Body Glove 3T Review

We wore the Body Glove 3T for an entire season, along with several other pairs of water shoes, and found these to stand out for their barefoot design, low weight, and price point. These are best for those wanting a minimalist/toe shoe design and are shopping on a skinnier wallet.

Comfort

If you aren't a fan of barefoot footwear, the Body Glove 3T might not be particularly comfortable, but if you like minimalist shoes, the 3T's cushion (or lack thereof) and toe design might be a great fit. While other options offer a true midsole, this model scored quite well across the review's lineup.

The Body Glove 3T uses a neoprene upper that boasts great next-to-skin comfort and the foot opening can be easily tightened with a drawstring. While this drawstring doesn't offer the best foot security, with the drawstring only going around the ankle, the 3T has a tighter fit that kept our feet from moving much inside.

This is a barefoot shoe, so there is naturally not much in the way of cushioning compared to other water shoes in our lineup. Simply put, you'll either love or hate this design, but for minimalist footwear enthusiasts we think you'll love the zero toe drop and three toe front.

Traction

Despite a very lightweight construction, the Body Glove 3T has some decent traction for SUP-ing or strolling along the coastline. It doesn't perform as well on gravel-y trails or when things get muddy, so it didn't score quite as well as others.

This pair of water shoes offers a rubber outsole that prioritizes traction on slick and slabby surfaces rather than chunky trail hikes. This is a common design priority amongst water shoes, where many shoppers are wanting security while walking on docks or running around on boats or SUPs.

Thin grooves in the outsole channel water away from the contact points, increasing the Body Glove 3T's grip and overall surface contact with the ground.

Warmth

We were pleasantly surprised by the relative warmth of this ultra-lightweight footwear. The Body Glove 3T isn't going to keep your feet from going numb in particularly arctic waters, but it outperformed open-toed footwear.

The neoprene upper of the Body Glove 3T helped retain at least some foot heat, but the thin outsole and non-existent midsole offered very little insulation from cold ground. We found the warmth of the 3T to not impact our day too badly, as we most often used this kind of footwear in warmer conditions.

Versatility

Minimalist shoes have the potential to offer versatility, but the Body Glove 3T might not be the best option if you're needing a pair of water shoes to also work for social gatherings or lengthy hikes.

These are great as a layer of protection for barefooting around water and wet ground, but they didn't offer as much support or stability for hikes. Additionally, they aren't exactly the most eye-catching for around-town hangouts. Style is ultimately subjective, but with toe shoes like these it's often best to use them for outdoors adventuring and simply change into something more casual looking before heading to the restaurant.

Sensitivity

This is one of the best metrics for the Body Glove 3T, offering some of the best ground feel of any water shoe we've yet tested. While there are some “water socks” available on the market, these are almost at the top of the lineup.

These minimalist shoes essentially don't have a midsole and even the outsole is on the thinner side, giving our feet excellent ground sensation. We consider these a “second skin” that's somewhere between going barefoot and wearing a true cushioned water shoe. If sensitivity is a priority, put the Body Glove 3T on your finals list.

Quality of Construction

Overall, Body Glove did a nice job building the 3T. As shared previously, these are very cost effective but they held up well in certain environments. If you're needing the toughest water shoes, we might steer you elsewhere, but the 3T is great in less abrasive environments.

Overall, the Body Glove 3T held up well throughout testing. These are very lightweight and aren't our first pick for big trail hikes but the rubber outsole and neoprene upper had relatively minimal signs of wear when on shorter hikes or kept them lakeside during SUP sessions.

The drawstring of the 3T performed similarly throughout testing, even after logging lots of time in sandy environments, and the neoprene handled our testing process well. If you take these water shoes for more sustained rock scrambling in gritty granite or in bushwhacking-heavy hikes, the relatively thin neoprene will take a bit more wear.

Should You Buy the Body Glove 3T?

Barefoot footwear is polarizing: most either love or hate a design like this. If you do like minimalist footwear, this is a great way to expand your barefoot shoe collection without breaking the bank. These are most ideal for boat hangs, SUP sessions, or lounging by the pool, so if you want to take your water shoes for more intense adventures, it might be worth looking elsewhere.

What Other Water Shoes Should You Consider?