I won a pair of keens at canoecopia and was looking at these. I've worn Chota Caney Forks with Smart wool socks for years. Anybody wear or have tried the Arroyo II?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Keen Men's Arroyo II
- Thread starter billconner
- Start date
I haven't had those specific shoes but I've had shoes of similar design. I'm not a huge fan as rocks always seem to fall through the holes and then it's very difficult or impossible to get them back out. Whenever I wear them in water the inside of the shoe gets packed with sand, rocks, and mud.
I have a pair that are more like a strap on sandal and I like those better. I can shake my foot around and usually get the debris out.
Alan
I have a pair that are more like a strap on sandal and I like those better. I can shake my foot around and usually get the debris out.
Alan
Likewise, a similar water sandal proved to be a fail for me for the same reasons. They collected grit and pebbles while never providing grip.
Well, trying to use the "free" aspect, but also have not found anything like the Chota Caney Forks, which I loved. I've been looking for nearly a year.
Thank you for the comments.
PS: I did think the Arroyo was the most closed of the Keen water shoes and though with a sock covered foot, not much room for stones and pebbles. They are a lot more enclosed than most of the Keen water shoes.
Thank you for the comments.
PS: I did think the Arroyo was the most closed of the Keen water shoes and though with a sock covered foot, not much room for stones and pebbles. They are a lot more enclosed than most of the Keen water shoes.
I just looked at some of their water shoes and from my past experience I think the more open designs look better. The problem I see with the Arroyo is that the cutouts don't go all the way to the foot bed. I can guarantee you rocks and sand will get in the shoe and with those high cutouts you won't be able to get it back out.
On a design with bigger cutouts that extend all the way to the foot bed you can swish your foot around in the water and most of that debris will wash back out. Easy in but also easy out.
I had one pair of shoes with high cutouts that were all but unusable in the water and oftentimes there was so much muck and sand packed in them after a short walk on a soft bottom that they were very painful. I finally used a knife and extended the cutouts to the foot bed. They still allowed just as much junk into the shoe but at least I could flush most of it out without removing the shoe.
I didn't look real close at everything they offer but I think something like the Newport H2 would be more practical for on the water use.
Men's Newport H2 Sandal Wide | Navy/Medium Grey | KEEN Footwear
Part water sandal, part hiker. The original hybrid sandal, 50 million adventures and counting. Now in wide.
www.keenfootwear.com
Alan
Just for reference this is what I have now. (Discontinued)
I really don't like the ones open at the heel with just a strap. I wish the openings on the Arroyo were mesh covered. I'll guess I'll go for Keen hiking boots.
I really don't like the ones open at the heel with just a strap. I wish the openings on the Arroyo were mesh covered. I'll guess I'll go for Keen hiking boots.
Yeah, if I was doing a trip with real portaging I wouldn't be a fan of sandal type shoes either. Rob Kesselring, on the other hand, does a lot of tripping and portaging and sandals like that are his go-to. No one else seems to be rushing to emulate him but he likes it.
Alan
Alan
My son who has been on more than half my trips says I wouldn't like the Arroyo, and should have more of a boot - that drains. I must be in a shrinking market segment because Chota stopped and I can't find anyone else.
I wish the drains were a little lower but these have served me well:
www.rockyboots.com
Alan
Rocky S2V Enhanced Jungle Puncture Resistant Boot
Get the Rocky S2V Enhanced Jungle Boot with puncture-resistance! Coyote brown, puncture-resistant, comfortable and made in the USA. Order today.
www.rockyboots.com
Alan
You could look at flyfishing and wading boots as well.
www.simmsfishing.com
Alan
Men's Flyweight® Boot - Vibram | Simms Fishing
The new men's Flyweight Boot is a balanced blend of lightweight, travel-ready performance, grippy Vibram traction, and no-quit durability.
www.simmsfishing.com
Alan
I'm a but late to this discussion and likely the only one who really like the Keen Arroyo II sandals. They are the shoes I use most often by a large margin. The first thing I do with my new Keen's is to remove the bungee tensioning closure and replace that bungee with cord. This allows me to get a much more secure closure which keeps my feet from sliding sideways which was a frequent happening with the bungee and with other shoes with bungee closures. Loosening the cord a bit allows me to use wool socks or neoprene socks and still have a good fit. I really like the toe protection. I'm on my second pair of Arroyo's and they have been subject to much abuse. I've use them on local rocky, gravelly rivers to Shield Country portages with rocks and roots and water of unknown depth (and that's on the portage trails) containing shoe-grabbing roots and through muddy approaches with black sucking mud , etc., etc. The grip is probably not the absolute best but more than good enough for me. When paddling on lakes, I usually take them off in the canoe to let my feet dry as I find allowing them to get dry helps my foot-health. I find them very versitile.
As with most of you, I have tried a variety of footwear for paddling. I had settled on the Keen Newports but found they couldn't take much punishment before the attachments on the side at the back broke. The Arroyo II's are more sandal-like (more closed in) which is both a strength and a weakness. The more closed design helps keep most things out but does make it harder to remove things once they are inside. It's been my experience that all watershoes seem to get some debris in them and, yes, some are easier to get it out because of the larger openings so, whatever suits you.
Give them a go since they were free.
As with most of you, I have tried a variety of footwear for paddling. I had settled on the Keen Newports but found they couldn't take much punishment before the attachments on the side at the back broke. The Arroyo II's are more sandal-like (more closed in) which is both a strength and a weakness. The more closed design helps keep most things out but does make it harder to remove things once they are inside. It's been my experience that all watershoes seem to get some debris in them and, yes, some are easier to get it out because of the larger openings so, whatever suits you.
Give them a go since they were free.
I am a fan of sandals for canoe tripping. For those interested in trying sandals, this Teva Omnium sandal has served me well for years. I am now on my third pair. The toe is pretty much closed until just beyond the ball of the foot. You can, on occasion, get stuff underneath the foot but it usually comes right out and the rest is easily rinsed out in the water or a mud puddle. They have a stiff sole and great traction and keep the feet relatively well protected. There is a quick release buckle on the instep if you kneel in a canoe.
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