ProView – Astral Loyak All Weather Review

These Astral Loyak were the perfect shoe for my recent trip to Greece. We sailed around the Saronic Islands and I wore these daily on the sailboat, while paddleboarding, and to run around on sharp rocks on the shore. They performed admirably and the color even matched the clear blue water of the Saronic Gulf!

Sailing is not my typical water habitat. Primarily, I am a whitewater rafter, and I am very familiar with Astral shoes from the river world. I was curious to see how they would hold up to a variety of activities on our Greek vacation. We set sail from Athens and spent a week on a small sailboat cruising around the Saronic Islands, which are situated between the Athens peninsula and the Peloponnese peninsula. The water is more clear than anything I’ve seen in my life. We slept on the sailboat and spent our days sailing, stopping at protected inlets to swim, snorkel, and paddleboard.

Performance

I liked these shoes and found them to be versatile and stylish. They worked for everything from paddleboarding to cliff jumping to running around on the sailboat. They also worked well for simply walking around town, at least given ample time to dry ahead of time. I loved the Pacific Teal color! My favorite use was paddling on a SUP from the boat to shore, hiking a short distance, then cliff jumping into the deep, clear water before finally swimming  back to the boat. Though, walking around town and getting gelato wasn’t a bad test, either!

The Loyak are a zero-drop, all weather sneaker with a rubber sole and wide toe box. I typically wore them without socks, however, socks fit comfortably with no issue. I did find that the shoe runs slightly large (at least for women’s sizing in their unisex size guide) and no half-sizes are available. I sized down and found them to be a perfect fit. They have a tongue and laces, which I find more comfortable than other bootie-style water shoes. My go-to trail running and hiking shoes are zero drop style with a wide toe box, so I am accustomed to that fit, but may not be the best for narrow feet or people more accustomed to high-cushion shoes. The Astrals had a little less arch support in the foot bed, so they worked for short side hikes, but I’d go with something more substantial for longer hikes. The soles were grippy enough to run around on slimy and sharp rocks – and protect my feet from sea urchins! The sole allowed you to feel the ground clearly, for better or worse. These shoes didn’t have substantial lugs, like I’d look for on a true hiking shoe, but that wasn’t an issue for my purposes. I found them comfortable to wear, but note that they are an all-weather shoe, NOT a waterproof shoe. Your feet WILL get wet! I found no issues with durability or construction. It’s possible that the teal color will fade in time, as I noticed a little bit of color transfer on the white laces. Overall they seemed well-made and I look forward to using them as my primary rafting shoes. 

What sets the Loyak apart?

I liked the sneaker-style construction of this shoe and found it more versatile and attractive than other water shoes on the market. You could easily grab drinks in these shoes, assuming they weren’t wet from a day on the river.

Who is the Loyak for?

These shoes are ideal for boaters and would be great for paddleboarders, rafters, or kayakers. They would also work as a general everyday shoe if you don’t live in a wet climate. 

Friendliness to the Earth

The Astral Loyaks are sustainably made, including a PFAS-free breathable membrane, 100% recycled (rPET) upper shell and lined removable sockliner, and vegan construction. 

The Final Word

The Astral Loyaks are a great all-around shoe for water-based adventures. They aren’t quite rugged or supportive enough for serious hikes, but work fine for short side hikes. They’re comfortable and stylish and I look forward to using them on the river!

---

Find Astral Loyak All Weather on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member yet? Apply today!
See more Astral reviews.