If you are looking for fast answers. For wet activities (stream hiking, coasteering) we have been using for years Five Ten & Adidas Terrex Hydro Lace like shoes.

See the table down here for the latest information. I’ll suggest you understand a bit more though and for that all the post below.

Shoes are a tricky subject to talk about, especially among runners. Tons of trends, buzzwords, technologies and above all individuals who almost religiously believe that they know what is the best option for everyone: from minimalist “barefooters” to maximalist Hoka lovers. I would suggest you understand the basics (no more in this post) and try to find which works best for you.

If you are a newbie or doing easy short routes, you can go simple and cheap, even with just a pair of shoes to use for everything. The longer and more complex routes you get into, the more carefully that you will need to choose your options and you might end up with dedicated shoes for each activity.

Three main parts that I would consider when choosing shoes:

Outsole: the rubber that comes in contact with the ground. Deep lugs increase the grip when “physical” traction is required; think mud, sand dunes, etc. For wet solid surfaces, they are not helpful. In those cases (rocky wet paths, streams…), the size of the contact surface and rubber compound (“chemical” traction) will define the grip. In general, softer flatter shoes have better grip than lugged hard outsoles.

For wet rocks, the best that I have used is the Stealth S1 rubber of the Five Ten or Adidas canyoning shoes. The grip is surprising for those who have just used “normal” hiking shoes before. Some friends even mentioned that felt like cheating, cause of how easier stream hiking became with them. Vibram, Merrel, Salomon, New Balance, etc do have also compounds specifically designed for wet surfaces. They are not as good, but you can find some good enough models. Read/watch reviews carefully (irunfar, TheGingerRunner, as examples; just Google) and look for specific mentions of grip on wet rocks.

Don’t trust own brand marketing. No, Decathlon shoes that say that have all around good grip are not a good option. Neither all Salomon shoes have the same grip nor are designed for every activity.

Some examples with pictures.

For muddy terrain: Inov8 X-talon. Deep lugs (8mm) and very spaced. I loved them for running on soft grassy terrain and muddy areas in my hometown (Europe). They are a bit slippery as soon as you touch rocks though. In Hong Kong, we have very little of the former (Kai Kung Leng, Sharp Peak come to mind), where they excel, and tons of areas with rocky paths, natural or man-made, where they are a not-so-good option. Avoid them for streams and coasteering. Similar shoes: anything that is designed for soft terrain of Salomon including the specific S-Lab sense, Speedcross, etc.

Intermediate: New Balance Vazee Summit v2. Significantly smaller (4mm) and closer lugs. They can handle some mud decently and wet rocks way better, with more ground contact and a grippier compound. Similar shoes: Salomon Wings Pro 3 or quite some shoes with smaller lugged Vibram Megagrip outsoles.

Wet rock specific: Five Ten Access Mesh & Adidas Terrex Hydro. The lugs are minimal to have as much ground contact as possible. Stealth S1 rubber specifically designed for wet surfaces. Similar shoes: the Stealth (S1 or Phantom) rubber Adidas or Five Ten models, Terrex CC Voyager Aqua (I bought a pair in 2019 and are not so grippy), approach shoes specifically mentioning wet grip, Vibram idrogrip flatter shoes.

Midsole: The EVA or PU that provides the cushioning to the shoe. The white part in the Five Tens above. Usually the thinner and denser it is the more ground feeling you will have, better for your proprioception. But if too thin it can be tiring or uncomfortable for those untrained. Depending on your weight, legs and feet strength, even your gait/technique and usual distances you will need to choose a shoe closer to each extreme: barefoot-like

vs Hoka-ish.

If going for longer routes, above all running, also consider the heel-to-toe drop. You might not know it, but if you have been exercising in the most common running shoes, you have been doing so on “high heels”. The, not so long ago, standard of 12mm drop might be affecting your gait and definitely you would need some time to get used to a more natural/minimal drop. People get problems, mainly in their calves, when they change too fast to lower drops. My advice would be to increase little by little your strength and legs/feet flexibility (here a post about cross-training), improve your gait/technique (another post) if necessary, and move to lighter lower shoes with a small drop. But there is quite a debate about the latter among the running community among others.

