I was really excited when my wife bought these for me after tens years of using Tevas. I wanted toe protection to use in the river. WOW what a dissapointment. NO foot support whatsoever. The drainage holes get stones stuck in them and thats really uncomfortable. I cant get the bunge tight enough to secure the shoe so when i step out into mud the shoe comes off. REALLY ONE OF the poorest designs ever. They are not good for anything.
I needed water shoes for wading with my son in the brook flowing past our backyard. I read about Bean's Explorer Sandals online and then examined them in Bean's Lebanon, NH, retail store. I was concerned that several reviewers had found the sandal's drainage ports irritating to walk on, even to the point of causing blisters. I tried the sandals in the store and understood the irritation problem but thought I could manage well enough for short periods. After consulting with a Bean staff member whose opinion I valued, I bought a pair and the next day waded into the brook. I did have some trouble with sole irritation, but not much. A bigger problem -- one pointing to a serious design issue -- was that many large pebbles entering the drainage ports got stuck there and, in turn, stuck into the bottom of my feet. Luckily, none of the pebbles was especially sharp, and I wasn't (yet) at the beach, where the pebbles would be shells -- a genuine safety concern for the tender-footed. In summary, then, we've got a water shoe that collects pebbles that wedge so tightly in place that they can't be removed without a screwdriver. A bit awkward in mid-stream. So, I returned the sandals to the store, where I was encouraged to report my experience online. An Explorer Sandal with a solid molded footbed would be more successful (and, presumably, less expensive to manufacture).
I like the easy on/off, the styling, the full foot protection, fit, and tread. The ports in the sole do take some getting used to, but after several uses, I rarely notice them. Perhaps, if you are a "tenderfoot" and used to shoes/socks the ports might be uncomfortable, but if your feet are toughened by going barefoot you won't be bothered by them. Haven't used in steams or sand yet, so can't comment on drainage, etc.
