ashenCanyoneering occupies a special place among the many adventurous outdoor sports. Unlike hiking, trekking and kayaking, it isn’t for all. That’s not to say that people can’t adapt to it. It’s just that it requires a degree of skill and experience to tackle rocks. To achieve this, your shoes play an immeasurably valuable role. You might think that your hiking boots or sneakers are capable of handling it, but they actually aren’t. Which is why we have specifically manufactured canyoneering shoes for such adventures.
Purchase Guide for Canyoneering Shoes
Grip and Support
Needless to say grip is of utmost importance when you are climbing rocks and battling with uneven rocks with slippery or dry surfaces. Therefore, traction is a top priority. The type used in hiking boots is quite sufficient except they perform better on softer surfaces. Canyoneering experts claim that stealth rubber is the best material for optimum traction. Because it does not loosen the grip even when the surface is wet. Maximized surface area with stealth rubber is adaptable to most canyons. To gain a better understanding, let’s see what materials are used by the shoes that we are about to suggest.
Ankle support vitality is tied in with traction. Since you will be conquering boulders and rivers from one point to another, you need a shoe that has good ankle support. You are bound to experience foot fatigue and twisted ankles if the shoe lacks support. Canyoneering shoes don’t arch as much as running shoes but they work better for climbing up or down.
Durability
Canyoneering includes a range of techniques such as hiking, sliding, scrambling, stemming, chimneying and rappelling. Therefore the shoes must be well prepared to take a serious beating from the entry point to the exit. Not to mention it can get worse depending on the climate and environment. Some canyons have a desert environment approach. This means you will be navigating through miles of sand evading thorny bushes and other desert plants. In murky lands, the approach is muddy and the shoes get dirty quickly and heavily.
Even if you ignore the approach, the aforementioned activities during canyoneering are sure to beat up regular shoes for several reasons. The shoes have to handle rugged terrains worse than they were meant to. The abrasive and jutted pieces of rocks contribute furthermore to quickened wear and tear. Also, your shoes experience more vertical forces when you hop between boulders. Don’t worry, the shoes we are recommending were designed to handle all of this.
Drainage
We mentioned that you will have to tackle water along the way. So you are going to be soaking your feet in some form of water body multiple times until you complete the journey. This is where good drainage comes in. We all know that traveling with soaked boots isn’t favorable at all. It is heavier, uncomfortable and can result in lessening the adventurous nature of your activity.
You might be wondering if waterproof shoes are cut out for the job. Keeping the water from getting inside the shoe and draining the water off the shoe are two different things. Therefore, they aren’t quite the same as canyoneering shoes. Mostly, kayaking requires shoes with similar drainage properties that allow water, sand, and little rocks flow through freely and they have holes all over them to maximize drainage.
Now that we are aware of the uniqueness of canyoneering shoes, let’s go ahead and choose the best fit for your next adventure!
La Sportiva Mens TX4- Approach Canyoneering Shoes
- Uber-sticky Vibram Mega-Grip traverse outsole with Trial Bite Heel Braking Platform
- Wide forefoot fit
- Optimum torsional rigidity
La Sportiva has earned quite the reputation among the rock climbing and canyoneering community. Although they aren’t exactly labeled as canyoneering shoes, they are more than adequate to handle any rugged terrain. The leather, rubber and synthetic materials are extremely durable with the ability to withstand jagged sharp rocks. They got the traction well covered using the Vibram Mega-Grip traverse outsole. Not only that, embedding the heel braking platform and enhancing the stability area is an overall coverage of major functionality. You shouldn’t have much of a problem with comfort provided you order the correct size. It has a wide forefoot fit and this paired with the leather should deliver ample comfort while conquering the boulders.
The synthetic upper mesh keeps water out but lets sand in and although the traction delivers good control, ankle support is unavailable with this shoe as it does not have high tops. Breathability is slightly minimized given the nature of the design. A customer reviews this shoe as the perfect backpacking shoe for alpine terrain below the snow line. He claims that he walked for 9 miles a day with a 50 lb pack on alpine trails and granite with these shoes with comfort. He further claims that the wide toe box and the traction ensures sure footedness than most backpacking boots. Bottom line, these are pretty decent starter shoes for those interested in getting to canyoneering.
Adidas Men’s Terrex Swift R2- Extremely Durable Running Shoes Which Also Work for Canyoneering
- GORE-TEX water protection
- Mesh and synthetic upper and TPU overlays for durability and support
- Traxion outsole and Continental Rubber for enhanced grip
- Lace Bungee to avoid tangling of laces
Adidas canyoneering shoes aren’t exactly for canyoneering but as we all know they manufacture running shoes possessing high durability. The Terrex Swift R2 is a few steps ahead of their regular shoes. Weighing only 1.08 pounds, they are way better than most hiking shoes. Some of them have stealth soles, and some like the Terrex have continental or traxion soles. Waterproof, breathable and works well with conquering wet canyons. Mind you they are low top shoes so beware if you are sensitive around the ankles. However, the mid-cut design offers added ankle protection. You can be sure of foot protection because of the molded TPU toe cap and the cushioned textile footbed for underfoot support.
The customer feedback for these shoes are very much positive. All users equally compliment the extreme grip in wet surfaces plus the waterproof nature. Clint, who uses these shoes for disc golfing and hiking claim that these are lightweight, very comfortable, and waterproof with an excellent grip. For people who have had ankle injuries, a user (who had an ankle injury that left him with no cartilage in the ankle) who purchased these off Amazon recommends replacing the insoles with memory foam. Overall, you won’t be disappointed with these shoes as they offer great value for a long time. Just make sure to buy a bigger size to be on the safe side.
