Nomad Sandals
I picked up a pair of these sandals in Hawaii many years back principally because they looked both good and tough. The latter came in handy over the many years I walked the beaches and drift timber along BC's west coast, picking out the salvageable logs. As a bonus, they provided the best traction on wet, beachsmooth logs of any footwear I have ever used.
Compared with the previously reviewed Chaco sandals, these have no arch support and they can hang on to moisture for a while, but holding them by the heel and whacking the toe on a solid surface will go a long way toward getting moisture, dirt and sand out. The longitudinal run of the rope and its texture give a nice friction bond with the sole of the feet, so my feet don't slide around in them even when they get wet. I keep a couple of pairs on the go and could have probably sold a van-load over the years to folks stopping me to ask where they could be purchased.
Manufactured by and available from Nomadic State of Mind
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A cool tool is anything useful that is superior to comparable items. If you think this tool is inferior suggest a better one. You are welcome to insult a tool, but comments containing insults to individual people will be deleted. Corrections of fact are always welcomed, if stated politely. Recommendations of better tools are dearly wanted and may be elevated to the front page.
Robert
If your looking for an amphibious shoe or sandal, then look no further than the North Face Padda; provides excellent traction and support, and they dry in about 20 min.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3024518
Not to mention they look really cool. No offense but I wouldn't be caught dead in these rope sandals.
twoeightnine
I've worn http://www.gurkees.com/ for years.
derrick
Uh... no.
Wayan
I had a pair of these, and I'm gonna say they were not worth it. Yes, they look cool and are comfortable, but they suck moisture in and give you wet foot. One puddle step and your foot is wet all day. They take forever to dry and are pretty much a wet blob until then.
So these might be great in the desert, but are worthless anywhere near water - be it a puddle or an ocean
Jeff Bragg
The gurkees are probably about to be famous since the two new characters on LOST, the Man In Black and Jacob are both shown wearing these.
I just ordered one of each; nomads in natural and the gurkees in olive.
I'll let you know what I think of each.
Robert
Gurkees endorsed by Smoke Monster? They must be good...
Jeff Bragg
Just received both the Gurkees and the reviewed Nomads and guess what? They are exactly the same (except for the labels).
elon
Thanks for the update, Jeff. Any price difference?
--es
Mari
I haven't tried any of these fine amphibious footwear but the gurkees' homepage just looks awful and I wouldn't be cought dead in north face paddas, no offence :D
Casamurphy
Wish I had read Wayan's comments before I ordered a pair. Definitely not for use anywhere near water unless you don't mind having soggy feet and leaving wet prints around the house for a couple of days. If the water that soaks into them is oil contaminated then you have the added pleasure of dealing with spreading the oiling wetness around.
fred b
so just to set the record straight. 1. it was nomadic state of mind sandals seen on the season finale of lost last year, and will be again this year. 2. if the person who ordered from the two different companies cant tell the quality behind the manufacturing standards and product quality between nomadic state of mind and the so called jurkees, i wouldn't let this person drive a bicycle, definately could get through level one of pick up sticks. just look at the sandals! are you kidding me? obviously you know nothing about rope, and if you really did order from each you would see quite a difference in color in the biege ropes. if you look through the websites, and you see how many different styles and rope art that nomadic has, and then look at how they do business, i don't think there would be another option. ok, i am a little jaded, the guy who started nomadic personally made me a pair in 1998 when he was a raft guide on the colorado. he made them to fit my foot, custom made.