Mion Flood Tide shoes: Footwear for Aquatic Feet

Last summer my 9-year-old daughter and I were at a swimming hole outside Brattleboro, VT. She was floating in the chilly water on an inflatable raft and began drifting toward the downstream side of the hole where the water narrowed, picked up speed, and made its way around a bend. I followed her along the rocky bank in a pair of flip flops, shouting for her to paddle back, when whoosh, she vanished around the bend, calling for help. I tried to dash over to her but stumbled like a drunk on the slick, loose rocks. Finally I tossed my sandals aside and scrambled barefoot into the stream, wrecking my feet in the process. 

My heart attack aside, the story had a happy ending - she fell off in a shallow rapid and waded to the bank -- but I was reminded once again that when you're looking to move efficiently around rocks and water the proper footgear is essential.

Enter the Flood Tide, another of Mion's funky, incredibly comfortable ergonomically-designed water shoes. Like all of their water sandals, the F.T. features Mion's Gripstick rubber outsole for traction. Last week at the Blackburn Challenge, a 20-mile kayak race around Cape Ann in Gloucester, MA (also the setting of Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm), I was helping carry a friend's sea kayak over a cluster of partially submerged boulders. The rocks were slick but my Flood Tide shoes (it was actually low tide) provided excellent traction. I cruised while my less-well-shod friend inched his way along.

As an avid kayaker the Flood Tide shoe also appeals to me because it features a removable, water-repellant, porous bootie that is fast drying and serves multiple purposes. In my experience, the more a bootie can breathe, the less it will stink in combat conditions.  Mion uses an eco-friendly antibacterial material to help reduce the smell potential.  I wore them in an outrigger canoe race around Lower Manhattan, and found the grippy soles ideal for maintaining a strong (seated) stance in the fiberglass boat with several inches of water in the bottom.  When I paddle a racing kayak or canoe, I don just the booties (which also feature a grippy sole) and my size 13 hooves fit neatly into the narrow, constricted bow area.

Note: The Flood Tide runs large so order a full size down.

Bottom Line: Innovative, comfortable, and versatile anti-stinky water sandals with removable booties for the water-centric athlete. --J.G. (Aug 07)

Price: $114

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Manufacturer's Site: www.mionfootwear.com

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