The Five Ten Water Tennie is another popular item with the CKS Staff. It's proven to be a versatile shoe that functions well for a few different water based activities, ranging from white water kayaking to stand up paddling. It's also durable, comfortable and good looking. Similar to the
Teva Gnarkosi, the Water Tennie is the type of shoe that you can wear on the river, and then to the bar afterwords. Here's the details:
Specs:
Pros:
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Fun for stand up paddling: The sticky rubber is perfect for lots of hiking, portaging, and dragging the board to shore when paddling down river or surfing. It's obviously great for sticking to the board when paddling, but also having a light shoe that is nimble when you are moving around on the board is key too. They drain water quickly, and are perfect for kicking it on shore waiting for your turn on the wave.
The Water Tennie loves shallow manky low water rapids like Zoom Flume at 200cfs.
Water Tennie's are the perfect choice for hiking out of this...
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Lots of features that set the Water Tennie apart from the pack:
The full EVA midsole gives extra support and stiffness like a traditional sneaker or climbing shoe.
No need to beat a dead horse, but the AquaStealth rubber is incredibly sticky.
Heel cap for support, mesh for draining water, and neoprene uppers...
Toe cap for protection against rocks and other sharp painful things...Mesh to drain the water.
Full neoprene uppers for comfort and support. The QuickLace system works well. They do a good job of evenly tightening up the shoe.
Close up of the QuickLaces and front reinforcement.
More drainage mesh and rubber and protection on the inside of shoe.
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GREAT CREEKING SHOE:Paddlers like Tim Kelton have used the Water Tennie's on some of the California classics. So far the word is that the shoe is great for longer expeditionary runs (for obvious reasons) and are very durable.
Water + Gradient + Granite = good times for The Water Tennie!
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OK, one more time. The AquaStealth Rubber will STICK TO ANYTHING THAT GETS IN IT'S WAY:For all of you that didn't know, Five Ten is known for making the best rock climbing shoes in the business. Shoes built for climbing overhanging 5.14D's do one thing particularly well, THEY STICK TO ROCK. The Water Tennies are the best shoes out there in terms of clinging on to slippery wet river rock.
STICKY SWEET.
Cons:
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PRICE:Whenever we review a top shelf item like the Water Tennies, Sweet helmets, Kokatat PFD's, etc...the down side is that they cost more than other products on the market. There are river shoes for sale that cost 1/2 as much. They do not have AquaStealth rubber, and are most likely not double stitched like the Water Tennies.
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The Shoe laces came untied a few times:I've been wearing the Water Tennies for the past few weeks, and have noticed that the laces have come untied a few times. This could partially be my fault for not trying double knots. I am used to water shoes that do not have laces, so it took some getting used to tying the laces tight enough so they did not come undone when I was swimming my board to shore.
The Verdict:
These are great river shoes. Not much else to say. The non marking soles are very sticky. Also, the Tennies are light and comfortable, and have stellar support and protection (for how light they are). They look similar to street shoes, which makes it possible to wear them before or after paddling. They are not the least expensive river shoes out there, and they have slippery laces, but that is a small price to pay for some dang sticky rubber attached to a solid shoe.
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