A Very Wet Dry Run with the Sandugo Eiger

The testing ground for my Sandugo Eiger shoes.

This post is full of photos of my shoe-clad feet, so if you don't mind that, read on.

I've planned on getting shoes I could use for trail running (I'm a beginner, please don't hurt me), shoes that aren't as heavy/bulky as the Merrell Azuras I've been using. The Azura is a waterproof shoe designed for hiking and not really for running up and down trails, and I wanted to try something more lightweight.

(I've worn my Azuras during a rainy day out and I assure you, the shoes really are waterproof. My jeans were wet up to my knees but my feet stayed dry!)

I've heard good things about Sandugo's line of trail shoes, so when a weekend rainy day sale came up, I decided to check it out. I had two models in mind: the Mudtrax and the Ourea. I didn't get either. Because of a really good salesman, I got this one instead:

(Image from the Sandugo Facebook page.)
It's a top pick for rainy days because it dries quickly.
I got the black and gray version on sale at 10 percent off.

The Sandugo Eiger.

Its main selling point is that it's a water shoe, perfect for hikes where you need to cross a river. 

It's not exactly what I had in mind to buy.

I really wasn't sure about it at first, because I didn't consider river crossings at all: it must be the rainy weather, because all I could think about was 'muddy trail, muddy trail, muddy trail.' 

Based on reviews and comments I've read, the Mudtrax is best for muddy conditions, while the newer, more flexible Ourea is recommended for hiking or running on all kinds of terrain. 

And so I was kind of worried I got the wrong shoe: where are the lugs that would help me stay off my butt on slippery trails? (I'm really prone to slipping--just ask any of my USTMC batchmates and friends who've helped me up at one time or another.)

But ok, I know the ground won't always be wet and muddy, and I'm certain I'll have to cross streams and rivers in the future, so why not. I have experienced crossing small bodies of water during a hike before and I still remember the squishy, heavy feeling of having water in my shoes, no matter how hard I squeezed it out. 

I've also experienced hiking on a really sunny day. It felt glorious to take off my Azuras and socks after that and walk barefoot on the cool floor. 

The Sandugo Eiger's design, with the mesh uppers and outsole drainage system, is assurance that 1) water won't stay in the shoe, keeping it light; 2) the shoes and socks will dry fast; and 3) your feet will be able to breathe, keeping them from being all sweaty and smelly. Plus, the shoes were really light.

But the niggling feeling of having a traction-limited shoe persisted. Could I only use my shoes during dry season hikes with river crossings?

To find out, I took my shoes for a test run / proper break-in yesterday.

You can see through the mesh of the shoe's uppers...

and the outsole too (I took the midsoles out)

The outsoles and the midsoles--yep, no water's gonna stay in there!

I'm calling it a wet dry run because I am seriously planning on using these for getting started on trail running (hopefully someday soon) and it was rainy during my practice "run." I didn't really run--I only jogwalked on the road, but I did test the shoes out on wet soil.

On wet pavement, the shoes had good enough traction, but not enough heel support I think (for me, at least). As for the wet soil, I brought the shoes on a small slope in Camp John Hay. You can see it in the photo at the top of this post. It was just beside the road, so should any accident befall me, it would be easy enough to get help (being alone, so you can never be too careful).

The rain gave my chosen testing ground enough wet grass and pine needles, slippery rocks and roots, mud, and water to soak my shoes in.

Simulating a stream crossing

Rushing water and pine needles

The Sandugo Eiger had good traction on wet, gravelly soil, but not on the smoother, mossy surfaces. Climbing the slight incline was made easier by the natural "steps" made by tree roots and rocks.

The mud washes right off

Cold! Thoroughly soaking the shoes now

Stepping on rocks with water rushing down

When stepping on slippery rocks, it's really best to get a firm foothold first so you don't slip.

The mesh uppers also serve as a sieve, so tiny rocks and bits of twigs don't get in the shoes

The shoes dried more quickly than the socks

I have yet to test the Sandugo Eiger out during a trail run (Yellow Trail or Eco Trail) and a long trek (Mt. Ulap again?), but so far it feels good--I just need to be really careful on slick surfaces such as mossy banks, slippery soil, and this kind of floor:

Well, one should be careful on most floors when your shoes are wet, anyway.

I walked 4 more kilometers after the test. It was just a little bit uncomfortable because I'm not used to walking that far with wet socks on, but shoe-wise, I have no complaints. The socks would probably have dried after all the walking if not for the incessant rain, but that's wet-season Baguio for you. 

