Water Sports Shoes
Water Shoes vs. Toe Shoes the Fila Skeletoe Difference
It’s funny. Whenever I wear my Fila Skeletoes, I’m always asked by someone if I’m wearing water shoes. I typically tell them that I’m wearing water resistant shoes that were built for all elements of Mother Nature. Land whether it’s wet or dry. Lifestyle activities ranging from a fun filled day frolicking in a creek to a romantic walk alongside a lake or ocean to more land activities like a bike ride, short run, gardening, some yoga, or working out with weights at the gym.
A good water shoe is a shoe that is comfortable both in water and on land. I like my Skeletoes because they are just like going barefoot but I still feel my feet are protected in them. I still feel every twig, stick, stone, or pebble I may step on but the sole is just thick enough, with enough grip, that it isn’t bothersome. I have to admit that other brands were a little too much like going barefoot for my liking. I find the Skeletoes to be a nice in-between between traditional shoes and the more expensive toe shoes on the market that don’t feel anything like a shoe. Some may take issue with the extra padding in Skeletoes but it works for me. Even while running, despite the fact that Fila doesn’t promote Skeletoes as a running shoe.
I can go for a jog on a rainy day and not have to worry about my feet getting wet. Suddenly that ominous puddle on the horizon isn’t that big of a deal. I’ve also worn my Skeletoes while jet skiing.
It has been said that toe shoes were pretty much inspired from water shoes and this makes sense given the similarities in their look. Skeletoes work just fine for me as a water shoe because of the way they are built. The sole isn’t too thin and has tremendous grip regardless of the surface. The uppers attach to the sole which is important if I’m trudging my way on foot through water. There is enough arch support, despite this being a very minimalistic natural feeling shoe, whereas walking on dry land coming out of water feels comfortable.
I do admit that it took me sometime to accept the look of Skeletoes. Initially the sole’s tattoo of a skeletal human foot had me feeling like I was wearing a shoe straight out of Skeletor from He-Man’s ensemble. Or perhaps something from Halloween or Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. This all went away when I discovered how good this shoe felt on my foot and figured out that for a very reasonable price I had not just a water shoe but a shoe that I could use for multiple activities. Even leisurely with a pair of shorts on days where I don’t feel like putting on sneakers and can’t necessarily walk around barefoot.
Unless you’re practically amphibious and you spend most of your living hours in water, I feel that Fila’s Skeletoes are a more sensible purchase than other expensive toe or water shoes.
About the Author: Duayne Weir is an active outdoor enthusiast that enjoys hiking, water sports and exploring the great outdoors.
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Fila Skeletoes
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Water Shoes
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Walk on water (Liquid Mountaineering)