Upper and overall structure: all the material that keeps the foot in place and protects it. Breathability is key in Hong Kong, where most of the year we have warm and humid weather. So try to find materials that prevent your foot from getting overheated. Goretex or similar waterproof membranes are not very useful here. They are always less breathable and therefore will make you sweat more. Definitely not helpful (exactly the opposite) when you submerge them fully in a stream or sea. Even when raining, cause it tends to be heavy, their usefulness is limited unless you are using gaiters that avoid the water coming from your legs down. Instead, look for shoes that drain water and dry easily.

Hiking shoes tend to have reinforced areas: toe protections, rock plates in the soles, and reinforcements in the sides to avoid early wear. How much protection you need depends on the routes, your preferences, and fitness (weight, leg strength, and flexibility). You can go stream hiking fully protected with a boot-like shoe (the Adidas above). You will minimize the chances of scratching your lower legs, hurting your feet hitting rocks, or even mild ankle twists. The cons are that they are significantly heavier, overheating when out of the water, and that you might get overconfident with them: you might injure your knees or else if you do a bad enough movement but the boot is holding your ankle tight.

Lacing systems. Traditional vs Salomon’s Quicklace system and alike.

The latter is super fast to tie and loosen but is less versatile. It might be interesting for you to know that there are alternative ways of lacing your shoes for specific purposes (unstable heel, avoiding pressure in certain areas, etc).

That’s why I tend to prefer the former. As they allow you to have more possibilities for a better fit.

BTW, here is how I tie my shoes. Dedicated to all my buddies who need to re-tie their shoes N times while in our outings 😅

The lacing system anyhow will be good or not depending on how it works with the structure below to hold the foot firmly but comfortably. It will depend on the shoe and your feet. For that consider the shape of the shoe, among others the Toe box width.

Going again to extremes. On the left is a classic climbing shoe. It is meant to be super tight so that you have as much feeling of the rocks that you are climbing on and for step precision. On the opposite side, on the right, is a wide toe box which tends to be a better option for long routes where your feet will appreciate that extra room for toe splay. Therefore for more technical (or fast) activities, we tend to go more narrow, for less technical and long wider.

Things to consider when buying shoes. If possible try the shoes late afternoon or after exercising when the feet are more swollen and bring the type of socks that you will be wearing in your activities. Thicker or thinner ones might give you a different comfort feeling. Sizing in this industry can be a mess, so do not trust your usual “number”. You might need to go up or down even a full size (the former happened to me and most with the NB Summit for example). The shoe shouldn’t be too tight (unless you want to try very technical scrambling or climbing when you try to maximize control and feel). The usual recommendation is that you should be able to fit a finger between the heel of the shoe and your foot. Consider always the longest of your toes, for those of you whose big toe is not the longest. In my case, I like to bring a pair of shoes that I’m comfortable with and compare against the new. Checking the length of the insole and comparing overall feeling. They should be snug, without being too tight, loose, or rubbing you anywhere. If after using them for a while I’m not completely happy with the fit I try different thickness insoles. From old shoes. I even had a pair of Hokas that were not exactly the same size and I wore in one shoe an extra thin insole for better fit.

Gender-specific shoes. There are some differences in construction, considering that in average female feet tend to be wider in the front, tighter hill, less cushioning needed due to lower weight… But you might find shoes that fit you perfectly even being of the opposite gender. So if you have feet that allow you to (smaller for guys, bigger for ladies), try them all 😛

Weight might be more important than what non-initiated consider. A pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back as per different sources. For longer routes, heavy shoes can increase fatigue significantly. If you need to swim several sections, heavy shoes can be a pain too.

In Hong Kong, several shops have significant discounts during the sale season. It is the case for example for Chamonix. So if you are looking to buy some Five Ten shoes, you might want to go there then. At 30% discount, the Access Mesh costed HKD620, for example.

