Posts Tagged footwear
New Balance 851 Multisport Shoes
If you’re going to pack light it’s important to utilize double-duty travel gear, so we like to review items that do more than one thing well. These New Balance shoes have treated me well on multiple trips where I wasn’t going to do any heavy-duty hiking in the mountains. For jogs, long walks on a path, and pounding the pavement in a big city, this one pair of shoes will leave your feet feeling good at the end of the day.
I’ve long been a fan of New Balance shoes because the company doesn’t pretend everyone’s feet are the same width. Most of their models come not just in multiple sizes, but multiple widths as well. For this 851 multisport model, I slipped into an extra-wide version and it fit perfectly.
If you look at the specs for this shoe on the New Balance site, you’ll see lots of capital letters and trademark signs that basically add up to this: there’s a lot of support built in. You’ve got lots of cushioning, stability control, and mid-sole support.
These sneakers also feature a water-resistant suede/mesh upper that worked well when I got caught in a couple showers. I also liked the comfy cushioned tongue, the laces that stay tied, and the fabric hook on the back for slipping them on or off.
These New Balance shoes are extremely comfortable and at 12.5 ounces, are not a big burden to pack. When I headed out for a trip to Chile this week where I would mostly be visiting wineries, biking, and walking around Santiago, these are the shoes I packed for getting around during the day.
The New Balance multisport 851 shoes list for $80, but you can get them at a discounted price at the Shop New Balance site or at Endless.com at the link below. (The men’s version model number is listed as MO851 and the women’s version as WO851.)
New Balance Men’s Mo851 Sneaker at Endless.com
New Balance Women’s Wo851 Multisport Shoe
Posted by Tim in General Gear on August 18th, 2010
Rugged Quick-dry Techical Ahnu Reyes Sandals
After two months on the road last summer, I found that the shoes I used the most were the wet-dry sandals that were good in the heat and offered plenty of support. After trying these out over a few weeks, I know this summer I’ll be spending a lot of days in these Reyes Technical Sandals from Ahnu Footwear.
These are set up a bit differently than the Teva Omnium ones I’ve worn so much I wore them out. The straps really weave across the foot with these, insuring a snug fit. There’s plenty of open space for circulation, with holes that go all the way to the bottom—appreciated when there are pebbles that need to shake out.
They’ve got anti-microbial properties built in to keep them from getting stinky and so far so good on that front. The footbed is comfortable and supportive, with a thick sole that made me feel like they will continue to hold up well for light hiking or my days of walking the cobblestone streets of colonial Mexico.
All the materials dry quickly—in my experience an hour in the sun was more than enough. The tough toe is good for banging against rocks and the sole gripped boulders well on a hike.Think of these as water shoes that can double as walking or light hiking shoes, great for a river rafting trip and then a walk through town the next day.
Be advised that these are sized generously, with the expectation you’ll pull in the straps if you have narrow feet, so go a size down if that’s you. For my E feet, they fit perfectly.
These come in two colors and list for $90. See more photo angles and info on the Reyes sandal at AhnuFootwear.com
Get the Ahnu Reyes Technical Sandal at Backcountry.com
Get the Ahnu Reyes at REI
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on June 23rd, 2010
Don’t Call Them Flip-Flops: Spenco Total Support Sandals
What would a company known for orthotic insoles do with a pair of flip-flops? Spenco took a shot at it and completely redesigned the experience. You won’t confuse these with beach flip-flops from Wal-mart, so Spenco won’t even use that term. These are “Polysorb Total Support Sandals.”
It’s not just semantics though. Your feet will feel a night and day difference as soon as you slide them into these Spenco sandals. You can easily be on your feet all day long in these and still feel good at the end of it.
Lots of people make space in their pack for a pair of flip-flops. (Julie Blakley even put them in her post on five things I always pack.) They don’t take up as much space as regular shoes or even sandals from Teva or Keen. Most cheap sandals and flip-flops are only meant for a shuffle to the beach or the shower, however. Or sitting around a beach cafe sipping cold ones—especially if you have some Reef Fanning ones with a built-in bottle opener. These Total Support ones are actually engineered to keep your feet supported and comfortable for far longer, with arch support and a deep heel cup to properly align the foot, plus “support for the lateral arch, metatarsal and medial arches to offload pressure from the ball of the foot and help relieve forefoot pain.”
