G’day folks, I’m sure most of you have already know that adidas have released a specialist canyoning shoe, the Hydro Pro. It was designed and tested in Europe over two years, and released for this northern summer. While the entire development process (over two years) was done in Europe, I managed to get my hands on a pair to review them in Australia’s sandstone canyons (which while still very different, are at least geologically similar to what you guys have in the States). Despite the cold weather, I’ve spent the last two months testing them out (not only canyons but also some bushwalks and dry abseiling). While they have some flaws overall I have found them to be very good. Great grip, light, supportive, comfortable, warm, and reasonably hard wearing. I’m still not sure how they will stand up to the abuse of more remote, exploratory canyoning, but for most of the stuff in the Blue Mountains I think they are perfect. My review is written almost entirely in comparison to 5.10 Canyoneer 2 and SAR, which are currently the dominant canyoning shoe for our particular environment. You can check out the full review, with the technical specifications and detailed analysis of all the main elements of the shoe here: http://fatcanyoners.org/bush-guide/adidas-hydro-pro/ Feel free to hit me up with any questions if there is something I have failed to include / consider. Cheers Tim
Tim Vollmer Mob: 0404 273 313 Email: tim.vollmer@gmail.com Web: www.fatcanyoners.org/
khourde
FYI
I have just heard back from adidas following the review. As well as saying that they are already aware of the issue with the sand being trapped under the red outer layer, and are working on a solution, they have also said they are working on a second canyoning model which will likely go to market next year (I’d expect it about April, which is when the Hydro Pro was launched).
This new shoe will be a stripped down version of the Hydro Pro, with no zipper and lace cover, and a regular lacing system rather than the speed lacing. In maintaining the brightly coloured / highly visible / ugly shoe theme, it is likely to be yellow (similar to the 5.10 Canyoneer 2). It sounds like it may be something more along the lines of the 5.10 Water Tennie, which for many canyoneers who prefer a sand-shoe to a boot could be quite appealing.
Tim
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, Tim Vollmer wrote:
G’day folks, > I’m sure most of you have already know that adidas have released a specialist canyoning shoe, the Hydro Pro. It was designed and tested in Europe over two years, and released for this northern summer. While the entire development process (over two years) was done in Europe, I managed to get my hands on a pair to review them in Australia’s sandstone canyons (which while still very different, are at least geologically similar to what you guys have in the States). > Despite the cold weather, I’ve spent the last two months testing them out (not only canyons but also some bushwalks and dry abseiling). While they have some flaws overall I have found them to be very good. Great grip, light, supportive, comfortable, warm, and reasonably hard wearing. I’m still not sure how they will stand up to the abuse of more remote, exploratory canyoning, but for most of the stuff in the Blue Mountains I think they are perfect. > My review is written almost entirely in comparison to 5.10 Canyoneer 2 and SAR, which are currently the dominant canyoning shoe for our particular environment. > You can check out the full review, with the technical specifications and detailed analysis of all the main elements of the shoe here: http://fatcanyoners.org/bush-guide/adidas-hydro-pro/
Feel free to hit me up with any questions if there is something I have failed to include / consider. > Cheers > Tim
Tim Vollmer > Mob: 0404 273 313 > Email: tim.vollmer@… > Web: http://www.fatcanyoners.org/
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