Astral Brewer 3.0 Review

From oceans to streams, the Brewer 3.0 kept up with our hyper-active gear testers. This is a blend between a water shoe and a sneaker, making it the ultimate weapon for day hikes to rough rivers.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The latest version of the Brewer, the 3.0, addressed our most substantial issue with the Brewer 2.0: the interior stitching. We had a particularly tough time during our last round of testing, wearing this shoe without socks, as the stitching rubbed in multiple places on our bare feet. We couldn't be happier that Astral fixed this glaring issue in the 3.0, and we gladly bumped its scores up in this metric.

The zero-drop footbed of the Brewer 3.0 was incredibly beneficial for stability, especially when paired with a wider fit, gifting our toes and forefoot with plenty of room. While some of the Brewer's competition falls into the minimalist category, the 3.0 has closed-cell EVA foam in the midsole, offering enough cushion for us to enjoy dry-ground hikes with almost as much comfort as a regular walking shoe. The lacing system in the Brewer is also closer to traditional footwear, allowing us to finetune the fit and even make adjustments mid-adventure as the terrain intensified.

Traction

A rugged model like the Brewer 3.0 is bound to end up in some rowdy places, from steep riverbanks to sandy beach entrances. We're pleased to report that this water shoe is great for traction, with minimal setbacks in performance across multiple rounds of traction tests.

Astral offers multiple models that utilize high-quality rubber in the outsole. The Brewer 3.0 uses G.15 Rubber, and we found this softer rubber to boast excellent traction. This performed well on both wet and dry surfaces, with small channels between the rubber allowing water to escape, increasing the amount of friction. In looser and chunkier terrain, the Brewers aren't as good as a hiking shoe, with minimal lug construction, but we were still happy with its performance in its water shoe class.

Warmth

With a canvas and mesh blend for its upper, the Brewer 3.0 isn't the warmest model in the lineup, but in cool mountain lakes on summer days, we didn't need to add any insulation. If you need something for arctic temperatures, we'd steer you to another pair, but the Brewers will work as a three-season shoe.

As is the case with several of the water shoes we tested, if you want a versatile model like the Brewer 3.0, it's best to have something that vents well in the summer heat and can be worn with neoprene socks when the water gets icy. The generally wider fit made it easy enough for us to fit those socks into the shoe, but again, we were able to play in some chillier water even in our bare feet.

Versatility

This metric is where the Brewer 3.0 really shines, as highly capable footwear that's equally at home on land or sea. Its construction puts it part ways between a sneaker and a watershoe, allowing us to hike in or out of the water and remain comfortable no matter what. If you need a quiver-killer water shoe, this is it.

The Brewer 3.0 has everything to make your feet happy in diverse environments. Its midsole has enough cushion that we could go on a dry-ground hike easily, and of course, its in/near water performance is exemplary. The previously mentioned traction of the 3.0 allows you to wear them for more intense water sports, but it's not out of place at the pool or lake, either. While style is in the eye of the beholder, we didn't find these to be particularly eye-catching, but they're certainly more aesthetic than some of the mesh slip-on models we tested alongside the 3.0.

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Sensitivity

As a more protective model, these aren't quite as sensitive as some of the competition. In our experience, you can't quite have it all, and these stiffer shoes can't offer a very sensitive ground feel.

Astral offers some great alternatives to the Brewer 3.0 that have much more sensitivity, but they don't perform nearly as well when walking riverbeds with sharp rocks or scampering across abrasive trails or scree fields. Simply put, if you're looking for water shoes that give you that sensation of feeling the beach or the trail, you're better off looking elsewhere.

Quality of Construction

The Brewer 3.0 is a well-built water shoe that's designed to handle a rougher life than just going to the pool. Astral made these tough rather than light, and we appreciated the generous mid and outsole construction for longer, more adventurous days.

As we've already shared, a lot of thought went into the materials used in the Brewer 3.0, with the dependable G.15 Rubber for the outsole, 52C closed-cell EVA foam in the midsole, and a thick canvas/mesh combination for the upper. We loved the new “luxury liner” design for the interior of the 3.0, which didn't rub against bare feet, and the tongue is well-padded, adding at least a little more protection. While the softer outsole rubber is great for improved friction, it isn't as durable as a harder rubber, which is a classic trade-off when shopping for any type of shoe. The outsole can take more of a beating when hiking through gravel and rock-laden trails, with most damage being only cosmetic. The stitching throughout the Brewer held up throughout our testing process, and we didn't get any holes in the mesh.

Should You Buy the Astral Brewer 3.0?

This is the model for you if you need a quiver-killer kind of water shoe. From a day lounging at the beach with the family to intense white water adventures, the Brewer 3.0 is what we'd steer you towards when your watery ambitions are diverse and span across multiple seasons. This is what happens when you cross an overland sneaker with a water shoe, and we love its versatility, though if you want something stylish or more sensitive, there are better choices out there.

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