June 08, 2007
Teva's Karnali Wraptor sport sandals for women
Footwear
By Alicia Carr
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Teva's Karnali Wraptor sport sandals for women
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After hiking a particularly wet, stream-crossed trail in running shoes last weekend, teetering across logs, soaking my socks, and splattering mud up my shins, I was on a mission to find a pair of sport sandals that could not only handle the water flow, but could keep up on the pebbly trail as well. And, as a girl from the big city I was also on the lookout for something super-stylee. Mission accomplished (pretty much).
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Teva's new Karnali Wraptor sandal, released this spring for men and women, weathered the trail about as well as it handled the rocky stream. With a 360-degree strapping system that criss-crosses the foot in almost every direction, I was able to tug and clip the sandals into a perfectly snug fit—this allowed for traipsing through streams as skillfully as an acrobat. The thick Spider Rubber outsole, made of high friction material, allowed me to stick to the slippery rocks under the water—although when trying to cross above water, via a log or boulder, I slipped more often than I stuck.
Back on the trail, Teva's patent-pending Drain Frame Technology (about six holes in the spongy midsole) released water quickly, keeping the shoes light for hiking. The roomy toe box protected my feet from unwanted toe stubs—an area that is usually exposed in a sandal—and the straps never stretched or loosened, even after getting completely soaked.
The drawback? Tevas seem to have a longstanding tradition of needing some breaking in. My mistake for debuting them on a three-hour hike—I ended up with heels rubbed raw—but what outdoor footwear doesn't take a few trials around the house and through the backyard?
At the end of the day, the appropriately named "Sunshine" color kept me smiling (they also come in a coral-hued "Bossa Nova" and a sky blue "Flintstone). And, hey, at least I wasn't stuck with soggy sneakers, right?
Karnali Wraptor, $100; teva.com
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