Teva Itunda Sandal : For Amphibious Adventurers

I've been testing Teva's Itunda sandal in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, and I'm super impressed. This sandal's a fantastic option for amphibious hiking and traveling back and forth between land and water. It's got good traction, it's lightweight, and it's really comfortable.

The first thing I noticed about these sandals is that they grip like glue. Teva uses a proprietary sticky material called Spider Rubber that works great on rocks, even the smooth and wet ones in the middle of rivers. The sole is also well designed for adventures in wet places. I'd say it's medium aggressive, meaning the lugs aren't too big but also aren't too small. Big lugs don't have enough surface area for good traction on smooth boulders, and small lugs (like those found on climbing approach shoes) just don't work so well in the mud. I found the Itunda's sole to be a great compromise.

It's pretty hot here in Colorado right now, and the Itunda makes for a great summer hiking sandal. It's got plenty of ventilation (much of the sandal is made of perforated neoprene) so my feet don't get stinky. When I run through rivers, the material dries almost instantly. The sandal actually has drain holes running down from the heel and then out the side of the sole. The quick-adjust strap and buckles work great, too - no laces to come untied or fray.

As far as comfort goes, the Itunda wins. I love the ShocPad heel cushion - it's a welcome feature on long days out. There's a fair amount of arch support, which is great for people like me who need that stability, and the rubber toe guard protects my feet when I smash them on rocks.

The Itunda is available in a variety of colors in both men's and women's size.

Bottom Line: Lightweight, all-purpose multi sport sandal that'll take you just about anywhere. --N.W. (July '10)

BUY ONLINE : $99 click to shop at Amazon, click for onlineshoes.com

Manufacturer's Site: www.teva.com

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