The waves were getting bigger, my paddleboard was deflating, and the situation was getting more extreme with every passing river mile. Id embarked down the Roaring Fork with a motley group of friends on an old paddleboard I hadnt inflated in over a year. Much to my dismay, about 20 minutes into our 3-hour float, I started leaking air profusely, and my board became very hard to balance and navigate through the whitewater.

　　That meant I was going in — more than once and on several occasions — through rapids with 3- to 4-foot waves. It was June, high water, which meant we were also moving pretty quickly. As I held onto my board, feet out in front of me, my closed-toed Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoes protected my toes and soles from rocks, branches, and other sharp, pokey things lurking beneath the roiling water.

　　When we finally arrived at our terminus, and I paddled onto the boat ramp at Two Rivers Park, I was very much sinking, but thankfully, not yet sunk.

　　More than once that day, Id been grateful that I chose the Astral Brewers over my Chacos. With as much time as Id spent in the water kicking off rocks and treading the river bottom, my feet likely wouldnt have made it out so unscathed otherwise.

　　In short: The Astral Brewer 3.0 is a unisex, zero-drop water shoe perfect for river, lake, pool, and ocean adventures. You can even wear them around town or on light bike rides. They have built-in sock liners for barefoot comfort and G.ss Rubber and Flex Grip outsoles that stick to dry or wet surfaces. They drain and dry quickly and protect feet better than sandals. The updated Astral Brewer is an excellent option for a reliable and comfortable shoe for water activities.

　　Compare the Astral Brewer 3.0 to others weve tested by checking out GearJunkies guide to the Best Water Shoes.

　　Astral Brewer 3.0 Check price at REICheck price at BackcountryCheck price at astral

　　8.6 How we rate products Specifications Height: Just below the ankle bone Material: 100% recycled canvas and mesh Adjustment: Excellent/traditional laces Shoe sole: G.SS Rubber + Flex Grip Outsole – both proprietary to Astral Dry weight (single shoe): 8.2 oz./232 g What’s cool about it: Versatility – water, travel, airport hours, other sports Pros Looks like a sneaker, not a water shoe Very grippy on wet rocks Versatile for water, town or sports Dries fast Comfortable Good for side hikes — from Alaska to the Grand Canyon Cons Don’t protect the ankle Can be hard to wash all the sand out of them Will Brendza Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe Review

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Versatility Typically, whenever Im on water, I wear my Chacos. Theyve accompanied me rafting, tubing, into slot canyons filled with water, down rivers on paddleboards, and to the beach. But I can also wear them on short, non-technical hikes. They transition easily from river to trail to town, and thats why I love them.

　　The Astral Brewer offers similar versatility. Yes, its a dedicated water shoe, but its also wearable for mild bike rides. I wore the shoes on my bike ride from Glenwood to the river put-in in Carbondale and around town.

　　I didnt switch shoes before heading to a brewery after our float. This versatility is one of the big reasons we named the Astral Brewer our Best Overall Water Shoe in our Best Water Shoes guide.

　　They also look pretty darn fly compared to many water shoes Ive seen. They look like any other zero-drop sneaker you might see on the street. The understated earth-tone colors are pretty stylish, too, and I appreciated the versatility of the Typhoon Navy color I tested.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Fit I have wide feet, and these fit like a glove when I first slipped into them. I didnt even need to adjust the laces. If I had narrower feet, that might have been a different story. But with my wide paddles, I felt like Cinderella. I experienced no pinching or hot spots at all in these shoes.

　　Granted, I wasnt hiking in them either. I walked around town in them and wore them while I packed cars and loaded/unloaded river equipment. But I limited most of my activity to standing (on my paddleboard), kneeling (also on my paddleboard), and pedaling (on, you guessed it, my bike).

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Grip Of course, grip is one of the most critical factors for any water shoe. You dont want footwear that loses all traction when it gets wet. Lack of good grip is one of Chacos shortcomings, but its where the Astral Brewers shine.

　　The tread pattern on this shoe isnt special. But the grip of the G.ss Rubber and Flex Grip outsole was notable on my board, on shore, and even while wading through the water over mossy river rocks. I was impressed by it. I imagine theyd grip very well on boat decks or similarly slippery surfaces.

　　(Note: My bike pedals did leave some permanent marks on the tread of the Astral Brewers, as pictured above. Thats something to be aware of, as it could cause greater wear and tear over time.)

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Quick Drain, Quick Dry If you hold the Astral Brewers up against the light, you can see through the top of the upper. Its woven so loosely that its almost a mesh layer. Water quickly drained straight out of it and through the drain holes on both sides. That squishy, wet sneaker feeling never lasted too long with the Brewers.

　　The upper is made of quick-dry material, so after all the water rushes out, the material dries pretty fast, too. Within 10 to 15 minutes of getting out of the water and walking around in the sun, these shoes were barely damp.

　　After 30 minutes on dry land, they were dry to the touch. Astral made the upper with 100% recycled material, so you can feel great about the performance and sustainability of these shoes.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) No Socks Necessary The Astral Brewers are designed with a built-in sock liner, so they feel entirely comfortable on bare feet. Some water shoes can feel abrasive when wet — even the straps of Chacos get uncomfortable to wear barefoot after getting soaked.

　　Not these, though. I was surprised by how comfortable I felt wearing them all day long, through dry bike pedaling and wet river paddling, without wearing socks.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe: Room for Improvement? Our tester noted this in the buyers guide for the Best Water Shoes, but the Astral Brewers can be hard to wash the sand out of. I found this to be the case on the river, using the dunk method, but when I got them home and used a hose to wash them out, the sand came out much more easily.

　　My personal biggest gripe with these shoes is the lace system. The laces are small and hard to use when your fingers are cold from playing in a river for hours on end.

　　I would prefer an elastic tightening system or BOA, sans laces entirely. I know that would make them less river-to-town friendly, as theyd look less like a sneaker and more like a river shoe. But thats just my two cents.

　　Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe Review: Who Is It For?

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) If you recreate on rivers, lakes, oceans, or anywhere else you need to get your feet wet, these are amazing water shoes. They look great, drain and dry extremely quickly, and grip wet and dry surfaces well.

　　To boot, theyre versatile for different activities. Our buyers guide tester wore them through three airports without anyone taking a second glance at them. I felt perfectly normal wearing them to a brewery after our float trip. And for short bike rides (especially if its to a put-in or reservoir), these shoes are great.

　　Now that Ive got these Astral Brewers, my Chacos will get a lot less use this summer. I feel like Im cheating on a long-time partner, but these shoes are better for real river adventures. Theyre more protective, grippier, and far more comfortable than sandals, and they cost about the same.

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