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From: Robert Livingston & Pam Martin <bearboat2_at_comcast.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Portage Shoes
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:26:18 -0800
Having bought 4 pairs of expensive Chotas for my family including one of the
heavy duty ones and having 3 of the four develop leaks within a couple weeks
of light use I would no longer recommend them.

By the way, what would people use to repair them?

Anyway, I use Crocs now with waterproof socks if I have to. But they do not
offer ankle support. Good traction on wet rocks and logs but not wet grass.
Not really a substitute for Chotas because they function differently.

But nice because VERY lightweight. Slippers for the outdoors.
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From: alex <al.m_at_3web.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Portage Shoes
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:51:08 -0800
> Anyway, I use Crocs now with waterproof socks if I have to. But they do
not
> offer ankle support. Good traction on wet rocks and logs but not wet
grass.
> Not really a substitute for Chotas because they function differently.
>
> But nice because VERY lightweight. Slippers for the outdoors.

Crocks, or Holey Soles from MEC store almost fit the criteria - lightweight
and instantly drying :-), - it has struck me recently that I could attach an
elastic strap from old shorts at the back of these slippers, turning them
into sandals:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp;jsessionid=CH1QRVHrKzSqrdg7e1
RgljOLRSD0zVlPnxgiLWwzp1u1rhmh5PUr!-2102182949!170918944!2003!7002?FOLDER%3C
%3Efolder_id=676791&bmUID=1111995792990 . Not really for rocky and slippery
portages, - they are exactly slippers, slip-in, slip-out.

But Salomon Tech Amphib (on the same page in MEC) are very good too, and
even though don't dry as fast as Holeys, but are quite acceptable for
portages (back anckle support isn;t as stiff as in mountain boots, but it
works).  A lot of mesh, - but sole is very rugged and toes are protected.
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Portage Shoes
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:05:45 -0800
 "Robert Livingston & Pam Martin" <bearboat2_at_comcast.net> wrote:

> Having bought 4 pairs of expensive Chotas for my family including one of 
> the
> heavy duty ones and having 3 of the four develop leaks within a couple 
> weeks
> of light use I would no longer recommend them.
>
> By the way, what would people use to repair them?

Something wrong there.  Your experience is different from the others I know 
(maybe 6-7 paddlers) who use Chotas.  I have an older pair with the soft 
soles which has seen very heavy use over 6 years.  They are beginning to leak 
slightly at the seams and where the rubber sole joins the upper neoprene 
part.

A bead of Aquaseal has brought them back to life, but they are tired and so I 
invested in the heavier-duty ones.  If the new ones leak, they'll go back to 
the place I got them.

--
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Joseph Pylka <jpylka_at_earthlink.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Portage Shoes
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:45:06 -0500
> > Having bought 4 pairs of expensive Chotas for my family including one
of 
> > the heavy duty ones and having 3 of the four develop leaks within a
couple 
> > weeks of light use I would no longer recommend them.
> >
> Something wrong there.  Your experience is different from the others I
know 
> (maybe 6-7 paddlers) who use Chotas.  I have an older pair with the soft 
> soles which has seen very heavy use over 6 years.  They are beginning to
leak 
> slightly at the seams and where the rubber sole joins the upper neoprene
part.
>
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--Sounds like a quality control issue...  Most owners I know have had no
problems, and the one or two others had pinhole type leaks.  Never saw one
leaking at the sole seams.  Mine are now about 5 years old and still
functioning well with no leakage.  
I've augmented the soft soles with a stiff hiking boot insert making them
more comfortable for portaging.  Works well.

Joe P.
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