I bought a pair of Sperry Topsider “Ebb Tide Low Water” shoes almost out of desperation. For years I have been buying cheap beach shoes from Wal-Mart for use on the kayak. They lasted about six months before I had to buy a new pair. They were fairly comfortable, but not great for walking distances on the beach or oyster bars.

I had thrown away my last pair after the usual falling apart, when my wife asked me how many of those shoes have I thrown away over the years and how much money does that equate to. Caught like a deer in the headlights and knowing that there was no right answer, I said, “What’s it to you, Cap’n Curious?” After a couple of hours of explaining that I was just joking around, and she really did have an important and valid point, I decided to find a more lasting pair of shoes so this conversation would never happen again.

After visiting my local big box outdoors store and trying on several pairs of wading type shoes, I decided on the Ebb Tide Low Water. The top is neoprene and stretches to fit your foot. This is helpful for those who need their shoe a little wider. The top has a Velcro strap that tightens the shoe around your ankle so it won’t be left in the deep mud. They have a rubber sole that extends over the heels, toes and well up the side of the shoe. The rubber sole allows very good traction on all surfaces with very little slippage. That has ended up being a big plus on those slippery concrete boat ramps. The shoes are very comfortable, and rugged enough to walk over oyster bars with no problem. I have had these shoes for over a year now, and they look the same as they did when I bought them. There are no tears or fading of any kind - and I use them quite a bit.

There are many different types of wading shoes out there in a wide range of prices. At under $40 the Ebb Tide Low Water shoes are one of the best bangs for the buck. These are very comfortable and rugged shoes that take a lot of abuse whether you are kayaking, boating or diving.