Still, if swimming vs playing is your thing, you probably want to error more toward an aqua sock style water shoe like the NRS Arroyo Wetshoe.įor walking on rocky shoes, beaches and swimming, I like the Chacos. To put this in perspective, I’d rather swim in Chacos than the aforementioned Columbia Drainmaker IVs.
I could swim in the Chaco Torrent Pros better than I expected given its full-coverage shoe-like properties. Water shoes won’t improve your ability swim - the best water shoes just don’t hamper your abilities too much.
Note the toe-cap drain holes, which helps speed draining.
Shop the Chaco Torrent Pro from Moosejaw and get FREE shipping on orders over $50! How’s the Swim? Top view. That’s where the toe protection comes in: Even if you slip a bit, when you slide into another rounded bowling-ball river rock, your toes are protected. On slick river rocks, it gave surprisingly good traction, but it will slip over a slime covered rock (which is true for every rubber compound I’ve ever tested). If you look closely, you can see some of the wavy siping, which creates additional traction when you’re standing in them on slick surfaces.įor the sole, Chaco uses a non-marking “ChacoGrip Plus” rubber compound.
Still, that’s not really the point - you choose the Chaco Torrent Pro water shoes because you want to get in and out of the water all day long. Speaking of performance, the Torrent Pro’s drain water fast, but the dry time is about average for any full-coverage water shoe. I don’t know why this is, but it happens sometimes with high-performing gear.
The Chaco Torrent Pro water shoes - like the Engel HD30 Cooler - look mediocre in photos. When I first considered the looks of the Chaco water shoes in photos, I must admit, I thought they looked a bit goofy. Don’t get me wrong: The Chaco Torrent Pros are not cushy, but they provided me with enough support to run around in and out of the water on slick rocks and uneven ground and enjoy doing it.įor the upper, Chaco uses a knitted polyester fabric with synthetic overlaps for added structure and toe protection. This is important because I’m a large guy and I like to wear well-cushioned Hoka One One shoes on most days. I wore them on uneven, rocky terrain in and out of the water while fly fishing and swimming, and my feet never got tired. In fact, on one camping trip, my go-to all-day shoe was the Chaco Torrent Pro. The mesh upper and toe-cap holes squish out excess water with each step while midsole holes quickly drain water.Īs for the lack of a dedicated, removable insole, I quickly forgot about it while out on the water. The Chaco fit-and-finish is excellent overall.
The draw stop lacing do a great job of snugging your foot to the shoe, and when you need to kick and swim in turbulent water, the Torrent Pro stays put. The ankle fits fairly snug to keep most sand and debris out.Īt first glance and upon an initial test, I had two concerns: 1) I was worried that the draw stop lacing system might not snug up enough for swimming in rapids, and 2) I was worried that the lack of an insole would wear out my feet over time. It has a real sole, a great toe guard, and full-coverage mesh. Why do I appreciate the Chaco Torrent Pro water shoes?įirst, the Chaco Torrent Pro is a relatively lightweight but nimble water shoe that delivers full-foot protection. Why buy them? The Chaco Torrent Pro water shoes excel for those getting in and out of the water all day long. It just barely edges out the Columbia Drainmaker IV, which still leads our guide to the best water shoes, but for me personally, I’m a hardcore fan of the Chaco Torrent Pro. After testing and reviewing the Chaco Torrent Pro, this is what we learned: Chaco Torrent Pro ReviewĪfter testing and using the Chaco Torrent Pro this spring and summer, the Torrent Pro is my new favorite water shoe. To get us a closer look, Chaco sent Man Makes Fire a review unit. The Torrent Pro is designed to get in and out of the water, over and over.
The Chaco Torrent Pro water shoes were co-developed with professional whitewater athletes to create a cross-training water shoe.