(Note to self: probably best to remove socks--or wear quick-dry ones--during river crossings in the future.)

Addendum (Sept. 3):

I was able to test the shoes on a "real" trail, albeit a short one. Because it rained yesterday afternoon, the grassy hill at Wright Park was wet, with some of the footpaths soft and muddy. The park gave me the perfect conditions to see how the Sandugo Eiger would fare. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take photos because I intentionally left my phone at home so I could concentrate on training (without worrying about losing my phone or breaking it, or both).

The Sandugo Eiger performed as advertised--meaning it really does well on dry trails, even those lined with rocks, and when you have to go from trail to river and back again. It also means no, it's not the best shoes to wear when you're tackling slick surfaces (like sticky wet reddish soil or clay). It does well enough on soft ground of course, and on pine needle-covered trails, but because the treads are not that aggressive, there is a bigger chance of slipping on an incline.

Not much of a problem on relatively flat muddy ground, but of course do expect mud to cling on to the shoe. (It's all part of the experience!) You can "go around" the muddy part, but only if where you're walking/jogging/running is also part of the established trail. It's wrong to "widen" the trail and trample the ground/make a bigger impact on the environment. ;)

On that note, I had to be careful with the mud under my feet. I'm still not that confident about running on squishy ground, so I took it slow in the areas where there was about an inch or two of soft soil, and the areas that had slick clay and moss. 

But while the mud didn't exactly suck my shoes in, my shoes were the ones that took in a bit of mud, through the outsoles where the drain ports are. I was able to get the most of it out by stomping my feet once I got back on the paved road, but some of it really stuck:

All this needs is a river!

Good thing these shoes are really easy to clean--I think some running water and an old toothbrush will do to get the mud (and possibly small rocks) out. You can also hose it down--even if water gets inside the shoe (again, through the drain ports and/or the mesh uppers), it gets dry really fast, so you won't have to worry about wearing wet shoes the following day.

The Sandugo Eiger may not have the extra grip needed for muddy conditions, but I can see how great it will do on river crossings and hot, dry trails. I'm glad to have it.

Walking in Baguio: Mile Hi Center to Baguio Cathedral

Some of the trees in Camp John Hay

This is part two of my Sunday walk (part one's here). All in all, I walked a little over 7 kilometers.
I was in Mile Hi in Camp John Hay looking through store windows (some of the shops were still closed), watching in awe at runners sprinting through the rain, and waiting for the downpour to stop, or at least lessen in intensity.

After a few minutes I finally decided to make good use of my umbrella so I could continue on with my journey to town via Loakan Road

A few meters past Mile Hi I remembered I had planned to test out my new Sandugo Eiger shoes on the ground, so I crossed the street and climbed up the little hill at the corner of Scout Hill Drive and Ordonio.

There's an oft-used footpath there (it's lined with rocks) and with the rain pouring down, I knew the area would be perfect for me to see how my shoes would hold up against mud, wet pine bristles, grass, tree roots, and of course, water running down the hill.

I paused my tracker and, umbrella in one hand and phone in the other, proceeded to look like someone hunting for Pokémon observe how my shoes behaved on the wet ground. I wrote about my first impressions on the Sandugo Eiger here.

Walked with wet socks on!
Details here.

When I had finished with my mini-test, I squished (anyone who's ever walked with wet shoes and socks on will understand) my way back toward Ordonio Drive and turned right at Loakan. Good thing my shoes had mesh uppers and drain ports so the squishy feeling didn't last long, but my socks were still wet. I shrugged it off and told myself, Well, you wanted to know.

It took a lot of willpower to stop myself from checking out R.O.X. and possibly wanting to buy things I don't need right now. What helped me look straight ahead is the thought that someday when I'm stronger and more capable of taking the trails on, that's when I'll reward myself with something to motivate me to move forward to the next level. For now, the basics, and hey, buy local whenever you can!

So, back to my walk. Somewhere along Loakan I got hungry, so I took out one of my snacks (some form of bread with custard filling) and relished the feeling of being able to eat while walking. This is awesome, I thought. I can do this every day.

It was my first time walking along this part of Loakan, so I enjoyed taking my time to look around. In a moving car you hardly get to see things for more than a second or two unless you really focus, and that's one of the things I like about walking.

Some of the things to be careful about while walking/running in Loakan (and in other roads) are narrow sidewalks, (drainage) breaks in the retaining wall and sidewalk, and vehicles at blind turns.

