I usually wear a 9.5 but took a 9 because they don't come in half sizes and are perfect for water shoes. I bought these for my SUP but mainly to walk on concrete, tarmac or mud on my way to the water and the rubber soles are very durable to provide the protection you need. However, the neoprene upper is flexible, breathable and provides effective drainage so my feet don't feel flooded, which I like. I'm actually surprised at how well they work and don't know why I waited so long to get my hands on a pair of water shoes. Finally, the three toe design is great too and allows me to balance and hold onto the board even better than without shoes. I am sure after reading this review you will think that I am working with body gloves but I am not. In fact, these shoes are literally the first body gloves I've ever bought, so again I'm pleasantly surprised. By the way, I also surf and have often worn boots, but I don't worry about it and prefer to surf barefoot. Maybe that's why I wasn't too excited about buying water shoes, but I'm glad I did anyway.