Best Sandals for White Water Rafting

If you’re going river rafting you may want to bring a pair of rafting sandals to wear on your trip. Often times flip flops and crocs are forbidden because they don’t stay on the foot in rough terrain. And nobody wants to sit around in soaked tennis shoes all day. This is why rafting sandals are a must-have. Rafting sandals have the comfort of an open foot shoe while staying secure on your foot. 

Riversearch.com is Reader-supported. When you purchase gear through links on our site, we may earn commissions. 

Best Men’s Sandals for River Rafting

  1. Keen Men’s Newport H2 Sandal
  2. Teva Men’s M FOREBAY Sandal
  3. Northside Men’s Riverside II Open-Toe Sandal

Best Women’s Sandals for River Rafting

  1. Teva Women’s Tirra Sandal
  2. KEEN Women’s Whisper-W Sandal
  3. Chaco Women’s ZX2 Classic

Men’s Sandals

1. Keen Men’s Newport H2 Sandal – Durable Rafting Sandals for Men

Product Features

Brand Name: KEEN
Material: Polyester, Rubber
Colors: 30 Color Options
Sizes: 6.5 – 17

The KEEN Men’s Newport H2 Sandal is a durable well-built sandal that can handle anything from rough rapids to an all-day hiking journey. The sandals themselves are made from polyester and have a rubber outsole. The lace fit is designed to keep the sandal snug and secure on your foot no matter the conditions, while the bottom is designed for maximum traction over slippery surfaces. The sandals also feature a water-resistant upper part, making them perfect for staying comfortable on the river.

 

Pros
  • Secure lace fit
  • Lug sole designed for maximum traction
  • Water-resistant upper
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive

 

2. Teva Men’s M FOREBAY Sandal – Best Value Rafting Sandal

Product Features

Brand Name: Teva
Material: 93% Synthetic, 7% Textile
Colors: Turkish Coffee
Sizes: 7-14

Teva is a very well trusted brand in the outdoor industry. The company was actually founded by a river guide. The Teva Men’s Forebay Sandals are the perfect sandal for white water rafting. The sandals themselves are made from 93% synthetic material, and 7% textile. The textile lining creates and comfortable anti-microbial footbed which is perfect for foot health and a hot and sweaty trail. The mesh upper provides ventilation while the velcro strap secures the sandal on your foot. This also features a lug sole for traction on slippery surfaces. The best thing about these sandals is the value. If you’re shopping for durable sandals that are great for river rafting, hiking, camping, and any other outdoor activities, they can typically get pretty expensive, but these are a budget-friendly option without sacrificing any quality.

 

Pros
  • Anti-microbial footbed
  • Lug sole for traction
  • Great value
Cons
  • They only have the 1 color option

 

3. Northside Men’s Riverside II Open-Toe Sandal – Cheap Men’s Rafting Sandals

 

Product Features

Brand Name: Northside
Material: Neoprene Lining, Syntehtic Sole
Colors: Five Color Options
Sizes: 8-13

If you’re shopping for an extremely affordable outdoor sandal for your white water rafting trip you need to check out the Northside Men’s Riverside Sport Strap Sandal. In terms of budget-friendly value, this is about as good of a deal as you will find on outdoor sandals. These sandals feature an adjustable hoot and strap with a rear loop pull for easily securing the sandals on your feet. The footbed is contoured for comfort and the straps are designed to be waterproof which makes these great for going out on the river. They also feature a grip sole making them excellent for slippery surfaces.

 

Pros
  • Waterproof straps
  • Traction bottom
  • Extremely affordable
Cons
  • Other rafting sandals have a more secure strap design, these are more open foot and may not feel as secure

 

Women’s Sandals

1. Teva Women’s Tirra Sandal – Top Rated Women’s River Rafting Sandals

Product Features

Brand Name: Teva
Material: Textile
Colors: 30+ Color Choices
Sizes: 5-11

If you’re after a durable all-purpose women’s outdoor sandal that is excellent to take out on the river then you need to check out the Teva Women’s Tirra Sandal. These sandals are designed to fit securely on the feet with a hook and loop closure for quickly adjusting your sandal. The sandal footbed is lined with a shock-absorbing pad in the heel for added comfort and foot protection in rugged terrain.  These sandals also feature a grip bottom designed for traction on slippery surfaces making them great for outdoor adventure. Finally, the sandals are also anti-microbial which means your feet stay healthy when playing all day in the sun.

 

Pros
  • Anti-microbial technology
  • Shock-absorbing heel
  • Traction designed bottom
  • Over thirty color options
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive

 

2. KEEN Women’s Whisper-W Sandal – Secure Fitting Women’s Outdoor Sandals

 

Product Features

Brand Name: Keen
Material: Polyester
Colors: 50+ Color Choices
Sizes: 5-12

The Keen Women’s Whisper Sandals are an excellent outdoor sandal with an extremely secure lace fitting system. The sandals are sure to stay in place in extremely rough river rapids. You can quickly and comfortably secure the sandals with the elastic cord, making them great for making adjustments on the fly. The upper part of the sandal is designed to be antimicrobial while the bottom part features an EVA foot cushion for maximum comfort. The sandals also feature a lug sole for traction on slippery surfaces.

 

Pros
  • Anti-microbial upper
  • EVA comfort foot cushion
  • Traction designed lug sole
  • Over fifty color options
Cons
  • They are out of stock of a lot of colors, will have to buy quickly when the are in stock

 

3. Chaco Women’s ZX2 Classic – Breathable Women’s Athletic Sandal

 

Product Features

Brand Name: Chaco
Material: Polyester
Colors: 20 Color Choices
Sizes: 5-12

The Chaco Women’s ZX2 Classic Sandals are the perfect multi-purpose athletic sandals to take with you on a white water rafting trip. The sandals feature a jacquard upper for a secure fit, lug sole for maximum traction and a contoured rubber sole for all-day comfort. The best thing about this offering is that they offer extra-wide sizes, which is great if you’re looking for something with a little more room than your average sandal.

 

Pros
  • Offer extra wide sandals
  • Contoured comfort sole
  • Lug sole for traction
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive

 

That completes the list. All of the sandals we listed here are not only great for the river, but also for hiking, camping, kayaking, boating, and any other outdoor activity. If you’re after more ideas on what you need to wear on your rafting trip, remember to check out our clothing guide.