According to Backpacker 2012 Gear Guide, the best shoe for canyoneering is the Chaco Ponsul Bulloo. Hmmm.
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According to Backpacker 2012 Gear Guide, the best shoe for canyoneering is the Chaco Ponsul Bulloo. Hmmm.
Questionable...
Spending time this week in Adidas Hydro Pro...
Will report back
depends which canyons... most of the moist canyons here... you'll slip and fall no matter what. Someone needs to develop some awesome "Maui Canyon Shoes"
Here it is: Attachment 54638
Looks like a shoe that non-canyoneers think would be great for canyoneering.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Card
In other words: "ouch!"
T
Yah, I was snickering when I saw this. I was posting to get others reactions and see if anyone really used these shoes.
yah, those are great for long swims. I take 'em along on Lake Powell trips. Super light and compressible, so you don't notice them in the pack until they're needed. YMMV.
Looks like the type of shoe you would wear while walking on the beach holding hands with your girlfriend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Card
:lol8:
They eerily resemble the dreaded water socks that the nerdy kids wore in the pool when I was younger. Usually the same kids whose mom put sunscreen in their hair and who wore t shirts in the pool. Shudder....
Obviously the product testers at Backpacker did not traverse the Narrows with these. They would have finished on their knees, begging for their moms!
About 15 years ago, I was hiking the narrows in cheap, light HiTech boots. Suddenly, the sole came off one boot. With no duct tape, I traded out that boot for a Chaco and finished the hike one boot on and one boot off. I don't remember any painful rock bangs, "extra" slippage or toe bangs on my exposed sandal foot.
Chaco make a pretty good sandal.
Last year, we did Larry Canyon with girl, who was misinformed of the adventure and wore cheap shorts and Chacos. Her only problem was shredding her shorts :naughty: (which my wife fixed by giving her mine :cry1: ). The downclimbs and exit crack was no problem for her in Chacos.
A few years back, a sandal-wearing canyoneer (might even have been chackos) had his big toe nearly severed by a shifting rock in Englestead Hollow. Anyone with a link to that story?
I snicker at these shoes but Spidey did in fact do Heaps in Chacos and wool socks..... not by design but out of necessity. I know, I was there and I kept asking him how he was doing. Of course he blasted through in good shape.
story from eric. group behind his a member lost a toeQuote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
http://utoutdoors.blogspot.com/2005/...ad-hollow.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
I am sensing a 127 hour sequel here. Another good reason for canyoneer SAR-can't see the blood from your pulverized feet.:lol8:
Ken
Everyone needs to back up off the Chacos! I've done Heaps and Imlay twice in Chacos and didn't have a single problem. Come to think of it, with the exception of Sandthrax, I've done every canyon I've ever done in Chacos. They're comfortable, the pro-sole Chacos have better grip than ANY of my trail-running shoes and most of my approach shoes, they're lightweight...just generally awesome.
Quick poll - how many of you who are ripping on Chaco-wearers have EVER worn Chacos in a canyon? Any of you? Do y'all even OWN Chacos? I'll admit, my crew and I don't fit in with the rest of you bumblebee-wearing canyoneers, but we get along just fine with. I've got a pair of size 10s if anyone wants to borrow them for a canyon. I'll make converts out of you 5.10 Fanboys yet.
There is always someone standing in line to date the ugly fat girl..... :roflol: :roflol: :roflol:Quote:
Originally Posted by xxnitsuaxx
Barefoot apparently is the way to go :). I still think the 1/2 felt, 1/2 sticky rubber shoe is the best compromise in MauiQuote:
Originally Posted by Renatomic808
You are the first person I've ever heard call chacos lightweight. For how little sandal they actually are, they are heavy mo-fos, like a pound each. It's like wearing bricks. I also hate 5.10 canyoneers, they are heavy, clunky, and uncomfortable. But I love the savants and the insights. The sticky soles are without a doubt the best all around soles.Quote:
Originally Posted by xxnitsuaxx
That said, I know a lot of people who swear by chacos. Hell, I even saw guys hiking the PCT with chacos and injinji socks. 30 miles a day sometimes, for weeks on end, even across snow in the Sierras. They hated shoes. However, they simply don't work for me. I use them on river trips all the time, but once I start hiking in them, I bust my toes up like crazy. Not sure how you guys do it. I also find them sloppy when I need to edge or smear on anything. The vibram soles don't even compare to sticky rubber of 5.10s. And, they are expensive. 100 bucks? They're sandals! They are great on the river though.
But ultimately, whatever works works.
That said, the Chacos in this thread are ugly as hell. :bootyshake:
I was doing a canyon on The Big Island (Hawaii) about 3 years ago in Chacos because it was all I had. I was fine until a pointed stick stabbed me between my big toe and the next one over. Nasty puncture wound. Nearly trashed the rest of the vacation.
the old chacos were pretty good - esp. the ones w/5.10 dot rubber on 'em. The new ones are made in China and blow. they have never been lightweight and your big toe WILL get severed (or punctured).
:)
sadlyQuote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
oh yeah, forgot about that oneQuote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
I know I said i retired from canyoneering barefoot... however, anyone wanna take me canyoneering barefoot in Utah, or anywhere? I think i wanna start a trend.
