Astral Hiyak Review

The Astral Hiyak are among the most supportive water shoes we've ever had the pleasure of putting on our feet. After logging a few seasons in these high tops, our team is in unanimous agreement that these are a must-have for shoppers who need a hikable pair of water shoes that can go virtually anywhere.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Astral has gotten very good at making a comfortable water shoe that's closer to regular hiking or walking shoes than the mesh slip-ons that have previously been the main option. The Hiyak is Astral's hightop option when recreationalists are tired of rolling ankles while carrying their kayak to the bank or injuring themselves while climbing up the boat ladder out of the water.

Thanks to a zero-drop Level Footbed, this pair is great for keeping your feet in a more natural position. It features a wider toe box that prevents your toes from getting too crammed, especially while going downhill. The ankle support of the Hiyak was a particularly stand-out aspect, but we particularly appreciated how padded that ankle support was. We could also easily adjust how tightly that support hugged our ankles, thanks to the upper strap and lacing system.

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Traction

The Hiyak is designed for rugged in-water or water-adjacent terrain, and we were able to enjoy trustworthy traction on both dry and wet surfaces. If traction is a top priority for you, this is certainly worthy of your finals list.

We pushed this pair of water shoes through a variety of terrain, from muddy banks to slick water-polished granite, and are happy to report our slipping was at a minimum. Astral made the Hiyak with G.ss Rubber™ in the sole, offering decent friction on slabbier surfaces while still utilizing grooves in the rubber for more chunky dirt.

Warmth

While these aren't quite as warm as neoprene booties, the Hiyak should be considered a cold-water shoe. In more icy waters, we could also simply add a neoprene sock inside the Hiyak if we sized up a bit.

On chilly mornings or during spring run-off, we were grateful for the warmth the Hiyak provided. In addition to the high-top construction, Astral put 3mm of quilted airmesh in the Hiyak for insulation. While the heat retention was great, there were times we felt like these water shoes almost got too hot in the summer months, but we weren't nearly as sweaty as we were in neoprene footwear.

Versatility

In certain respects, the Hiyaks have at least some versatility. If you're adventuring across a variety of terrain, models like this can keep up quite easily, but as a high top, there are also some limitations that lowered its score overall.

The most noticeable setback in the versatility of the Hiyak was its ventilation, or lack thereof. While low-top footwear can handle those scorching hot summer days, models designed to retain heat, like the Hiyak, made our feet very sweaty. Additionally, if you're just hanging by the pool or beach, you might not even need a robust high-top shoe like this.

Sensitivity

We were blown away by the level of sensitivity the Hiyaks offered. More robust boots like these have been historically more clunky and made with thick soles, but the Hiyaks allow one to feel the ground with relative ease.

Astral made the Hiyak with a softer, more flexible outsole that's quite a bit thinner than the clunky wading boots commonly used for sports like fly fishing. This design consideration from Astral also made this pair considerably lighter, which was a pleasant surprise for our testing team considering it's a high-top model. At 1.4 pounds, these certainly aren't the lightest, but we've seen wading boots weigh much more.

Quality of Construction

These are made to last, as long as you aren't dragging them through abrasive gravel five days a week. As a relatively heavier water shoe, the Hiyak scored quite high across the review's lineup.

Astral utilized a 1060D ballistic nylon construction in the uppers of the Hiyak, handling our testing process very well. The more sensitive and flexible outsole, however, made it slightly less durable. This is a common trade-off we see with softer, more grippy rubber, as it is more prone to getting nicks and chunks taken out of it. Overall, the Hiyak should be considered a well made shoe, though while it may seem like a heavier model, it isn't nearly as tough as a wading boot.

Should You Buy the Astral Hiyak?

If you want a supportive water shoe, the Hiyak is among the best we've had the pleasure of wearing. If your needs are on the more casual side, you might find the Hiyak to be too much shoe for pool hangs, especially in the warmer months. However, we strongly encourage you to consider these if you need ankle protection on uneven ground in and around the water. While neoprene booties are great for warmth, they don't hold a candle to the amount of structure and support you get from the Hiyak.

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