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The NRS Kickers are an eco-friendly, cost effective option for water sports, lake or river days, boating, and more. These water shoes are lightweight, warm, and comfortable for warm days or cold water, and provide adequate grip for wet rocks or slick boat surfaces.
The older model of the NRS Kickers featured an adjustable drawcord strap around the ankle as well as a velcro strap to secure the top of the foot. The current model has replaced the draw cord with a non-adjustable elastic strap, which some customers seem to be dissatisfied with. Since the shoes run a bit large and wide, the non-adjustable ankle strap allows loose-fitting shoes to slip off fairly easily. This makes it very important that you get a good, snug fit so your shoes stay securely on your feet.
The NRS Kickers are far more ideal for water than for land or amphibious activities. Because of the neoprene lining, these shoes don’t have the best drainage and ultimately aren’t the fastest to dry. Additionally, they don’t provide the most support you would need for walking or hiking substantial distances. While they aren’t the most versatile water shoe, they will definitely do the job of protecting your feet while doing most aquatic activities. These are a great pair of boating shoes for a mid-range price.
Things we like:
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Durability and comfort -
Good traction
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Roomy, contoured toe box for wider feet
Things we don't like:
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Runs large and cannot adjust fit -
Not the best for walking distances
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Slow drying
Rating
- Outoria Score: 3.6/5
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Performance: 3/5
- Price/Quality: 4/5
Overview
NRS is known for its water sports gear, ranging from wet suits to water shoes. One of its most famous offerings these days are the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes, which are ideal for water-based activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating.
Belonging in the mid-range price category, these water shoes deliver desirable comfort, reliable traction, and considerable protection for your feet. They fit securely and snugly while still being roomy, thanks to their drawcord closure system with a barrel lock adjustment and naturally shaped toe boxes.
Meanwhile, the stretchy rubber bands help improve your lateral stability.
The superb Terraprene neoprene makes up the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes’ insoles and uppers, ensuring that your feet are insulated properly at all times. The uppers are also guarded by armor patches to offer extra protection.
If you are looking for water sports footwear that you can use mainly for boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding, especially in chillier weather, the NRS water shoes are worth taking a closer look at.
- 3 mm thick neoprene uppers with titanium adhesive
- Reinforced toes and heels ensure long-lasting durability
- A hook-and-loop webbing strap
- 2 mm plastic shims
- 3 mm patterned rubber soles
Comfort
The NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes are known for having reliable insulation and a good fit. With both their insoles and uppers made with 3-mm Terraprene neoprene with titanium, your feet will stay warm and fresh throughout the day.
Like a 3mm wetsuit, water remains in the shoe, creating a warm layer that retains heat.
They are comfortable enough to feel like you have nothing on, but still offer ample protection for your feet. Since they have naturally shaped toe boxes, the fit is non-binding and roomy.
If you are treading on rocky terrain, you will appreciate these water shoes’ 2-mm plastic shims on the soles. These shims provide additional protection on top of what the 3-mm patterned rubber soles already offer. Meanwhile, the uppers are equipped with armor patches for further, 360-degree protection for your feet.
Use
Made with a drawcord with a barrel lock adjustment closure system, the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes can keep your feet secure and snug while engaged in water-based activities like boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
They have stretchy rubber bands that optimize your lateral stability and help prevent them from falling off your feet, so light to moderate walks through rivers would not be a problem.
Unlike the Adidas TERREX CLIMACOOL JAWPAW II WATER SLIPPERS and the Speedo MEN’S SURFWALKER PRO 3.0 WATER SHOES, these water shoes have no quick-dry function. Nonetheless, you can expect the water to evaporate over time. They may not be ideal for activities that involve shifting from water to land. However, they can likely handle very light walks along easy land terrains.
Material
Many water shoes are made of neoprene because it offers comfortable insulation. Some good examples are Merrel Men’s All Out Blaze Sieve and NeoSport Low Top Boots.
While the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes also have neoprene, one distinct characteristic sets them apart. Terraprene neoprene is used to make their insoles and uppers. In the past, like most manufacturers, NRS used oil as the raw material in making its neoprene.
