I've done a series of tests on my new extreme shoes. I've taken them on several aquatic adventures: swimming in the ocean, swimming in the bay, swimming in freshwater, and out on the boat. In terms of in the water, they hold up very nicely. They are easy to swim with, they protect your feet from shells or glass and they just look sporty. On the boat, they are really great for gripping the wet deck when your dad tries to take you out into the breakwater with a boat that is not meant to do that and almost out of gas. My only complaint is the laces. The first time I had to retie the laces several times because they came undone in the water. But as I've worn them more and more, the laces seem to have gotten better, worn in maybe? I have had to retie them, but if I tie them really tight the first time I may only have to retie them once.
I've also worn my water shoes geocaching, and during the rain. They held up really nicely in both instances. I was lucky to have worn my extreme shoes geocaching because we encountered some mud (I was hoping we would) and I just jumped right into the mud, for testing purposes of course. I walked a bit with the mud shoes, then I rinsed them off in the river. Later I hosed them down with fresh water. It ended up better than if I had worn sneakers.
I've also worn them around Boston to test their urban possibilities. They were completely dry while walking around Boston, and I wouldn't have wanted them to be wet. This was not an aquatic test, but a test of their comfort in the everyday world. And what better place to test them than in the city where they endure subways, and lots of walking.
I must say I was surprised when I first wore them. I had the wrong impression of what the "sock" inside was. I thought it was a full sock keeping your feet dry. It isn't. It's more to protect the whole of your foot from the outside shell portion as well as to protect your heel from blisters.
Overall Grade: A-
