Hiyak

The Hiyak is engineered for whitewater kayakers, packrafters, and river guides who spend as much time scouting, lining, and portaging over slick riverbeds as they do in the boat. By adopting the silhouette of a classic high-top court shoe, it eliminates the primary vulnerability of standard low-cut water shoes: battered, rock-wedged ankle bones. The upper combines durable hydrophobic canvas and reinforced synthetic overlays with an airy mesh lining, shedding water almost immediately rather than soaking it up and holding water weight like traditional thick neoprene.

Underfoot, the proprietary high-friction G-rubber compound delivers tenacious traction across slime-covered river rocks and loose portage scree. The zero-drop, low-profile sole provides natural ground feel and allows accurate foot placement when bracing inside a kayak cockpit. However, the padded high-top collar that shields the ankles also adds noticeable volume. Paddlers wedging their feet into low-deck playboats or low-volume creekers may find the ankle structure tight or uncomfortable against the bulkheads.

Durability outpaces nearly all pure neoprene river booties thanks to perimeter randing and a secure lace hood that keeps laces from catching on boat outfitting or submerged branches. While it does not insulate as passively as a sealed wetsuit boot, pairing it with drysuit socks easily handles cold expeditions. For demanding whitewater where boot retention during an aggressive swim is non-negotiable, it stands out as one of the most dependable platforms on the river.