Whether you are in the rugged, sandy slot canyons of the Southwest or the slippery, water-filled canyons of the Pacific Northwest, the right footwear is necessary to be ready for any conditions and navigate any terrain. Here are our top picks for the best canyoneering shoes in 2024:
Best Canyoneering Shoes in 2024
La Sportiva TX Canyon
- Vibram® Idro-Grip
- Wet Canyons
- Great drainage
The La Sportiva TX Canyon is ideal for wet canyons. It’s performance on dry ground is good as well, making this shoe great for any canyon adventure. If you are serious about quality and canyoneering, these shoes are for your. This is La Sportiva’s only dedicated canyoneering shoe.
Sole
This shoe is graced with the Vibram® Idrogrip. So when this shoes gets wet, it stays just as grippy. Some even argue that it gets more sticky when wet. The climbing zone allows for easy scrambling and low class climbing. The sole has deep lugs which only further enhance the grippiness of the shoe.
Durability
Its outer construction withstands scrapes and scratches really well.
Comfort
Because of this shoe’s excellent drainage, your feet won’t be sloshing around in water all day when you get these shoes wet. This also allows your feet to breath a little better, so your feet won’t get blazing hot and uncomfortable. These shoes run a little large in size because they are most commonly worn with neoprene socks. Keep that it mind when ordering these. The cushioned mid-sole allows you to stay comfortable all day while hiking and adventuring. Its lining also protects from debris getting in the shoe.
Support
These shoes offer great support in wet, rocky terrain. Whether you are wading in the river or feeling your way around in a nasty pothole, these shoes provide maximum traction and support. It features rounded edges which help support your foot further when in a tight canyon or between rock pinches, keeping you upright and preventing rolling of your foot and ankle. It also helps release your foot easier in the same scenarios.
Bestard Canyon Guide
- Vibram® IdroGrip
- Wet/Dry Canyons
- Durable
The Bestard Canyon Guide is one of the only other canyon-specific shoes on the market. They are lightweight, but are built with quality material for rough canyon conditions. Some find this shoe to be bulky on their feet but most find that the pros of this robust shoe outweigh any cons.
Sole
The Vibram® Idogrip soles give this canyoning shoe great traction in water similar to the La Sportiva TX Canyon. While there is no climbing zone on these shoes, they still perform well on scrambles and dry rock.
Durability
The hard rubber soles of these boots provide exceptional durability while remaining light-weight. The rubber at the base of the upper part of the boot also make this a tough shoe and can withstand rough conditions.
Comfort
The only reason this shoes receives a 3/5-star rating is because of the mixed reviews from users. Some find this shoe extremely comfortable while others do not. The 3/5-star rating should not deter you from trying these shoes. See how they fit and if they are comfortable for you, they are an amazing option for canyoneering. The drainage holes allow for an easy release of water so your feet dry out quicker.
Support
A unique feature of the Bestard Canyon Guides is the slight buoyancy of the boot. It is a light-weight boot helping it to be buoyant without compromising critical ankle and foot support.
La Sportiva TX3
- Vibram® Mega-Grip
- Quick-drying
- Breathable mesh upper
While the TX3 is considered an approach shoe, it can easily double as a great canyoneering shoe. That’s why we chose to put it in this list. They are not waterproof but feature a mesh upper that enables them to perform well in water.
Sole
This shoe features the Vibram® Mega-Grip to conquer any terrain. The climbing zone near the toe makes smearing and scrambling on low 5th-class terrain very doable. This is also an excellent feature for downclimbing in canyons.
Durability
The outer mesh is prone to quicker wear than the TX4 or other shoes with more leather; however, the soles are very durable and after many miles will show little sign of wear.
Comfort
Comfort is a big plus for these shoes. A huge upside to the mesh is that it makes these shoes very breathable and drain faster when they get wet. A wider toe-box allows for a more roomy fit while not compromising support. They only lack a little support in the upper ankle area since they have a lower profile.
Support
They offer good support under heavy pack loads and have a snug fit around the heel. Over long distances and approaches these shoes are great.
La Sportiva TX4
- Vibram® Mega-Grip
- Durable leather upper
- Water resistant
This approach shoe is essentially a slightly more durable version of the TX3. There are a few other features that are different and should be taken into consideration.
Sole
This is another option that features the Vibram® Mega-Grip™ soles allowing the shoe to perform well in mud, scree, rock, and everything else. The lugs on the heel of the sole are sharper allowing for good downhill breaking.
Durability
The leather material of the TX4 makes it more durable, but consequently makes the shoe a bit heavier. Even with the leather upper, the breathability of the TX4 remains good.
Comfort
The TX4s are stiffer than the TX3s, but still very comfortable even over longer distances with heavy packs. Only under very hot conditions do these become a little less breathable. The leather adds a layer of water-resistance to the shoe which is a major plus.
Support
A slightly wider toe-box allows for good stability. If you have really narrow feet, these shoes may not be the best option for you.
Merrell Rogue Hiker Mid GORE-TEX
- Vibram® Mega-Grip
- Light-weight
- Foam mid-sole
Sole
The Vibram® Mega-Grip soles give you the traction you need for long days with whatever pack you are carrying in variety of terrain conditions from wet to dry.
Durability
These boots are meant for long days. Being waterproof, they hold up exceptionally well in wet conditions and feature a rock plate on the bottom. While, lightweight, their outer construction keeps these boots ready to repel scuffs and scratches.
Comfort
These are very breathable for a waterproof shoe. The tall upper keeps the debris out of these shoes, decreasing the likelihood of needing to take these off at any point during your adventure.
Support
The foam mid-sole serves two purposes. One, it helps keeps your foot cushions but supported, and two, it allows for the shoe to float a bit in the water. The laces with metal eyelets help secure your feet and heel in place.
Comparison Chart
