IMG_5286So as part of that Columbia OmniTen trip, we got a TON of new gear to test out in Arizona. One of the items that made a big impression were the Columbia Powerdrains – a lightweight hybrid trail and water shoe that we tested in the Secret Mountain Wilderness and at the bottom of Havasu Canyon.

Overall I found the shoes to be pretty impressive, with a few minor caveats for those of us who are more inclined to look for solid support in our hiking footwear.

Here’s a quick video review I did for ya – if you guys like this format, I’ll try to do more … and hopefully Apple will refresh its desktops soon so I can pick up something with a higher resolution web cam 🙂

PROS:
– Very lightweight
– Dries quickly
– Water drains out of the shoe within seconds
– REALLY grippy OmniGrip sole sticks to wet and dry surfaces equally well
– Comfortable enough for city-use

CONS:
– Lighter colors get dirty very easily
– Lack of support for those with high arches
– Thin, flexible sole may irritate those not used to barefoot / Five Fingers hiking or walking
– Fabric near toe seemed easy to fray

The Columbia Powerdrains retail for $95 (or a little bit less).

… and of course, the East Fork Trail is a perfect place to take these shoes!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,