Ahnu – Gesundheit!

Ok, so here’s the first shoe review…  You may recall from my post on 29 May 2010 (Adult-Onset Athlete) that I promised to start reviewing minimalist running shoes and the first would be the Ahnu Delta Water Shoe.  The prior “initial review” gave my first impressions.  To recap:  I purchased the shoes at REI in Concord, CA for $40.00.  Not a great price, but relatively cheap for a running shoe.  (Yes, I know it’s not a running shoe.)
Total distance:  140 to 150 miles jogged.
Other actual use:  minimal.  I wore them one day in the office.  (more on this later)  Other than that, only used for jogging / walking / running.
Types of runs:  split about 50-50 between flat asphalt and flat treadmill.
Wear:  Very good!  After about 100 miles the bottom outside mid-sole began to show wear as would be expected from Chi / Pose running style.
Comfort:  Although I had initial misgivings, the shoes turned out to be very comfortable.  There is plenty of room for your toes to spread out and the upper mesh is very breathe-able.  I did wear them one day (with socks – at work) and I found them extremely comfortable!  Cool and airy!
Other uses:  I would only use these for running in flat and fairly dry conditions – but on any solid surface.  As mentioned in my earlier review, my foot did not stay in place when I was walking / jogging on a treadmill with a mild / faint incline.  (My feet slipped off the back and would have blistered my heels with extended use.)  I would not recommend them for jogging / running any steep inclines or trails.  Even though the shoes are nominally for water use, I would not use them in any strong current situation.  Again, because they don’t have laces or some type of tying mechanism to secure them to your feet, I think they’d be pulled off in a forceful current.   Just as I think they’d be sucked off your feet if you were jogging / running in mud.  Having said this, I admit, I haven’t tested either mud or current.
Would I get them again?  Yes, because the wear was surprising good.
Would I recommend them over other minimal running shoes – too early to tell, but based on just price (twice the price of the next highest priced shoe and almost three times the two bottom priced shoes) probably not.
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