Lizard’s Crew shoe and Spin boot are synonymous with great footwear talent applied to outdoor walking and life on board a boat.
In 1992, sandals were born that were destined to change outdoor walking. The founder, Luca Pedrotti, an outdoor sports enthusiast, invented a new concept of footwear: comfortable and elastic, allowing the foot to move naturally and with a very high grip on the ground. Today, after 30 years, Lizard is an internationally recognized name present in the nautical world with high technology and aesthetic products 100% made in Italy: the Lizard Crew shoe and the Lizard Spin boot will be useful to us and we will try them during the “1,000-mile cruise in the Tyrrhenian Sea”.
Lizard Crew Show
The test
Our crossing from San Vito Io Capo in Sicily to Villasimius in Sardinia-165 miles in 24 hours – seems to us to be the right occasion to test these technical shoes. It’s 9 a.m. when we leave the Sicilian anchorage and put the Crew shoe on. The first positive impression is that it fits like a glove: soft and very light, it adheres perfectly to the foot. The elasticity of the laces and the special “Quick Fit” design, with laces that wrap around the foot, provide an enveloping security.
Once the laces are tightened, the foot is wrapped evenly without any excessive load points and with no possibility of removing the shoe. Those who, like me, have very wide feet will appreciate the accurate sizing and shape of the insoles, the foot has no point of annoying constriction. The double fabric on the little toes effectively protects them from lateral blows and the very elastic conformation of the shoe makes any movement of the foot comfortable, even the most extreme, for example when operating the winches on your knees. The summer heat does not tempt you to wear shoes, but the Crew is light and breathable thanks to the mesh that makes up a good part of the upper and, moreover, if the shoe is submerged by a wave that breaks on deck, the water drains away easily. Use on a boat, especially on a long crossing, is very comfortable, especially because of the excellent fit and lightness. In terms of safety on board, which should never be underestimated, the Vibram double compound sole has an amazing grip on deck, even in the wet. The heavy humidity at night makes all surfaces slippery… and we know something about this cloudy night at sea!
How the Crew shoe is made
But let’s discover its features together: the Crew shoe, as soon as it is taken out of its box (made of recycled cardboard, as the company has always been environmentally aware), is rather eye-catching; the Lizard logo, printed on the perforated “3D-Air” fabric, appears half-hidden below the upper’s contours, thus becoming a stylistic feature of the product’s entire look. The Crew is ultra-light and extremely elastic. The synthetic leather material used, called “Happy Cow”, is pleasant to the touch, almost peachy, but extremely resistant to abrasion, highly breathable and quick-drying. The rubber sole, with Vibram profiling that guarantees the highest level of grip even on wet and smooth surfaces, is light coloured and leaves no trace on the deck; it also has a midsole cavity, called A-Clima, to insulate the foot from heat or cold. The anatomical footbed, in polyethylene/polyester mesh, is removable and very soft, treated with silver to be antibacterial and anti-odour.
Sizes: 35-47 – Weight: 251g – Heel: 12 mm
Lizard Spin Boot
The test
We used the Spin boot during our crossing from Filicudi in the Aeolian Islands to Palermo, starting at dawn. The weather is cloudy with a risk of rain and we are advised to wear appropriate clothing. The temperature is not at all high, so we can wear boots, at least until it gets warmer. Lightness and elasticity are immediately surprising; the special double construction guarantees a fit that boots often don’t have. The first time you put the boots on you have some difficulty, you don’t know the product, and shortly after you discover that you have to pull gently and move the internal membrane which tends to bunch up. Once you understand the movement, putting them on becomes really quick and easy. The main sensation I felt the first time I wore them was the comfortable contact between boot and limb, almost like a sock. What I don’t like in boots, in fact, is the abundant space that the foot always has around it and that generates an impression of instability, of not being in control. The shape of the footbed is the same as that of the shoes, wide and well-shaped, while a Velcro strap on the instep securely blocks the boot to the foot. A drawstring on the upper hem allows fine adjustment of the collar to improve wearability. The watertightness is total, as our tests have shown: the boot remains completely waterproof, even when submerged in the sea up to the edge, the water drains away instantly and drying occurs quite quickly despite the double construction of the upper. The sole is identical to that of the Crew show, the same grip on all surfaces, even wet; we also tested the grip on smooth fibreglass surfaces wet by humidity during the crossing, the result is always of great safety.
How the Lizard Spin boots are made
But let’s now examine how the Lizard Spin boot is constructed in detail, which is very technical even at first glance. You can immediately see that the leg has an innovative double construction, with a protective outer cover made of 3D-Air mesh, held snugly to the calf by a zigzag elastic cord and a watertight inner membrane; a generous strap allows you to fit the boot more easily. A Quick Fit Velcro strap keeps the instep locked in place and prevents slipping out.
The upper, equipped with Outdry® technology, is waterproof and breathable. The sole is very wide and comfortable and the white and grey rubber sole has a surface treatment with different Vibram compounds, which are highly non-slip and non-marking. Both the innovative design and the ClimaSkin system adopted turn this boot into a real element that is completely waterproof, even in the most violent waves. In addition to the shoe, this boot is also equipped with both a silver insole and an A-Clima midsole. The ClimaSkin system consists of a synthetic membrane that makes the fabric perfectly watertight (the Lizard Shield overboots are also made this way) and completely breathable for the best comfort and hygiene. The footbed, made of a special material called EVA, is lined with mesh and is draining.
Sizes: 35-46 – Weight: 484 g – Heel: 12 mm.