What a story,
What a trip
What a story,
What a trip
What a trip
2010
An idea is born
Co-founders Eli and Martin created Freewaters in a tiny art studio, nestled up in the hills near San Francisco, CA.
2011
Kenya
Before we sold our first pair, we established our first clean water project in Kenya.
Featured in Huffington Post
Freewaters discussed water projects
Sandal launch
Our first product line was sandals only. Our most popular style was called The Dude.
2013
Outdoor retailer show
Freewaters showcases their products at the trade show!
2014
Heading south
As we grow, we set up our first “office” in San Clemente just minutes from the beach.
Shoe launch
A natural next step, we add shoes to our product line so our adventures could extend into all seasons.
Haiti Water project
Our water projects expand into Haiti, building rain catchment systems in the remote mountains.
2016
Philippines
As we begin to sell our footwear across Asia, we launched our third water project in the Philippines.
2018
Supreem Foam
Two years of development leads to this exclusive formula, solving one of the biggest sandal design challenges.
Responsible leather
Our award winning, Gold Certified leather supplier purifies 100% of the water used by filtering it through on-site wetlands.
2019
REI award nomination
Humbled and honored to be nominated as a Vendor Partner of the Year by REI.
Comedian Bert Kreischer podcast
@FreewatersShoes are the best flip-flops I've ever owned in my entire life!
2020
Aaron Draplin designs the new Freewaters logo
Renowned graphic designer gives Freewaters a new look and feel.
2021
Freewater brings the Dillon back
After comedian Bert Kreischer in 2019 asked for use to start selling the Dillon sandal again, we finally did a limited time release!
2021
DDC Jeffery Collab
Freewaters teams up with Aaron Draplin, the creative mastermind behind DDC to infuse their iconic DDC colors and nuances into a our house shoes
2021
The Machine and The Mechanic
Freewaters creates Bert Kreischer's ultimate lounging slipper with footbed prints inspired by comedian Bert and the wife of the party LeeAnn Kreischer.
2022
DDC Pelota Collab
Freewater continues the saga with Aaron Draplin, the creative mastermind behind DDC to kick up some vegan trainers for winning at life.
2022
World water day!
From our conception, bringing water to communities has been one of our biggest commitments at Freewaters. While our global water projects are still very important, we decided to also look at water scarcity in the United States. What we found shocked us. Over 2 million Americans in the United States live without running water.
2023
Clean filtered water to Nicaragua schools
Our partnership with Freewaters and Nica Heart Beat, with the shared goal of providing clean water for good health and the opportunity to build a better life. Our plan is to provide water filtration systems to 10-20 select families, with the filters generously sponsored by Freewaters to start. As a promise, we ask the receiver to set a goal of how the clean water transformed their life, in order to receive replacement filters.
2023
The Berty Slide!
Comedian Bert Kreischer and Freewaters have come together for another great collab… Introducing The Berty Slide! We’ve taken a maximum cushion approach and cranked it up to totally flipping insane! With 3 great colors and custom Bert Kreischer graphics. The ultimate comfort slide for chillin’, relaxin’, beach-ballin’, pub-crawlin’, and whatever summer shenanigans you find yourself the ringleader of!
2024
ABC’s Good Morning America!
Our mission to deliver all-day comfort and healthy support through innovative footwear reached a national audience—highlighting what makes Freewaters stand out: eco-conscious design, modern casual style, and wellness-driven comfort from the ground up.
A huge thank you to the GMA team for the spotlight, and to our incredible community for making this journey possible!
2024
Freewaters x Poler collab
What happens when a comfort-minded, sustainable footwear brand pairs up with the ultimate #campvibes brand? An epic new camp slide that will blow your outdoors-loving mind! Crafted from a high-quality durable injection EVA foam blend. Expertly molded into a modern-looking generous fitting slide with Freewaters’ signature Cloud9 footbed and the Poler stamp of approval. This is THE ultimate comfort slide for chillin’ and relaxin’ in the great outdoors, or whatever summer shenanigans you find yourself roped into!
2025
APMA Accepted!!
We are thrilled to announce the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has awarded its prestigious Seal of Acceptance to Freewaters Cloud9 Maxx, Cloud9 Ultra Bliss, Cloud Explorer, and Cloudg Slide sandals! A huge milestone for comfort and quality.
APMA Accepted indicates that a product has been evaluated by Podiatrists and it has met specific guidelines and criteria set by APMA's Podiatric Seals Committee, and has been deemed beneficial for promoting good foot health and/or normal foot function.
2025
In4mation Collab!!
In4mation and Freewaters have come together in the spirit of Respect Locals—a call to many and a tribute to our shared values and heritage. Rooted in surf, skate, and street culture, In4mation has been a staple in Hawaii’s scene since 2002, blending island influence with global style. Freewaters, known for our innovative and ultra-comfortable footwear, is driven by a mission to create high-quality sandals while giving back through clean water initiatives. With every pair sold, Freewaters funds clean water projects around the world, reinforcing the idea that respecting locals goes beyond just people—it extends to the land and the resources we all share. This collaboration is more than just footwear; it’s a reminder to honor our roots, uplift our communities, and protect the environments that sustain us.
Oh what's is next...
Be a part of our adventure!