 grams with larger shoe sizes weighing 3 to 5 grams heavier.

The Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes fit true to size.

The Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes are constructed of a 0.25-inch rubber outsole for great grip, an ultra-lightweight mesh fabric exterior for breathability and faster drying and elastic laces with a lace buckle.

The Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes come in 23 color options which include black white combination, light blue, blue moon, light green, orange yellow, purple, yellow, black, navy, brown, black, dark grey, light grey, orange red, dark grey, dark black, c-blue, c-grey, c-navy, b-lightgrey, a-black, a-red and a-darkgrey.

The Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes come in 10 shoe sizes including:

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 8.5
  4. 9.5
  5. 10
  6. 10.5
  7. 11
  8. 12
  9. 13
  10. 14

With 10 shoe size options, these shoes can be worn and fit the majority of adult male foot sizes.

The advantages of the Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes are:

  • They are breathable: With an ultra-lightweight mesh with holes in the mesh and holes in the soles, these shoes are extremely breathable and help to reduce feet sweat
  • They are cheap: These shoes are the cheapest top sailing shoes on the market with a price of $20 to $30
  • They are easy to clean: These shoes can easily be cleaned by simply wiping them with a wet cloth
  • They are waterproof: The high-quality mesh mater with holes and the rubber soles with holes help move seawater through these shoes without damaging the shoes or wearing them down

One disadvantage of the Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes is they are designed for men only and are not designed for women.

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3. MAYZERO Water Shoes

Best Racing Sailing Shoes MAYZERO

The best sailing shoes for racing are the Unisex MAYZERO Water Shoes manufactured by the brand MAYZERO in China and sold worldwide.

Most retailers price MAYZERO Water Shoes between $35 to $55. The MAYZERO Water Shoes weigh 198 grams with larger shoe sizes weighing 4 to 6 grams heavier. They are lightweight which makes them extremely comfortable when sailing and racing on the water.

The MAYZERO Water Shoes fit true to size.

The MAYZERO Water Shoes are constructed of rubber outer soles with holes that help provide extra grip and drainage, an ergonomically molded toe guard for maximum comfort, elastic lace design with lace buckle that makes it easy to tie the shoes, a thick honeycomb mid-sole and breathable stretch fabric.

The MAYZERO Water Shoes are unisex and there are color options for both men and women.

The MAYZERO Water Shoes come in 45 color options and pattern options which include black, grey, green, blue, brown, royal blue, dark blue, coral, pink, red, purple, white, orange, yellow and these shoes are also offered as a mix and combination of these colors.

The MAYZERO Water Shoes come in 13 shoe sizes including:

  1. 5.5 Women/4 Men
  2. 6.5 Women/5 Men
  3. 7.5 Women/6 Men
  4. 8.5 Women/7 Men
  5. 9 Women/7.5 Men
  6. 10 Women/8.5 Men
  7. 11 Women/9.5 Men
  8. 11.5 Women/10.5 Men
  9. 12 Women/11 Men
  10. 13 Women/12 Men
  11. 13.5 Women/12.5 Men
  12. 14.5 Women/13.5 Men
  13. 15 Women/14 Men

These 13 different shoe sizes mean this sailing shoe is suitable for most men's and women's foot sizes. They are comfortable for people with wide feet.

The advantages of the MAYZERO Water Shoes are:

  • They are extremely lightweight: These shoes weigh just 198 grams which makes them very lightweight and easy to wear
  • They are comfortable: The ergonomic design and stretch fabric material make these shoes extremely comfortable to wear
  • There are plenty of color options and patterns to choose from: These shoes come in 45 color and pattern options which gives people plenty of choices to choose from
  • They are multifunctional shoes: These MAYZERO Water Shoes can be used for sailing, watersports, sailboat racing, windsurfing so they can be used for multiple activities and are not limited to just one activity

One disadvantage of the MAYZERO Water Shoes is due to the ventilation, sand can get stuck in these shoes which can cause slight discomfort.

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4. Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoe

Best Deck Sailing Shoes Nautica

The best sailing shoes for the deck are the Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes manufactured by the brand Nautica in America and sold worldwide.

Most retailers price Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes between $50 to $90. The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes weigh 2.16 pounds with larger shoe sizes weighing 4 to 7 grams heavier.

The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes fit true to size on men's feet. However, they can feel tight for men with wide feet.

The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes are constructed of a canvas/vegan leather exterior, removable woolen laces with a lace-up closure, a cushioned insole with fabric lining and a thermoplastic rubber sole for better grip onboard the sailboat.

The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes come in 12 color options which include beige chambray, black & red combo, grey chambray, blue stripe, navy brown, navy brown smooth, navy distressed, navy chambray, black distressed, tan brown smooth, navy tumbled and black smooth 1.

The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes come with a "Nautica" label engraved on the sole of these shoes.

The Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes come in 10 shoe sizes including:

  1. 7.5
  2. 8
  3. 8.5
  4. 9
  5. 9.5
  6. 10
  7. 10.5
  8. 11
  9. 12
  10. 13

With 10 shoe size options, there are plenty of shoe size options to fit most adult males.

