"Versatile Water Shoe" - Review of Salomon Sport Amphibian Shoe - Men's

As water shoes, these work great. They drain and dry well, and give good traction, and maintain comfort when wet. Good toe-protection against stumbling over sharp underwater rocks. Nice adjustability with the heal strap and lace-pull system. The collapsible heal allows them to double nicely as camp shoes. The mesh does let in sand and small pebbles easier than it lets them out. I was deciding between these and the Tech Amphibians, and went with these because they felt like they offered more lateral support. However, they are narrower shoes, especially in the toe box area. As a somewhat wide-footed person, I decided to size up a half-size in trade for what felt like better stability to me. The fit felt good enough for what I'd be wearing them for - stream crossings, rafting, and kayaking. I bought these shoes 2 days before hiking to Tiltill Valley in Yosemite. I knew there would be a stream crossing and a soggy meadow crossing that I didn't want to do in my sandals. As it turned out, it rained for 36 hours straight, and the the end of the 2nd day, my hiking boots were so wet and heavy, I dread the idea of walking 9 miles back to the trailhead in them. I decided to give it a go in the Salomon's. I walked the first mile (stream crossing, trail, ankle deep water in the meadow) in them barefoot, with a 40 lb pack, then put on my liners and a double pair of merino hiking socks. The trail was pretty well maintained, only rocky in parts. My feet were completely fine for the first 5 miles, until the trail got too rocky and the soles were not protecting the bottom of my feet enough. These are water shoes, not like hikers, but in a pinch they performed beyond what I could have expected, and saved my weekend. I've also been wearing them as work-out shoes since they obviously breathe well. All-around, some versatile footwear.
View Details: Salomon Sport Amphibian Shoe - Men's >