Bedrock Cairn Adventure barefoot sandals for cycling – Shamma Warriors Maximus Ultragrip for walks/runs
Table of Contents
Introduction
Bedrock manufactures hiking sandals in the US. Their aim is to make light footwear that, while being protective enough, provides your feet with more freedom. Entering water should not be a problem. They started off from a garage, just like Shamma did. and are developing constantly.
There is no European distributor but they are available at Wilderoben, Alpin Action and Fjallsport. This Charcoal colour is meant to be grey but has a tint of khaki in it, resulting in a neutral yet interesting shade.
They have not associated themselves with the barefoot movement and are no tusing this key word in their marketing. Nor do all their models meet the barefoot criteria. Bedrock Cairn Adventure sandals are, however, entirely barefoot, as they have:
– a zero drop, very flexible sole
– a wider-than-average toe box, fitting sizes up to medium wide.
Don’t expect tons of ground feel from this rather thick sole, which is also within the heavier barefoot range. The same thickness can come handy in certain situations, though: I love cycling in these sandals!
I tried them during a one-week cycling camp and had a great time, hardly ever took them off.
Advantages of Bedrock Cairn barefoot sandals
1. The thick Vibram sole, while dutifully following the flex of your feet when making a step, is firm enough to spread the weight with which you press at it. The part of my foot that makes the bike move does not get disproportionately tired. My invested effort is used efficiently even in the long run.
2. The strap is easily adjustable in 3 places. On the inner side, 5 loops are awaiting the plastic hook (3rd from the bottom is perfect for my low volume feet). On the outer side there is a fastener, and a velcro at the back.
3. The cord in between the toes is explicitly gentle, not hurting my highly sensitive skin at all.
4. Big mud trial done – Bedrock Cairn passed with flying colours! The sandals got dirty but my feet stayed clean, protected by the thick sole. It was fun to walk into the muddy soil surrounding the bird nets of Kis-Balaton with zero worries. Thanks to the deep lugs and the special material, slipping as no issue, either. (Should you have the chance, go witness how birds are ringed at Fenékpuszta, it is an amazing experience: https://keszthely.hu/szabadido/madargyuruzo-es-madarmento-allomas/ )
5. Kis-Balaton offers many spots where you can have a swim, getting in and out of the water, however, is not necessarily very easy. Well, Bedrock Cairn work perfectly as water shoes, too! I did kick a huge stone that I could not see, and the sandals protected me 100%. Swimming in them was fine, and once out of the water, they dried really quickly on my feet. I would also give them maximum points for non-slippery qualities, both on muddy terrain and on my bike’s pedals, the latter even in heavy rain.
6. They are easy to clean with a soapy brush, and fast to dry.
Bedrock Cairn barefoot sandals with toe spacers
I have a light arthrosis in my hip that results in an unbalanced use of my legs. The right outer ligament in my ankle is my weakest point, that’s where I can easily get overstrained. I wear correction insoles custom made for me by an osteopath (with a few pads of 1 mm thickness) that I plan to report on in detail at a later point. I cannot wear them in open sandals, though. So, in order to balance the load on my legs, I wore the remnants of my cheap toe spacers, normally used for barefoot exercise, with the Bedrock Cairn. They keep my big toe in its natural position, thus keeping my ankle straight while cycling, and saving my ligaments from overuse. The fact that cheap silicone gets discoloured helps keep the toe spacers virtually unseen. 😀 (I wear them on both feet. The pic is here to illustrate that they are not at all eye-catching.)
Disadvantages of Bedrock Cairn barefoot sandals
What I like least about Bedrock sandals: my feet require a thin, light sole with great ground feel. In a bike camp we don’t tend to walk around much, and as long as it is so, Bedrock are fine. For longer walks though, I carry with me replacement shoes. Any of my other footwear are far more comfy for that than Bedrock sandals! Luckily, barefoot shoes are light and don’t take up much space, so this strategy works perfectly.
Bedrock Cairn / Shamma Warriors Maximus comparison
Finally, here’s a quick comparison with Shamma Warriors Maximus Ultragrip, available in Hungary from Barefoot Point (you can even try them on in the shop). My Shammas are size 8 and my Bedrock mens’ size 9, the latter being a bit longish but perfectly wearable. Bedrock mens’ size 8 would be a bit too short.
1. The most important feature (for me): Shamma’s sole is much thinner, providing a really good ground feel, yet protective enough. I can walk to the end of the world in these! Shamma sandals come with soles of different thicknesses. Mine is a medium thick model with a good grip, well-balanced in all senses, and quite universal, great even for running. Both Bedrock and Shamma soles are made by the market leading Vibram.
2. Shamma’s heels are narrower by default, plus the strap fixing mechanism narrows it further down. It may not accommodate people with explicitly wide heels. Bedrock’s strap fixing mechanism is moulded to the very edge of the sole.
3. The Shamma sole is way wider in the front. My feet are at the bottom end of medium width (252/94 mm), coupled with super low volume. My toes are narrow. Bedrock is comfortably wide for me and is just enough for someone in the middle of the medium wide range (252/98 mm). Wider than that is a no go.
4. The part of the strap in between the toes differs on the two models, but both solutions are soft enough to not irritate my sensitive skin.
5. Shamma’s style is less robust, they go well with skirt and dresses, too. I feel that Bedrock are less harmonious with some of my girly stuff.
Sum up
Bedrock Cairn Adventure and Shamma Warriors Maximus Ultragrip are both high quality, durable, hiking toe sandals. Bedrock is narrower in the front but wider at the heel, and its sole is far thicker and heavier. Both are super flexible. Bedrock are great for cycling, Shamma for walking and running. Riding a bike? Why not take them both, and use them as the situation requires?