The advantages of the Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes are:

  • They are comfortable: The cushioned insole with fabric and the round shape around the toes make this shoe extremely comfortable to wear
  • They are stylish & fashionable: The 12 colors and unique designs are stylish and fashionable
  • They are durable: The canvas/leather exterior of this shoe is extremely durable and these shoes can last for over 1 year if worn correctly

One disadvantage of the Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes is regular exposure to seawater can cause the color of these shoes to fade over time.

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5. CIOR Kids Water Shoes

Best Kids Sailing Shoes Nautica

The best sailing shoes for kids are the Unisex CIOR Kids Water Shoes manufactured by the brand CIOR in China and sold worldwide.

Most retailers price CIOR Kids Water Shoes between $30 to $40. The CIOR Kids Water Shoes weigh 200 grams (7.05 oz.) with larger shoe sizes weighing 3 to 5 grams heavier. They are lightweight and children find them easy to wear.

These shoes come in 2 design types, one with laces and the other with a velcro strap.

The CIOR Kids Water Shoes fit true to size on children's feet. They are comfortable for kids with wide feet.

The CIOR Kids Water Shoes are constructed of an anti-slip rubber outsole with 11 drainage holes in the sole of the shoe for drainage and breathability, a Velcro strap or laces to tighten the shoes, a soft cushioned insole made of EVA materials that helps to prevent chafing and a safe 5 toe-cap design that provides space around the toe area.

These shoes are unisex and there are color options for both boys and girls.

The CIOR Kids Water Shoes come in 21 color options which include blue/green, navy/orange, pink, black/white, navy/red, grey, purple/pink, rose red, green, purple/black, blue/yellow, navy/purple, yellow/blue, black/green, grey/blue, purple/pink, grey/pink, orange, blue/pink, rainbow and blue/light green.

The CIOR Kids Water Shoes come in 13 shoe sizes which are:

  1. 9 Toddler: This is a heel-to-toe length of 6.4 inches
  2. 9.5 Toddler: This is a heel-to-toe length of 6.7 inches
  3. 10.5 Little Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 6.9 inches
  4. 11.5 Little Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 7.3 inches
  5. 12 Little Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 7.5 inches
  6. 13 Little Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 7.8 inches
  7. 1 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 8.1 inches
  8. 2 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 8.4 inches
  9. 3 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 8.7 inches
  10. 4 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 8.9 inches
  11. 5 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 9.2 inches
  12. 6 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 9.5 inches
  13. 6.5 Big Kid: This is a heel-to-toe length of 9.6 inches

If the kids like to wear thick socks with these shoes, it is recommended to get 1 size up from their foot size.

The advantages of the CIOR Kids Water Shoes are:

  • They are breathable: These shoes come with 11 drainage holes in the soles which helps with breathability and reducing sweat on the feet
  • They are durable: These shoes are made of durable rubber soles and a soft EVA material that is extremely durable and it is extremely flexible too
  • They are not expensive: These shoes are a great price with them costing between $30 to $40
  • They are multipurpose shoes: These shoes are designed for being used both on land and in the water so kids are not restricted in where they can wear them

One disadvantage of the CIOR Kids Water Shoes is sand and dirt can easily get trapped in the shoe due to the large number of drainage holes.

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Top Sailing Shoes Comparison Table

Brand Price Best For Sizes Fit Color Options Weight
WateLves $30 - $50 Comfort, Grip 13 Sizes Fit To Size 42 456 grams
Zhuanglin $20 - $30 Price 10 Sizes Fit To Size 23 425 grams
MAYZERO $35 - $55 Racing 13 Sizes Fit To Size 45 198 grams
Nautica $50 - $90 Boat Decks 10 Sizes Fit To Size 12 2.16 pounds
CIOR $30 - $40 Kids 13 Sizes Fit To Size 21 200 grams

What To Consider When Buying Sailing Shoes

The factors to consider when buying sailing shoes are:

  • Price
  • Comfort
  • Materials
  • Size Options

Price

The price of sailing shoes is a factor to consider when buying one. Prices of sailing shoes will range based on quality, size, material and brand.

Comfort

The comfort of the sailing helmet is a factor to consider when buying one. Some people prefer sailing shoes that are waterproof and breathable to prevent foot sweat whereas others prefer more durable and soft fabrics to help with overall comfort.

Materials

The best sailing shoes are made using a wide range of materials. Some are made from tough leather that will weather the conditions of the water while others boast of synthetic materials that allow your feet to breathe.

Size Options

The size options offered are a factor to consider when buying sailing shoes. Buyers can only buy shoes in sizes that fit their feet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Top Sailing Shoes

Below are the most commonly asked questions about the top sailing shoes.

What Are The Top Sailing Shoes Brands?

The top sailing shoe brands are:

  • Nautica
  • Musto
  • Zhuanglin
  • MAYZERO
  • WateLves

How Much Do Top Sailing Shoes Cost?

The best helmets for sailing cost between $20 and $90.

How Much Does The Cheapest Top Sailing Shoes Cost?

The cheapest top sailing shoes are the Zhuanglin Aqua Water Shoes which cost $20 to $30.

How Much Does The Most Expensive Top Sailing Shoes Cost?

The most expensive top sailing shoes are the Nautica Men's Galley Boat Shoes which cost between $50 to $90.