05
Jul
Walk Like a Gecko in the Flood Lites
Walk Like a Gecko in the Flood Lites
www.practicaltravelgear.com
July 5, 2011
Comfortable, adjustable, and with a great unique sole design, these Flood Lite sandals from GoLite are a great addition for travelers.
GoLite may not be a household name, but if I had to pick one shoe I saw more than any other on the feet of buyers at the last Outdoor Retailer show I attended, it would have to be the GoLite Lime Lite shoes I reviewed last year. I’ve since seem them on the feet of three different travelers in two countries, so I think it’s safe to say that when people buy them, they like them.
I’ve been just as happy with these Flood Lite sandals I’ve been wearing around since the cold weather said goodbye. From the top they’re not all that different from ones you’ve seen from the likes of Teva or Keen. They’ve got adjustable Velcro straps to make them conform to your feet, a comfy footbed, and a cover across the front to keep you from banging your toes on a rock. There are two tabs to grab to help put these on: one for the top of your foot, one behind the heel.
The real differentiating feature on these Flood Lites though is the grippy rubber sole. It’s meant to mimic the feet of a gecko, which is kind of cool looking, but it also grips the surface incredibly well. You won’t be climbing the walls like a cute lizard, but you can cross streams or traverse slippery wet rocks without slipping and falling.
These sandals, with leather under your feet and a contoured EVA midsole, are super-comfortable. The stretchy nylon fabric against your feet is soft and dries quickly. These took no time at all to break in and have not produced anything close to a blister, even after 8 hours of walking around, up and down hills. With lots of leather on the top instead of multi-colored fabric, they look nicer than a lot of similar competing sport sandals.
The Flood Lite sandals come in brown, fossil, or black and list for $85. You may find them for a bit less online. There’s a more streamlined women’s version of this sandal called the Stream Lite.