Okay, so you've experienced water exercise and you're ready to get more serious. One of the best ways to enhance your water workout is to invest in a great pair of water shoes. Not only do shoes give you a better grip on the pool bottom, they take you safely to and from the locker room and can even be worn in the shower to protect your feet from locker rooms.
There are four ways to go. Stores such as Walmart have inexpensive slip-on water shoes. If you're water walking only, these are great! If you want to start running in water or taking classes on a regular basis, try shoes with more support such as AVIA or RYKA. Speedo also offers water shoes, but their quality and design are sometimes lacking in comparison to previously mentioned companies. If you have a special problem where your feet won't fit into a water shoe or you have a large foot, try a TEVA sandal with toe coverage. Although not ideal, this shoe will suffice in protecting the bottom of your foot and helping you grip the bottom of the pool.
On a special note, if you find a pair of shoes your really like, buy more than one pair. Unfortunately, the trend for water fitness shoe companies is to change their stying every season. You may not like a shoe for a year or two, so if you find a winner - invest in more than one pair. You'll be glad you did when they sell out! Also, if you're in the water a lot, try buying more than one pair, the shoes have a chance to dry out which is an advantage because you don't have to put on wet water shoes!
