5 Best Places To Buy Water Shoes In NYC
Summer means splashing in the water at the shore, at the lake, and at local pools everywhere. Water shoes prevent cuts from unseen objects, shells and other obstacles. They are also valuable for surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Here are five spots in the New York area to find water shoes.
Paragon
867 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(800) 961-3030
paragonsports.com
This huge sporting goods store near Union Store can be, for many New Yorkers, the first stop for water shoes or anything else in active leisure products and apparel. Its sales staff is usually knowledgeable and helpful.On occasion, it can seem overly bustling in the multilevel store, but it has been a New York mainstay since 1908. For men's, women's and youngsters' water shoes, the store carries a wide variety of brands and styles in all price ranges. Among them: Astral, Speedo and Vibram Signa FiveFingers.
Campmor
810 Route 17 N.
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 445-5000
www.campmor.com
Among outdoor and sports-minded residents of northern New Jersey and New York City, Campmor is the destination store.It carries major brands from Astral to Under Armour, Chaco and Adidas. Their collection of water shoes includes numerous styles — boots, amphibious, slip-ons and shoes with elaborate webbing and reinforced toes. Though you can order most of their products online, there's nothing more fun than browsing in its spacious quarters on Route 17.
Harry's Shoes
2299 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
(855) 642-7797
www.harrys-shoes.com
Harry's is an Upper West Side institution, selling shoes in its Manhattan neighborhood since 1931. Its sales people are the old-fashioned kind who bring out boxes of shoes and slip them on your feet for you. Its collection of water shoes is not large, but it is representative. Harry's offers men's, women's and children's water shoes. Brands include Teva, Keen and Merrell. The main store carries adult shoes, while the children's department is in a separate entrance a half block north.
Breakwater Surf
67-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd.
Arverne, NY 11692
(347) 619-8376
breakwatersurfcompany.com
This specialty shop located close to the boardwalk near the beach in the Rockaways offers Native brand water shoes, made from environmentally friendly materials. Yes, it has "surf" in its name, but its displays include swimwear, beach coverups and other water-related items. You'll also find sandals for both men and women. You can also check out their sister store in Newport, Rode Island.
Tents And Trails
21 Park Place
New York, NY 10007
(212) 227-1760
www.tenttrails.com
Tents and Trails is located in lower Manhattan, near City Hall, but its heart is in the outdoors. Some of the metropolitan area's most active sophisticates head here for good advice as well as quality gear. Tents and Trails carries a carefully chosen selection of water and amphibious shoes for men and women. The shop features Brille and Kross. Their Kross amphibious shoe sports a vibram sole, which is at home on rocky trails as well as in mud and water.
Grace Lichtenstein is an author and former New York Times reporter. She writes principally about books, music and sports. She contributes to the Washington Post, NYCityWoman.com, Aspen Magazine and other publications. She is a board member of Bike New York, as well as a member of the Authors Guild and the National Book Critics Circle.
