I have be wear these for the past five year . year ago on a family vacation at a lake with a rocky shoreline , I slice my toe open on a rock . after that I try various water shoe and sandal over the year , none of which I really like . then one day at the beach I see a friend wear these , and he buy I a gray pair for my birthday . I have worn nothing else since . I recently buy a second pair in black , not because the first pair have wear out -lrb- they still work just fine -rrb- , but because I want a different color , and think the black pair look really sharp . here be why I like these . 1 . this be the most heavy duty pair of sandal that I have own . while some review have note that they be heavier than other sandal -lrb- which be true -rrb- , to I that do not affect they comfort in any way , or the ability to walk or run in they -lrb- I like run on the beach with these because I do not have to worry if they get wet -rrb- . 2 . these provide the best protection for you foot that I know of . no worry about stub you toe because the toe be reinforce like no other sandal or water shoe that I have own . it be like have the protection of a work boot . one review note that sand can collect in the toe area and other part of the sandal when you walk on the beach . true , but it be not uncomfortable , and I just rinse these off when I leave the beach for the day . 3 . the bottom also provide solid reinforcement . no worry for I about cut my foot on broken shell at the beach or slippery rock at the lake . these have also protect my foot from sharp coral reef and jag volcanic rock that I have encounter on vacation . these sandal literally save I from serious personal injury when a jet ski I be ride on vacation flip over in a area fill with volcanic rock -- I feel they on the bottom of these sandal as I try to right the jet ski . without these sandal my foot would have be slice to ribbon . 4 . the traction on these be excellent . I have use these to go into the deep end of a empty in ground pool that be coat with slimy alga to clean the wall without lose my balance . I have also use they to climb on jetty at the beach . 5 . I wear a medium width and recommend that you size up either a half size or full size . my first pair be a full size up and a little loose . my current pair be a half size up and fit perfectly . but each person 's foot be different . bottom line : I wear these for any water related activity that I do -- sailing , power boat , jet skiing , walk on the beach , go in the ocean , even swim in a lake that have a rocky bottom -lrb- it be a little tough to swim with they , but I prefer that to slice my foot on a rock -rrb- . I highly recommend they . Shop for price . during the summer you can often find they on sale for 15-20 % off . I buy mine online on sale from EMS .