Posts Tagged Teva
Teva Ion-Mask Mush Frio Packable, Lightweight Travel Shoes
The first time I saw a pair of Teva Mush Frio Canvas lace shoes, it was at a company booth at a trade show. They caught my eye because the shoes were hovering in the air, each one held up by a single helium balloon. That’s how light they are. Each one is just 3.4 ounces, so the pair is less than a pound. I’ve been checking out its predecessor, the Ion Mask version, which is slightly heavier but comes with waterproofing.
Oviously packing a pair of these shoes is not going to ding your weight limit, plus they smash up flat so you can easily fit them in a bag that seems like it can’t hold another pair of shoes. As for comfort, they feel like a pair of slippers, even the first time you put them on. But something this thin doesn’t come with any real arch support. So I wouldn’t use them for walking around in all day on city sidewalks, but for kicking around at the end of the day (especially after skiing or hiking) they’re terrific.
The “Mush Frio” part of the name is meant to imply you can wear these shoes when it’s not flip-flop weather. When you have to put away the flip-flops and put on real shoes, you don’t give up any comfort. They’re light enough and breathable enough to wear all year though—part of the upper is canvas, but the whole tongue part is stretchy padded mesh and there are two eyelets on the side. Plus you get an anti-bacterial treatment on the insole and shoe lining, so they shouldn’t get stinky when the weather gets warm.
The insole is nice and squishy and after a while will conform to your feet. They really fit like a glove though, so go one size up from your usual if you don’t have narrow feet. Otherwise there’s not much margin for error.
This slightly advanced Ion-Mask version has waterproofing, which they probably added to the original version after realizing that marketing this as a winter item while letting it soak up melted snow was probably a bit incongruous.
I’m not sure these will last you five years, but they’re about as light as you can get for something so comfortable and the price is right. This pair lists for $65 at Teva.com, or shop around at Zappos or Amazon.
You can lop off at least $10 and get a lot more color choices by removing the “Ion-Mask” part of this—the waterproofing. You can get the even lighter Teva Mush Frio direct from Teva for $50, or shop around by following these direct links to Zappos or Altrec. The version (pictured to the right) comes in six colors, so check Amazon, where some color/size combinations are currently going for under $35.
See more Teva Footwear reviews on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on May 16th, 2012
Teva Fuse-ion Shoes
Water-friendly shoes often come in two forms: big clunky sandals and neoprene booties. Usually, that means you’re changing your shoes to something that looks a little nicer when you do anything other than hit a beach bar after your outdoor adventure. But with the Teva Fuse-ion, you can keep your water shoes on for your urban adventures as well.
Designed in a cool sneaker style, the Fuse-ion uses ion-mask, a liquid-repellant technology that keeps the shoes lightweight (at 11 ounces), breathable and stain resistant. The perforated upper lets water drain out, so you’re not sloshing around when you’re on dry land. Even if you’re not jumping around in the water, that same perforation allows for maximum ventilation for your feet.
The Spider Rubber + JStep sole has good traction, whether you’re walking around on the deck of a boat, or hopping rocks in a river. The hundreds of small pods independently move and flex, offering a more grippy sole than many other water-friendly shoes.
The footbed and the tongue are padded, to make your adventures a little more comfortable. The collapsible heel lets you slip the shoes on and off easily (aided by the heel pull loop), but equally important for travelers, it makes the shoes collapse flat so they’re easy to pack. And speaking of packing, since the Fuse-ion can cover outdoor and urban adventures equally, you can lighten your load and bring fewer shoes on your travels.
Teva Fuse-ion shoes list for $90.00 on the Teva website. A men’s version is available for the same price. They’re also available at Amazon and Zappos.
See more reviews of travel shoes on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on April 13th, 2012
Teva Churn: An All-Purpose Sport/Travel Shoe
Earlier this season I went on a hunt for the lightest possible all terrain shoe. I wanted something that I could walk in all day but I didn’t want the weight of hikers. I wanted something well ventilated for hot weather. I wasn’t planning on wet feet, but should that happen, I wanted shoes that would dry quickly or at least not hold water. Lots of research and many web clicks later, I landed on the Teva Churn, a shoe that met all my requirements.
The shoes have a mesh upper that doesn’t hold water — or sweat, for that matter — and is great for hot days. The shoelaces have a quick release shock corded closure, so they’re easy to get in and out of. The heel cup is designed to collapse so you can wear the shoe as a slide; that’s handy for airports and shuffling around your campsite. They’re super light weight, they won’t add a load to your luggage if you’re packing them as a second pair of shoes. I picked up a pair for travel but found I was wearing them at home, too, for running errands, for walking to the beach near my house, for just about anything where I could get away with wearing sneakers.
They’re not designed for super rugged terrain, so I wouldn’t substitute them for a shoe with a heavy Vibram sole if I needed something for camping, but for general city walking, or parks, or very light hiking, they’re perfect, especially if you’re doing those activities on a warm day. I’m not a runner, so I can’t comment on their suitability for that sport, but I’d recommend trying them out first before committing to them as the running shoe you take on your trip. Because they dry quickly, they’re great for creek hopping and tide-pooling and walking on the sand when the surf is a little unpredictable. I’ve found them very comfortable and kind to my feet; they needed no breaking in.
Teva’s Churn shoes come in four colors and yes, there’s a men’s model too. The Churn is a versatile, all purpose shoe that travels light and dry. It works well for light sport and long walks, and it’s comfortable after hours of wear. While it won’t replace the sturdier shoes I wear for longer hikes or outdoor activities, it’s nearly perfect for that lazy beach vacation, car camping or spa trip, or as the shoes you where when your navigating the TSA, your flight gate and everything in between.
