Astral Rassler 2.0 - Women's Review

The Astral Rassler 2.0s are the only water shoes we tested that had any ankle support whatsoever, and for that matter, one of the only water shoes on the market to feature such a design. This made them great for navigating a rocky stream where we were concerned about twisting our ankles, and protected our feet when jammed under a raft thwart.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Rasslers scored high in comfort due to the cushiness and padding of the ankle and foot. We loved the extra support in the ankle and found the width to be excellent for the tester's average feet. They were a bit more comfortable with neoprene socks but worked with neoprene socks and a drysuit as well.

The Rasslers excelled on a shorter side hike but lacked the arch support for a longer one. That being said, if you're into paddle rafting and need to shove your foot under a thwart and navigate a sandy beach, you might reach for these more durable Astrals.

Traction

The Rasslers would have done well in this metric were it not for their poor performance on hard, wet surfaces. We tested them across the sand, a side hike with smaller particles, a rocky stream, and through a canyon and found them slippery when wet.

Their lugs were of adequate depth to function pretty well on a sandy beach and side hike with smaller rocky particles, but when it came to navigating a stream with large slimy rocks on a canyoning mission and on the Colorado River, they were akin to ice skates.

Warmth

The Rasslers have nice cushioning for warmth with bare feet and extra padding on the ankles to keep the whole foot warm. They also have a thick outsole for further protection from the elements.

We wore the Rasslers with a dry suit, with neoprene socks, and with bare feet. We found they performed highly with all these layers, albeit they were a bit tight with the dry suit outfit until they got wet and stretched out a little.

Versatility

The Rassler 2.0s were one of the trendiest-looking models we tested with their skate-shoe like design and high top look, so they functioned well around town with jeans. We tested them on the river, in casual clothing, and on a canyoning mission in the South San Juan.

While our lead tester thought she looked good wearing the Astrals in casual clothing and found they were great for paddle-rafting, they should be kept to river pursuits. They lack arch support for long hikes and don't have the flexibility or sensitivity for something like stand-up paddleboarding.

Sensitivity

The Rassler 2.0s scored fairly low in sensitivity due to a thick outsole and cushioned midsole. While this is a boon for comfort, it makes it a little difficult to navigate more technical side hikes or portages.

We took these shoes on a canyoning mission and found it near impossible to stay upright given the lack of proprioception. They didn't bend around rocks or sticks and were slippery when navigating a rocky shoreline. Yet the Rasslers make up for this lack of sensitivity in their higher-scoring durability and warmth as compared to other models we tested.

Durability

Of the Astral models we tested, the Rassler 2.0s are one of the most durable. This is due to their thicker outsole and uppers with a thicker construction.

We took these shoes across rocky side hikes and even rubbed them with sandpaper and found they held up a bit better than something with thinner mesh or a thinner outsole.

Should You Buy the Astral Rassler 2.0s?

For warmth with both bare feet and with layers, you could check out the Rassler 2.0s for your next whitewater rafting trip. They're also durable enough to be jammed under a raft thwart repeatedly and are the only shoes we tested with any ankle support.

What Other Women's Water Shoes Should You Consider?

If traction and flexibility are your game, the Rassler might not cut it. They're not bendy enough to wrap around a raft tube or slick rock. If that's the case, you might try the NRS Kicker Wetshoe for extra flexibility or the Astral Loyak for unparalleled traction on wet surfaces.