Review: Astral Loyak
Summary: The Loyak from Astral is a minimalist water shoe that feels more like a wetsuit bootie than traditional whitewater footwear. Continue reading for the detailed review…
In depth review: I’ve always been a fan of barefoot surfing. There is no better way to connect with your board. It allows the most direct and efficient application of power from your body to the board and provides the most direct tactile feedback. When I started SUP river surfing, I chose to wear traditional wetsuit booties. The flexibility and thin soles found in booties are the closest thing you can get to barefoot surfing while still providing protection from the harsh river environment.
Surfing Glenwood in the Astral Loyaks
Traditional water shoes have always felt heavy and clumsy to me. The Astral Loyak is the one exception. These shoes almost felt like booties. Their thin, flexible sole allowed me to surf without losing the connected feeling with the board. The rubber used on the sole is also very sticky, allowing for great grip when the board tried to go vertical.
Despite being thin, the Loyak was extremely comfortable. I wore this shoe during many river surf sessions as well as on multi-day down river SUP trips. I wore it over a full drysuit with socks as well as over just my bare feet. The Loyak never felt uncomfortable.
The durability of the Loyak is great as well. There is almost no sign of wear and tear after one season of use. On top of that, they have never had any sort of odor (unlike all of my wetsuit booties).
The only problem I had with the Loyak’s is the laces. No matter how tight I tied them, or what knots I used, the laces eventually came untied. I haven’t lost a shoe yet, but it definitely caused me concern. If Astral can solve this problem, then the Loyak would be a perfect SUP water shoe.
UPDATE: After two seasons of moderate use, the Loyak is starting to show signs of wear. Some of the seams are starting to split and the material over the toes is wearing thin. I spent probably half my time using my Loyaks. If I had used them full-time I think I would have gotten one full season out of them. I’m happy with how long they’ve lasted; I put my water shoes through a lot of abuse. I like them enough that I’ve purchased a new pair!
