Bogley

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

Looks like the new La Sportiva - Exum River canyoneering shoe is out. Cost is $100. I would like to hear a report from the first person that buys a pair.

Canyoneering is wet, muddy business, but the Exum River will put you on stable ground. These custom rigs are chock full of features to anchor your foot to slick rocks and shifting sands even in moving water.

Removable TPU strap keeps the Exum River securely latched to your foot in the strongest of currents.

FriXion® XF/Dot Rubber Trail Tread Hybrid soles grip wet stones, dry stones ... all stones

Full-length polypropylene midsole provides support for tricky terrain and all-day outings

Molded rubber reinforcements protect the front uppers from the gnarliest textures known to man

COLOR: Gray/Orange UPPER: Rubber/Synthetic Leather/Mesh

CONSTRUCTION: Slip Lasted Strobel LAST: Tempo LINING: Hydrophobic Mesh SOLE: FriXion® XF/Dot Rubber Trail Tread Hybrid MIDSOLE: Dual-density MEMlex/RockShock with E.S.P. polypropylene full-length protection plate WEIGHT: 1 lbs 14 oz

rockgremlin · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 4043 Location: Hotel California

I think they could've improved on this design by making the top of the shoe more sturdy and including a flap that wraps around the ankle to prevent most rocks and pebbles from entering the shoe (like the 5.10 Canyoneers).

Those look like just a regular shoe. For the same price as the Canyoneers, I would have expected something more. :ne_nau:

rock_ski_cowboy · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 442

rockgremlin wrote: I think they could've improved on this design by making the top of the shoe more sturdy and including a flap that wraps around the ankle to prevent most rocks and pebbles from entering the shoe (like the 5.10 Canyoneers).

Those look like just a regular shoe. For the same price as the Canyoneers, I would have expected something more. :ne_nau:

I know some people prefer a low top shoe. For example, Josh won't be caught dead in high tops and has been waiting for a good low top canyoneering shoe to come out that suits his fancy. This may be the one.

They likely didn't want to be accused of just copycating five-ten so tried to come up with something different. People who want a "Canyoneer" will still buy the canyoneer (although they might have to wait a year or so).

Also states that the shoe is based on the Exum Ridge, which is an extremely popular, tried and tested, and successful shoe.

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

The Five-Ten Canyoneer is one of the ugliest shoes on the planet..... I say good job in not coping that look. :2thumbs:

rockgremlin · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 4043 Location: Hotel California

I sure do hear a lot of complaining about the look of the Canyoneers. I never thought guys really cared about style and fashion while out in the middle of a remote slot canyon....

...guess I was wrong.

To us straight guys, function and performance rule over looks.

stefan · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 4655 Location: somewhere

I have used the exum ridges quite a bit for backpacking and canyoneering and have really liked them, save the fact that tight slots/stemming naturally destroys the shoe more quickly than one would wish. So, looking forward to getting a pair of the rivers, since they have greatly improved the locations where the shoe naturally shreads in slots.

i have found that almost no rocks/pebbles get into the exum ridge, at least with my foot. while sand does get in, it always amazes me how comfortable the shoe still is with sand in it.

aside from the shredding potential of the exum ridge, i was very happy with its performance, especially since, when the shoe is wet, it feels and performs very similarly to when it's dry. Hope this shoe performs the same.

though, i just never understand the obsession with bright colors on shoes...what's up with the neon orange? and the yellow on the 5-10s?
:ne_nau:

stefan

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

Lately I have been putting armor (shoe goo) on the threads and seams of my canyoneering shoes before I ever wear them. I have found this greatly increases the life of the shoe in skinny slots.

rockgremlin · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 4043 Location: Hotel California

For those of you who poo-poo the 5.10 Canyoneer because it "looks bad," I did a little research online and found that Gucci has released it's own line of canyoneering shoes. So for all you fashion snobs who just absolutely MUST be in the leading edge of style and fashion when you step into the slots, check these bad boys out:

With a low-cut top, and a subtle earth-tone, you can't beat it!!

A steal at just under $200 bucks!!!

stefan · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 4655 Location: somewhere

rockgremlin wrote: For those of you who poo-poo the 5.10 Canyoneer because it "looks bad," I did a little research online and found that Gucci has released it's own line of canyoneering shoes.

Sweeet! Thanks rockgremlin, forget the river,

that's my new shoe!!!! :haha:

stefan

rock_ski_cowboy · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 442

Mountainworks (Provo) just got these in stock. Josh bought a pair and he's pretty stoked-- says they appear to be very heavy duty and are also very light. He'll have the opportunity to put them to the test for 6 days next week and I'll have him post some sort of review.

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

Yeah, I have a friend who bought a pair of Exum Rivers last week. We were supposed to go test them out this week but the weather around here sucks.... its snowing at my house.... April Fools.... NOT.

Anyhow, I put a pair on and walked around the house. They seemed to stick well traveling across the kitchen tile and when I stepped in a big dog turd :haha:

They Exum Rivers upon first inspection had some things I really liked and disliked. The stitching across the toe rand and around the heel was reccessed so it would stand up to some abuse in a mae west slot. The little girlly strap looks like it might last an entire 10 minutes in a mae west. I think the low cut is going to suck in deep sand and mud but ya never know until you try them for real.

:rockon:

bruce from bryce · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 235

Damn Shane sounds like a BLM threat needs to be made at your house -- dog turds in the kitchen. OSHA will making a surprise visit soon! LOL

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

First action report from the field on the new La Sportiva - Exum River canyoneering shoe......

The shoe is not quite as sticky as the Five-Ten Canyoneer, but the shoe is much more comfortable. Keep in mind these are first impressions from one of my partners and I'll update as more info becomes available. The sticky issue might disappear as my trusty Nike Reviro's didn't seem to stick as well as normal last weekend. It might have been the type of rock we were climbing on.

stefan · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 4655 Location: somewhere

On my pair, the yellow plastic piece holding the strap has already broken.

I am really not sure what they were thinking using hard plastic....please. :crazycobasa:

but i didn't expect to really use it anyhow.

as far as the fit, mine feel almost identical to my exum ridges which were the same size.

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7792 Location: Local Bordello

Latest impressions.... the shoe is not as sticky as the Five-Ten Canyoneers, but it is much more comfortable. The low cut fills with sand and debris easy.

And as suspected... that cute little strapy thingy is a piece of shit that will be gone the first time the shoe has to do some real work.

I know a dozen folks who have switched from Five-Ten to Exum Rivers. All are happy with the switch to date and said the trade for sticky to comfort was worth it.

I'm still using my old Nike Air Rivero's and would not trade them for Five-Ten or Exum Rivers. To bad they stopped making the Nikes.

Anyone else want to offer up an opinion or observation?

:popcorn: