Review: Sandugo Eiger Shoes

I've done several river crossings and canyoning before. And not one of them have I worn a proper footwear. I used to be so proud wearing my trusted hiking shoes - waterproof and all. But on occasions, I've had these futile attempts to keep my shoes dry. I turn to a different route or look for another way. I would avoid crossings that are already ankle deep at all cost to save me the trouble of wearing a heavy bucketful of water on my feet. But of course, that's not always the case.

Sometimes, I'd wear sandals because it's more comfortable and lighter than a hiking shoes. Plus, I don't have to think twice about wading into the water and getting my feet wet. But since I can be clumsy too, I've had blisters and injured a toe or two with it.

But these days, I'm no longer worried about taking on any water adventure because I have this:

My Sandugo Eiger Shoes.

I've always trusted Sandugo. I've worn Sandugo sandals during my first climb in Mount Apo way back 2006 (I was a newbie and a student who can't afford a good hiking shoes, so please, spare me that glare). I even took it to more mountains and back and it has never under-performed. Sandals yun ha. Sandals. (Lookie! Scroll down to the picture where I was standing almost at the edge. That's me with my ever beloved Sandugo sandals that served me well). Knowing that I will be having a lot of water adventures, I got myself a pair of this water shoes without hesitation. And it did not disappoint.

The Sandugo Eiger is best used for river crossings. Since the shoes' upper is made of mesh, it helps your foot breathe better. The foot pad and rubber outsole also has a drainage system to flush out water quickly. It definitely saves you that icky feeling of slushy socks and of course, you will not have to carry an additional burden of wet and heavy shoes. And I love how it dries so easily.

I have used this during a 3-hour hike with multiple river crossings at Tambara Trail in Talisay, Negros Occ. I am pretty impressed with its performance. It's light and durable (although I still have to test if this can withstand intense activities). It's not slippery on wet rocks. I have not fallen or slipped during river crossings. However, I had to take extra precautions to muddy trails since it does not have the extra grip needed for such condition. And also, sand and tiny rocks can sometimes get inside the shoes while trekking and it can be quite bothersome.

Overall, the pros still outweigh the cons. And I would recommend this to anyone who wishes to have a better river trekking experience. Php 1,995 is definitely a bang for your buck. :)