Columbia Sportswear Men's Outpost Hybrid Water Shoe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My wife and I will be taking a vacation later this summer, so I bought matching pairs of Nevados V6474M Kariba sandals in the closest sizes available.Mine were way too small, her's were way too big, and we both agreed the appearance left a lot to be desired.We also felt the open sides would let a lot of sticks and rocks in. So, we returned the Nevados and ordered the Columbia Outpost Hybrids.

We ordered our usual shoe size (5-1/2 and 10-1/2) and both pairs of the Outpost Hybrids fit perfectly.We were also much happier with the running shoe appearance, than the sandals that look like some kind of weird space boots. The Outposts look "normal" enough to wear to the store after hiking, and also have much better traction.

Last weekend we had the opportunity to go hiking with them at the local park.I was a little concerned about wearing the shoes without socks, but we were both very pleased with how comfortable they were to wear barefoot. We found the Outpost Hybrids to have excellent traction, both on loose gravel paths and climbing up steep rock trails. Just for fun, we went wading when we got down to the lake, and were quite happy with the performance of these shoes. The rocks, sticks, and other debris stayed out, but they drained quickly once we were out of the water. Perhaps just as important, they were still very comfortable to walk on dry trails with after being dunked in the lake. No squishy sounds, no rubbing, and no pruney feet when we took them off.

They were slightly damp when we got home, but still very comfortable. We did pull out the removable insoles when we got home and it took overnight for them to dry completely, but we certainly wouldn't hesitate to wear them in their slightly damp condition.

Overall, these are some of the best shoes we've ever purchased. They should work great for our trip this summer where we'll be hiking in rivers and across dry land. Just what we were looking for.

The only negative, they have a fairly strong plastic smell. My wife says they smell like bandaids. I assume that will go away over time.

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Product Description:
Don't be fooled by the Outpost Hybrid's running shoe appearance - with wide gauge open mesh under water resistant overlays, these shoes are prepared to bail water like the ship is going down. In addition to fantastic drainability, the Outpost features Techlite in the midsole to keep things nimble and flexible. Cinch the speed-lacing system to lock things down in a heartbeat without the hassle of cloth laces and annoying, unreliable bowties. The removable footbed is constructed from a single-density EVA for cushioning, comfort and support. Pull it out at the end of the day for easy drying - AgION anti-odor treatment helps keep things fresh. When terrain gets gnarly, the Omni-Grip rubber sole provides great traction in wet and dry conditions alike.