Review: Roundup: River Shoes

Cold water. Hot sun. Sharp rocks. Slick docks. These obstacles mean nothing when traversing bodies of water with a good set of river shoes. The best ones will offer protection up top, and security below to keep you stepping, wet or dry.

Roundup: River Shoes

Learn How We Rate ##### Wired

Stuck to slippery rocks like a starfish. Heavy-duty toe and heel will keep your feet from getting stubbed out. First rate trail shoe; handled hiking and scrambling across rocks as well as it did water.

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| Roundup:

• 1/10A complete failure in every way
• 2/10Sad, really
• 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
• 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
• 5/10Recommended with reservations
• 6/10Solid with some issues
• 7/10Very good, but not quite great
• 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
• 9/10Nearly flawless
• 10/10Metaphysical perfection

New Balance SM921

If you want to make fast tracks across wet terrain, this lightweight low-impact river runner will add some serious twinkle to your toes. These kicks clocks in at a mere 11.3 ounces, and features a stable, running shoe-style sole with solid yet lightweight lugs that provide ample traction without stacking on grams. A quick-pull lacing system lets you enter and exit easily, and keeps the shoe secure on the foot so it won't rub and cause blisters when wet. The mesh upper is flexible and light, and moves like a second layer of skin. We loved this shoe on a 5K run along the beach for crashing in and out of surf, and it was also our favorite for trail running.

But while it makes a great runner, its true calling is the life aquatic. Eight large holes along the sole evacuate water just about as quickly as it comes in. Likewise, a perforated rubber insole moves water through quickly without absorbing it along the way. Even better, not only does it let water escape, but sand and fine particulate matter also passes out of the shoe, rather than piling up in the toe or heel. When scrambling over wet rocks and wood, we kept a steady footing and were never in jeopardy of slipping. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that the mesh upper does a fantastic job keeping dry sand out, another reason we loved this shoe for athletic adventures around the water's edge. Finally, the shoe dried extremely quickly in all circumstances, both in direct sun, and at home in a dark closet.

However, the SM921 did strike a couple of sour notes. While the quick-pull lacing system meant the shoes went on easily, it also meant the shoe sometimes slipped off the foot occasionally. When we tried trudging our way through deep mud, for example, we had to work to keep the shoe on our foot, and our heel came fully out multiple times. For the same reasons, small pebbles and other debris can come in around the ankle. And while the lightweight construction is great for fleet-footed excursions, it also means that the shoe doesn't offer much stability against turning an ankle, or smashing your toes against the rocks. You'll also feel sharp edges underfoot.

These are minor quibbles though. Overall, this shoe is an excellent choice for those who will be frequently moving back and forth from wet to dry and want something that provides freedom of movement, top of the foot protection, and underfoot traction.

Keen Cimarron II

When it comes to all-around wet-and-dry performance, we were blown away by the versatile Cimarron II. The 12.1-ounce shoe is lightweight, and secures nicely via quick-pull laces. Loops on the tongue and heel help you get the shoe on and off quickly. Thick multidirectional lugs provide nice traction. And the webbed mesh upper provided both protection, and a degree of warmth in cold water. It all stacked up to a shoe that did just about everything well.

As a hiker, the Keen's sturdy sole with protection for toes and heel proved stable and secure; we navigated rocky off-trail sections with peace of mind and without having to focus on our feet. It even made a passable trail runner that we logged a beach-side 5K in without any discomfort. In the water, it handled slick surfaces exceptionally well, and was also solid on sharp rocks thanks to a very rigid sole. We were also pleased with its performance in the mud, where it stayed on our feet even after sinking completely below the surface into the muck. While our heel did come up in the back end of the shoe, it never came out.

Yet we did have a few nits to pick out of these kicks. It did a fine job keeping out small pebbles and debris, but it did allow quite a bit of sand and smaller particulate matter in. And because silt is not easily flushed out, it tended to collect in the toebox, which was uncomfortable. Also, if you do manage to get a small pebble in there, you'll have to take your shoes off to get it out again. Finally, while it does shed excess water, it doesn't dry quickly. It was much slower to dry — both indoors and out — than the other two shoes we tested along side it. The wet upper combined with the collected sand rubbed our skin, but not in a good way. The bottom line is that the Cimarron II is a very solid well-rounded performer. It wasn't the best at anything, but it was pretty great at just about everything we threw at it. For a combination rafting and hiking shoe, it was aces.

Teva Avator SR

While most river shoes are simply wetware versions of athletic shoes, the Teva Avator resemble work boots. The neoprene upper extends above the ankle, and it secures by means of a Velcro closure, plus two adjustable straps. Thick padding at the ankle and a stiff rubberized cup in the rear behind the heel offer some protection to keep your ankle from turning. Likewise, a stiff toe cup will keep you from totaling your toes on underwater rocks or other jagged edges. The hard sole was ace for stepping on sharp rocks and uncertain terrain, providing a secure platform that even stood up to a light stabbing from a Swiss Army knife.

And yet this work boot is very much a submersible shoe. Vents by the toe and heel allow water to escape, while the neoprene not only dries quickly, but it also keeps your feet relatively warm in cold river or ocean water. The adjustable straps stay closed no matter how turbulent the water, or what you wedge your foot in below its surface. Even when we plunged this shoe calf-deep in the mud, it never budged. Seriously, you're more likely to have a beaver gnaw your foot off than you are to lose it in the water. Likewise, the ankle-high closure keeps out not only H2O but also dirt, grime and even fine sand. We were also surprised at how quickly the shoe dried. Although it has much more material than the New Balance 921 or Keen Cimarron II that we tested simultaneously, it was the first to dry in cool indoor conditions. It is, however, slow to drain, and in the sun it retained water longer than the others.

While we're mostly positive on this kicker, but the shoe isn't much of an athletic performer. The rigid ankle makes running and scramb

ling in it awkward, while the largely flat sole tends to become caked in sand and mud, and slips repeatedly on slick rocks and wet wood. It was also quite hot. While the neoprene upper is great for those moments when your dogs are sunk in chilly river water, in the sun they can get quite hot (and more than a little slimy).

Overall, we were impressed with the Avator, but it seems best suited to occasional splashes and is more of a workhorse than a thoroughbred.

WIRED More secure than a 64-character password; this shoe will not accidentally come off your foot. Exceptionally stable, great for walking through water where one can't see below the surface. Neoprene upper kept our toes toasty. Dries quickly.

TIRED Banana peel-slick soles slid off algae-covered rocks like a fried egg off oiled Teflon. Slow to drain.

$90, teva.com