Late to this discussion. For cool to cold weather canoeing I use knee high neoprene mukluks, purchased a half size too large, layering Smartwool socks and Goretex socks on inside the boots. Even if my feet sweat the moisture ends up between the Goretex socks and inside of the boot. But Mukluks, even the thinner soled kayaker-ish ones, are awkward to wear while kneeling, at least if you have size 12 feet.
weezy wrote:
Looking for something with (1) closed toes for reasonable protection against bumps and stubs; (2) decent drainage so your feet aren't just sitting in water; (3) good grip on wet and dry rocks; and (4) comfortable enough to wear on a long paddling day.
For a lower water shoe your criteria are good, although #2 is more towards the end of my criteria; if my feet are wet, eh, they are wet, and kinda staying wet, drain holes or no. The water shoes I use most often have no drain holes, but they fit stretchy snug enough that they don’t hold much water, and have very grippy soles.
For my purposes I would re-order the criteria
Comfortable enough to wear on a long paddling day. If not that, then what?
Grippy not slippy soles/treads. Yeah, I’m too old to slip and fall on slippery rocks.
Reasonable protection against bumps and stubs. A decently thick sole and toe cap.
Good drainage (which also means seepage in shallows or squishy soil)
Maybe somewhere in that list “swim-ability”. Never know ‘til you’ve tried, accidentally or on purpose.
I would add two additional considerations. Kneeling, at least for rarely-kneeling-me, is more comfortable in a shoe with some flexibility. If you buy something in a store try kneeling with them. For an extended amount of time; comfortable , or at least tolerable yes or no.?
And - this may not apply to your rivers – a lot of the local small streams I run have pebbly bottoms. Without some tight or tighten-able closure around the top of the shoe I end up with little stones in my shoes on wet foot entry, exit or shallows wading. That single tiny pebble, trapped under my insole, is unbearable, or at least un-walkable.
Coastal sand and shell fragments, or swamp mud and twigs, are almost as uncomfortable. If it comes to that debris discomfort how easy are the water shoes to take off, rinse out and put back on?
Or maybe I’m just a wimp.