Buying online. The main problem will be, obviously, sizing and not being able to try them on. Independent reviews can give you an idea of the true sizing and fit type. But sometimes even the same model, same-sized shoes can be slightly bigger or smaller, so check the return policy on the web. In my case, when I like a shoe model and it is difficult to get in HK shops I buy them online. Sometimes even stock. Five pairs of NB Summit so far and counting 😛

How much time will the shoes last? There is no real rule of thumb. The materials, usage, maintenance, your weight, gait, etc will define it. My usual mileage per pair is around 500-700km for hiking+trail running+coasteering shoes and 1,000+ for concrete running + gym ones. If you are exercising daily, the usual recommendation is to have at least a couple of pairs and rotate them so that the midsole has time to recover its bounciness. If you are exercising little, remember to keep the shoes in a dry place with no sun and know that somehow the shoes tend to have a shelf life, they degrade with time, among others the glue. If the outsole has too much wear, the midsole is clearly flatter on one side of the shoe increasing your pronation, and above all your joints start to feel uncomfortable, it is time to get a new pair.

Finally, my recommendations, although you might have guessed them already.

  • All around, what I take with me when I can have only a pair: New Balance Vazee Summit v2. I would recommend them for anyone light enough and with good enough technique in all activities, so that he does not need too much protection. Long distance, multi-day trekking, swim run, coasteering, difficult streams; done with them. If you have wider feet you can try topos with a wider toe box. In any case, try different brands and models and find something that feels comfortable with a good enough grip.
  • Wet activity-specific shoes: Five Ten access mesh for almost anyone. Best grip and some protection in a shoe that does not get too heavy and has provided me a couple of years of stream and canyoning fun in HK & abroad. The fit is a bit tricky. Quite some people have gone up even a full size compared with their usual running shoes. In my case, I am using the same, super tight fit for normal hiking, but works very well for being within the water, where feet do not swell at all + I increase the control, for tricky climbs within the waterfalls. If they do not fit you, quite some friends starting to use the Five Ten access knit instead, with a lot more forgiving upper mess but not as secure lock of the foot. All recent Five Tens that we have tried have a glue problem with the outsole, check the repair section for further info.

The answer to “Will my ‘normal’ running shoes be good enough?” The answer is “depends”. If the outsole is kind of soft they might work on wet rocks. I used to trail run and stream hike with my Asics 2150 & Kinvara. They are not as good as specifically designed shoes but sufficed meanwhile I was doing easier routes and even races where my main concern was wet rocks. You can test at home with a wet tile if they have any grip at all. For mud, without lugs get ready to slide… Already everything is explained above.

Shoes that have been mentioned in different conversations (readers asking about them, friends recommending, etc): Columbia Drainmaker IV (I have not tried them yet, but the rubber felt good, one notch below Five Ten though), Salomon Amphib (sounded a good idea, but they feel really slippery on wet rocks), maybe the Salomon Crossamphibian could be a better option in easier streams (not much protection), Scott Kinabalu Enduro (older version similar very protective shoe was a favorite for quite some friends of mine, but the newer model, even with its Vibram Megagrip, felt not as grippy), Five Ten Camp Four non-Goretex (for those liking the boot style without being so canyoning specific: deeper lugs, same Stealth S1 compound)

Update 2021. Table with the latest information I have compiled below. “Approach” lugs means those trying to maximize contact surface and therefore flattish. The grip column wants to show the subjective feeling on wet rocks. This will be affected by the rubber quality and contact surface mainly. Either my feelings or froms friends who have been using the original Five Tens extensively. Cons compared with the original Access Mesh, that first pair that lasted me long. The size is the one that would fit me (relatively standard foot shape with decent arch and not especially wide toes) best for comfort, for your reference. In general, approach shoes tend to run small so that you have a better wall feeling. In the water tends to be less a problem (your feet will not swell), but can be uncomfortable for longer drier outings or exits. In my case, for example, most of my Five Ten Mesh shoes have been size 8, but for a longer hike approach I tend to remove the insole or use the 8.5 pair I have instead. Highlighted the model that most friends are buying currently.

Link to the table, in case you can not check easy all the columns (there might be some hidden on the right side).

The TaoBao shoes are these. Shop pic on the left and right the one of a friend at home.

You will need to search (Chinese), as every time I send a link to a friend it stops working soon.

Five Ten Trail Cross LT review (Nov 2021). After several friends bought and liked them I got my own pair a few weeks ago. I have a mixed opinion about them. Comparison Vs my third pair of Five Ten Access Mesh that I bought a couple of years ago.

