Sole Of
A New
Machine
Z
Ever since Sperry
developed the first deck
shoe more than 70
years ago, shoemakers
have strived to improve
the comfort and performance of footwear for
boaters. Today’s shoes
are lighter, dry faster,
and come in a greater
variety of styles than
ever before. Modern
shoes can fight vibration
and fatigue as well as
odor and make you look
good doing it. Below are
a small sample that our
editors tried on for size.
— M.V.
THE ASV ATHLETIC BOAT SHOE (M), BY SPERRY, $140, THIS SHOE REDUCES HOCK AND VIBRATION FELT BY BOAT- ERS WHILE POUNDING THROUGH WAVES. POWERBOATERS AND OFFSHORE FISHER- MEN IN PARTICULAR WILL APPRECIATE THIS TECHNOLOGY, WHICH PROMISES A 40-PERCENT REDUCTION IN FORCES.
THE WAVE RUNNER
(W), BY SPERRY, $69,
IT’S GOT EVERYTHING
BUT A BILGE PUMP.
MADE FROM WATER-
PROOF LEATHER,
IT ALSO FEATURES
DRAIN PORTS AND
MESH, TO GET RID
OF WATER QUICKLY,
AND GET BACK TO
THE ACTION.
THE BLACKFIN (M+W), BY COLUMBIA
SPORTSWEAR, $65, THIS BOLD DESIGN
WILL MAKE YOU STAND OUT ON ANY
DOCK. OUR TESTER FOUND THE SHOE STIFF
INITIALLY, BUT IT QUICKLY MOLDED TO
THE FOOT AND BECAME VERY COMFORT-
ABLE IN A HALF-DAY’S WEAR. THE CAN-
VAS UPPER MAKES IT LIGHTWEIGHT.
