The adidas Outdoor line is getting some fresh new momentum with a number of cool releases. A couple weeks ago they sent me a pair of the adidas Climacool Boat Lace. Being that skim-boarding is one of those summer pleasures that I enjoy, these shoes are more than likely going to see a good amount of wear for me. So, I decided I would give them a little test run before posting up pictures.

Strangely, over the last two weeks, the weather has been less than the stereotypical 70 degree and sunny days that Southern California is known for. I gave the adidas CC Boat shoes a run on the beach to see how they’d work out. The design is such that the shoes have water drainage points throughout the midsole, which is actually something that I became familiar with while working on the Eastbay Blog. Unlike the rubbery plastic feel of the Teva versions, which quickly ended up at discount chain stores, the adidas CC Boat Lace is familiar mesh and neoprene upper. The cushioning is minimal but with the super flexible sole, you would have to be looking for a barefoot-inspired feel if you did want to give these a regular spot in your running rotation. Like all things adidas in recent memory, these are crazy, stupid and ridiculously lightweight. Running with them is better than I expected, as the drainage holes throughout the midsole protect well against sand coming through the bottom of the shoe thanks to a tightly woven mesh guard.

The design uses a sticky rubber “Water Grip” outsole, which, due to those lingering clouds, I wasn’t able to truly put tp the test with my skim board. I plan on giving it a run this summer when the weather isn’t in the freezing cold lower sixties. One of my favorite features, the pear scented heel actually smells pretty nice, especially once the shoes are wet. Overall this is pretty good shoe if you’re planning on “toughing” out any inclement weather or hitting the beach this summer.

There’s a handful of colorways still available on shopadidas.com