The Churn is $80 for men or women if you buy directly from Teva. Prices on Amazon came in quite a bit lower, you may see them for as low as $40. If you’re interested in something sturdier, check out Tim’s review of the Tahoe from Ecco or Kara’s on the Teva Dalea eVent or GoLite Trail Lite.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on October 21st, 2011
Most Popular Travel Gear Posts of 2010
Now that the dust has settled on the past year, what did you all like the most on this travel gear blog?
Here’s a look at the 10 most popular posts of the past year, in reverse order:
10) Eagle Creek HC2 Hovercraft Rolling Carry-on Suitcase
9) Teva Omnium Sandals for Men
8) The New Steripen Adventurer Opti Purifier
7) Bruton Restore Portable Solar Power Supply
6) The Pros and Cons of Packing Cubes
5) iPad a Must for Travelers? I’m Not Convinced
4) Stanley Ultra-bright LED Spotlight Gets a Thumbs Up From the Guys
3) One Serious Outdoor Watch: Casio Pathfinder PAW2000
2) Lucy Activewear: Stylish, Comfortable Travel Clothes
1) Best and Worst Travel Gear of 2009
So there you have it: you readers are adventurous, well-traveled, and downright…well…practical. Glad to hear it! Stick with us in 2011 and we’ll keep on bringing you first-person reviews of the best things to pack, all for active travelers who are not on a hedge fund manager’s budget.
Put our RSS feed in your reader to keep up on what’s coming, follow us on Twitter, or get friendly with us on Facebook.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 10th, 2011
Best and Worst Travel Gear of 2009
We’ve been cranking out first-person reviews of travel gear on a daily basis and trying out lots of things as we hike, backpack, explore new cities, and navigate airports. Some items disappoint, some thrill, some defy expectations, so here’s a list of what worked and what didn’t in 2009.
Kara Williams
Item I used on the most trips this year
These Lucy capris are comfortable and stylish—they can go from the hiking trail to the dinner table. I wore them on the top of the Continental Divide in Colorado, to Maya ruins in Belize, to an ecological preserve in Mexico, and eating lobster in New Hampshire.
Worst piece of crap I gave up on
This battery-operated mosquito repellent is a travel-gear don’t. The blue plastic fan looks like a toy, so it’s dangerous to young children. Plus, it’s dorky and doesn’t work.
Most useful item for $20 or less
The Flip & Tumble bag. A reusable shopping bag that compacts into a tiny, squishy, 3-inch ball is a must-have for any traveler. Use it to tote items to the pool, buy groceries at the local market, or protect packed clothing from dirty shoes on the return trip.
John Gordon
Item I now cannot live without
It took a long time, but I’ve finally found a Bluetooth headset I can love. Motorola’s Endeavor HX1 (pictured at the top) offers excellent audio quality for normal conversations and true bone-conduction technology, like special forces use, to knock out extreme noise. Voice prompts make it easy to use.
Worst “Do we really need this?” item
Some things I just don’t understand, like Planesheets for covering airline seats. Besides the dubious claims of cleanliness, I’d just feel a little weird being the only passenger on the plane sitting in a zebra-stripe seat.
Most questionable travel app
iPhone and iPod users are familiar with the marketing line, “There’s an app for that.” Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Without Fear app is supposed to calm white-knuckled flyers. There’s a screen that says, “This is natural. We know you’re scared. You’re going to be OK.” Like that’s going to help.
Never leave home without it
My AT&T Tilt 2 smartphone (same as the HTC Touch Pro2) lets me keep in touch with friends and clients whether I’m at the neighborhood store or in another part of the world. Sure, AT&T sells a lot more iPhones than this model. When the iPhone gets a real keyboard, can tether to my laptop and lets me swap out the battery, I’ll consider it.
Tim Leffel
Worst Case of Greenwashing
There was plenty of greenwashing to go around this year and the “green gear” tag keeps making its way onto things that really aren’t. I debunked plenty of these, but the most obvious one was this Altus Lumen LED light that burns through four AA batteries in an hour. Decent product otherwise, but the bombastic claim of being “the world’s first sustainable portable LED light” turned out to be based on one factor: the shell is 75% recyclable—provided you pry it all apart and separate the pieces when the thing dies.
What I used the most this year
There were plenty of items I tried out and then put on a shelf. The new things I tried that became a permanent part of my ensemble included the Tom Bihn Aeronaut carry-on bag (pictured at the top), my Teva Omnium sandal shoes, and pretty much everything I put on from ExOfficio—including their underwear. And I almost never pack my bags without a pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses and some kind of Keen Footwear shoes.
Item that caused the most mixed feelings
I have to admit the Starbucks Via instant coffee tastes ten times better than Sanka or Folgers, but at $1 a serving, it sure better! If you already like the over-roasted, burnt taste of Starbucks, you’ll like this stuff. Even if you don’t, instant coffee that’s drinkable would be worth packing on a camping trip or when staying any place where hot water is more readily available than real coffee.
Honorable Mention – Past year’s standout that keeps coming back:
Travel gear item I would gladly do infomercials for
Only real travelers who have used it believe this $99 SteriPEN Traveler is for real. It looks fishy, I’ll admit: you stick this in the water you’re going to drink, the light kills everything, then you can drink away. But I, my wife, and my daughter have used this daily in 9, 6, and 4 countries respectively without getting sick. ‘Nuff said.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 1st, 2010
