Speedo is the world's best-known brand when it comes to both indoor and outdoor water sports and athletics. The company has been known for over 100 years to be the leader in aqua gear innovations. From materials to style and functional design, Speedo helps its customers achieve their athletic goals in comfort and style. The brand has a huge line of watersport-based gear for both athletes and recreational users. Speedo is probably best known for its lines of men's and women's racing and athletic bathing suits and they have dominated the market for as long as the brand has been around. With the rising popularity of canyoning and other outdoor sports which require shoes and even more recently the interest in underwater athletics like weightlifting, yoga and even spinning, Speedo's innovative product development team has once again taken up the charge to create gear that will help both athletes and recreational enthusiasts perform their best with comfort and safety in mind. Enter: the newest line of water shoes and the Fathom AQ.
What to Expect from This Review
For this product review, we will be focusing on the new Speedo Women's Fathom AQ water shoes and comparing it with, the Women's Hybrid Watercross, the Women's Zipwalker 4.0 and the Women's Tidal Cruiser. We will look at the product specs for each product, the pricing differences, pros and cons and how each item compares to other current Speedo water shoes on the market. This review will also serve to give some info on these other models so that our readers can make informed decisions about which water shoe to purchase for their needs.
Speedo Women's Fathom AQ
The Speedo Women's Fathom AQ water shoe is the newest water shoe to hit the market designed specifically for high-intensity aquatic workouts. With its minimal design, the Fathom AQ is lightweight, and molds to the foot with knit construction that gives the feeling of bare feet both in and out of the water. It has state-of-the-art drainage technology in the sole to minimize water absorption and drying time while the H2 Grip outsole maximizes traction in the pool and on the deck.
Product Specs
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the new Women's Fathom AQ and the other models:
Women's Fathom AQ | Women's Hybrid Watercross | Women's Zipwalker 4.0 | Women's Tidal Cruiser | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $ | $ | $ | $ |
H2 Grip | ||||
Good Traction | ||||
Knit Upper | ||||
Quick Dry | ||||
Breathable | ||||
Drainage |
How It Compares
We chose the following models to do a more in-depth comparison of the Speedo Women's Fathom AQ so that customers can get a better idea of the Fathom's capabilities and how they stack up to individual needs for athletics, outdoor sport, recreation and, of course, performance in water. While difficult to fully compare because the Fathom AQ is so specialized, we chose the closest matches both to look at the Fathom AQ and to help consumers make an educated choice based on their water shoe needs.
Women's Fathom AQ Water Shoes
- Hydrophobic knit construction conforms to the foot for superior fit
- Quick drying with bottom drainage
- H2Grip Outsole: Unique rubber compound for maximum traction
The Speedo Fathom AQ is the first water shoe of its kind specifically designed to be used for workouts in the water. It differs from a standard water shoe in that it has more athletic shoe-style support and H2 Grip traction to work on the slippery surfaces at the bottom of the pool but it is also lightweight and has great hydrophobic drainage capabilities in both the upper and the sole to help reduce drag in the water and make for a simpler, safer transition to dry land.
Price: Around $ Price Rating: $$
Ease of Use: 5 stars
Design Quality: 5 stars
PROS
CONS
Women's Hybrid Watercross Water Shoe
- Textile upper, Rubber outsole
- Rubber sole
- Hybrid Shoes, perfect for land and water
The Speedo Women's Hybrid Watercross water shoe was designed for hybrid use in largely in outdoor situations, for canyoning and hiking where there is a high likelihood of getting the feet wet. It has a 360 degree drainage system so that both the soles and upper dry quickly as well as heavy yet lightweight traction so that users can feel stable and safe while traversing different types of terrain such as wet rocks.
Price: Around $ Price Rating: $$
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Design Quality: 4.5 stars
PROS
CONS
Women's Zipwalker 4.0 Water Shoe
- Durable 4-ways stretch upper
- Breathable, quick-dry materials
- Convenient zipper closure for secure fit
The Speedo Women's Zipwalker 4.0 is designed for walking on and around mixed terrain but does not have as much athletic capability as the Fathom AQ or the Hybrid Watercross. It is lightweight and has traction as well as good drainage. It is excellent for walking on rocky beaches and for use in rocky bodies of water. It is also an economical choice for casual outdoor walking where there is a likelihood of the feet getting wet.
Price: Around $ Price Rating: $
Ease of Use: 4 stars
Design Quality: 4 stars
PROS
CONS
Women's Tidal Cruiser Water Shoes
- Neoprene collar for easy on and off and secure fit
- Mesh promotes ventilation and quick drying
The Speedo Women's Tidal Cruiser water shoes are designed to be truly versatile and comfortable with a ventilating mesh upper and lots of cushioning around the foot and heel. It's streamlined so that it can easily be worn in and and out of the water, making it ideal for rocky-bottomed lakes and beaches as well as boats and tidepools. With such a streamlined design, it also has great traction for slippery surfaces. It's also the most economical shoe on our list at just around $.
Price: Around $ Price Rating: $
Ease of Use: 5 stars
Design Quality: 5 stars
PROS
CONS
Conclusion
Speedo's line of water shoes seems really to encompass a wide range of activity needs. The focus of this review was the newest addition to the line, the Fathom AQ. This water shoe is designed for a specific purpose as a shoe which can be used for high-intensity workouts both in and out of water. As this is a burgeoning trend in the fitness world, Speedo's design of the shoe ensures that the brand will be ahead of the game when it comes to all water sports.
Comparing to some other models of Speedo's water shoe line, we found that the Fathom AQ is pricier than some other models, but it seems worth it due to its high-performance specs. If buyers are looking for an all-around athletic shoe that can handle high-intensity workouts on land and all-terrain hiking and canyoning, we found that the Hybrid Watercross is still a solid bet but may not be as good in the water for long periods like the Fathom AQ.
For water shoes which have great general capabilities and are more economical than Fathom AQ and the Hybrid Watercross, the Zipwalker 4.0 and the Tidal Cruiser are good solid shoes for rocky terrain like tidepools or for wearing in rocky-bottomed water bodies. With the added bonus of being the highest rated for comfort and the least expensive option, the Tidal Cruiser looks like a winner for vacations and water parks.
With the addition of the Fathom AQ to Speedo's line of water shoes, it seems the brand now has a full gallery of options for customers to choose. From elite athletes pioneering underwater fitness to outdoor fanatics to the casual beach goer, Speedo once again seems to have the watersports world covered, or at least their feet.
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