Men’s Performance Sandals: Making miles, taking on the river

August 16, 2016

by Peter Reese
Men’s Performance Sandals:  Making miles, taking on the river

Life was made for diving in, scrambling skyward and walking where few have tread.  Enter these performance selections, suited for off-the-wall (and out-of-the-mall) scenarios.

ECCO Men’s BIOM Delta Offroad Sandal:  Trails less traveled

  ECCO Men’s BIOM Delta Offroad Sandal Starting at: $90.72

Yak leather and ECCO’s exceptional engineering make this one for the record book.  If, that is, the singular destinations now within reach aren’t better off left as secrets for others to find.  Active Junky is enthralled with the gritty determination connected to the BIOM last, one that powers through hours and days at top form (foot-wise, that is).  Testers plowed through root-strewn forests, across alien deserts and blown-out dry creek beds with a level of confidence most sandals don’t permit.  A protective TPU toecap contributed to this fearless exploration as did the TPE footbed.  With enough foot coverage to protect against abrasion, Delta’s breathability was superior but does benefit from regular UV exposure to kill odor-promoting bacteria.  At a modest premium to standard-issue sport models, this ECCO sandal strolls into civilized settings with aplomb.  And stomps obstacles without losing cadence.

Best For: Adventure travel, moderate hiking as well as all-day urban wear 

Astral Filipe Sandal:  Converts welcome

Astral Filipe Sandal Starting at: $66.46

Active Junky’s vetted Astral as a legitimate contributor to the life aquatic.  Other footwear models from the brand have followed the testing team around the American west as well as South America.  This new slide + strap sandal contributes both to life on the water and off.  Rather than take two sandals on trips, the strap attaches when extended walking is the plan – or taking to the water is on the agenda.  Testers acknowledged the merits of the base sandal as the zoned insole combines walking comfort with insole support.  And the synthetic leather upper carries a sense of style while being wide enough to prevent excessive abrasion.  For most scenarios, the siped outsole is plausible, traction-wise.  The 15mm polyester removable ankle and forefoot strap is best for on-water security as Active Junky found it to be bothersome underfoot in other settings.

Best For: International adventure travel, domestic river trips

Treksta Equinox Lace:  Roll with the rocks

Treksta Equinox Lace

Active Junky’s taken this one around the block.  Island, actually, as well as to rocky shorelines and trails through old growth forests.  The trick on Equinox, built on Treksta’s NestFit system that promotes cohesive comfort, is adjustment.  With laces up front and hook-and-eye in back, this lightweight, EVA midsole model takes some tuning.  Also, as it’s prone to trap debris inside the shoe, regular clean-up is essential.  With these requirements, the sandal delivers outstanding traction on wet and algae-covered surfaces.  Treksta promotes independent outsoles “sensors” to adjust to ground, river or ocean conditions.  Tester simply knows it works and thinks toughening up heels before long trips is important to capitalizing on Equinox’ ability to travel varied terrain in a fast-drying, synthetic-upper sandal. Check out the Treksta Equinox Lace here.

Best For: Water-centered multisport use including short hikes and MTB rides

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