Connie Park/NYT WirecutterBest for…These sneaker-style water shoes are especially light, comfortably cushioned, and totally wearable around town. They’re also the fastest-drying pair we recommend — though the odd placement of their drainage holes causes water to pool inside if you don’t shake them out.These sneaker-style water shoes are especially light, comfortably cushioned, and totally wearable around town. They’re also the fastest-drying pair we recommend — though the odd placement of their drainage holes causes water to pool inside if you don’t shake them out.This model has been retired, but select sizes are still available online. We plan to test Croc’s latest version, the InMotion LiteRide Pacer (available in men’s and women’s sizes), soon.Unlike most water shoes, the Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer shoes (men’s and women’s) look and feel like a regular pair of sneakers. So whether you’re traversing a tropical island beach (lucky you) or dipping your feet into a nearby creek, when you’re ready to return to dry land, you’ll blend right in.They’re ultra-light. The body of the LiteRide 360 Pacer is made from EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam, which is light, soft to the touch, and waterproof — these shoes weigh almost nothing, even when wet. Plus, they’re easy to slip on and off (the laces can’t be tightened, as they’re just for show), and in our tests they were comfortable right out of the box, with no break-in time required.They’re the fastest-drying water shoes we recommend. In our tests, the LiteRide 360 Pacer pair took just 1 hour 15 minutes to go from soaking wet to bone dry. This is because their foam material doesn’t absorb water; they would have been dry even sooner, were it not for their fabric laces and tongue.The uppers are well ventilated, with ample drainage holes at the toe and heel. However, the curious placement of those holes — at the tops of the shoes, rather than lower and on the sides, where gravity could do its thing — sometimes requires you to be an active participant in helping the water find its way to the nearest exit. When you’re wearing the shoes, that can mean kicking or tilting your feet; when you’re not, it’s giving them a brisk shake.Keep in mind that you should only air-dry these shoes, as too much heat may cause their foam to shrink or warp.The sleek, sporty Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer looks and feels like a sneaker — though the drainage holes might give it away, and the laces are just for show (they don’t actually tighten the shoe). Connie Park/NYT WirecutterThey’re way cushier than most water shoes. The LiteRide 360 Pacer pair is far comfier than the average thin-soled water shoes or aqua socks. Their footbeds have a bubbled texture that makes them feel soft and bouncy, and their sturdy rubber outsoles provide extra support.Flaws but not dealbreakers:The laces do nothing. These are essentially slip-on shoes with decorative laces, as you can’t tighten the laces to adjust the fit.They might rub. Some reviewers have complained that these shoes cause blisters on the ankles and the sides of feet. We didn’t experience this issue, but if you’re between sizes, consider sizing up to avoid it.Water tends to collect inside them. This is because the drainage holes are concentrated at the top of the shoes (rather than low and on the sides). You’ll probably have to shake the shoes out once you’re on dry land.Shoe sizes: men’s 4 to 13, women’s 4 to 11Color options: more than a dozen colors
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