What Are Water Exercise Shoes

Water exercise shoes come in all shapes, colors, and price tags; and as is true of all sports gear, what is ideal for your needs and preference is not necessarily the most expensive one. Consider the following before trying to decide among the wide variety of water exercise shoes available today.

Water Exercise Shoes – Why Wear Them?

One of the main reasons people switch to or integrate a water workout into their fitness routine is that it puts minimal stress on muscles and joints. A water-based regimen minimizes the danger of impact-related injury, while offering a relaxing yet energizing experience.

However, you must keep in mind that, unless you intend to confine yourself to deep water exercise where your body stays suspended, you will still experience some impact and stress on the weight-bearing joints of your body. And water exercise shoes will take care of absorbing that impact.

Another reason to wear water exercise shoes is that they generally increase resistance to your leg movements in the water, activating more muscle groups in your lower body (e.g., quadriceps, hamstrings, etc.). This boosts your metabolism, giving you an intense cardiovascular workout.

Water exercise shoes also give you traction to prevent slips and protect your feet from rough surfaces.

Choosing Water Exercise Shoes

What you look for in water exercise shoes are the same minimum requirements for any athletic shoe – comfort, a good fit, and traction. You should also check for the following:

* Do they provide enough cushion when jumping and running? The impact you feel when jumping on land will diminish by half in waist-deep water and by 85% in chest-deep water. Nevertheless, go for cushioning that you would be comfortable with even on land (especially for cross trainers) as this is one of the things that wear down the longer you use the shoe.

* Do they give enough ankle and arch support? Twist, turn, lunge, step, and roll your feet when trying out the shoe. Never assume that the water will minimize any pressure or discomfort—chances are a wet shoe will compound it.

* Do they have enough ventilation, drying properties, and a good drain port? You may enjoy water workouts so much that you schedule your sessions close together or on succeeding days; or you may eventually want to cross-train. Water exercise shoes should, at least, dry overnight or better yet, in a few hours. It will be terribly uncomfortable to begin your workout by warming up in damp, squishy shoes!

* Are they easy to slip on even when wet? Water exercise shoes should fit snugly yet have mechanisms for ensuring you will be able to slip them on easily when wet.

Lastly, check if the water exercise shoes have some add-ons. If the shoe is over $50, it is a good buy if it comes with a water workout video! At the very least, the shoes should come with a mesh bag!