I wished I remembered more about the 'haunted' tree that used to be in the middle of Loakan. I first saw it many years ago when we visited friends staying at the then-Hotel Veneracion for a summer writing workshop. Based on a small tarp hanging by the covered walkway leading to the front door of the structure, it's now occupied by the Philippine International English Institute.

I know Loakan has its fair share of ghost stories, but at daytime I didn't feel anything unusual along this stretch of the road. Then again I'm not sensitive in a paranormal sense.

Upper Session-Military Cutoff-Loakan-South Drive roundabout

When I got to Upper Session I checked my watch--a little past 10:30--enough time to make it to the cathedral for the 11 a.m. Mass. I originally planned to hear mass in the evening, but since I was already there... I didn't think God would care that I looked like a wet duck.

When I got to the cathedral wasn't alonethere were other wet ducks huddled in their jackets standing outside waiting for the next mass to begin. I turned my tracker off, pleasantly surprised that I had walked almost 4 kilometers from CJH. The walk felt somewhat shorter.

The Baguio Cathedral with the gloomy sky as background.

And so ends my Sunday workout-walkabout. Where to walk next?

Never underestimate the raw power of a good ol' paper map!
Of course, you'll also need some basic navigation skills so that even when you go off-road, you'll know in which direction you're headed ;)

If it's on the tourist map of Baguio, you can walk it. I've covered most of the eastern side of the city, and I think I'll travel a little bit farther down south (more CJH, Loakan, PMA) next. :)

Walking in Baguio: Veteran Pine to Mile Hi Center, Camp John Hay

I categorized it under "Power Walk" because there wasn't an option for jogwalking. :P
Details of my walk here.

Walking to Camp John Hay from Mines View has been on my list of things to do simply because I know it's "near" (don't ask an avid walker what's near or far) but I've never gone there on foot. Whenever my friends and I would meet up at CJH to walk the trails I would always take a cab just so I can conserve my energy for the hike and save on travel time.

Well, I didn't have any friends to meet today and there was just the tiniest hint of a drizzle this morning, so I thought it would be the perfect time to see how long it would take me to walk from Mines View to the Mile Hi Center in CJH where I planned to have a full (second) breakfast. I had coffee and oatmeal and let my body digest it a bit before heading out.

I also decided to take the opportunity to field-test some new gear I got recently (very early Christmas present to self): a hydration backpack and a new pair of trail shoes.

The backpack (I got the Ascent from Conquer) fits water (of course! I'm using a foldable water container for now while waiting for my wide-mouth hydration bladder to arrive), a couple of snacks, a face towel, wet wipes, and my coin purse, phone, pocket Wi-Fi, and umbrella. It's great because the shoulder and sternum straps work to keep the pack steady so it doesn't swing from side to side while running. Though the bag isn't waterproof, I don't mind because I use zip bags for keeping my things dry anyway. It's the perfect size for me and for what I plan to do in the months and years to come. :)

The Conquer Ascent Hydration Bag
I felt like a sword-wielding samurai warrior whenever I had to get my umbrella.
I love this bag. Seriously. It fits everything I need on jogwalks near and far!

As for the new kicks (I never thought I would use this term), I mentioned in an earlier post about getting new shoes for trail running. Well, I was able to buy a new pair but not the one I originally planned on getting (the salesman was very, very good). Anyway, I wanted to see how the shoes perform on wet and muddy surfaces and I've already conditioned myself to be very, very careful and prepare for slips (I'm slip-prone and slick surfaces make me nervous). I'm dedicating another post for that pseudo-review (because I am hardly an expert) here.

It's a Sunday on a long weekend, and as expected there were already many people in Mines View by the time I stepped foot on Outlook Drive. I started tracking my walk from the nearby Veteran Pine instead.

Photo of the Veteran Pine taken last year

I initially planned to walk (because that is the point of this blog) but I couldn't stop myself from jogging-walking-jogging (jogwalking?) downhill along Outlook Drive (and all the way to Baguio Country Club) once I felt the shoes had enough traction on the wet road.

Good thing I did, because when I neared the Mile Hi Center, the drizzle started to become a downpour. While I did have an umbrella with me, I didn't use it anymore since shelter was only a few feet away.

I changed my mind about eating there. I wasn't hungry yet, and besides, I had snacks with me. I walked by the shops while waiting for the rain to ease up and had a quick water + bathroom break before continuing with part two of my walk, which I wrote about here.