Five Ten Hiangle- Aggressive Climbing Shoes
- 100% Split Grain Leather
- Stealth C4 rubber outsole (4.2mm)
- Single-strand Velcro closure system
- 13 x 6 x 4 inches; 12 Ounces
Five Ten canyoneering shoes have been around for quite some time and earned a massive reputation within the outdoors community for their aggressive design. They create shoes for athletes engaging in downhill mountain bike racing to rock climbing, from wingsuit flying to kayaking. Therefore, you can be well assured of the functionality of these shoes. The Stealth rubber outsole delivers incredible traction control making it perfect for high-friction, rocky activities. You can see that the cap is designed to provide adequate protection from sharp rocks. It is comfortable, but not as the ones we recommended above because this is an aggressive model.
The user reviews are pretty decent for these shoes. While everyone admires the excellent toeing action and the strong outsole, they haven’t had a hard time breaking-in to the shoe either. Akhter, who bought these off of Amazon, advises that they are as good as the LaSportiva Muriels but you need to go a full size up when trying five-tens. Curtis also states that they are excellent on overhangs and small footholds.
Adidas Outdoor Terrex- A Hyper Performing Hiking Shoe
- GORE-TEX membrane
- Gum Rubber sole and fabric outer material
- High abrasion resistant synthetic material in forefoot
- Approach specific Outsole featuring STEALTH rubber
- Neoprene collar for more comfort and protection
The Outdoor Terrex is a special type of hiking shoe which offers what we call a hyper performance. Unlike the previous Adidas shoe we recommended, this one accomplished awesome ankle support as well. The stealth rubber soles, abrasion proof forefoot material, strong midsole and excellent support makes the Adidas Outdoor Terrex an extremely durable canyoneering shoe capable of withstanding even the toughest challenges. The boots are also comfortable and best for hiking in wet areas but experts argue that the waterproof nature isn’t fully sufficient for canyoneering. Also, they are laceless which means you won’t have to worry about them getting caught on a ridge or tangled in ropes.
According to the customers, Adidas holds true to its claim that these boots are definitely waterproof. The users claim that the shoes are waterproof enough to keep the feet dry crossing creeks and spending hours in snow. The overall user feedback can be summarized as follows. Excellent grip, flexible, rubber compound in the sole is awesome and very little “break in period”. The grip and traction is so splendid that a user who bought these off Amazon claims, “sticky rubber sole grips rock extremely well making boulder hopping and walking up slabs easy”. We’d say that if you are a seasoned hiker, backpacker and canyoneering is your next adventure, go for these shoes if you are someone who prefers tackling tougher terrains.
Salomon Supercross GTX
- Gore-Tex protection
- Aggressive grip, precise foothold
- 340 g
- Synthetic / Textile upper material
Salomon is yet another popular shoe choice for trail running, hiking, backpacking, or mountaineering. The manufacturing is precisely for the rugged terrains, the outsole lug is made with deep, sharp lugs for an improved grip while you are about boulder hopping. EndoFit, SensiFit, & Quicklace systems work together to deliver a snug and virtually custom foot-wrapping. The shoe is breathable and not too heavy either. Protective mudguard around the base of the foot protects the lateral and medial sides from muddy trails. Also the midsole is built for shock absorbing while you incur large vertical forces. This is achieved by the high performance EVA foam. There are a few other versions of this shoe but they aren’t waterproof which is why we chose this.
Summary
We hope the above guide was helpful and informative. Here are a few other things to keep in mind prior to your canyoneering adventure. Pick out socks that don’t retain water and are padded in the appropriate places. Make sure to order the proper shoe size. They should not be too tight nor too spacious. Always be adjusted to them before embarking on the rocks. If you don’t want to invest in canyoneering shoes, you may also consider hiking sandals, shoes or sneakers. However, we have advised that they most likely won’t function the same way as climbing shoes in terms of grip, flexibility or protectivity.
Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge
- Upper: Leather / Suede / Mesh,Midsole: Techlite EVA,Outsole: Omni-Grip Rubber
- Highly responsive, comfortable and long lasting
- Multi-terrain traction system
The list would have been incomplete if we did not include one of these. The grip is built in a way to sustain different terrain conditions in both wet and dry conditions. Suede and leather waterproof exterior protects the foot from snow, heavy downpours, a regular trail or a challenging mountain range. Offers good ankle support and cushioning for comfort and to absorb impacts when you are jumping between boulders. Not necessarily pointy at the top to insert into cracks so there is a slight disadvantage there.
It’s not everyday that we come across a flawless product with near to zero negative feedback but we are lucky today. The Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge is as they say a real winner. Landon who purchased these off Amazon claims that he has “worked construction, gone hunting, hiked, climbed 14,000 ft mountains with these on and never once did they let him down.
Furthermore, he states that they are the most comfortable and lightweight. The only downside according to Landon is the dark weather which sometimes can be less breathable during hot days. Next is Alejandro who praises these boots saying he used them for a fortnight trip in New Zealand in all kinds of terrain and weather conditions. According to him, the boots passed his complete checklist including waterproofness, comfort, breathability, back support and grip. You don’t have to believe our word. Just head over to any ecommerce platform and see what the users are saying.
