Review on 👟 Collaborating on Women's Athletic Water Barefoot Travel Shoes by Chad Black

I bought a light grey/orange size 40 for my size 8.5 shoes for a hike that took about 14 rocky river crossings. At 418g (14.75oz) it was definitely heavier than what I wanted to carry as I was trying to keep my UL gear. However, I chose this shoe over sandals for five main reasons: 1) stability/support when walking, 2) toe protection and comfort, 3) hard ground to avoid punctures from sticks and stones, 4) water drainage, and 5) quick drying . As I watched my fellow hikers trudge through slippery/craggy rocky rivers barefoot or in their signature open-toed sandals, I realized I was glad I walked in these shoes as I almost transitioned comfortably. The sole had good traction even on rocks and DEFINITELY protected my feet when I slipped and had to hold on to a kick. There was a portion of our hike where we found ourselves on a peninsula and we decided not to change our water shoes for about a mile as we walked over rocks, fallen sticks, and over dead trees. I also appreciated that the semi-permeable fabric kept sand from getting in, otherwise I probably would have gotten blisters during that mile. The hanging loop on the back of the shoe was very strong and strong enough to attach to my backpack by rocking it back and leaning on it with no showing of wear or loose stitching. The shoes are not as easy to slip on and off when wet, but that gives me peace of mind that they don't slip up like a sock could possibly do. The toe box is roomy enough and my toes were able to turn over comfortably without chafing hot spots. The design is great in that it looks minimalist yet sporty and doesn't need attention. Some negative remarks are that the heel entry area is not flush with the sole resulting in an odd clearance in the heel. Also, the insole slips easily, especially when wet and when putting shoes on and off, causing the front of the insole to constantly clump and require a lot of adjustment. Didn't dry as quickly as hoped (several hours in the sun) but was enough to dry the next day. After this ride, I noticed that some of the rubber grommets around the curved portion of the boot showed signs of wear; but of course I ran cross-country for several miles. Overall it was a good purchase but I would consider other brands that may have better quality control in their manufacturing process to prevent weird heel room if I need to replace them.