REASONS TO BUY
Shockingly low price
Packs down flat
Comfy as house slippers
Best-in-class sensitivity
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn’t protect feet
Offers no stability
Lacks adjustability
ATHMILE Water Shoes Review
When price is a priority, slipper-style water shoes like these are a great choice if you like minimalist footwear
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 3, 2025
RELATED: The Best Water Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
If you need a pair of water shoes and want to spend as little as possible, the ATHMILE Water Shoes are worth checking out. These are more water slippers or water socks, with a very thin sole and a stretchy fabric upper that mainly offers protection from the sun, but they work well for lounging days at the pool or beach. The ATHMILE lacks the cushioning and construction most people's feet need to walk on riverbeds or go on long hikes, but they're very easy to travel with when you want some water-capable footwear. If you need more versatility or support from water shoes that you plan to wear every weekend for the next 5 years, we'd look elsewhere, but these are hard to beat for the occasional user, especially with their incredibly low price point.
Our Analysis and Test Results
If you aren't looking for footwear that can handle white water rapids, many water shoes might feel overbuilt or overpriced for more casual hangs. The ATHMILE Water Shoes are a great choice if you're prioritizing price and packability, especially if you aren't trying to get too adventurous in or near the water.
Performance Comparison
While these are nothing more than slippers, the ATHMILE Water Shoes are great for casual days in or near the water.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
This footwear is unlike any other water shoe we've yet reviewed, as it's more of a slipper or a sock than a “shoe”. These were comfy to wear all day, but only in friendlier terrain, and you need to keep days in the ATHMILE low on mileage.
The ATHMILE Water Shoes should be thought of as a slight bit of material between you and the ground. There is no cushion and almost no protection, but if we kept the time on our feet short, these were very comfortable for lounging by the lake or beach. In our experience, casual days at the water or in a boat are friendly on the feet, and we were often barefoot anyway, once we found our chair or beach towel. However, if your watery aspirations include carrying heavier loads, logging big miles, or engaging with rapids, these probably aren't the right fit.
From pebble beaches to in-town strolls, these are comfy enough if you don't mind a minimalist construction.
Traction
Surprisingly, the ATHMILE Water Shoes offered some decent friction on smooth surfaces. This sock-esc footwear has just enough of a sole to let us scramble across some rocks and casual trails getting to our lounge chair, but this isn't the right pair of shoes for big days in rougher terrain.
The rubber outsole of the ATHMILE Water Shoes has very shallow grooves, allowing for more contact on slabs of rock. These grooves were deep enough to help usher water away from the contact points, but on loose trails, hillsides, or riverbanks, the ATHMILE didn't perform as well.
These slippers have adequate traction for lower-angled terrain.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Chunky trails and steeper beach approaches require shoes with a bit more lug construction, but options like the ATHMILE Water Shoes are best suited for tame and more manicured paths. Outside of its lack of protection, the ATHMILE water shoes simply just don't have much sole material to hold traction, besides the aforementioned slabby terrain. However, if you don't mind the minimal cushioning, these should still work for more lazy-day outings, particularly if you like the barefoot feel of this kind of footwear.
Warmth
The ATHMILE Water Shoes offer no insulation, and in cold water, are bound to leave your feet very chilly. As these are already practically socks, there isn't much you can do to add warmth, especially because these are best sized on the tighter side so that they fit your feet correctly.
As these weigh substantially less than the competition and are the most minimally built shoes we've yet tested, you'll get numb feet in wintry waters. Fortunately, the temperatures typically experienced for more casual lounging days are on the warmer side, and you might not want insulation from your water shoes in such settings.
These are unlikely to keep your feet warm, with minimal insulation in the soles or the uppers.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Versatility
These fell further back in the pack in terms of versatility. The ATHMILE Water Shoes are not going to perform well in a variety of settings, but they can be worn in enough environments to earn an average score.
We were able to enjoy the ATHMILE Water Shoes in lounging environments. From poolside relaxing to sunning ourselves at the lake, these worked very well, as long as it wasn't too long of a walk from the car. This option is also uniquely packable, as we could easily squeeze these into our luggage, whether checking or carrying on our bags. As we've mentioned before, don't wear these for more intense sports, as they aren't appropriate for white water or long hikes.
These can handle light-duty days in concrete jungles or beaches and pools.
Sensitivity
The ATHMILE Water Shoes are among the most sensitive models we've yet slipped onto our feet. As barefoot-style footwear, you'll undoubtedly feel almost every rock or pebble you step on, and is a great choice if sensitivity is a priority.
The minimalism of the ATHMILE Water Shoes was apparent from the moment we first took them out of their packaging. While the lack of material may not be for everyone, these certainly allow you to sense the ground easily. If you want even more sensitivity, you'd have to go barefoot.
Quality of Construction
There isn't much to unpack with the build of the ATHMILE Water Shoes. These have an elastic upper and a no-frills rubber sole with no cushion. The upper lasted in more casual-use testing, which is how we recommend utilizing these.
These are not durable water shoes, and must be kept in friendlier environments if you want them to last you a long time. If you do end up wearing them across riverbed walks and more rugged beach approaches, the soles might be able to handle it, but the elastic upper is likely to rip. Keep these pool or lakeside and you'll be able to use the ATHMILE Water Shoes for much longer.
These are very thin water slippers, so make sure you are mindful about where and how they are used.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the ATHMILE Water Shoes?
These are incredibly inexpensive and offer enough material for vegging days at the beach, on a pontoon boat, or in a lounge chair by the pool. The ATHMILE are also very portable, making for great travel slippers. However, if you have larger aspirations for your amphibious footwear, these are not the right choice, and you're better off spending more money.
What Other Water Shoes Should You Consider?
If you want a budget option that's more capable than the ATHMILE Water Shoes, the Speedo Surfwalker Pro 3.0 offers much more of a sole and cushion without breaking the bank. If you like the sound of a minimalist option but the ATHMILE is too little footwear for you, check out the Xero Aqua X Sport, which is still a no-frills water shoe but provides more protection for your feet.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare ATHMILE Water Shoes versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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