I ordered these shoes specifically for white water kayaking (and a little rafting). I generally paddle class III and IV water in the North East.
I had a hard time finding a shoe/bootie that hit all my requirements, but finally stumbled on these. Although I generally prefer laces on water-shoes, I think Velcro is better for white water as I don't want anything that could catch and hold my foot. The soles on these shoes offer just the right amount of flex so I'm not worried about fitting into a tight kayak or feeling wedged into place, yet they still offer foot protection from sharp rocks and gravel hike-outs. The have 2 mills of upper insulation which is perfect for spring/fall New England use, and they don't seem over-insulated for summer use. They come up high enough that I'm hoping they protect my ankle bone from general rubbing within the kayak. They seem fairly durable and should outlast the scuba/snorkeling style booties I have been using for years.
As far as sizing, I haven't owned any five-finger shoes so I wasn't sure how accurate their sizing chart would be. I used the Vibram site for instructions on getting a size based on my foot length and the shoes are a perfect fit. I was also worried because I have a wide foot and extremely high arches, but the fit seems great.
I hope to get out paddling in the next few weekends and will update the review if they aren't perfect, but I have high hopes for them.
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