I have been canyoneering twice in a pair of closed-toed chacos. Great grip, not so great ankle support, but overall I'd say it's a lot better than running shoes or whatever else I used on my first canyons. Having said that, my 5.10s were one of the best purchases I ever made.
Have one friend who swears by his five toe shoes down most canyons. Not for everyone, and not for me, but I guess everyone has their preference.
He generally brings a real pair of shoes along but sometimes never switches. Mystery canyon never switched. Narrows top down, switched about half way.
These seem like a legit option for those who like VIbrams and want to stay warm in the cold water too. http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...-Flow-Mens.htm
I've been out with folks who started a trip "swearing by" and ended "swearing at".Quote:
Originally Posted by rurri
Those stunt shoes offer no net advantage over "real" shoes in CP canyons, with several disadvantages: low level of protection and support with very poor traction on sandy slickrock. The wearer is at a significant disadvantage in certain conditions. Yukky.
I wore them in Escalante last year and had great traction with them. You can feel everything and grip very well with them. The disadvantage I see being walking over lots of mid sized rock (anything over an inch but under about two inches). I did not wear them this year in the Cedar Mesa area and I think that was a wise choice.
When I got my first pair of Vibram Fivefinger Sprints they performed beautifully on E. Zion slab climbs; most notably South Ariel Peak and Lead by Sheep on Aires Butte. I figured that since I had such good luck with them on slabs (smearing) I'd give em' a shot at a canyon!? West Fork Fat Mans seemed like a good trial! They performed great.......until I got into the bowells of the canyon. You mention support...well they didn't need any support in the soft sand, but I got support for all ten toes as soon as the wet sand made it's way into each and all 10 toe pockets. It felt like my toes were impacted and couldn't budge, sort of like an individual cast for each toe! Really irritating and uncomfortable. I had to take the shoes off a minimum of 10 times to swish the sand out of the toe pockets. If you think putting on the Fivefingers with dry, warm feet is difficult, try putting them back on when your feet are wet and super cold! When I got to the East Fork and had to walk downstream to the exit, it was miserable walking on the submerged river talus. Conclusion....I won't be using them for canyon hiking again.Quote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
Speaking of sandals in canyons; my first trip in Heaps a long time ago (2-day backpack) was done in a pair of Tevas (flip-flop style) with the ankle strap that I resoled with five-ten climbing shoe rubber. They were GREAT with the exception that I couldn't use a sock of any sort and my feet friggin' froze.
Speaking of which, my La Sportiva Xplorers are performing and holding up amazingly! I'm lovin' them! So far I've only put on maybe 30-40 miles, but they have excelled in all attributes. Red Mountain, 5 miles of 3rd and a small bit of 4th class scramble. Taylor Creek 6-7 miles of mostly trail with a bit of scrambling above and beyond. South Guardian Angel, 12-14 miles of trail, major bushwack, 3rd and 4th class scrambling. Northgate Peak East, North Guardian Angel, Subway. 3rd and 4th class scrambling, bushwack, swimming, wet slickrock, deep sand hiking. The shoes havent lost their shape or support or stickiness and dont even have a single thread broken or snag in the fabric. They look and feel brand new with minimal wear in the tread. I've been wearing them at work almost every day as well. Anyone teatering on a decision to get a pair; I personally have very high praise and endorse these great shoes.
Sadly, I haven't done much teatering lately :naughty:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bo_Beck
But hey hey! The real question is: how do they stack up to the good ol' Exum Pro?
Night and day! Much better fit, much less sand migration, much tougher (so far), and much stickier rubber (wet and dry surface). At a price though...Late Exum Pro-$95, new Xplorer-$120.Quote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
Of course teatering requires a teat, just sayin'Quote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
But I must admit--teatering on an edge sounds dangerous, might need to wear a helmet.:eek2:
Any thoughts on the Canyoneer II ?
The 5.10 Canyoneer II is the gold standard of canyoneering shoes. It has been discussed at great length on this forum. Some people love it, some people loath it. They work well for wet canyoneering, but it takes considerable knowledge to use them effectively.Quote:
Originally Posted by deagol
Tom
The words are mostly ok, but need re-arranging and supplementation:Quote:
Originally Posted by ratagonia
The 5.10 Canyoneer II may be the gold standard of wet canyoneering shoes if you love taking the time and effort to find a size that works with neoprene socks or special socks (cuz they don't work well with just any sock system) and if you love the unpredictable quality, sand-ingression mesh and eventual permanent sand ridges that form inside the shoe. And if you install a decent sock liner or orthotic and don't mind the straps breaking long before the shoe is worn out.
After you accept all that, it may be the gold standard for wet canyoneering shoes that is generally available in the U.S. market and doesn't cost an arm and leg to import/try from Europe where there are many other choices on the market.
Yeah, what he said.... :naughty:Quote:
Originally Posted by hank moon
YMMV
T
Didn't know wearing a pair of shoes was akin to rocket science or brain surgery.Quote:
Originally Posted by ratagonia
Have always preferred anything but. Still likin' my Exum Rivers...
:haha: That was my thought too. To what, Oh Emperor, are you referring?Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian in SLC