Xtratuf Riptide - Women's Review

The Xtratuf Riptide comes with the company's excellent reputation for traction on wet surfaces, from the deck of an Alaskan fishing boat to a glacier hike. These sneaker-like shoes land right in the middle, with characteristic deep lugs and a sticky sole. They drain well and adjust easily, allowing for layering on those cold days on the water. They also look just like regular shoes when worn with jeans to the outpost after a river trip, making them one of the more stylish options of our test choices.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Riptide utilizes a PU/EVA removable Comfort Insole for increased comfort while walking over rocks and sticks. This also gives the shoe more protection over rough terrain. The breathable air mesh made the shoe pleasant to wear with bare feet while offering stretchiness for extra layering like neoprene socks or a dry suit for cold days or chilly water. It also comes in at 1.86 lbs at a women's size 7, just light enough without losing durability.

These shoes are comfortable and perform well on multiple surfaces, but they do lack a bit of arch support. If you plan on taking a longer side hike on your adventure, you might be better off with a more supportive shoe.

Traction

Where the Riptides really shine is with their traction. With Xtratuf's signature Chevron outsole, these kicks had no trouble navigating slippery rocks or the wet outer tube of a raft. They scored higher than any other model we tested, outshining even the highest contenders. We walked on a portage with differing size rocks, sand, and logs with ease. They also had deeper lugs than other models, helping the shoe push through sand more easily.

With the superior traction does compromise a bit of sensitivity. While they still scored relatively high, it's one thing our tester thinks Xtratuf could improve upon. Yet this would come with a drop in sole height, most likely, which could affect durability. Overall, we thought the amount of trust we put into the soles of the shoes while navigating some seriously difficult terrain and walking along wet raft tubes is worth the drop in sensitivity and flexibility.

Sensitivity

As noted above, superior traction and protective sole height comes with a bit of a loss of sensitivity and flexibility. We sometimes didn't exactly trust our proprioception navigating around the raft or on slippery rocks.

They also didn't wrap around raft tubes quite as well as something with a little more flexibility. Despite the superior traction, we felt a little wobbly jumping from boulder to boulder up a side hike as we couldn't quite feel what was under our toes. Yet we've found from testing other models that often, a hike in sensitivity comes with a drop in durability and protection.

Versatility

Our tester used the Riptides on a raft trip, a canoe excursion, and a side hike, and they thrived in every setting. With that excellent traction comes easy navigation through sand and slippery rocks up a side creek of the San Juan, and also helped us move slowly throughout the canoe without slipping and swamping the boat. We could walk around on raft tubes with ease, and the shoes are low volume enough to stick beneath a raft tube. We were also able to get them in a kayak relatively easily compared to other higher-volume models.

Did we mention our tester wore them to the brewery after a raft trip in Colorado? While they were still a bit wet due to their less-than-stellar dry time, their sneaker-like style made them transition well to land. We also surmise they'd work pretty darn well on a stand-up paddleboard due to their superior grip and low-volume nature. While they look a bit beefier in the sole than others, they still retain decent flexibility.

Durability

While it's a low-volume sneaker design, the Riptides look super burly, and the cinch mechanism elastic didn't become stretched out as we yarded on them to get our dry-suited foot into the shoe. The sole is just thick enough to hold out while being pitted against sharp rocks and sticks on a portage. The stitching looks extra stout and they did great with abrasion against sharp rocks.

As we've mentioned, with this durability comes a lack of sensitivity due to a thick outsole. They're not quite as flexible as other models we tested, but still, we thought the trade was worth it. The mesh also seems a bit nicer than other mesh-covered shoes. This bodes well for those portages with pointy sticks or for shoving your foot under a raft thwart every summer. Yet, it is still mesh, so it is likely to show abrasion as time passes or stretch out from layering.

Should You Buy the Xtratuf Riptides?

For the water enthusiasts who need to navigate slippery rocky terrain, we adamantly applaud the Xtratuf Riptides. With slip-resistant Chevron good enough for Alaskan fishing boats, these shoes are perfect for keeping your footing.

What Other Women's Water Shoe Should You Consider?

If you're looking for something with a bit more flexibility and sensitivity, you may want to look toward something like the Astral Loyaks or NRS Kicker Wetshoe. And if you're on a big multiday trip with longer side hikes, you might go for something with a bit more arch support and adjustability, like the Salomon Techamphibian 5.