Merrell

Choprock Water Shoe - Men's

Solidly built comfortable water shoe

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

9.5

Height:

5' 9"

Weight:

180

I'm notoriously difficult to please when it comes to shoes, yet I'm very pleased with these Merrell Choprock shoes for kayaking/fishing. This shoe succeeds in places where other water shoes have failed, namely when submerged in that seriously sticky Texas river/lake bottom mud that tends to tear the bottom soles right off of the upper part of shoes. This shoe also offers nice support when pressed against the kayak footrests all day. And, I find it's gripping ability to be just fine on rocks. The shoe drains well, and I've never had to remove them to get rid of smaller rocks/sand. I've had zero discomfort when walking in these shoes wet or dry, without socks. Importantly, I don't experience the foot fatigue that I got from other shoes after 18 hour days of kayak fishing with all the necessary load in/load outs etc. Honestly, I don't think about my shoes all day, because they simply do their job very well. I'm usually between a 9.5 and a 10 mens shoe size, and ended up choosing the 9.5 with this shoe, as the 10 seemed a bit long in the toe. I've got a very snug fitting shoe with great foot support and no rub spots. Very comfortable. I buy shoes based entirely on performance, but these also happen to be quite a nice looking pair of shoes. This is NOT the "Shandal" version. This is a much better design, with mesh which works perfectly and is critical for my needs. I'm extremely happy with this shoe, and I'm considering getting another pair, since this model has, inexplicably, been discontinued. Shipping and returns went smoothly. I'm very satisfied with Backcountry's customer support and prices, and I find myself going back to them for my kayaking gear needs. I hope this review helps others choose a great water shoe.