|
The Rugged Shark Laguna Shoe
Protects Anglers In and Out of the Water
| Date: |
9/18/11 |
| Tackle type: |
Apparel |
| Manufacturer: |
Rugged Shark |
| Reviewer: |
Mark "EZBass"
Lassagne |
Total Score: 8.00 -
GREAT
Introduction:
Boating shoes have been
around for some but what about fishing shoes? Like most bass anglers I just wear
whatever is comfortable because there really hasn’t been a shoe designed with
the features I have been looking for. Recently several companies have started
manufacturing shoes to meet the needs of the bass angler. Face it standing on
one foot all day in the freezing cold or blazing heat takes its toll on you and
your feet. Then add in rough water, rain, slippery surfaces you really need a
shoe designed for all the unexpected issues that arise when bass fishing. Each
season requires a different shoe, warm boots in the winter, lightweight boots in
the spring or fall then tennis shoes or sandals when its warm. Toss tournament
fishing into the mix and you’ll also need a shoe that is stylish, functional and
comfortable. Add it all up and that is exactly where the Rugged Shark Laguna
comes in.
|
Rugged
Shark
Laguna
Water
Shoe
Specifications |
|
Colors |
Grey |
|
Sizes |
Men’s
8-13
Medium |
|
Material |
Stretch
mesh /
leather
upper /
EVA mid
sloe and
rubber
sole |
|
Features |
Light
weight,
Elasticized-stretch
mesh,
Reinforced
toe-bumper
for
added
protection,
Slip-reducing
outsole,
Bungee-style
lacing
system,
Anti-shock
and
vibration
"Phylon"
midsole,
drainage-mesh
upper is
designed
to allow
ease of
water
flow and
quick
drying,
pull
tabs on
tongue
and
back,
lace up
bungee,
Attached
tongue
to keep
out
debris,
EVA mid
sole,
rubber,
flexible
removable
cushion
insole |
|
MSRP |
$60 |
Impressions:
Rugged Shark Laguna shoes are available in Grey only. (The shoes pictured here
are an earlier version in green) I was impressed with the shoes stylish look, as
many times functionality and style don’t seem to blend. The more I looked the
more impressed I became, this is a shoe I felt good about wearing on and off the
water. The shoe is easy to get on and off plus it’s very comfortable without
socks.
Though
not specifically designed for bass anglers the Rugged Shark Laguna has a lot of
features that address applications bass fishermen encounter
Field Tests:
To test these shoes I wore
them for a season while fishing both on weekends and competitively on bodies of
water including the California Delta.
We also did some extra
testing by wearing the shoes on a wide array of surfaces including rocks,
gravel, and even fully submerged in the Delta.
The
Laguna has a flat sole and snug fitting upper
Operation: Wearing
the shoes while
operating the foot operated trolling motor we noticed the flat sole and snug
fitting upper made is easy to keep your balance. If you happen to get your feet
wet while launching or a big cruiser pushed water over the side the shoes will
drain rapidly and your feet don’t slip around much inside, a nice feature when
you have to walk or operate a trolling motor with wet feet.
The
Laguna provides plenty of grip for operating the trolling motor
Comfort:
Fishing shoes are becoming a more common item. To function correctly they need
to be able to support your weight, provide traction, stability and all day
comfort for your feet. When your feet hurt it makes your whole body ache.
Need to get
wet when launching the boat? The Laguna has you covered
The Rugged Shark Laguna
shoes features flexible fabric on the top section which increases comfort when
paired with the flexible sole. I found the interior of the shoes smooth and free
of any items poking into my feet, making them a pleasure to wear without socks.
The
Laguna provides plenty of grip and remains light feeling when totally submerged
There is amble room in
front of your toe and extra material providing a buffer just incase you stub
your toe. This extra protection gives anglers extra confidence to move quickly
in and out of the boat.
The
open sides and top make the shoe very light and helps to drain any water
Throughout the tests I
found the Laguna shoes were comfortable to wear even when wet, and you don’t
feel like your sloshing around in wet shoes, they dry quickly and provide
comfortable grip at all times.
The
Rugged Shark has a non-marking, non-slip sole.
Protection:
The Rugged Shark Laguna shoes provide comfort, style, and support all with a
stylish design. Featuring vented sides, insert and soles the days of sloshing
around in wet tennis shoes, slipping and marking the deck are over. Thanks to
the combination of
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
and rubber soles the Laguna provides excellent traction wet or dry.
Adjusting the
shoes is easy with the cord
The removable
sole provides plenty of comfort and shock absorption making it easy to stand and
fish all day long
Ratings:
(We've
re-calibrated our
ratings standard for
2008 and have
included a key at
the bottom of the
following matrix as
a guide):
|
Rugged
Shark
Shoe
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
Quality
sewing
and
where
the EVA
attaches
to the
leather
upper |
7.5 |
|
Performance |
Works
well
while
fishing
wet or
dry |
7.5 |
|
Price |
Sixty
dollars
for a
pair of
decent
shoe
seem
just
about
right |
9 |
|
Features |
Lightweight,
good
support,
good
fit,
easy on
and off |
8 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Stylish
look
which is
important
to a
bass
angler,
good
color
contrast |
8 |
|
Application |
They
serve
their
intended
purpose
very
well and
are good
for both
boat and
bank
fishing |
8 |
|
Total
Score
|
8.0 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus
|
|
+
Lightweight |
-
Bungee
cinch
was a
little
too long
and
could be
a little
stronger.
(Thicker)
|
|
+
Stylish |
-
Only
available
in grey
it would
be nice
to see
the a
couple
other
options |
|
+
Comfortable
to wear |
-
They are
only
available
in
standard
width,
wider
footed
anglers
will
have to
look
elsewhere |
|
+
Excellent
sensitivity |
-
The heel
is
supportive
but
could
use a
little
more
cushion
for all
day
standing |
|
+
Flat
soles
for good
support
and
balance |
-
Much
more of
a warm
water
shoe,
doesn't
provide
much
warmth |
The Laguna is
a great option for warmer weather fishing and will serve everyone from weekend
warriors to tournament anglers well
Conclusion:
I've always worn tennis
shoes or sandals for fishing. With tennis shoes, when you find a comfortable
pair they are not stable enough, or a flat stable pair is not comfortable. In
addition you need to wear socks with tennis shoes, which are certainly not
comfortable when wet. Sandals are a great option but I have had my feet burned
several times and the soles are not very comfortable over the course of a long
day on the water. I’ve found the Laguna comfortable, stylish and very
functional, this is truly a shoe I can wear all day, all summer long.
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