The AG47 Amphibian Shoes — you know they’re technical from the name — are not water mocs in the traditional sense, or at least in the sense that most of us perceive water mocs to be. In fact, Quiksilver doesn’t even call them water mocs… only I do as they remind me of the mesh sock-like booties I wore on family vacations as a kid when paddling whitewater or snagging trout lips. However, there is one major, very obvious difference between the two: the AG47s dress well beyond the occasion.
Whereas my no-name water mocs before them looked like they belonged among the “essentials” on a page for a Walmart noodling sales special, these Amphibian Shoes out-impress even the best of your run-of-the-mill slip ons and low-profile sneakers. Whether you’re wearing them through a river valley, in the city, at the gym, or aboard a yacht, these have the striking yet minimalist stylings that make them look like they belong practically anywhere (not that life is about fitting in, but you get the point).
And these are not only lookers; they’re real performance peddlers as well. My first use was working out, employing them on runs as well as at the gym for boxing circuits and weightlifting routines. I had been wearing trail runners, yet all the cushioning was affecting my form. When I traded the TRs out for the AG47s, my running stride smoothed out from increased focus and my boxing/weightlifting techniques strengthened with increased balance, at least according to my trainers. In fact, my trainers were so thoroughly intrigued themselves that they asked what the shoes were called — if that isn’t a stamp of approval, I’m not sure what is.
Then there was the whole wearing them in the river valley on a trip to fish, kayak, and drink beers around the camp fire. Lightweight and breathable with an innovative drainage system to boot, I didn’t need to take them off to dry even once, or at least until we were retiring the fire to hit the sack. How is that possible? They generally dried off after 20 or 30 minutes on dry ground without any need to hang.
The best part? They’re comfortable as a flip-flops/slippers without the fit/traction issues. Also, they boast some sort of Agion® scent protection to ensure that they don’t go all stinky after a few rough outings. Basically, what I’m trying to say is, I’ve saved a boatload of money by not having to buy multiple canvas kicks to replace one another while opening up the possibilities of countless far-reaching adventures as I now have the foot-gear I need to tread that path.
I went with blue on black on white, but they come in three colorways including black on blue on white and grey on green on grey so make your own decision of which ones to grab. Hell, at $79 a pair, grab all three.
For more information on the AG47 Amphibian Shoes, head on over to Quiksilver.com.
