REASONS TO BUY
Great value
Sole is sensitive yet protective
Quick to slip on
Drains quickly
REASONS TO AVOID
Upper lacks padding
Style less ideal for social hangs
Speedo Surfwalker Pro 3.0 Review
A classic slip on design that Speedo has nearly perfected in the category of budget water shoes
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 3, 2025
RELATED: The Best Water Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
Speedo has spent years polishing its classic slip-on watershoes, and the Speedo Surfwalker Pro 3.0 is another great model that blends accessible price and performance. Its simple, no-frills design is easy to slip on or off, and the “S-TRAC” outsole performed admirably on wet poolside pavement, sandy approaches to the beach, or scampering onto a boat. While many budget models skip on sole thickness, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 was protective when walking over sharp rocks and gritty dirt. This timeless footwear, unfortunately, isn't any more stylish than previous models, but its functionality was excellent throughout testing, particularly if you plan on keeping the Surfwalker in more casual terrain.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Speedo continues to refine their budget slip ons, and we're thrilled with the performance of the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 in friendlier settings. After a couple seasons of testing, we've found this pair to be a shining example of a high value water shoe option.
Performance Comparison
It's hard to beat budget slip ons like the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 in more casual settings.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Comfort
The slip on design from Speedo has been around for a long time and we're big fans of the mesh upper. While this wasn't the top scorer, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 landed in the middle of the pack.
The against-skin comfort was excellent in the mesh upper, though we sometimes had to adjust the fabric slightly, as it was prone to bunching on wet feet. The cushion level of the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 was on the lower side, keeping our feet happy for short to mid-length walks. Where the comfort started to decline was when the terrain got steeper, and the mesh could no longer hold our feet as securely. If you're keeping the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 on tame terrain, we suspect you'll find these to be very comfy, but we suggest keeping them off sustained uphill hikes.
We loved the overall comfort of these, with just enough of a sole to provide some cushion while walking across dirt, gravel, and lake bottoms.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Traction
For a budget model, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 performed very well throughout testing. Speedo found a great cost-effective way to include a decent outsole on a lower-priced model like this, and it landed slightly above average in the lineup.
The S-TRAC outer was surprisingly effective on wet surfaces, and the grooves were just big enough to help get purchase in more chunky dirt and gravel. However, the theme of “gotta keep it casual” certainly applies to the traction metric for the Surfwalker Pro 3.0, as it didn't quite hold its traction in steeper terrain. If you're keeping these around lakes, beaches, or pools, you're likely to be happy with the performance of the Surfwalker Pro 3.0.
These soles feature a nice blend of smooth rubber for friction and grooves to aid in chunkier trails.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Warmth
In colder water, we certainly got chilly feet with the Surfwalker Pro 3.0. It wasn't the coldest model, but if you're shopping for something to keep your toes happy in frigid oceans or rivers, consider looking elsewhere.
The minimalist construction of a slip-on inherently makes a model like the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 less insulating. However, its outsole was thicker than some, keeping the bottoms of our feet off cold rocks as we walked through the water. As is the case with any water shoe, if you've sized this a bit larger, it's easy to wear neoprene socks with the Pro 3.0 to greatly improve its warmth. Fortunately, this specific slip-on has less mesh in the upper than some of its Speedo siblings.
These kept our testers warm enough in alpine lakes in the summer season, but we needed to be in warmer climates other times of the year.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Versatility
As a casual-use pair of watershoes, these have a relatively narrow band of applications. Fortunately, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 vents well enough for summertime heat and can be used in enough scenarios that it scored competitively in the review's lineup.
As we've shared previously, friendly water environments are where the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 shines the brightest. Family pool days, summer lake hangs, and slow-moving river adventures are just a few examples where we were able to enjoy these water shoes without ever feeling like we were maxing out their capabilities. Another setback for the Surfwalker in this metric was its style. Yes, it is subjective, but these aren't likely to turn heads for how good they look if you stroll into a nice restaurant wearing these.
These slip ons are great for lake inter-tubing and poolside relaxing, and are even decent for moderate hikes.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Sensitivity
These water shoes are surprisingly sensitive, despite having a fairly protective outsole. If you like to be able to feel the ground below you but don't want to risk a sharp rock poking your feet, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 might just be what you're looking for.
On sandy beaches, we were able to feel just enough of the ground below us, and while walking in river beds, we could feel nearly every stone the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 stepped on, at least in some capacity. While there are a few designs that are practically water socks, the Pro 3.0 offers a decent feel that was competitive with the rest of the lineup.
Quality of Construction
If you need a shoe that can handle rough terrain, the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 isn't the right pick, as its upper isn't designed to handle white water portages or sustained dry-ground hikes. However, when used on the friendlier side, these are likely to last you a long time.
When keeping the Surfwalker Pro 3.0 in those more casual environments we've previously mentioned, its construction is much more likely to hold up. Speedo utilizes a simple design in the Pro 3.0, with a single slip on tab in the heel and an upper build that's actually more robust than some of its slip on siblings. Context is everything when it comes to budget water shoes, and you'll be happy with these if you keep them at the lake, beach, or pool.
These are well-designed and constructed shoes relative to their price point, but we still recommend keeping these in less abrasive environments.
Should You Buy the Surfwalker Pro 3.0?
It's hard to beat the price of the Surfwalker Pro 3.0. If your intended uses are in tamer waters, you might not need to spend the big bucks on a high-end water shoe. If you're intending to use your first or next pair of water shoes for social gatherings or longer hikes, we'd recommend looking elsewhere. However, if you aren't too ambitious with water sports, the Pro 3.0 might be just what you need.
What Other Water Shoes Should You Consider?
If you like a minimalist shoe, the ATHMILE Water Shoes are even cheaper than the Surfwalker Pro 3.0, though these are effectively a water slipper and have essentially no protection. If you've decided it might be worth it to spend more money to get something with better performance, consider one of our favorites, the Astral Brewer 3.0, which has some of the best versatility we've yet found in a water shoe.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Speedo Surfwalker Pro 3.0 versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
You Might Also Like
