Every spring I help to teach a rowing clinic in Southern Oregon to newbie boaters. These are folks that want to learn how to row and how to properly prepare for a multi-day rafting trip in the wilderness. I love running this course with my fellow river guides, as I see it as an opportunity to share our passion of the outdoors and rafting with like-minded individuals.
Also, this weeklong course provides me with ample opportunity to do some gear testing for products that would appeal to the rafting/water sports community. This year I tested out two products on the trip, SealSkinz Ultra Grip Gloves and Chaco OutCross Lace Shoe. Here’s my take on the products from my week-long testing.
SealSkinz Ultra Grip Gloves ($50)
The SealSkinz Ultra Grip Gloves were specifically recommended to me for rafting and watersports. In their product description, they boast to be 100% waterproof, breathable, and windproof. An added benefit was the merino wool lining, which would help to keep my hands warm. Once on the river and rowing, I found their grip to be excellent for the oars. The small dots on the fingers and palms gripped very well, even when they were wet. As the day progressed though and I got splashed, the gloves most definitely did not stay dry. After a few miles, my hands were cold. Although merino wool still provides warmth when wet, the combination of wet and wind did not work well.
Once I dried the gloves out, I wore them while rigging and de-rigging my boat and setting up camp, and they did provide warmth and protection for my hands during these activities. I could also see wearing them while hiking in dry conditions on a cold day, as they would work well for this activity. But they are water resistant gloves at best.
Finally, the gloves come in sizes XS-XXL. After following the sizing chart, I ordered a medium. Unfortunately the gloves were too big for me, and I had to keep pulling the gloves up to get a tighter fit.
Final word: While the grip is strong, these gloves are water-resistant at best, and not suited for watersports. They could possibly work as a hiking glove, but you should be sure to get the proper size, and it wouldn’t be my first choice.
Chaco OutCross Lace Shoe ($120)
I was very excited to try out the new OutCross Lace Shoe by Chaco. After being a loyal flip flop Chaco wearer, I was thrilled to try out a more substantive water shoe.
These shoes boast a Vibram outsole that provides excellent traction, a midsole that is designed to help move water through the shoe bed, and protective covering on your toes and heels.
Immediately I noticed the strong grip and traction that the shoes provided when walking around on slippery rocks. My toes were covered from stubbing them on rocks. When I walked in the water or on land, my feet felt well supported in the heels and arches.
One design feature that I particularly enjoyed was the openings on the sides of the shoes that allowed water to drain. On the trail I splashed in and out of streams, not concerned with getting my feet wet, or getting pebbles stuck in these openings. They were equally durable both on the dirt trail and in the river.
One down side was the single lace adjustment. Getting the shoes on and off was difficult, especially when they were wet. The single lace didn’t open easily, and on day four, I broke the attachment of the single lace to one of the shoes. This made it even harder to slip on and off. But once the shoes were on, they weren’t going anywhere.
Thankfully Chaco makes another version of the shoe without the lace, but a buckle instead. It’s called the OutCross Web Shoe.
Final word: These amphibious shoes provide excellent traction for slippery surfaces, are durable, and lastly, protective to boot. Unfortunately the lacing system leaves something to be desired, but there is a buckle version if you want to avoid the lace.