You can sometimes use water shoes for other sports, depending on the amount of support the shoes provide your feet and arches. Some water shoes can work fine for hikes on dry land as well as water. Running is a little more tricky. Because most water shoes are lightweight, they can be a good fit for people who sometimes run barefoot. However, most water shoes provide less cushion and support than running shoes and may not work as well for long-distance, high-performance running.