Astral Brewer 2 Water Shoe - Men's

Why We Like The Astral Brewer 2 Water Shoe

Kayakers will find a lot of versatility with the Astral Men's Brewer 2 Water Shoe on or off the water. Its hydrophobic polyester sidewalls ensure long-lasting durability and abrasion resistance, and the Airmesh vamp and tongue allow airflow to help your feet dry quickly. A drainage at the front sidewall and a slit at the heel direct water out of your shoe every time you leave the river, and the Balanced Geometry EVA midsole cradles your foot so you can cover technical terrain easier. To top it off, the Granite Grip sole provides excellent traction on wet rocks and slippery bar floors.

Details

Versatile water shoes for summer adventures
Airmesh upper drains water and breathes well
Polyester sidewalls are super durable
Balanced Geometry EVA midsole for all day comfort
Granite Grip soles hold traction on slick surfaces
Lace closure allows a snug, secure fit
Item #ASL001W

Upper Material: polyester, Airmesh
Lining: 210D nylon
Closure: lace
Midsole: Balanced Geometry EVA
Sole: Granite Grip with G.15 SS Rubber
Claimed Weight: 8.1oz
Manufacturer Warranty: limited 1 year
Activity: paddling

Reviews

Q&A

What do you think about this product?

Overall Rating

3 based on 5 ratings

Review Summary

1 Stars - 0 reviews

2 Stars - 2 reviews

3 Stars - 0 reviews

4 Stars - 3 reviews

5 Stars - 0 reviews

Fits Slightly Small

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2 out of 5 stars

May 31, 2024

Runs small

Familiarity:: I returned this product before using it
Size Bought:: 10.5
Weight:: 240

My foot is measured to 10.5 these are really small in length and width.

Josh_berg1125053 J

4 out of 5 stars

July 28, 2022

Good, but should be made better

Familiarity:: I've put it through the wringer
Size Bought:: 12

I've owned 3 pairs of Brewer 2.0s and have a pair of Rasslers. I've used them to commercially guide, run class V, done mutli-week trips in them, etc. I have a love/hate relationship with Astral shoes. They are super functional, are comfy, grip fairly well in wet conditions, dry pretty fast, can be worn without socks, can be slid into like a slipper, etc. Feature wise I don't really have any complaints. I'd argue there is nothing on the market as good as Astral shoes for whitewater now that 5.10 stopped making water shoes. My one qualm is their durability. They don't last that long. My bedrocks sandals last 5-10 times as long as my Brewers in similar conditions. They just fall apart at certain seems. I had a friend get his reinforced by a local shoe repair place in Ecuador. After reinforcement they looked like they'd last way longer. Astral really needs to make a version that has reinforcement for commercial/rigorous use. Until something better comes on the market I'll continue to buy Astrals. But I do wish they'd last longer. If you plan to run serious whitewater I'd recommend the Rasslers. They stay on a bit better due to their height. They are a bit stiffer though so can be a bit harder to fit into tight boats in comparison to the Brewers.

Noah L

4 out of 5 stars

June 12, 2021

Great for kayaking

Familiarity:: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
Size Bought:: 11.5
Height:: 5' 11"
Weight:: 195

I always hated using my sandals when kayaking. My feet would slip, sand would get between my foot and the the sandal, etc. so I tried these shoes. They worked great! I ended up getting a half size larger (11.5) than my usual shoe size (11) because my toes were butting up against the front of the shoe.

Sean M

4 out of 5 stars

May 7, 2021

Downgrade from the original

Familiarity:: I've put it through the wringer
Size Bought:: 12
Weight:: 190

The Brewer is by far the best water shoe I've worn. The grip on wet rocks, raft frame, rubber, etc is unmatched and I find them to be very comfortable. They drain well and look rad on and off the water. I finally had to get some 2.0s after a few years of HEAVY use saw my OGs get retired. Here are a few things that I found I didn't like quite as much about the 2.0 compared to original: - more narrow in the midfoot as others have pointed out. It doesn't bother me too much after having them on for a while, but if you have wide feet, could be an issue. - while the grip is still great, I dont think it's as good as the OG. The sole is much firmer in the 2.0s and maybe that's why it seems a bit less grippy. Still better than anything else out there though! - the material on the inside of the OG was almost a ripstop type material. The 2.0 has one that, while soft, I find it can sometimes irritate my feet when wet. Chalk that one up to a personal problem I guess? I also feel like the OG material dried faster too. - 2.0s drain well, but compared to the OGs it doesn't even come close. The OGs had a clear opening in the heel that offered superb draining. The 2.0s have a tiny little hole in the heel which leaves the shoe wetter longer. Overall, the Brewer is still the shoe I recommend to anyone that's on the river a fair amount. I wear them to the office sometimes because they are so comfortable. So while the 2.0s feel like a step back to me, still a top notch shoe. (If I wasn't familiar with the OG Brewer, this review would likely be 5 stars)

Sammy G

2 out of 5 stars

November 27, 2020

Runs very tight in midfoot

Size Bought:: 12
Height:: 6' 1"
Weight:: 210

Bought these because I'm a big fan of Altra and Topo shoes, both with wide toebox but standard midfoot and heel. While the Brewer 2.0 offer good toe splay and are comfortable in the heel, they are very, very tight in the midfoot (the area just back of the ball). For reference, I wear a size 12 in all sneakers, so I bought that size. While slightly shorter than other sneakers, 12 was probably the correct length. Ordering a half size up may have reduced the midfoot problem, but they don't offer a 12.5.

Marc D