order from your local dealerVENE MAGAZINE SHOE REVIEW
Recognizing that sailing shoes are a fiercely competitive, high-tech performance product, Finnish sailing magazine Vene recently conducted a thorough evaluation of 14 leading sailing shoes. They used subjective tests as well as EN certification tests* defined by CEN, an organization that creates standards for evaluating products and services in Europe.
Harken’s two entries took 2 of the top 3 spots. The Valencia received a recommendation and the Vortex was named the overall test winner.
The Testing Facility
Staff at the Finnish Occupational Health Institute (FIOH) performed the EN-based testing. FIOH is a specialist institute affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Office (ILO). They offer EN and ISO testing and certification for safety footwear. The Institute's research includes the evaluation of footwear slip resistance and methods of reducing accidents caused by slipping.
Grip Tests
These tests determined how well the different shoes gripped a wet gelcoat surface. Grip depends on a number of factors like the softness and type of sole material, how flat the sole is, and how well the tread pattern channels water out from under the shoe to maximize the sole’s contact with the deck.
Vene commented that Harken shoes have an unusual tread pattern that works very well on boat decks. This pattern centers independent 360-degree radial traction zones
on the highest-pressure contact areas of the sole. As a result, wearers have grip in all directions regardless of whether they are on the balls of their feet or standing flat on the deck.
| EN Grip Classification | ||
| Class | Description | Coefficient of Friction |
| 1 | very firm grip | >0.30 |
| 2 | firm grip | 0.20–0.29 |
| 3 | moderate grip | 0.15–0.19 |
| 4 | slippery | 0.05–0.14 |
| 5 | very slippery | <0.05 |
Methodology:
Shoes were cleaned with 50% ethanol and lightly sanded with 400-grit sandpaper to simulate wear. Using specialized slip resistance measuring equipment, shoes were tested on a horizontal gelcoat surface wetted with a slippery soap-like solution (0.5% NaLS and 3.5% salt). Each test was performed 5 times on both the left and right shoes.
| GRIP TEST RESULTS | ||
| Shoe | Coefficient of Friction |
EN Grip Classification |
| Harken Valencia | 0.25 | 2 |
| Harken Vortex | 0.21 | 2 |
| Helly Hansen Latitude 85 | 0.13 | 4 |
| Helly Hansen Hydro Power 3 | 0.13 | 4 |
| Henri Lloyd Deck Grip Profile II | 0.17 | 3 |
| Henri Lloyd Fastnet | 0.19 | 3 |
| Marinepool Deck Sail | 0.14 | 4 |
| Marinepool Fastnet | 0.23 | 2 |
| Musto Regatta | 0.17 | 3 |
| Musto Performance Deck Shoe | 0.15 | 3 |
| Puma Decker | 0.14 | 4 |
| Puma Kite | 0.16 | 3 |
| Sebago Clovehitch II | 0.11 | 4 |
| Sebago Plunge | 0.13 | 4 |
Subjective Tests
Vene compiled the following comments on the 14 pairs of shoes. The tester assessed features such as lace tension, fit, water retention, ankle support, and comfort.
Methodology: For the first test, the tester walked at 6 km/h for 5 minutes. He then climbed up and down steps to examine how the shoes dealt with twisting and flexing.
| Other Results | |||
| Shoe | Weight (grams) | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| RECOMMENDED Harken - Valencia |
760 |
Grip Lightweight Neutral pronation |
No drainage holes |
| TEST WINNER Harken - Vortex |
670 | Grip Lightweight Drainage holes |
Heel moved inside shoe
while walking and kneeling |
| Helly Hansen - Hydro Power 3 | 680 | Breathability and draining Lightweight Bold design |
No pronation protection Felt awkward in toes while walking |
| Helly Hansen - Latitude 85 | 790 | Walking comfort Bold design |
Low breathability Insole cannot be removed White color shows dirt |
| RECOMMENDED Henri Lloyd - Deck Grip Profile II |
720 | Lightweight like cross trainer Breathability Big, comfortable, soft tongue |
No pronation protection |
| Henri Lloyd - Fastnet | 870 | Easy to put on foot Modern classic sailing shoe Curved walking sole |
Lace tension No ankle support |
| Marinepool - Deck Sail | 710 | Lightweight like cross trainer Elastic, thin sole |
No pronation protection |
| Marinepool - Fastnet | 1020 | Grip Easy to put on |
Lace tension No ankle support White color shows dirt |
| Musto - Regatta | 850 | Toe room Heel reinforcement |
No ankle support Ineffective heel tensioner; heel moves when walking |
| Musto - Performance Deck Shoe | 870 | Easy to put on Soft and comfortable Curved walking sole |
Soft sole wears quickly |
| Puma - Decker | 820 | Fit Neutral pronation Appearance |
Low breathability |
| Puma - Kite | 750 | Lightweight like cross trainer Breathability |
No pronation protection |
| Sebago - Clovehitch II | 940 | Effective heel tensioner Easy to put on |
Poor grip |
| Sebago - Plunge | 830 | Sportiness Drainage holes Toe protection |
Poor grip |
| * | EN ISO 20345:2004 Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear |
| EN 13287:2004 Safety, protective and occupational footwear for professional use. Test method for slip resistance. |
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