Chaco Torrent Pro review: a good warm shoe ideal for wet hikes

A versatile, meshy multitasker, the Chaco Torrent Pro is perfect for walking and water sports

Chaco Torrent Pro
(Image: © Chaco)

Advnture Verdict

The Torrent isn’t the most versatile hiker I’ve worn, but it’s a great shoe for warm weather wet hikes and multisport adventures that involve water.

Pros

  • +

    Made to be submerged

  • +

    Quick-draining & quick drying

  • +

    Vegan friendly

Cons

  • -

    No shank leaves feet vulnerable to sharp rocks

  • -

    Shallow lugs struggle with mud

You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.

Chaco Torrent Pro: first impressions

Developed for the US Men's White Water Rafting team, the Chaco Torrent Pro is a great meshy shoe with bungee laces, perfect for transitioning from kayak or paddleboard to hiking trail, or for treks with lots of river and stream crossings. That’s why you’ll find us recommending them in our rundown of the best water shoes.

The Torrent’s mesh upper gets support from welded and stitched overlays tied into the lacing. The body of the shoe drains through the knitted polyester mesh and drainage ports in the toe bumper. Drainage ports where the midsole meets the sole also channel water away from your foot.

Specifications

RRP: $100 (US) /  £70 (UK)
Weight: 213g / 7.5oz
Materials: Knitted polyester upper, LUVSEAT EVR midsole, ChacoGrip Plus rubber compound outsole
Colors: Black / Cerulean / Cinnabar / Gray / Lichen / Navy
Compatibility: A great shoe for warm-weather wet hikes and multisport adventures involving water 

On the trails (and in the water)

Chaco’s gender-specific midsole makes the Torrent also a great day hiker, not just another water shoe. The dual-density midsole also has a supportive arch. It’s bonded to a non-marking sole that helped me stick each step when I was scrambling up wet rocks on a streambed trail, though the shallow 3mm lugs made it less suited to mud.

There is no insole. An insole would interfere with drainage. Instead, Chaco uses a layer of mesh between foot and midsole that was comfortable whether or not I was hiking in socks or barefoot. Still, you may find our articles on how to prevent blisters and how to stop chafing useful, just in case.

The Torrent’s laces tighten with a plastic slider, and extra lace tucked into an elastic loop on the tongue. So these were fast to get on and off, and when they got sand or debris inside, I could dump them, rinse them, and put them back on in a flash.

Berne Broudy

Vermont-based writer, photographer and adventurer, Berne reports on hiking, biking, skiing, overlanding, travel, climbing and kayaking for category-leading publications in the U.S., Europe and beyond. In the field, she’s been asked to deliver a herd of llamas to a Bolivian mountaintop corral, had first fat-biking descents in Alaska, helped establish East Greenland’s first sport climbing and biked the length of Jordan. She’s worked to help brands clean up their materials and manufacturing, and has had guns pulled on her in at least three continents.