I’m no podiatrist, but whatever they did it works. I’ve been wearing these around the house non-stop for a month, mostly on hardwood floors, and tested them out playing around on my asphalt driveway with a bunch of kids. These sandals are more comfortable than any shoe I wear around without custom orthotics. It’s almost like having custom orthotics actually: the grippy EVA foam top layer conforms over time to create a custom fit. They feel better, not worse, after you’ve had them a while.
There is a nice rubber outsole that absorbs impact and the strap on the top is about as comfortable as you can get with a post sticking through the space next to your big toe.
How much does all this technical innovation cost? The list price is $40, which is not bad. More than cheapo Chinese flip-flops for sure, but in line with lots of brands you find in a sporting goods store or surf shop. They come in several colors for men (like the one pictured at the top) and for women (like the one at the bottom). Follow those links for more specs and info at Spenco.com.
You can find these for sale in most places where Spenco insoles are sold, or check prices online at Amazon.
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on June 9th, 2010
Travel Wedges for Women from Ahnu Footwear
Regular readers of Practical Travel Gear know that I’m a fan of sporty shoes and Mary Jane styles, so it’s no surprise I was immediately attracted to Ahnu Footwear’s Olivia style: a two-inch wedge heel with a braided elastic strap across the top. As with all its styles — from aqua socks and ballet flats to multi-sport hikers and all-weather boots — Ahnu Footwear creates its shoes with performance in mind.
The Neutral Positioning System in the Olivia wedge is designed to keep the foot aligned and centered (for comfort, good balance and overall foot health), while a thick midsole promotes shock absorption and a grippy outer sole provides traction on uneven surfaces. There’s a rubber toe guard for extra protection and elastic mesh at the heel and on the sides for snugness.
Oh, how I wanted these wedges to fit like a cushiony glove right out of the box. Alas, after I recently wore them to a PTA meeting followed by drinks with the girls (maybe four hours total), I had a blister on the side of the ball of my foot — and soreness on the other one. By the end of the night, I could barely walk in the shoes, with some rubbing on my heel, too.
The second time I wore the shoes, to an all-day conference, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., I wised up by slipping on no-show ped socks as well. Though I felt like my Grandma wearing the little nylons, they provided enough cushion between my foot and the shoe to prevent any rubbing. No blisters at all!
Lately I’ve been wearing the shoes around the house to further break them in, and it seems to be working. I feel confident the next time I wear them out and about I can do so without peds or bandaids.
I think I’d sooner wear flats to do a lot of sightseeing or walking in an unfamiliar city while traveling — that’s just my style to opt for absolute comfort. (Plus, I’m 5′9″ and just don’t need much height in my shoes.) But I’ll absolutely keep these travel shoes on hand for versatile use on trips — I’d pair them with jeans or a skirt when I want to feel a bit more dressed up (or tall).
The Olivia shoes, which come in Smokey Brown, Loden Green, Mood Indigo and Black, retail for $100 at brick-and-mortar shops nationwide and online dealers like REI and Zappos. See plenty more women’s Ahnu styles on Amazon, too.
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on June 4th, 2010
Suave Keen Rockaway Sandals Go From Casual to Classy
Women have loads of nice-looking sandals to choose from that are also comfortable enough to wear all day and into the night. The choices are much slimmer for men. Some companies have been trying hard lately to remedy that though, putting out stylish closed-toe sandals that can be worn in multiple situations, like these suave Rockaway Sandals from Keen Footwear.
I’m a big fan of sports sandals and water shoes from the likes of Keen and Teva, but those aren’t the kind of thing you want to wear with a pair of nice slacks. These Rockaway sandals do well on the double-duty scale, with a classy look that doesn’t shout, “I just went river rafting!” So if your trip is more about staying cool and being cool than hitting trails and kayaking, these are a good choice.
They’ve got a nice leather upper that covers the whole foot but has ample places for the air to pass through. Like most Keens these won’t squeeze your foot into a narrow tube, but the adjustable wide strap with Velcro allows you to tighten them as needed. There’s a bouncy non-marking rubber sole and a supremely comfortable anatomical footbed. I’ve worn these off and on for several weeks and on a couple days were my only footwear from morning until night, remaining comfortable after long walks.
The footbed has an odor-resistant compound in it also that worked well in my tests, though I did find the surface a bit sticky when the weather turned hot and sweaty. Some kind of design adjustment with grooves or a variable surface pattern might help. Although these are leather, they are water-resistant.
These Keen sandals come in brown or black and list for $89 at the Keen Footwear site, where you can see them from more angles and how they look with jeans. They’re currently going for a tad less at the retailers below.
Get the KEEN Rockaway Sandal at Backcountry
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on May 27th, 2010
