Astral Hiyak Outdoor Minimalist Boots, Insulated and Quick Drying, Made for Water and Boat

I've used these over 18 months now, ocean and inland kayaking. Very comfortable, less rigid and more room for the big toe than the five ten ankle high boots I can't get anymore. They are sturdy and resist cuts from rocks and barnacles well. Good drain holes, and the fabric dries out easier in the sun. But overall they are wetter than neoprene boots, because the quilted fabric takes forever to drain, and I bring more water into the cockpit. And they don't seem to dry at all overnight in the dark. They are good for day hikes around camp, with good protection for toes and ankle bones, and good traction on rocks and logs. Among the best for not getting sand and gravel inside. When tied, they will not pull off my foot in deep mud like low-cut water shoes.

This is my first impression of the shoes after receiving them. I have not used them in the water but they came highly recommended from a friend who has worn them a long time. I will edit this review after some water time. The first thing I noticed was the quality. These do not look cheap in quality. The comfort when I put them on is amazing. The insole feels like a slight rubbery surface which you would expect from a water shoe. All around the ankle is a very soft material and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it felt. I really like the strap that holds the shoelaces in place and gives extra support to the ankle. I've been wearing them around the house to break them in but they already feel broken in. I will be using these in my kayak on rivers and also the coastal backwaters. I need protection. I feel these shoes are going to be great. I've had some shoes (sandals) that always allow small sticks, sand and sea shells under my foot. Drives me crazy. About the time you launch your kayak you take a step and feel a sharp pain because a shell or stick is wedged under your foot. One of the reasons I bought these was to eliminate that problem. If I'm camping on a river, these shoes should act as a pretty good hiking boot to go exploring as well. I'm very happy with initial impression. I will report back after some water time.

Quality piece of gear.Looks and feels amazing.I have a pair of loyaks for warmer days and now got this boots for cold water.Hope they will stay for a long time.

These are light weight and comfortable easy to get o and off sizing is spot on.

Great fit, drains well, and triple stitched. I was even pleasantly surprised by the grip of the soles on wet surfaces. They do a great job of keeping gravel / sand out. Though I did have some get trapped between the inner fabric liner and outer fabric, which took some coaxing to get back out through the drain holes.Only cons are as other reviews commented, they dont dry quickly. The reason I am docking a star is while these have outlasted any other watershoe I have ever used, I was hoping to get closer to 100 miles out of them for the high price point. At this durability level I will have to buy a new pair every year instead of every other. The point of failure is the seam on the outside of my right foot. Its torn loose and I dont suspect it will hold up much longest before tearing completely through.For reference, I float a very low river that requires frequent hiking and towing the canoe along. So if I float 15miles I have to spend roughly half of that on my feet. So when I say these lasted 50 miles, I mean closer to 25 on foot.

I work at a kayak outfitter during the summer months and these shoes have been awesome! I am in and out of the river all day putting people on the water and helping take them off. They are super lightweight but yet supportive- the high ankles help give ankle support. I also love the grip on the bottom of the shoes; I can walk over slippery rocks and not have to worry about slipping or falling. They also dry fairly quick- I wear fin socks with them to prevent rubbing. Another thing that I love is they drain the water out from them through the drain holes in the front and back of the shoe. Other shoes typically also tend to get smelly a few times after I get them wet. These have yet to smell and I have worn them all this summer! I would highly recommend these shoes- I won't buy anything else to wear while kayaking.

I bought these for backpacking the Virgin river narrows in Zion national park. They were perfect for the job! 16 miles wading through water with rocks and they stuck to wet rocks like glue. Perfect for rock hopping, and I had a blast. Also very lightweight, kept my feet very warm with the addition of wet socks, and dried quickly overnight.

I do the barefoot thing. It may be a fad, but these shoes work well for the style. The rubber soles are thin, but still gives the feel of that springy rubber pellet jungle gym flooring from when you were a kid, while walking on concrete. They're not the most minimal of minimal soles, but they still keep your natural gait. These shoes also fix the big problem of barefoot style shoes, looking like a lunatic to your friends. I actually get *complimented* with these shoes.They are rubbery so I can't imagine they're good in hot climates. They're designed for constant wet environments, so they don't do great outside of that.