I've only been wading once in the surf, barefooted and had no problems. Just wondering if wading boots really r a necessity when wading, maybe in other area besides the surf. I only go down to the salt about 3 times a year (piers and jetties) so only want to spend money on wading boots if absolutely necessary. Thx

I would wear some sort of protective foot gear when wading the bays. Your feet could get cut up pretty bad and possibly infected by oysters shells, rocks, metal and other junk laying on the bottom. Not as "sandy" as the surf. At the very least, get some water sandals that cover your toes. And shuffle your feet.

Lots of people don't but I do. I had a stingray repeatedly slap at me and was glad I had boots on. They help on oyster beds too.

I use these for small rivers and streams, but it could also work in salt. But these really won't protect you much from stingrays like Skeeter had mentioned.

If you get stung once by a sting ray you will wish you had wore some type of protection. You shouldn't have to worry so much on the surf at 25-50 yards out with all the current but once you get in the second gut or deeper waters you will surely run into sting rays and could very well get stung.
Just be careful.

first time you step in some soft stuff full of little pieces of shell and it feels like a cheese grater on your ankle bones, you will go get some proper footwear. I wouldn't wear sandals like those wading inshore, but in the surf they may be sufficient.

Rays are always a consideration, if you've ever seen anyone get stabbed, you'll never not respect them.

Poot mud and oysters will absolutely convince you that proper wading footware is worth the effort.

Open footwear will not protect you sufficiently in the bay.

An old pair of high top sneakers from good will would be a good inexpensive place to start, that or the canvas wading boots. In the surf, you are more like 'bobbing for sting rays'. Every time you jump up for a wave you have the potential to land on a stingray. Each year there are 20-30 people hit in the surf.. but that is still low odds considering how many people in the surf. But like Pat said, if you've never seen someone that had been hit you may not respect them.

I would at least where the hi top sneaker to protect from shells and other things that might cut your feet (even in the surf).

I will not set foot in saltwater without boots and rayguards. Not worth the risk IMO.

Thanks for all the input. I've heard a lot about sting rays causing excruciating pain. Looks like wading boots are a must haha.

the recovery cost for a good ray hit is in the thousands, & is always just 1 step away.
buy the boots, & add rayguards, too.

And rayguards, boots alone won't stop a stingray hit.

wading boots at academy are dirt cheap. I've waded in water shoes and others but seems the toes end up getting impacted with sand in the shoe, wading boots fit tight and keep the sand out. I wear ray guards now but its because I've banged into stuff I didn't see, old metal and oyster shell, and skinned my shins.

old tennis shoes is all i wear. the "Texas 2-step" is always recommended, but i have to admit to not being consistent. i have seen sting ray injuries, and have rarely seen a man is such pain. but that said, as a lifelong surfer i have untold thousands of hours in the surf zone with no shoes, and cannot recall ever seeing anyone get barbed here in Texas but have heard tales now and then. one person a saw barbed was a surfer in california - a young man from Italy - just his big toe but it was hard to see him in such agony. and i remember seeing several in 1-2 feet of water entering the surf in Costa Rica. y have waded at night in West Bay and caught several - so wear shoes and "shuffle"......

some people claim by shuffling you can cause them to thrash and then barb your shin. still better than going through the bottom of your foot though. supposed some plastic snake guards could help.....