Five-Toed River Shoes
The Treksport made by Vibram Fivefingers is my only go-to shoe when I’m out and about having adventures on the river. A riverbed tends to be an ever-changing topographical nightmare so I need a shoe that can take a beating over and over without giving out on me.
Because of the Treksports flexible properties and small size it takes up virtually no space so you can cart your shoes with you wherever you go. They can fit in the outer pouch of your backpack, be stored in your fishing vest, or even roll up nice and neat in your cargo pants pocket.
Separately, each Trek can weigh between 4.8-6.5 ounces depending on gender and shoe size. Less shoe means you’re not going to be weighed down as your slogging through a creek. And when you’re done with your trip it’s easy to strip off your wet treks and toss them in the washing machine along with your other soiled river clothes. Just don’t put them in the dryer, they will delaminate!
The upper portion of the Trek is made from a Coconut Carbon Fiber, which is quite a mouthful to say but is really not that difficult to explain. Coconut fiber is durable and lightweight making this river shoe one of the lightest models out there that can still take a hefty beating. And the closed top that secures around your ankle does a pretty good job at keeping gravelly bits from working their way into your shoe.
Now some might ask “How can you trust a shoe that has no sole”? Technically the Treksport is pretty much all-sole without all of the extra bells and whistles that come with your typical river shoe. The Trek’s base is comprised of an EVA midsole, which acts as a shock plate that keeps the wearer from getting stone bruises. The outer sole is 4mm of aggressively lugged tred that offers added traction when walking on gravelly/rocky situations; like your typical riverbed.
In short not all shoes are meant to be river shoes, but this one certainly takes home the gold!
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Straight KSO’s are awesome! I still prefer my Treks for when I’m wade fishing though. Lugs offer better traction and the thicker sole provides 4mm more protection from what might be lurking at the bottom of a riverbed- Like beer cans 
What Jaz isn’t mentioning is that not only has she been wearing Vibram Fivefingers since 2006 but she also is the go-to person for them at a large local outdoor store. Who knows how many people she has fitted into a pair at this point.
Aside from the comfort, my favorite thing about wearing them is that you get a huge (and unexpected) amount of additional grip by having separated toes!
Hundreds of people- Every Saturday and Sunday I sell at least 6-10 pairs. The cool thing about them is that they are not just river specific. People buy them for crossfit training, running, martial arts, hiking, yoga, and everyday wear. There are several different models out now that are tailored to specific activities. The Treksport was originally designed for hiking/trail running. I found out how amazing they were for rivers when my KSO’s finally died. The luggy outsole really helps to cut through the moss on rocks in river beds and offers better grip than the original KSO sole.
My favorites for everything but rocky creek bottoms are the straight KSO. I wear the crap out of them and get laughed at by my fishing buddies for it, until they fall that is.
That’s when their laughter stops…
And mine starts!