Gear Reviews: River Sandals
There are a bunch of river footwear options out there. Closed-toe shoes offer the most protection and tend to have the best and stickiest soles for traction. However, when it's 80+ยบ in the dead of summer, it can be hard to wear shoes all day long.
Sandals are my footwear of choice for Class III, maybe a little Class IV multi-day river trips. If I spend day after day in shoes my feet, really start to fall apart quickly. Sandals allow your feet to breathe, dry out throughout the day, and ultimately stay healthier on longer trips.
Many sandal choices
Chaco Z/2 Custom
Chaco has so many footwear options. My favorite for a long long time has been a pair of Custom Z/2s. If you spend the extra money to build a custom pair, you can get the Vibram Colorado sole. While not the most sticky sole on the market it does pretty well on wet rocks. If you go custom you can also get the Vibram Terrano which are a little thicker and lasts a long time. They do fine on wet rocks but are awesome for every day and hiking.
Pros
- Hold your foot tight to the sole
- Comfortable once "broken in"
- Decent grip on wet rocks
Chaco Z/2
Cons
- Straps can be finicky and cause blisters
- Some people don't like the toe loop
Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D Pro
There are a few different versions of the Bedrock sandal. From ultra light weight and thin, to thick and cushy- you can pick one that suits your adventure. I went with the Cairn Eco 3D Pro because them seemed like a good middle ground with a bit of support and mid cushion.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to adjust to your foot
- Comfortable right out of the box
- Many color options
Bedrock Cairn Evo 3D Pro
Cons
- Foot can feel a bit loose
- Barefoot feel might hurt your feet for a bit
Right out of the box, these sandals were pretty comfortable. The rope between your toes might take a little getting used too, but it soft and hopefully won't cause to much wear.
Keen Newport
These are almost shoes. Of all the sandals they offer the most protection for your foot and toes. The sole if alright for slippery rocks but the biggest downfall is once small rocks and sand get it, you pretty much have to take them off to get it all out.
Pros
- Most foot protection
- Comfortable right out of the box
- Many color options
Keen Newport
Cons
- Small rocks and sand are impossible to wash out
- Heavy and feel like a shoe
- Could have a better soul for wet rocks
While offering the most protection they are maybe my least favorite of the bunch. However, they are great for colder weather trips and accommodate socks just like a shoe. A pair of Newports isn't a bad addition to your closet.
Luna Middle Bear Winged Edition
Light weight and minimal. It feels like you have nothing on your feet with these things. Similar to the Bedrock Cairn the Luna sandals are for those looking for a barefoot feel. Thats exactly what you get.
Pros
- Light weight
- Mega Grip sole
- Simple
Luna Middle Bear
Cons
- Difficult to adjust
- Sole is too thin
I wish I had gone with a version that had a little thicker sole as these are a bit too minimal for me. I also am not a huge fan of the one single strap adjustment. While really adjustable I found it a bit of a pain. There are many times when I just want to put my sandals on loosely and walk somewhere quick. When I did that everything was loose and adjusting them through the side "wings" is a big of a pain.
Final Thoughts
So many styles and options to choose from. As with all footwear picking the one that fits your foot is going to be the best option. I have a had time going away from Chacos as they have served me well over years and years of river time.
