Whether you’re on a boat or scrambling around a creek, sometimes you want a little more support and protection on your feet than a flip-flop. The Columbia Megavent is one of the new generation of water shoes that offer both the athletic performance you’d find in a traditional running shoe, yet it’s designed to get wet and dry quickly. While these aren’t the optimal shoes for running a 5K race on the roads, the Megavent offers you enough support to throw a Frisbee around, carry the kayak from the car to the water and, most importantly, comfortably wade into a rocky creek or lake.

The mesh upper is extremely breathable and dries quickly, while the holes in the cushy midsole drain any liquid from the shoe once you leave the water. The outsole features a sticky grip to help you adhere to those slippery rocks or the deck of a boat. For kayaking, the shoes provide a sturdy platform to help you keep your feet in position while paddling. A speed-lace closure system makes them easy to pop on and off, and they’re even stain-resistant for those who use them while fishing.

$95, columbia.com

About the Author

Featured

Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff