Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoes Review

The waves have been getting greater, my paddleboard was deflating, and the scenario was getting extra excessive with each passing river mile. I’d embarked down the Roaring Fork with a motley group of associates on an previous paddleboard I hadn’t inflated in over a 12 months. A lot to my dismay, about 20 minutes into our 3-hour float, I began leaking air profusely, and my board grew to become very onerous to steadiness and navigate by way of the whitewater.

That meant I used to be moving into — greater than as soon as and on a number of events — by way of rapids with 3- to 4-foot waves. It was June, excessive water, which meant we have been additionally transferring fairly rapidly. As I held onto my board, toes out in entrance of me, my closed-toed Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Sneakers protected my toes and soles from rocks, branches, and different sharp, pokey issues lurking beneath the roiling water.

Once we lastly arrived at our terminus, and I paddled onto the boat ramp at Two River’s Park, I used to be very a lot sinking, however fortunately, not but sunk.

Greater than as soon as that day, I’d been grateful that I selected the Astral Brewers over my Chacos. With as a lot time as I’d spent within the water kicking off rocks and treading the river backside, my toes probably wouldn’t have made it out so unscathed in any other case.

In brief: The Astral Brewer 3.0 is a unisex, zero-drop water shoe good for river, lake, pool, and ocean adventures. You may even put on them round city or on mild bike rides. They’ve built-in sock liners for barefoot consolation and G.ss Rubber and Flex Grip outsoles that persist with dry or moist surfaces. They drain and dry rapidly and defend toes higher than sandals. The up to date Astral Brewer is a wonderful choice for a dependable and cozy shoe for water actions.

Evaluate the Astral Brewer 3.0 to others we’ve examined by testing GearJunkie’s information to the Finest Water Sneakers.

Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe Evaluate

Versatility

Usually, each time I’m on water, I put on my Chacos. They’ve accompanied me rafting, tubing, into slot canyons stuffed with water, down rivers on paddleboards, and to the seaside. However I may put on them on brief, non-technical hikes. They transition simply from river to path to city, and that’s why I really like them.

The Astral Brewer provides comparable versatility. Sure, it’s a devoted water shoe, but it surely’s additionally wearable for gentle bike rides. I wore the footwear on my bike journey from Glenwood to the river put-in in Carbondale and round city.

I didn’t change footwear earlier than heading to a brewery after our float. This versatility is without doubt one of the massive causes we named the Astral Brewer our Finest General Water Shoe in our Finest Water Sneakers information.

In addition they look fairly darn fly in comparison with many water footwear I’ve seen. They appear like some other zero-drop sneaker you would possibly see on the road. The understated earth-tone colours are fairly fashionable, too, and I appreciated the flexibility of the Hurricane Navy shade I examined.

Match

I’ve broad toes, and these match like a glove once I first slipped into them. I didn’t even want to regulate the laces. If I had narrower toes, which may have been a special story. However with my broad paddles, I felt like Cinderella. I skilled no pinching or scorching spots in any respect in these footwear.

Granted, I wasn’t climbing in them both. I walked round city in them and wore them whereas I packed vehicles and loaded/unloaded river tools. However I restricted most of my exercise to standing (on my paddleboard), kneeling (additionally on my paddleboard), and pedaling (on, you guessed it, my bike).

Grip

After all, grip is without doubt one of the most important elements for any water shoe. You don’t need footwear that loses all traction when it will get moist. Lack of fine grip is one in all Chaco’s shortcomings, but it surely’s the place the Astral Brewers shine.

The tread sample on this shoe isn’t particular. However the grip of the G.ss Rubber and Flex Grip outsole was notable on my board, on shore, and even whereas wading by way of the water over mossy river rocks. I used to be impressed by it. I think about they’d grip very nicely on boat decks or equally slippery surfaces.

(Observe: My bike pedals did go away some everlasting marks on the tread of the Astral Brewers, as pictured above. That’s one thing to concentrate on, because it might trigger larger put on and tear over time.)

Fast Drain, Fast Dry

For those who maintain the Astral Brewers up towards the sunshine, you may see by way of the highest of the higher. It’s woven so loosely that it’s virtually a mesh layer. Water rapidly drained straight out of it and thru the drain holes on either side. That squishy, moist sneaker feeling by no means lasted too lengthy with the Brewers.

The higher is product of quick-dry materials, so after all of the water rushes out, the fabric dries fairly quick, too. Inside 10 to fifteen minutes of getting out of the water and strolling round within the solar, these footwear have been barely damp.

After half-hour on dry land, they have been dry to the contact. Astral made the higher with 100% recycled materials, so you may really feel nice concerning the efficiency and sustainability of those footwear.

No Socks Obligatory

The Astral Brewers are designed with a built-in sock liner, in order that they really feel completely snug on naked toes. Some water footwear can really feel abrasive when moist — even the straps of Chacos get uncomfortable to put on barefoot after getting soaked.

Not these, although. I used to be stunned by how snug I felt carrying all of them day lengthy, by way of dry bike pedaling and moist river paddling, with out carrying socks.

Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe: Room for Enchancment?

Our tester famous this within the purchaser’s information for the Finest Water Sneakers, however the Astral Brewers may be onerous to scrub the sand out of. I discovered this to be the case on the river, utilizing the dunk methodology, however once I bought them house and used a hose to scrub them out, the sand got here out rather more simply.

My private greatest gripe with these footwear is the lace system. The laces are small and onerous to make use of when your fingers are chilly from enjoying in a river for hours on finish.

I would favor an elastic tightening system or BOA, sans laces completely. I do know that might make them much less “river-to-town” pleasant, as they’d look much less like a sneaker and extra like a river shoe. However that’s simply my two cents.

Astral Brewer 3.0 Water Shoe Evaluate: Who Is It For?

For those who recreate on rivers, lakes, oceans, or wherever else you want to get your toes moist, these are wonderful water footwear. They give the impression of being nice, drain and dry extraordinarily rapidly, and grip moist and dry surfaces nicely.

In addition, they’re versatile for various actions. Our purchaser’s information tester wore them by way of three airports with out anybody taking a second look at them. I felt completely regular carrying them to a brewery after our float journey. And for brief bike rides (particularly if it’s to a put-in or reservoir), these footwear are nice.

Now that I’ve bought these Astral Brewers, my Chacos will get rather a lot much less use this summer time. I really feel like I’m dishonest on a long-time associate, however these footwear are higher for actual river adventures. They’re extra protecting, grippier, and much more snug than sandals, they usually value about the identical.