Explore It!

La Sportiva Exum River shoes

• Pros: Amazing traction in water; Shed water quickly; Work well in transit to/from the canyon
• Cons: Sizes run narrow; No gender-specific option; Shoe was discontinued
• Bottom Line: This is a great canyoneering shoe well worth the money if you can still find it.
• Street price: $63

La Sportiva’s Web site

    Scampering over boulders, wading through frigid chest-deep water and dodging tourists is a good way to get outside as temperatures increase.
    And as your flip-flops flip and flop out of the closet for running to the grocery store, you’ll need something better for canyoneering and tromping through water-filled hikes. That’s when the La Sportiva Exum River shoes come to play.
    While the shoes aren’t made anymore, with some online searching, it’s still possible to find various sizes. So if you’re planning a hardcore trip through a slot canyon, find a pair of the Italian-made La Sportiva Exum River shoes.
    They’re bombproof.
    The tread on these shoes has plunger-like suction cups on the ball of the foot designed to grip virtually anything, and the sieve-like side construction pours out water like an upside down bucket.
    Hiking The Subway in Zion National Park, I was able to easily walk up a slippery, algae-covered slope while my comrades were struggling in their shoes – which ranged from sneakers to water-oriented shoes.
    The traction was unbelievable. That’s one reason why so many canyoneers look for the Exum River’s when exploring.
    But the Sportiva’s aren’t just for long water adventures. Despite the minimal lugs, they have sufficient grip on dry ground too. While they’re at home in the water, they held their own in transit to and from the canyon.
    However, the shoes are unisex.
    I have semi-wide feet and while my feet got used to it on the trail, the Exum River’s squeezed too much around the midsole and I paid the price later with incredibly sore feet.
    Perhaps that one, considerable, complaint is why the Exums are no longer produced.
    According to the company, though, the Exum Pros are a good alternative – though I haven’t even seen them in person to pass judgment.

This story first appeared in The Spectrum & Daily News

The ultimate trail running event schedule is set and will kick off May 29 in Asheville, N.C.
The 2009 La Sportiva Mountain Cup consists of 10 mountain races that span the United States with the last race scheduled for Ketchum, Idaho on August 22.
Each rigorous trail has its challenges, but each will surely have its stunning scenery – if runners have a chance to enjoy it.
Races range from grueling hill climbs to European-style mountain races to forest loops ensuring every racer has something that will suit their style of running.
The Squaw Valley Mountain Run, in Squaw Valley, Calif., for instance, is a 3-mile run entirely on forest service roads. The Half Wit Half, in Reading, Penn., though, is a 13.1-mile (half marathon) that is 100-percent singletrack.
Others consist of forest service/fire roads mixed with mostly singletrack.
While it’s not possible to compete in all the races, as the Squaw Valley, Calif. and Nederland, Colo. races are scheduled for the same day, runners’ points are tallied after each event and combined at the end of the series.
A runner’s top five finishes are used for the end point total with cash prizes ranging from $500 to $5,000 depending on overall place and category (male open, male master, female open and female master).
Race entry costs between $25 and $40 per race and most races are capped at between 163 and 550 racers, with one being capped at 900.