The Tidepooler

What Shoes Should You Wear to the Tide Pools?

Having the right kind of shoes at the tide pools can make or break your experience. Climbing around on sharp and slippery rocks can quickly become unpleasant if you aren’t wearing the right shoes. Even the best footwear for tide pooling won’t ensure that you don’t fall or that your feet will be dry, but they can definitely help! 

Also keep in mind that you are probably going to get wet, either by slipping into a tide pool or by getting splashed by the oncoming waves, so don’t wear your favorite pair of expensive new shoes.

Here are some dos and don’ts for picking out shoes to wear to the tide pools. 

1. Good Options for Shoes to Wear to the Tide Pools
2. Shoes Not to Wear to the Tide Pools
3. Can I Go Barefoot at the Tide Pools?

Good Options for Shoes to Wear at the Tide Pools

There are a couple really good options when you are choosing what shoes to wear to the tide pools. Here are a few. 

• Breathable Sneakers/Water Shoes: There are lots of options for shoes that are meant for the water, whether they are advertised as kayaking shoes or light weight sneakers. These are great options as they will dry out fast if they get wet. Plus, if they have a soft sole, the sole will bend around sharp rocks that would otherwise hurt your feet. But make sure you wear a pair that you are ok with getting wet.
• Sport Sandals: Chacos, Tevas, and other sport sandals are great options for tide pooling as they have fairly good traction, won’t slide off your feet, and aren’t ruined if you get them wet. But keep in mind that ocean water is cold and your feet might be numb by the end of the day
• Rain/Rubber Boots: Many avid tide poolers choose to wear rain boots or tall rubber boots for tide pooling. These keep your feet completely dry and most have good traction so that you won’t easily slip. They can be a little cumbersome if you aren’t used to them, but dry feet at the tide pools is a tempting offer. 
• Hiking Boots: While you can wear hiking boots to the tide pools, they aren’t the best option. Even waterproof boots can still get water inside through the top if you slip into a pool. Once the water gets inside, you are in for wet, soggy feet the rest of the day. They do have nice traction on slippery surfaces, however, which is their biggest benefit. 

Shoes Not to Wear to the Tide Pools

There are a few shoes that are bound to ruin your tide pooling adventure, so avoid any of the shoes in the following list. 

• Flip Flops/Fashion Sandals: They don’t have traction, they’ll slide off your feet if they get wet, and most don’t provide protection against sharp rocks. If you are exploring beyond the splash zone or onto slanted and wet rocks, flip flops are prone to make you slip and fall. 
• Thin Sea Socks: Some people opt to wear thick neoprene booties at the tide pools, which can do just fine. But thin sea socks won’t protect your feet— or your kid’s feet— from the sharp rocks of the tide pools. 
• Sneakers, Vans, Converse: These shoes have very little traction on slippery surfaces and would be ruined if the salt water isn’t immediately washed out. Don’t wear your nice shoes tide pooling. 

Can I go barefoot at the tide pools?

Do yourself a huge favor and don’t go barefoot at the tide pools. I learned this after getting sea urchin spines stuck in the bottom of my foot as a child. The rocks are sharp and slippery, there are animals that you don’t want to step on, and you won’t want to be focusing on your feet with so much else around you to see.