Back in the ’80s topsiders were popular as the preppy shoe of choice. They faded into the background to be kept afloat by sailors and other boaters. But while the traditional style is still available from manufacturer Sperry, some new designs use tech specific to water sports. The Ping uses SON-R technology that gives the wearer feedback of the surface he’s walking on. Made to go on land and under shallow water for launching boats and small boat water sports like Kayaking and canoeing, the Ping has an “outsole-to-insole-to brain” sensory feedback system constructed of multiple pads comprising the same sole. This SON-R system lets you feel the rocks under your feet and navigate different surfaces even when you can’t see them under water.
The shoe’s mesh upper construction allows for comfort and quick drying. The straps zigzag across to buckle closed. The sole is constructed of a consistently treaded surface interspersed with areas of softer sections to provide tactile feedback to the surface below. If there’s loose pebbles, you can tell by how the shoe conforms to the area while it will grip a rock and let you know what you’re walking on. While the shoes work well for sailing and yachting on larger boats, the best use for the Ping are small craft where you’ll walk right into the water when you put the boat in, and maybe step back into the water a few times to take a break from paddling or see the sights. You can certainly walk onto shore for a land excursion with no worries. The Ping shoes are due in stores next spring, and will retail for $60 to $90 depending on the style. They come in both bootie and low bootie models.
Sperry product page