[Review] Men’s TR1 Junction Shoes by Astral

If you think you need to be heading out on water-dominated adventures to justify a pair of the TR1 Junction shoes by Astral, think again! At the current point my life, I am not often embarking on raft trips, SUP adventures, or sea kayak expeditions yet I still have found myself wearing the TR1 Junctions a ton in the last few months. Even though I’m not getting out on the river every day, these have become a staple in my closet and I’m not sure what I ever did without them. Not only are these shoes highly functional in what I’ll call amphibious environments, they have style and appeal to them so you can even wear them as an everyday shoe.

Probably what I’m most impressed by is the way the TR1s drain water immediately upon exiting the water. This is made possible by strategically placed vents and drains in the toe box and sides of the shoe and the upper mesh material. They work really well but they’re also not obvious. Someone would never take these for “water shoes.”

To me, the next notable feature on the TR1 Junction is the sticky G® Rubber outsole. Most of the time when I am in or around water, there is rock and it is slick. The G® Rubber really works and keeps me feeling stable and secure no matter what I’m walking over. Most recently I wore my TR1 Junctions on a Boundary Waters Canoe trip and there literally could not be a more perfect shoe for the adventure. What most people do at the BWCA is canoe from lake to lake. There are portages in between each lake and these can be easy or they can be the hike from hell. We found ourselves on all sorts of portages and not only were the TR1 Junctions perfect for getting in and out of the water with the canoe, they also excelled for the longer hikes. They were comfortable and stable which is important when you’re carrying almost 60lbs of gear and a 40lb canoe. The G® Rubber helped get me through slick rocky portages, swamps, creeks, steep ups and muddy downhills without a problem.

In my opinion, it’s pretty crazy to find a shoe that not only can be used for both water and land applications – but it actually excels in both categories. I’ve found in the past that maybe a shoe is perfect for water, but the second you try to hike in them they’re uncomfortable. And it goes both ways- obviously, you can have the most well-built hiking shoe out there but the second you have to cross a creek in them, your feet are sloshing in stuck water, and the wetness creates problems.

One thing that is definitely worth mentioning is the fact that these won’t smell like your nasty river gear after one wear. Thanks to the fact that they drain water well, dry quickly, and are made with materials made to get wet, they don’t smell like the soggy swamp you just romped through. After our Boundary Waters trip, we simply hosed them off and let them dry thoroughly and they were back to looking and smelling like new.

As far as sizing goes, I think that I could’ve sized down a half of size. I personally wear my TR1s without socks and so that may contribute to it a little bit. I ordered my normal size 10 and definitely think that a 9.5 would have suited me better. I do like my footwear to fit tightly though so keep that in mind.

Overall, if you’re heading out on an adventure that could perhaps involve some water crossings, rainy day city exploring, or boating, the TR1s are the ideal shoe for the job. Another bonus is that if you happen to make an annual river trip, these won’t just sit in your closet for the rest of the year. You’ll find yourself wearing them on adventures close to home, hikes, and even out to dinner at night. Be sure to check out the many different styles that Astral offers so you can be covered on water and land in just one shoe.

If you’re considering buying the TR1 Junctions, we ask that you use this link as we get a small kickback from your purchase: https://amzn.to/2yG9GKJ