Item Review by Kathryn Doiron
Edited by Ken Bigelow
November 9th, 2009
Teva Sunkosi 2
Product Information:
| Manufacturer | Teva |
| Website | http://www.teva.com/ |
| MSRP | $100 USD |
| Weight: (stated) | 8.6 oz (254 g) |
| Material | Spider Rubber, TPU support, breathable mesh |
| Colors available: | Arctic (blue) |
| Sizes available: | 5-11 with half sizes |
Product Description
Closeup of Sunkosi
This is Teva’s remake of the original Sunkosi. This water shoe has been redesigned to dry faster, have better fit and traction, and to be more comfortable. The Sunkosi 2 are a water shoe with drain holes in the sole as well as a mesh upper and draining insole. The bottom is made of a Spider Rubber compound that grips well both in a dry and wet environment. The rubber is made of a non-marking rubber. The lacing system is a quick pull system with no loose ends to worry about. The laces feed into a pull system that can be tightened then rolled and stored under a flap that closes onto a hook and loop enclosure. The laces run though a webbing system that allows ease of function both when wet and dry. Part of the lacing runs from the heel up to the lacing then down and through the sole to the other side. The mesh and top sole have a TPU support system which can be seen on the outside of the mesh as fingers reaching up from the rubber sole to the webbing eyelets. The opening of the water shoe has a softer expandable material that is part of their mono-sock system designed to keep debris out of the water shoe. The water shoe has a grab loop on the back to assist with pulling the shoe on. The rubber grip extends up the side of the water shoe wrapping around the heel forming a heel pocket, and running along the side partially wrapping over the toes for extra protection.
Impressions
I was initially impressed by the fit of these water shoes. I tend towards the wider side of footwear and it was nice to find a pair of water shoes that could easily accommodate my wider feet while remaining comfortable. The water shoes are easy to tighten and the lacing remains tight even when wet. The color is pleasing to the eyes and I don’t mind wearing them off the water and around town. The shoe fits nicely around my ankle with a sock-like closure that helps keep debris out.
On Water Use
Closeup of sole
My first major use of the shoes, apart from wearing them to work one day, was for two sea kayaking classes. It was a long day on and in the water. The beach was a nice sandy beach and the water was comfortable for standing in. The morning was all about advanced strokes while the afternoon was about rolling and bracing. For the rolling segment of the class I was standing in waist deep water on the sandy bottom assisting paddlers in rolling drills. I had hoped that the mono-sock would keep out the beach sand but it did not. I accumulated a large wad of sand under my toes. It wasn’t an issue in the water as the sand would move around, but once the water was removed, it was more of an issue. I wasn’t chaffed as it was a short walk back the car to get a change of footwear and dry out.
The next trip out was a kayak tour of the Potomac River on the Maryland side. We were paddling in the canal which has a breach in the wall giving rise to a small portage. Knowing that the portage side is very muddy and slippery I generally wear shoes I can keep tight to my feet to lessen the chances of the mud seeping one. I had the Sunkosi’s tightened down and they survived the sucking nature of the mud, but they were coated in mud. It took a little washing to get the mud off but I did not feel any mud squeeze into the water shoes, either through the bottom drain holes or from the top.
Another trip out was a 4 day sea kayaking training and assessment symposium. I spend 3 days on the water and one day in a classroom. The water shoes were very comfortable both on and off the water. As the water temperatures were so cold, the first day I wore the water shoes with socks (in the classroom). The next three days I wore both thick wool socks and a dry suit and still had room in the Sunkosi’s for a comfortable fit. It was definitely a snug fit but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The shoes fit nicely in my sea kayak and while I can’t sit with the shoe totally vertical (low front deck), I can fit them on the foot pegs properly and still rest my legs against the bottom of the kayak as needed. The Sunkosi’s stayed on my feet as I was swimming though some rough water and going though some rescue drills. I did notice again that some of the finer beach sand was making its way into the shoes. With a dry suit, this isn’t a good thing as sand will rub wear spots and cause leaking. Luckily it wasn’t as much sand as the first time.
The next trip out was a weekend trip with two kayaking classes. The first class was a beginner level class. The put in was a boat ramp and the shoes gripped the slimy part of the ramp just as well as the dry part. I set my feet carefully at first but the grip was good and I didn’t slip. The second day out was an open water class and a sandy beach launch. I did get some fine sand in the water shoes again, but this time I allowed the shoes to fill up with water before entering the kayak. I then tipped my foot back to drain out the water and some of the sand. This worked well so I didn’t have to paddle with sand in my water shoes.
Wear
Teva Sunkosi wear
With all the use these water shoes have seen over this season, they are holding up well. I did notice a wear spot on the side of the heels were the water shoes press up against my kayak when I paddle. Mostly at this point it looks to be simply a rubbing off of the external color of the rubber showing white underneath. It doesn’t look like the rubber itself is actually showing any wear at that point. The laces are still in great shape and I love that they are real laces. They stay tight to my feet and don’t loosen over time or when wet. I have noticed that the size of the hook and look enclosure is quite small and sometimes doesn’t hold the lacing down underneath. I am not sure if this is that I simply knock the flap against something or that the amount of lacing rolled up underneath causes strain on the closure causing it to eventually work itself open. So far it hasn’t been an issue, but I fear that one day I might catch the lace loop on something and break a lace.
Wrap-up
I love these shoes both was walking around and for sea kayaking. I hope to get many more seasons of use out of them as they were so comfortable. I love the color and the lacing system kept the shoes snug to my feet.
Summary
Pros
- - tight lacing system
- - excellent drainage
- - dries quickly
- - comfortable both wet and dry
Cons
- - lace flap works loose
- - sand works its way inside
This concludes my review on the Sunkosi 2 water shoe. Thank you for reading this review and I hope you have found the information contained within valuable and useful.
Personal Information:
| Name | Kathryn Doiron |
| Age | 33 |
| Gender | Female |
| Height | 5′ 8″ (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg) |
| kathryn ‘at’ kayakgearreviews ‘dot’ org | |
| Website | http://kayakergirl.blogspot.com/ |
| Location | DC, MD, VA area |
Paddling Bio: I started seriously kayaking in the summer of 2007 and bought an Impex Force Category 4 as my first real boat that fall. I started whitewater kayaking in the summer of 2008 with a Jackson Classic Fun and now I also have a Jackson AllStar. I currently enjoy white water, flat water, ocean surfing and sea kayaking and look forward to getting more into rafting. I tend to get out on the water several times a week during the height of the kayaking season. I have even paddled with the Ice Pirates at the height of winter. I am hoping to do an expedition trip in the following year.
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