Something I’ve always appreciated in good design, is how an object can slip seamlessly into your existence without forcing you to be overly aware. It doesn’t draw attention, it doesn’t catch your eye, it doesn’t cause you pause. It just blends right in and becomes part of your whole. The Chaco Trailscope shoe does just that, in the best possible way.
Now I must admit to being more of a sneaker kind of guy. Give me some thin rubber and canvas, strap it to my big ol’ feet and I’m happy as a clam. So when it came time to test these out, I figured I’d wear them around for a week or two then put them in the closet until the next hike. I was wrong. Very wrong in fact. They are virtually the only shoes I’ve worn for the past two months. They are light weight (about 17oz each for size 13’s), comfortable (but not in a weird, disconnected ‘I’m walking on clouds’ way) and cool (as in they breath well). The Chaco LUVSEAT footbed (comically made from a polymer abbreviated PU*. Get it? Footbed, PU…no? nevermind) gives these shoes a terrific, natural feel that made them a delight to wear all day long no mater what terrain I was on. Straight from the box, no breaking in, no new shoe feel, they just blended right in. I don’t know why I’m surprised as I have always preferred their sandals for comfort and style over any other brand.
So there you have it, shoes that felt good straight out of the box, and that have gone almost unnoticed by my feet for two-plus months. I love them.
Good:
- Natural comfort
- Well made
- 25% recycled rubber outsole
- Breathable upper
- The terrific LUVSEAT footbed
- Light but tough
Bad:
- I think my old sneakers are starting to suspect
The Chaco Trailscope Shoe – Available from Amazon for $120
*The More You Know: Counter to what the abbreviation suggests, Polyether Polyurethane is actually resistant to skin oils and doesn’t support micro organism growth, so less smelly! Science!
boring stuff: Chaco provided me with a review sample, this in no way effected my opinion or review. All images via chacos.com