You know what they say, having the right gear is crucial when you’re out on the water, and that includes the often-overlooked aspect of footwear – yes, we’re talking about shoes, sandals, and flip-flops!
Believe it or not, wearing the wrong shoes when you’re riding can lead to some serious problems. Think loss of grip and potential injuries. Ouch!
Now, here’s the tricky part: When it comes to picking the best pair of water-shoes, the options seem endless for jet skis. How on earth do you know you’re making the right choice when there are so many different types out there? Don’t fret! We’re here to dive into the world of watercraft footwear, discuss what makes the best choice, and help you navigate the many choices! So, let’s lace up (or slip on) and get into the nitty-gritty of finding the perfect footwear for jet skis!
Don’t Wear This When Jet Skiing
I want to start this off with the kind of shoes you should not wear. These types don’t do good under slippery conditions or come off way too easily. (Ramps and docks can be slippery, even the footwells of your PWC, too)
1. Crocs
The first kind to NOT wear is Crocs. They may seem like the perfect shoe, but they’re not so great in wet conditions. They don’t give you the traction you need when riding. Crocs can also fall off your feet if they’re not put on properly. (You got to at least put them in ‘4-wheel drive’)
2. Flip Flops
The next kind of footwear to skip is the basic flip-flop. Flip-flops can come off very easily plus offer no real protection. It’s not when you’re riding you should worry, but when you’re getting on and off that you need to worry. Flip-flops offer no protection from rocks that you might land on when hopping off the watercraft when you beach it. Also, flip-flops don’t offer protection from the sun and no real cover on cold winter rides.
3. Going Barefoot Is a No-No, Trust Me
I would NOT ride barefoot at all!!!
I have personally cut my foot either on something sticking out of the PWC or hopping on or off on to sharp rocks! Going barefoot also provides no protection on slimy algae boat ramps. Even many don’t offer much protection, so I if you see green algae you need to be extra careful. I carry a deck brush in my truck to loosen up the algae on the ramps. The algae forms due to the ramp not being used much.
The Best Shoes For Jet Skiing
The best choice is called “water shoes”.
This type of footwear offers exceptional protection, grip, comfort, and a premium feel you need when riding. They also don’t hold water, plus feel as comfortable as regular tennis sneakers!
You can use water-shoes for more than just riding. They work well at the beach, the backyard, water parks, or even hopping off to grab some lunch.
These are clearly the best all-around shoe option you’re going to find.
1. Basic Water Shoe
Up first is the basic water shoe like this one. (Amazon Link Ad)
They look the part of a water shoe, but are light on the feet. They allow water to escape quickly, plus work very well if all you’re doing is riding or swimming. The basic water shoe is like a slipper where you slide your foot into it, but you have a pull-tight cord for a snug fit. The bottom of the shoe is rubber to give you a good grip, which you need around wet boat launches.
If you need something simple, in a good price range, then this style of water shoe will work fine.
2. Real Water Shoe
I call the next option a “real water shoe” (Amazon Link Ad) because it’s difficult to differentiate them from a tennis shoe. This type of shoe is higher-quality while still giving you the grip and comfort you need when riding. I’ve had people stop me before getting into the water or my ride to let me know I have my tennis shoes on – that’s how real these can look!
Perks
- They look like a normal sneaker.
- They dry quickly.
- Great comfort for long rides or unknown ground conditions.
- It’s like putting on any other shoe.
- Offers protection from the sun.
- Some protection from the cold rides in the winter.
Once you start to wear footwear like this, it will be difficult to go back to anything else. These have a feel of a normal tennis shoe, plus even have laces that are pull-tight.
Factors To Consider When Buying Jet Ski Shoes
Compared to other typess, water-specific designs do not retain water and are quick to dry. They also offer enhanced breathability for your feet, while still providing a level of protection and traction when riding.
Here are things to consider:
- Full foot protection – You want the shoe to give you a good amount of protection. Flip-flops and similar don’t provide much protection, the sun can burn your feet and rocks can cut you if you’re not careful, overall not a top-tier option if you ask me.
- Solid bottom – You want a solid and thick bottom shoe. You need all the traction you can get, the boat ramps get slippery and rocks or even fishing lures can cut your feet if you’re not careful.
- Stays put – You need an excellent shoe that stays it on your feet, often a pull string or laces. You need it to stay on your foot as you’ll be bouncing around and if you fall off or go for a swim you don’t want them to fall off.
Traction is Super Important When Riding Your PWC
You’ll be in a wet environment, not only wet but hot and sharp objects all around! Algae likes to form on boat launches and docks, especially when they’re not used often. Algae is very slippery, but it’s easy to fix by brushing the area with a deck brush to loosen it up.
Let’s not forget the areas will be hot with you baking in the sun. Many watercraft have dark color floor mats and will be hot on the feet! You also have the metal docks and steps that many marina’s and boat launches have that get hot in the sun. Lastly, the footwells and the docks will be wet and slippery. Getting in and out tends to be around wet areas, so be extra careful and make sure you have the correct footwear.
Wooden Docks = Getting Splinters In your Foot!
I need to make a note about docks made of wood, especially if you like going barefoot. I’ve seen far too many people, especially kids, love to go barefoot around the docks. This is dangerous, not only because it’s slippery, but many of these docks are made of splittery wood.
Over time, wood likes to split, especially in areas where the sun hits it and dries it out. You’re just asking to get a splitter in the bottom of your foot if you don’t wear the proper protection on your feet when hopping on and off!!!
This is also why you should not cheap out on a good pair, the cheaper shoes are thinner and don’t give the same protection. Just giving the heads-up because beach vibes that PWCs have make people think going barefoot is normal, and it’s not. I suggest proper footwear as getting a splitter out of your foot is annoying, just ask me how I know!
You’ll Need More Clothing For Your Watercraft!
There is no way around it, you’ll need a good pair of water shoes when you go riding. They need to be high-quality and not some throwaway flip-flop, you’ll be bouncing around and need all the protection you can get. But a good shoe is not the only thing you need, there are more items you’ll need to buy.
There are the obvious things like sunglasses, sunscreen, but the not so obvious, like wetsuit bottoms that everyone needs while riding. Check out my guide on what to wear here. Don’t forget the other accessories, too!