Starting from the basics: The Access Mesh was an approach shoe, a product line that Five Ten has stopped producing (hopefully only) for the time being. The Trail Cross is originally a mountain bike shoe good also for hiking. The shoe shape is completely different, a lot narrower and longer. Access Mesh US8 feels as tight as the Trail Cross US7.5. So for my feet shape, for comfortable hiking, they are true size, US8 would be better. But they are not going to work for those with wide feet. The extra length in front is not ideal for climbing. The outsole has almost the same compound (Stealth Phantom and S1 are the grippiest) and the difference in the lugs pattern (not deep, but significantly more, less spaced, and a mud braking zone on the heel) does not affect the wet grip significantly.

Once I inspected the inside is when I had the biggest disappointment and I found the reason why they feel very different from the Access Mesh. Under the insole, they have added a piece of hard plastic which provides most of the rigidity to the shoe. This might be desired for MTB, but makes you lose a lot of ground feeling and adds quite some weight. Eventually, I might try to remove it… The tongue is not gusseted which allows debris to slide into the shoe easier. The hill has also some extra padding to secure the foot when riding which could be uncomfortable for long hikes. On the good side, the material used and the possibility of opening the tongue area completely makes them really easy to dry. They gain almost no weight while in water too.

Final “verdict”. If you are looking for the best grip on wet rocks, you want some solid shoes for regular canyoning or not so “technical” stream hiking and you have average to narrow feet this model can be a really good option. If you were looking for the next Access Mesh to be climbing in waterfalls and more “technical” routes, be able to run a bit on them or hike really long, they are not that. Evolve’s shape and ground feel are better for scrambling/climbing, although the outsole is not as grippy. Close, but not Five Ten’s “velcro”.

Five Ten Tennie review (Apr 2022). Taking advantage of that one of my buddies had been using a pair for a long while and we have similar-sized feet I was able to guess what size to buy online. In my case, I can use my true size (US8), but the best fit for stream hiking/coasteering is half size smaller (US7.5). Like the Trail Cross, they are significantly narrower than the original Access Mesh. If your feet are narrow you could go down even a full size. If wider feet… You could try a true size. But they might not work for you.

My opinion after coasteering and stream hiking with them. They are significantly heavier (360g in my size) than the Access Mesh (315g), even a little bit more than the Trail Cross (350g). But at least the extra bulk is due to further protection. Full rubber protection all around the front. Leather upper that will endure the roughest scrambling with no problem, even putting them into tight holes where I would be worried about the mesh upper. Without the non-useful (for our purposes) extra weight of the hard plastic under the insole of the Trail Cross. I did not have problems swimming with them but it takes a bit longer to drain once on the rocks. The grip of the Stealth S1 with “approach lugs” and toe “climbing zone” is as good as the originals. I am guessing that it will have ungluing problems after less than a year of usage. But I am already used to repairing them. A trade that I am happy with for the best grip ever. The gusseted mesh tongue is nice to keep sand and small pebbles out for longer. The hill cushion is a lot more comfortable than the Trail Cross, able to hike for way longer with them.

Considering that the Access Mesh disappeared for good (nowhere available) these are my current favorites (to buy online, not available in HK as far as I know). If you don’t have the old Access Mesh and/or your feet are wider try to find someone who has the shoes already to guess your sizing. This might be the last approach shoes by Five Ten. So I might buy several for the years to come.

Chamonix (August 2022). With friends unable to buy Five Tens anymore a few have gone back to the “origins”. There are nowadays more color and construction options.

Same grippy outsole. Not the best midsole, rocker shaped. Kinda heavy. I don’t especially like them. But if you want to test the shoes in store and you are not comfortable with the more minimalist Evolv, you might want to give them a try.

As mentioned in April, I bought several Five Tennies. Hopefully, I’ll not need to buy shoes for quite some years.

Five Ten Trail Cross XT (May 2023): Friends continue buying the Mountain Bike options and the latest I saw was a great improvement.

The ankle collar of this one feels a lot more comfortable and even if they still have a very stiff midsole I could not see the plastic under the insole. Which makes them a bit more similar to the old Access Mesh. The sizing and all the rest do not seem that have changed much. They might absorb a bit more water than the original Trail Cross LT. But it should not be an issue.