Wayne, very well done review. At least some of the drain holes are mesh covered (some not). The remaining open drain holes on the side would be the biggest disadvantage for my water shoe uses.
Personally, I don't care for that type of water shoe -- of which there are many -- because sand, pebbles and mud easily get in those big side holes. And, unlike true flat sandals, you can't just slosh the sand and mud out. (Not that I like sandals particularly for canoeing.) I also don't like cord locks and extra strings on water shoes. I like simple laces or no laces at all.
If I am not wearing a calf or knee high Mukluks or boots I have the same issue with open-vent water shoes, or sandals, Crocs or etc. They all suck in pebbles and debris. Streams with shallow wade-the-boat pebble bottoms are the worst, I’d rather just go barefoot than have a pebble trapped between my foot and the shoe. Stopping to shake out a stone every step doesn’t cut it.
And I don’t care for open drainage holes in stick-ee situations like beaver dams; alliteratively a stick stuck situated sticking out sucky situation.
The open drain hole concept on some water shoes makes no sense to me. I think it is more stylistic than functional, kinda like how many cheap folding pocket knives now sport “decorative” holes and teardrop slots in the handles. Why would I want that?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gerber-Mini-Paraframe-Fine-Knife/15125895#read-more
With water shoes, even with open drain holes, my foot is still inside a wet neoprene & rubber shoe, how much less damp is it going to get?
My footwear solution for pebbly streams in summer temps is a pair of low-rise NRS Kickers, with no drainage holes to allow pebbles and good but still pliable traction soles. The original Kickers have a single Velcro strap across the top, and a cordlock and bungee tightener above the heel to seal the ankle opening against pebbly intrusion. My only complaint with those Kickers is that the tread pattern is a mud-magnet.
They are now (back as) the Kicker Remix, without the top Velcro strap. And they are available up to size 14, which is another issue for us bigfoots, or if paired with watersocks.
https://www.nrs.com/product/30022.03/nrs-mens-kicker-remix-wetshoe
I think the original Kickers disappeared for a year or two before popular demand brought them back as the Remix. I had never read the NRS reviews before. No reviews under 3 stars, and of those are simply folks missing the Velco strap on the original Kickers, so I’m thinking it isn’t just conformational bias on my part.
They seem pretty durable; I’ve had the original Kickers for 5 or 6 (8?) years now and they are my go-to summer water shoe. If they wear out or got lost I’d buy another pair immediately.
I had the same traction problem with Crocks on a wet surface. I just don't like spending big money on shoes.
I like Crocs, but for something originally developed as a “boating shoe” the soles quickly become slick as snot on a doorknob on wet surfaces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocs
I still wear Crocs at times, including my beloved fuzzy-lined winter pair that go so well with my overalls, but I have learned not to so much as walk out onto the dewy lawn and then back inside on the concrete or tile floors. The last time I biffed it with Crocs I had a single leg inside the shop door and suddenly found myself trapped in a heap between a storage cabinet and some wall shelving, with one leg bent awkwardly beneath me.
It was dang near a “Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” before I figured out how to extract myself.