Great canyoneering shoe discontinued

La Sportiva Exum River shoes

La Sportiva’s Web site

Scampering over boulders, wading through frigid chest-deep water and dodging tourists is a good way to get outside as temperatures increase.
And as your flip-flops flip and flop out of the closet for running to the grocery store, you’ll need something better for canyoneering and tromping through water-filled hikes. That’s when the La Sportiva Exum River shoes come to play.
While the shoes aren’t made anymore, with some online searching, it’s still possible to find various sizes. So if you’re planning a hardcore trip through a slot canyon, find a pair of the Italian-made La Sportiva Exum River shoes.
They’re bombproof.
The tread on these shoes has plunger-like suction cups on the ball of the foot designed to grip virtually anything, and the sieve-like side construction pours out water like an upside down bucket.
Hiking The Subway in Zion National Park, I was able to easily walk up a slippery, algae-covered slope while my comrades were struggling in their shoes – which ranged from sneakers to water-oriented shoes.
The traction was unbelievable. That’s one reason why so many canyoneers look for the Exum River’s when exploring.
But the Sportiva’s aren’t just for long water adventures. Despite the minimal lugs, they have sufficient grip on dry ground too. While they’re at home in the water, they held their own in transit to and from the canyon.
However, the shoes are unisex.
I have semi-wide feet and while my feet got used to it on the trail, the Exum River’s squeezed too much around the midsole and I paid the price later with incredibly sore feet.
Perhaps that one, considerable, complaint is why the Exums are no longer produced.
According to the company, though, the Exum Pros are a good alternative – though I haven’t even seen them in person to pass judgment.

This story first appeared in The Spectrum & Daily News