Approach Sandals by Toetem Sandals

Hello all!

Over the last few years the team at Toetem Sandals has created and fine-tuned sandals with a patent-pending Convertible & 100% Adjustable strapping system. We are excited to offer industry-first Approach Sandals, along with the Wanderer model for Multi-Sport use.

ToetemSandals.com

Approach the crag problem-free, then convert your sandals to flip-flops in seconds, for sliding in/out between climbs or on belays.

The Kickstarter Campaign was supposed to launch April 1st, but we post-poned due to Covid-19.

Toetem Sandals will be hand-made in the USA, featuring Vibram outsoles & mid-soles, a best-in-market 100% recycled No-Slip Footbed, and a 100% custom fit no matter your foot shape, super-lightweight and ultra-durable.

We have some prototypes with over 1,000 miles on them.

This has been a multi-year project with testers all across the country, made up of climbers, runners, hikers, and fishers.
We’ll post updates via social media, website, and email list when we have news on the Kickstarter.
I appreciate your future support, please reach out to us via the website for more info! These sandals have been my passion project for the last few years - hand-crafting and fine-tuning every single aspect!

Dang are these the black totems everyone has been raving about?!?

How much?

Are the straps secure enough to carabiner them to harness? 

how long before the strapping on the sole tears though?
why not attach it between the footbed and sole?

Is the website, and the product itself, build only as an elaborate april fools prank ? :)
If yes congrats for the effort, if not... no comment...

Redyns wrote: how long before the strapping on the sole tears though?
why not attach it between the footbed and sole?

Attaching between the footbed and sole would weaken the attachment. Having worn multiple brands of sandals with this style of attachment, I can say that the wear is probably less than you'd imagine. This is owed to the fact that your foot puts more pressure on certain other parts of the sole (heel, ball of foot), and not where the straps go through.

Nice work team! These look pretty sweet

Fabien M wrote: Is the website, and the product itself, built only as an elaborate april fool prank ? :)
If yes congrats for the effort, if not... no comment...

my thought as well

Someone wanted to compete with Evolv and their new KLAWG approach shoe/sandal!!!


(this was in my email this morning)

Not an April Fools at all - today was supposed to be our Kickstarter launch, so instead I’m sharing it with the climbing community.

The straps and materials are not only bomber - and the best in the market - they are also made with upcycled and plant-based materials. You can strap them on your harness easily, with or without a carabiner, and they are super lightweight.

We have multiple pairs of prototypes with over 500 miles on them - no repairs, no resoles. The inception pair of prototypes have over 2,000 miles on them, with 1 change of the side-post that serves to attach the straps to the soles.

Matt N wrote:

my thought as well

Someone wanted to compete with Evolv and their new KLAWG approach shoe/sandal!!!

(this was in my email this morning)

Those Evolv sandals are even uglier than Crocs, something I would not have thought was possible, so well done on this front. 

As for the OP sandals they may look like sporty sandals, calling them "approach" is just dumb.
Or clever marketing depending on which demographic you re aiming for - I doubt its the crowed on MP but then why post this here where you re sure to be hammered...

If its "approach" to the river from the camping ground 20 meters away then I m sure its something they can do very well...

Although I'm not a wearer of sandals myself, I will say I've been climbing with Rone and had to do a 45min-1hr bushwacky approach with atleast a few hundred feet of 4th class and he was cruising it in the Toetem sandals.

With the right conditions you can theorically scale Mont-Blanc with trail runners (I ll let them try with "approach" sandals) does that mean they are the right tool for the job ?

I'd get these once my Bedrocks wear out, the flip-flop conversion is really cool. Really like the flatness of the design, makes them easy to pack and you don't have to clip them to your harness. Real approach shoes have their place, but after a long, hot route, the relief from letting my feet breathe is real.

I laugh at those wearing sandals on long approaches as I have seen folks slip and slam their toes into a rock. Then they are doing the one hop sandal bebop. I may be a knuckle dragger but I like my toes protected on the approach.

The above should not be construed as any comment on the advert or other sandals in this discussion just a general observation about using sandals in place of approach shoes.

I have approach shoes. I wear approach shoes. But when I can swing it, I wear sandals. Something sweet about having sandals clipped to your harness instead of approach shoes. And letting the dogs breathe!

Yes, I’ve smashed my toes. No, I won’t stop.

Can say, toetem sandals are the shit. 

We’ve amassed over 10k miles over 2 years of prototype testing, ranging from amateurs through professional sponsored climbers. We’ve had 1 reported incident of a “could-have-been-an-injury”  through various activities including, but not limited to: concerts, dive bars, shopping, road running, trail running, hiking, backpacking, and gnarly approaches (and even some 5.8 and easier sport routes). The could-have-been-an-injury happened at a large concert.

Toetem Sandals are built on a biomechanically-correct platform. That means that, unlike many other “adventure sandals”, you are as nimble in our footwear as you are barefoot.

With our Approach Sandals you will organically flow through something as gnarly as a rockfall field approach — not clunking, stomping, and “conquering” it.
Toetem Sandals uses Vibram Approach rubber — the same compound used by La Sportiva. We offer that same grip and traction, with the added performance boost of using your own proprioception and biomechanics — two things that are far beyond our most advanced mechanical technology. You feet are perfectly tuned to the rest of your body - trust them.
Vibram No-Slip Outsole + Vibram Dual-Density Mid-Sole + 100% Recycled No-Slip Footbed

Rone Taylor wrote: Not an April Fools at all - today was supposed to be our Kickstarter launch, so instead I’m sharing it with the climbing community.

The straps and materials are not only bomber - and the best in the market - they are also made with upcycled and plant-based materials. You can strap them on your harness easily, with or without a carabiner, and they are super lightweight.

We have multiple pairs of prototypes with over 500 miles on them - no repairs, no resoles. The inception pair of prototypes have over 2,000 miles on them, with 1 change of the side-post that serves to attach the straps to the soles.

You chose April fools as your launch date!?!

More importantly can you make them in outrageous colors? Perhaps a "Tradiban Edition"?! I envision a big freakin' rainbow.

I have sent numerous grueling, 20+ yard approaches in my crocs, navigating highly technical terrain, such as hills and dirt parking lots. In extreme cold temperatures, like on a mild fall day at rumney, I can wear socks in my crocs to protect my feet. Can't do that with your toejam sandals. Best of all, I can just rinse them off when a crag dog pees on them, since there are no fabric straps that would retain odors. I'm sure your sandals are fine for casual climbers, but a hardcore cragster like myself cannot settle for inferior footwear.

I love wearing my flippyfloppys on approaches descents. Ive been pretty suprised at how durable REEF sandals have been for me. The only downsides ive experienced are that the soles have no sticky rubber and you really have yo hold on to them with your toes during free hanging raps. It would also be nice to have a sandal that doesn’t absorb water like a sponge during water crossings and approaches in the spring snow.  How about an “alpine sandal”?

Still no mention of price?

I've used Bedrock sandals for the past few years and loved them, I'd be very curious to try these out.