I recently had the chance to review a pair of Sperry Top-Sider’s new water shoe, the H20 Escape.

At first glance, this shoe seems like it might be made for minimalist running, with its lightweight feel and thin fabric around the ankle. Although it doesn’t look the part, what this shoe was really created for is kayaking.

“Unload your kayak, traverse the rocky shore and spend the day on the water in an ultra-flexible shoe that’s expertly designed for your sport,” the website reads.

Features

• Amphibious, ultra-lightweight design weighing only 5.6 ounces
• Adaptive Wave-Siping disperses water underfoot to enhance stability and reduce slippage on wet or dry surfaces
• EVA midsole with internal water channels are comfortable, durable, and feature drainage to help feet dry more quickly
• Removable perforated footbed works with the internal water channels to allow water to escape faster and more efficiently
• Uppers and linings promote ultra-fast drying
• Adjustable bungee allows for secure wear and easy on and off

Whenever I kayak, I either employ my traditional Teva sandals or simply go barefoot. Neither of these are the best option. While my sandals are great for hanging out around a campsite, or even for daily wear, they don’t suffice for walking on rocky shores while attempting to launch a kayak.

When I’ve used fully-enclosed water shoes in the past during whitewater rafting, I always felt my stability was suffering. While I was not using the best brand, there was always water sloshing around in the shoes, and I felt they didn’t grip any better than my bare feet could have. In addition, it was one of those water shoes that came above the ankle and was made of a fabric you can’t really get away with wearing at the grocery store. The H20 Escape can go anywhere. As for my Tevas, there’s still a large portion of the foot that is left exposed, and it only takes one misstep before you jam a toe on a rock. This shoe by Sperry is a great alternative.

Although it’s currently winter in my home state of Michigan and not necessarily kayaking season, I was still able to test out the drying capabilities and gripping offered by the shoe. But before I get ahead of myself, let’s take a look at the style and comfort it offers.

The women’s version of the shoe is sold in three colors—Gray (the image above and the one I reviewed), Fuchsia, and Blue. The men’s version is also available in several colors. As mentioned before, this looks like more of a minimalist running shoe, so I immediately wondered how comfortable it was going to be when attention was placed mainly on in-water performance.

What I discovered was that the comfort didn’t suffer.

The fabric around the ankle initially looked far too elastic, and I figured it would rub against my ankle. It ended up remaining snug, but because of the padded seam, did not irritate my skin. The bungee laces also made it extremely easy to slip the shoes on and off. For me, this time-saving system means a lot, and tends to influence what shoes I wear on a daily basis. I’d pick a slip-on or easy-lace bungee over traditional laces any day.

As for the inside of the shoe, the breathable foam necessary for quick drying also worked as additional padding for the bottom of my feet. Moving on to the bottom of the shoe, the gripping ability is obviously one of the most important features when it comes to kayaking. While I wasn’t able to test the shoe mid-summer, I was able to test how stable it is on snow and ice. Answer: it grips very well—maybe even better than my snow boots.

We have a natural tendency to walk carefully on ice, and with the H20 Escape, I didn’t have to worry. While I don’t recommend this shoe at all for winter use because of its lack of insulation, the gripping is wonderful.

But how fast does it dry? After trudging through the snow from my car to my front door, the shoes were completely soaked. At room temperature, it took a little more than an hour for them to dry. Keep in mind that if you’re using these shoes in the summer, they’ll take much less time to dry when placed in the warm sun.

I liked these shoes so much that I started wearing them to the gym and even while running errands. They truly are a multi-purpose water shoe, but have a look that makes them perfect for daily wear as well.

Ever since Sperry debuted the first boat shoe in 1935, it has kept “performance water shoe” as its goal with all products.

“This shoe features Adaptive Wave Siping on the bottom, so it provides great traction on both wet and dry surfaces,” said Mike Shea from Backbone Media. “It’s got a lot of mid-sole evacuation so that your feet stay dry. It’s a quick-dry material that’s very breathable. This is the shoe for all water sports–everything from sea kayaking to rafting to just your beach vacation.”

With a price of $90, it’s more expensive than most water shoes, but when you consider its array of uses, the cost is fairly reasonable.

Images courtesy of Sperry Top Sider