Salomon Techamphibian 5 - Women's Review

The Tech 5 impressed us with its high level of comfort as compared to other models we've tested. We were pleasantly surprised with the traction, and we also loved the one-pull cinching mechanism, which was handy and seemed built to last.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

With impressive arch support and cushiony midsole, you can bet we found these kicks incredibly comfortable. Their footbed is made from Salomon's EnergyCell midsole, allowing for nice cushion and reactivity. We also appreciated the adjustability of the straps and cinch mechanism, allowing us to feel comfortable even when sporting two socks and a drysuit on a cold spring day on the San Juan.

We also loved how the toe box allowed our toes to splay out for extra balance and sensitivity without making the heel feel loose. Our testers clambered around a raft, navigated slippery rocks, and even took a swim and didn't feel as if these shoes were going to come off. The S.Cafe® recycled sock liner covers made our feet feel comfy and cozy even in bare feet without sacrificing the durability of the construction.

Traction

Featuring a highly durable Contagrip® FD rubber, the Techamphibians surprised us with excellent traction. They also have a raised siping on the outsole to adhere even better to hard surfaces, with a deep lug depth for the soft. They were also just flexible enough to wrap around the curvature of a raft and slippery rocks for extra proprioception. They struggled just a tiny bit on wet rocks while meandering around a cold river in Colorado, but we still were impressed with the amount of stickiness of the outsoles.

This excellent traction doesn't come at the cost of the sole's durability or foot protection, as opposed to some other options. The sole comes with reinforced toe cap areas if you're as clumsy as our lead tester and tend to kick rocks as much as you walk over them.

Sensitivity

The superior comfort and traction offered by the midsole and outsole mean a bit of a drop in sensitivity. It was sometimes a bit dicey jumping around rocks on a side hike or walking around the raft, a metric we thought was compensated by the good traction of the Tech 5.

The shoes were a bit inflexible, contributing to its mediocre sensitivity score. They didn't really bend around curved surfaces as well as a water bootie. While they were more flexible than we initially thought they'd be, they still didn't quite have the bendiness to get us around a gear boat without a bit of nerves.

Versatility

The Tech 5s scored high on our versatility metric due to their possibility of being used in multiple water sports and the ability to transition easily onto land from a raft or canoe. They also navigated a side hike incredibly easily, allowing gus to jump from rock to rock to sand and back again with ease. They were useful in both dry and wet conditions and with both bare and layered feet.

We think they also look pretty sporty for your after-trip haunts with somewhat of a running-shoe-like look to them. If you're in a rush or walking around camp on a multi-day trip, you can even slip the shoes on quickly due to a handy collapsible heel, making them function as somewhat of a sandal as well. We didn't test them running in wet conditions, given a lack of rain in our lead tester's home, but with their nice arch support and design, we think they'd be a great choice for runners who need to splash through pools and puddles on their morning jogs.

Warmth

The Salomon Tech 5 scored fairly well in this metric. They also stretched pretty easily, allowing us to wear them with a dry suit just as well as with bare feet.

We found that the uppers dried pretty well. They drained quickly with bare feet without getting rocks or sand through the efficient drain holes. The mesh was also closely stitched enough not to allow punctures via sharp rocks or sticks, and the uppers were durable enough to be shoved under a thwart for a season of rafting.

Durability

The Tech 5s scored high in durability due to the reinforced uppers and closely stitched mesh. We felt they were much more likely to withstand the beating of shoving your foot under a raft thwart or navigating rocky, sandy side hikes without wearing down. Additionally, the cinch mechanism seems incredibly durable as well.

While the Salomon Tech 5s come in as one of the more expensive models we tested, we think they'd last longer than less expensive models. You won't have to buy a new pair every year like most of us boaters are prone to do.

Should You Buy the Salomon Techamphibian 5s?

If you love the side hikes just as much as the boating, these water shoes are a great option. With excellent arch support, surprisingly good traction, and top-notch adjustability, they are the go-to for boaters who are on the move.

What Other Women's Water Shoe Should You Consider?

For something with a bit more tackiness and a bit less expensive, you might consider the Xtratuf Riptide.