As a water sports enthusiast I am always on the lookout for items that make my time on the lake or ocean more enjoyable. Like when I ride my Yamaha GP1300R personal watercraft I like to protect my eyes with a pair of Bugz goggles and Gladiator gloves. But I have been disappointed with the selection of footwear available, until I discovered the Fila Skeletoes water shoe.
OK, let me clarify a bit. These shoes are not just water shoes. The skele toes are toe shoes, which are designed to give your feet that barefoot feel while providing protection from the elements. Fila touts these as ideal for “gravel, water, mountains, grass, mud, trees, rock, pavement, and dirt”. They certainly have the durability to travel across all of that, unlike some water shoes I have tried that feel like no more than a soggy sock.
For me, a great water shoe not only wears well in the water, but also does a great job out of the water. Sometimes I need to walk across pebbled beaches, or muddy shores, or wind my way down docks where geese like to hang out (it’s like that minefield game!). Other times we may be camping on a lake and we need to scramble up hills, or run across pavement to the camp store for more ice. The point is that when I get out of the water I don’t want to trudge around in sodden, squishy, thin-soled water shoes not=r do I want to have to change my shoes constantly.
The Fila Skeletoes are perfect for that transition from water to land of any kind. They feature the “EZ-Slide” 4 pocket design for your toes, keeping your smallest two toes in a single pocket. This makes it easy to slip these on, in water or out, while not kinking your little toe. The skeletoes attach via an over the foot Velcro strap, and two additional Velcro straps – one along each side of your heel. Once set to your foot you can use the provided bungee cords to slip the shoes on rather than mess with the straps – how easy is that?
The upper portion of the shoe is made of a four way stretch two ply nylon that won’t suck up water and make it feel like you have two wet bath towels strapped to your feet. And the sole is slip resistant and allows you to feel the ground, given you a more natural feel while protecting you from pebbles, glass, sticks, and maybe even the occasional “deposit” left by an animal friend.
So these Fila Skeletoes work well in the water and out of the water, but are they fashionable? Admit it, that’s probably why you are here. They are very eye-catching, in an “Oh, I gotta get some of those” way. The barefoot look and skeletal design on the sole truly make this a unique looking shoe. And it comes in a wide range of colors for men, women, and kids. Yes, these are even available for kids.
The Fila Skeletoes run about $50 – $60 depending on where you get them. The kids’ version will cost you a bit less. You’ll find these to be a bit more expensive than plain water shoes – but again, these Fila Skeletoes are so much more. Why throw away your money at some big box store on the seasonally available water shoes they offer? Seriously, they get used one summer and get tossed because they break, wear out, are not fashionable, and are not comfortable. The wise move is to get your feet into these skeletoes, in and out of the water, during all seasons.