By Admiral Unit
from Baton Rouge, LA on 07/21/2009
Pros:
Breathes Well, Comfortable, Durable
Describe Yourself:
Conservative
Sizing:
Feels half size too big
Width:
Feels true to width
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
I bought this sandal because I hate flip-flops but really wanted a open sandal for La summers. I was taken in by the North Face brand and the Vibram soles.
My tender feet took about 5 days to get used to them, but the four different velcro straps helped situate the fit well. The third day I had them, I took them canoeing on a shallow, sandy river, jumping in and out of the boat and the water with no ill effects.
About a month after I got them, I packed them with me on a 5 day bivouack-style backpacking trip to the Lower Apps, and used them extensively in the small, rocky river and around camp. I could climb moderate boulders with them almost as easily as with my hiking shoes, even from the river. The Vibram soles really stick to sand stone and all but the slickest mud (which nothing sticks to).
The under-stream rocks never felt too sharp or pointy. The velcro straps would fill with sand, but they never failed. The treads on the sole would fill with sand, but that easily kicked out. The never smelled bad the whole trip. The only thing that would've been better would be if they dried out faster, but that never bothered me.
I wear size 11.5 hiking shoes, tennis shoes, dress shoes, work boots, rubber boots...everything, but Sierra only had 11s and 12s in these, so I went with the 11, and they could still stand to be a tad bit shorter.
If you can get over the thoroughly "wilderness chic" look of them, pick 'em up, you'll like em.
