Burly men at sea rock man7/18/2023 It’s a deluxe dangling system, to be sure. The product designers clearly had fun with this project, and the standout feature distinguishing the QUOC x Restrap Sandals from anything else I’ve seen before is the hook-and-loop system designed to fit around your seat pack for hauling the sandals while riding. They feature the exact same gripply sole found on QUOC’s Lala Sliders, which works impressively well and offers great traction when paired with the Restrap-designed retention system (note that if you’re merely searching for a post-ride slip-on, the Lala Sliders are priced at ~$50). Plus, their rigidity lends itself far better to casual riding and walking around. They’re not nearly as light as the ultra-minimalist sandals I typically pack for camp, but they offer far more protection with the same excellent ventilation. These new sandals are super light, too, with my pair of EU 47s weighing just 470 grams on my scale with a bit of Rocky Mountain dirt on them. Softness and snugness aside, I should note that the front left strap rivet created a little hotspot during my first few times wearing the sandals (without socks), though it seems to be getting better as the microfiber around it breaks in. The heel strap can flip fully upward, transforming them into sliders when you need to throw them on quickly, such as when nature calls in the middle of the night. Three Restrap-made straps provide a snug fit, and all of them can pivot, allowing them to conform to the contours of your feet. I’ve only ever tried Crocs on-some lines just weren’t meant to be crossed-but I’d say these sandals have a roughly similar softness underfoot. Putting the QUOC x Restrap Sandals on for the first time, I was struck by how pleasantly soft the footbed feels. Beyond just wearing around camp, they’d also be ideal for river crossings and bikerafting. I’ve done exactly that on a few longer rides on 75☏ (24☌) days here in sunny Colorado, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear them on a low-key weekend bikepacking trip with flat pedals based on my initial impressions, though it’s unclear how the soles would hold up long-term when paired with a pedal with aggressive pins. Hiding in plain sight is a clever feature that helps solve the problem of where to pack your camp sandals while bikepacking, though the sole is stiff enough that you might also consider just riding in them and skipping the need for a second shoe altogether. The all-new QUOC x Restrap Sandal harmoniously blends QUOC’s outsole technology and highly regarded microfiber material from its performance cycling shoes with Restrap’s eponymous fastening and strap innovations that gave the brand its start when founder Nathan Hughes was making pedal straps out of his bedroom back in 2010.Īimed straight at the bikepacking market, QUOC and Restrap say they developed their new sandals as the “ultimate post-ride slip-on.” I’ve had them for a short while to see how that claim holds up and whether or not they can be more than that. They combined their unique manufacturing expertise to create a piece of footwear that’s somehow unexpected and obvious at the same time. The latest intriguing collaboration from around the cycling world brings together two well-established British brands, QUOC from London and Restrap from Yorkshire.
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