Over the past few years I have been wanting to buy a good pair of water/adventure/hiking/go anywhere I want pair of shoes. I have it narrowed down to a few choices. As an outdoor photographer, I spend a good amount of time trekking through various terrain. Having the right shoe is crucial I have learned. It’s tough to put into words how much my feet hurt and how many times I slipped off the slickrock in Moab a few years back. Never again will I hike in normal Nike sneakers. Weeks after leaving Moab, I purchased a nice set of Merrell hiking shoes from REI that have treated me well. They are heavy shoes and since I am not hiking up vertical rocks I don’t think I need such bulk surrounding my toes.
So, I was looking into the water shoes that Columbia, Teva, Keen and New Balance have (thanks Steve for the reco). They all have their own unique advantages which makes my choice tough. I don’t really need something to trek through water all the time but it would be nice to have a shoe ready for it if needed. Pricing ranges from $50-$100 which is very reasonable. They all have the quick-pull lacing system I need, water proof or water resistant, and good breathability.
Based on looks alone I am leaning towards the Columbia Aquatooth (top left) and the New Balance Watershoe SM9200L (bottom left). The Teva is not very attractive and the Keen shoe looks too much like a sandal. Fortunately, both the Columbia and NB shoes are in the $50 range. The Aquatooth also features Columbia’s trademark Omni-Fresh and AgION technologies. Omni-Fresh is an antimicrobial anti-odor treatment that keeps shoes and sandals fresher and cleaner longer (or so they claim). AgION is an antimicrobial technology, based on silver ions that protects against a broad spectrum of bacteria to keep the footbed clean and neutralize odors (sounds nice). Both seem like outstanding qualities to have in a shoe that requires no socks. I need to go find all of them in stores and give them a try. If you have any experience with these shoes or can recommend anything to me please drop me a comment. I will be sure to report back what pair I choose and my review of them!
