The Merrell Wildwood Aersport. Photo: Bobbi Hoose//The Inertia
When you think of water shoes what comes to mind? Do you visualize the flimsy neoprene/mesh shoes one might find at a discount supermarket? I spent my childhood vacations splashing around in those cheap water shoes and although they got the job done, they weren’t the most versatile or durable.
While there certainly is a time and a place for cheaper picks, water shoes have come a long way in the past couple of decades and now include options for every type of adventurer. While on the hunt for a pair of water shoes that would double as hiking shoes, I discovered the Merrell Wildwood Aersport ($90). They transition seamlessly between the water and the trails, and look good to boot, earning our pick as the Best Women’s Water Shoe For Hiking in our Best Women’s Water Shoes review.
| Pros | Cons |
| Super breathable thanks to mesh uppers | Can rub on longer hikes without socks |
| Contoured footbed | Too bulky for most watersports |
| Elastic cord and locking lace system allows for quick adjustments |
First Impressions
The Merrell Wildwood Aerosports look nothing like the cheap water shoes of my childhood. Instead, they present as a lightweight hiking shoe with lots of mesh ventilation throughout. Instead of laces, they sport an elastic cord and locking lace system to allow for easy adjustments. When it comes to hiking shoes, I’m used to a typical lacing system, so I was curious if this system would provide as secure and reliable of a fit.
Upon first glance, the rubber outsoles looked incredibly grippy, which is exactly what I want in a pair of hiking/water shoes. They also looked supportive, another factor that is important when spending time on the trails. I was eager to spend some time on land and in the water to see if the Aerosports were as worthy as they appeared.
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The Merrell Wildwood Aersport. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Notable Features of the Merrell Wildwood Aerosport
Upper: Synthetic leather, mesh
Midsole: EVA
Outsole: Rubber
Footbed: Kinetic Fit Base
Stack Height: 23-15mm
Drop: 8 mm
Lug: 3.5 mm
Half Pair Weight: 17.6 oz
When I first hit the trail in my Aerosports, I spent some time debating whether or not I wanted to wear socks. Typically, I always wear socks when hiking but the Aerosports were specifically designed for venturing in and out of water. Not wanting to stop at every creek crossing to remove my socks, I decided to go without. The quick lace system proved easy to adjust and find a secure fit and there was even a spot to stash the excess string. I was ready to go in no time.
The elastic cord and locking lace system allows for quick adjustments. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Breathable Shoes
I live on Oahu in Hawaii where the weather is always warm and most of the hikes involve navigating your way through mud and across streams. The Aerosports feature a synthetic leather and mesh upper, with the majority being mesh. This allowed the shoes to be incredibly breathable while hiking and provided access for water to easily pass in and out.
When hiking on wet trails, my go-to is a pair of hiking sandals like Teva or Chaco, but a problem I regularly encounter is small pebbles getting lodged in the sandals, especially during water crossings. Although the Aersoports aren’t as breathable as sandals, they’re pretty darn close. They’re also lightweight and they minimize debris getting lodged in the shoes, which was a huge win for me.
The Aerosports are breathable enough for warm weather hikes. Photo: Bobbi Hoose//The Inertia
Support
Designed with hiking in mind, the Aerosports provided plenty of support and traction. The contoured footbed helped my feet feel stable and supported for short day hikes but the support isn’t extreme enough for a long or multi-day hike.
In addition to hiking, I wore these shoes while exploring tidepools and stand up paddling. While they’re fine for paddling, they feel like you’re paddling in a pair of running or hiking shoes – almost too supportive. If you’re simply walking over some rocks and then spending the rest of the time on your board, I wouldn’t recommend these for something like stand up paddling or kayaking. But, if you plan to get on and off often, or pull over and do some hiking, the Aerosports are a good pick.
Deep lugs translate to great traction. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Traction
Reliable traction in hiking shoes is important. Traction in watershoes is key. Solid traction in a hybrid pair of hiking/watershoes is absolutely essential. Luckily, the Aerosports had incredible traction that fared well on both wet and dry terrain.
The outsoles of the Aerosports are made from a sticky rubber with aggressive lugs. The deep lugs are to thank for the enhanced traction and while I wouldn’t reach for these as my everyday shoes, they felt fine for short walks on pavement as well.
Drawbacks
When opting to wear the Aerosports without socks, I worried they might rub a bit. Unfortunately, this was the case. A few miles into my hikes, I found that they rubbed a bit on the outside of my foot near my pinky toe. It was nothing crazy and I didn’t get any blisters, but it would be a problem on longer hikes, especially when your feet are wet. If you find you have long periods of time between your stream crossings, I recommend putting on a pair of socks to avoid blisters.
As I mentioned before, these shoes are a little too bulky or supportive for watersports. You can wear them kayaking or paddling, but they’re on the big side for that – you’d be better off with a pair of neoprene bootie style watershoes. They’re definitely a no go for surfing.
The Aerosports are on the bulky side as a shoe for just watersports, but are a great option if you plan on pulling over for a quick hike. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Merrell Wildwood Aerosports are the perfect shoes for warm weather hikes with lots of water crossings. They’re lightweight, breathable, and provide incredible traction underfoot. The quick lace system allows for easy adjustments on the go and the contoured footbed helps feet to feel secure and supportive. Next time I set out for a waterfall hike, you know I’ll be reaching for the Merrell Wildwood Aerosports.
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Editor’s Note: Looking for more options? Check out our reviews on The Best Water Shoes and The Best Women’s Water Shoes. If your adventures are a little more terrestrial, peep The Best Hiking Boots, and The Best Hiking Shoes. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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