So it's certainly been a while since I've had the opportunity to post anything, but I'm back and have some reviews coming down the pipeline! A lot has changed since my last review... mostly that my son was born! Everett Browning was welcomed to our tribe in August and we've been loving every second of him! Getting outside certainly took a backseat while we figured out baby #2, but we are getting back into the swing of things... FEELS GOOD! With that, let's get right to it. We've reviewed Shamma sandals before and had a great time with them, however, we didn't quite have the right size and adjusting them seemed to be tricky... That was 2 years ago and a lot has changed! I tested the newest model of the Mountain Goat UltraGrip sandal and found that they were a great sandal to wear in a lot of environments. Let's go over some specs and inital observations below: For $95 (plus $10 if you want the PowerStraps) you get a 10oz sandal that offers about 12mm of thickness. The straps are soft on the skin, and the patented UltraGrip footbed is comfortable on the skin. Adjustability has come a long way for Shamma. They've figured out a stationary point on the inside of the ankle that doesn't move, and 2 additional points that adjust... the heel and over the bridge of the foot. Both are easy to work with and dial in a snug fit. We were able to test the sandals in a variety of terrain ranging from everyday, concrete wear and some light trail use. The Ozarks really offer a great place to put shoes to the test. There are lots of big rocks and roots on most of the trails and footwear needs to be tough to make it here. I would suggest the Mountain Goat sandals on moderate terrain and groomed trails but I would hesitate to take them on seriously tricky trails. The foothold was mostly good, but I still experienced some lateral sliding from time to time. The sizing seems better but it still felt on the snug side for my high volume, and slightly wide foot. I'd recommend using their sizing chart as it doesn't necessarily match up with standard sizing. This creates a little room for improvement in my mind. Make the sandals a bit wider, and tweak the sizing and these would be hard to beat! Overall, we really enjoyed using the Shamma Mountain Goats and would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a minimalist option that can hold up to the rigors of moderate trail running and hiking. We didn't experience any fraying of the seams or ungluing so you are getting your money's worth here. Once broken in, your foot sits on the footbed nicely and they become quite comfy! The Mrs was given a pair of the Mountain Goats with the leather footbed, but her issue is the opposite of mine. She has a very low volume and narrow foot, which meant her foot was sliding around quite a bit, so she opted not to use them much on trails. She found them quite comfy in day to day use, but opted for her Chacos or just her hiking shoes. These certainly aren't knocks, but rather things to keep in mind when purchasing. The owner of Shamma, Josh is an incredibly nice guy who stands behind his product and won't hesitate to help get you in the right sandals. That, in our eyes, makes Shamma stand out in minimalist sandal industry. Give them a call or take a peek at their website to purchase some sandals! *These sandals were provided free of charge for honest thoughts and opinions. All things expressed here are our own and not influenced in any way.
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