Today, it uses Terraprene, which has limestone rock as a raw material. Its manufacturing process uses calcium carbonate, limestone’s main component. Using Terraprene helps preserve oil, a limited natural resource. It also has many benefits for water shoes, including the following:
- More tiny bubbles, which are filled with inert nitrogen gas, are formed in the material, providing ample insulation and making the material more buoyant.
- It is lighter and more flexible than oil, allowing you to move better.
- It has thicker cell walls that prevent the loss of inert nitrogen gas, guaranteeing that your water shoes will keep you warm consistently.
Value
If you are looking for water shoes that you can use mostly for boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding, these water shoes pretty much offer everything you need at a reasonable price.
They do not come in half sizes, but their closure system and naturally shaped toe boxes guarantee a roomy yet snug fit. You do not have to worry about losing them while you are in the water.
The NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes’ Terraprene neoprene insoles and uppers ensure further value for money. This material is known for providing ample insulation, keeping your feet comfortable throughout the day.
Thanks to the patterned rubber soles with plastic shims, your foot’s safety goes uncompromised. These soles offer sufficient protection from your feet, so you can tread terrains with a few tiny rocks without any hitch.
These water shoes have no specific quick-dry function but you won’t really need such a feature if you are mainly using them in the water. When running in and out of a river or sea, the retention of water and the squishy sensation can get a little irritating, but the warmth it provides is the trade-off.
Overall, they are good enough to meet your needs for water-based activities.
Things we like:
-
Durability and comfort
-
Good traction
-
Roomy, contoured toe box for wider feet
Things we don't like:
-
Runs large and cannot adjust fit
-
Not the best for walking distances
-
Slow drying
Frequently asked questions
One of the best pairs of water shoes you can get for kayaking is the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes. They have dependable traction, and offer ample lateral support and 360-protection for your feet. Moreover, they provide desirable comfort and snug fit, allowing you to navigate waters without worrying about your feet hurting or feeling uncomfortable.
An alternative, a boat shoe that costs slightly more but can be used in and out of water is the Adidas Terrex with Climacool. It’s also worth looking at.
Discover more about the features of these water shoes in this in-depth guide.
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber first introduced in 1930. It is a common material used to make gloves and water shoes. NRS has always manufactured its neoprene using oil as a raw material until it discovered Terraprene, which has limestone rock as a raw material. Unlike oil, limestone is very common. Limestone’s main component, calcium carbonate, is the primary material that NRS uses to make its Terraprene neoprene.
Terraprene neoprene has many benefits, especially when used in water shoes. These advantages include the following:
- It has more cells with inert nitrogen gas than oil-based neoprene. Essentially, these cells provide more insulation and make the material more buoyant.
- With more cells, it has thicker cell walls than oil-based neoprene. These thick cell walls reduce the neoprene’s compression as you move and prevent the loss of inert nitrogen gas. As such, it can keep you more comfortable while wearing your water shoes for prolonged periods.
- It is lighter than oil-based neoprene.
One of the products we like that have Terraprene neoprene is the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes. Learn more about them here.
NRS has a specific cleaning product highly recommended for its boots, dry and wet suits, fishing waders, gloves, and other neoprene and watersports gear like the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes— the Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo. This product is a scientifically balanced maintenance system that frees your water shoes from chlorine, organic residues, and salt deposits.
To clean your water shoes, follow the simple steps below:
- Mix two inner capfuls of Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo and a gallon of cold or warm water.
- Using the mixture, wash your water shoes by hand.
- Rinse them thoroughly and let them air-dry.
If you want to know more about what makes the NRS Men’s Kicker Remix Wetshoes popular, check out our review here.
Ideally, water shoes are not used for swimming but they may be used if you are swimming in the lake, river, or ocean with plenty of rocks. If you intend to use your water shoes for swimming, make sure that you get a pair with a commendable snug fit. The last thing you want is your water shoes slipping off your feet while in the water. Some good choices are the Adidas TERREX CLIMACOOL JAWPAW II WATER SLIPPERS and the Speedo MEN’S SEASIDE LACE 5.0.
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