Yes, it's true that sport sandals are great for running on the beach or for chilling at camp after a hard day's paddling. But if you've ever wet-exited your kayak in a Class IV hole only to watch your sandals get sucked off your feet and Maytagged in the foam, you know there isn't always enough "sport" in sport sandals. They can be too bulky to hop across rocky streams while backpacking, too floppy to scramble on scree, and they can leave your feet exposed to stingers and other nasties hidden in the primordial subaquatic ooze.

Water shoes, on the other hand, may not look sporty, but they're eminently sport-worthy, with features like grippy, sensitive soles, lacing systems for rough water, and exit valves for quick drying. So whether you're scampering up side canyons looking for hidden waterfalls, wading coastal waters in search of quahogs, or portaging an unrunnable section of river, the five water shoes below will perform swimmingly.

FIVE-TEN NEMO HIGH ($89; 909-798-4222; www.fiveten.com)

With their octopus-pattern soles, the Nemos could be the official footwear of the Nautilus. The sucker disks aren't actually functional (it's Five-Tens patented rockworthy Aqua Stealth Rubber that does the job), but they offer a clue as to how these soles stick to wet rock: It's like you're part starfish. What's more, the high, stretchy tops and close-knit drainage panels trumped all others at keeping out sand. Unlike the rest of the samples, however, the Nemos take 30 or 40 feet of walking before they pump themselves dry—the price you pay for a tight seal. Built by a company famous for rock shoes, and offering ankle protection and lots of reinforcing panels, this is footgear for expedition kayakers who need to scramble over rough country.

HI-TEC GECKOS ($45; 800-521-1698; www.hi-tec.com)

Nylon panels on the sides of the Geckos eject water like scuppers on a tramp steamer—hop out of the river, take five steps, and the bilges are dry. Extend your shore leave and you'll discover that the Geckos cling to slot canyon sandstone like the lizards for which they're named. Although they're not quite as secure on wet rock as the Five-Ten Nemos, that's more a function of tread pattern than sole composition. All that open-weave nylon makes the Geckos the coolest shoes we tested for hot summer sand. Unfortunately, the weave also lets fine grit from sand or mud infiltrate the interior. But the old-fashioned lacing system, while a bit slow, keeps the shoes on your feet when you're bodysurfing a shorebreak.

MERRELL AQUA MOC ($65; 888-673-7001; www.merrellboot.com)

The Aqua Mocs are water shoes for people who disdain wearing shoes. Perfect for wading in calm water, they pull on like bedroom slippers—and offer about as much support from the low-cut polyester uppers. However, they boast a springy, dual-density sole that takes the sting out of sharp-edged reefs and other forms of substrate inimical to bare feet. The Mocs drain quickly and keep out the sand (except what comes in over the low tops). And when your toes cry "Freedom!" you can yank these shoes off with one pull.

PATAGONIA PLAY BOOT ($99; 800-470-7458; www.patagonia.com)

Barely enough room in that squirt boat for your toes, much less a pair of shoes? The Play Boots will fit. They're designed like rock-climbing shoes, without a millimeter of excess bulk. The round heel cup is comfortable for long rodeo paddling sessions, while its sticky rubber exterior minimizes sliding around in the hull. A recessed lacing system avoids snagging when you dump. On land, a high neoprene collar virtually eliminates sand entry. And the sole, while not padded enough for extended hiking, grabs the rock with a vulcanized death grip.

TEVA RICOCHET ($90; 800-367-8382; www.teva.com)

Wilderness Nightmare No. 67: You, your raft, and your fishing buddies are at the take-out, but the keys to the shuttle are at the put-in. The rafting party is sunburned, you're dangerously low on beer, and it's six miles of dirt road back. No problem if you're wearing Teva Ricochets. Aside from their fast-draining mesh panels, they could pass as cross-trainers, with plenty of support, a stable but shock-absorbing heel cup, and a wide, loosely lugged sole that sticks to rock (if not so well to loose-dirt-covered rock). One pull on the wraparound web lacing system snugs them up, and you're off with an assurance that you'll be back with the pickup before the Schlitz is gone. Or almost before. —JONATHAN HANSON