Interesting question. The Salomon XA Raid 3D ($110; www.salomonoutdoor.com) is a good shoe, but it’s clearly meant to be an adventure-racing shoevery light, very well-ventilated, not really designed for a month of pounding. But I can’t think of any shoe that’s really suited for what you’re asking, given that they have to be on your feet all the time, wet or dry, with no room for a spare pair of shoes to wear in the water.
Stone XCR
One suggestion: Two pairs of the Salomons. That way, one of them is almost certain to make it to the finish. And while one is drying out in your pack, the other can be on your feet. Better for your feet, better for your shoes.
Alternatively, look into a slightly heavier grade of shoe. Montrail’s Comp cross-training shoes ($100; www.montrail.com) combine the lightness and comfort of a pure trail runner with the heavier materials and stiffer midsole of a light hiker. Butthey’re also leather, and won’t dry well if you really wade in them (what the hell kind of vacation is this, anyway, when you can’t stop for ten seconds to put on some water sandals?). Take a look as well at Adidas’s Yokura Mid ATS ($130; www.adidas.com), which is sort of a runner/hiker hybrid that has leather coated with polyurethane so it repels water. The Adidas shoes also have a mid-height design for better support.
Finally, the Aku Stone XCR ($149; www.akuus.com) further upgrades the runner/hiker concept into a more rugged shoe than perhaps those above, with little penalty in weight or comfort. They have leather, but still should dry quicklyand should survive the month. So take a look at those as well.
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