• ASTRAL FOOTWEAR HISTORY
In 2012 Astral came to market with a sneaker (the Brewer) that had a natural, foot shape, level footbed and technical features that enabled enjoyment for both amphibious athletes and the casual user. The execution and success of style + function in this type of shoe was something the footwear industry had not yet seen – cool looking shoes that were really breathable, water-friendly and with superhero-grip on the outsoles. That original sneaker was closely followed in 2014 by its cousin, the Loyak, which offered all the same function in a minimalist silhouette.
• FAST FORWARD ➡️ LOYAK ALL WEATHER
Twelve years later (August 2024) Astral introduces the next generation of minimalist style and function in what we are calling LOYAK ALL WEATHER. Ground feel is prominent with a 9.5mm foot-to-ground distance, shortened to 6mm when you remove the sock liner. This user has mostly worn the shoe without the liner for hundreds of casual miles, still trucking after 9 months of wear. The liner does offer a very slight arch support (low to medium I’d say) but without it there is no arch support, fine for my feet. Nice thing here is that it leaves room for a thin after-market insert if you so choose.
• ALL WEATHER
Part of the “all weather” name means that this shoe is waterproof. I mean actually waterproof, meaning this shoe keeps water out. (Don’t get me started on the butchering of the word waterproof. Saving that for its very own essay) Loyak All Weather features a proprietary waterproof membrane and a gusseted tongue to keep your socks and feet dry when you stroll through wet grass or run to your car when it’s raining. Astral gets an environmental A+ for making all their footwear sans PFAS, and this one is no exception. BTW, nine months in and the waterproof membrane is still working, no problems. *Meanwhile, the Original Loyak and Loyak AC by Astral offer a similar feel with quick draining and drying features, meant to be worn in the water and in scenarios where you want air or water to easily pass through the shoe.
• TOE SPACE
I’ve noticed increased room for metatarsal splay in the Loyak All Weather, meaning I have more room for my toes to wiggle around in this shoe than I’ve noticed in original Loyaks. I think this comes from the ability to remove the sock liner. Plus, the yield of material across the toe box in this shoe seems to be a bit more generous. This is great news for anyone with a slightly wider foot, or someone using Correct Toes or other toe spacers, those individuals seeking a healthy shoe.
• TRAVEL
This shoe can take you lots of places. Want one shoe to do lots of things in? This one has to be high on the list. I travel for a living and can’t seem to get away from this shoe as a go-to for the task. So far I’ve worn this pair in two countries, eight states, the Appalachians, Rockies, Yucatan Peninsula, Eastern Seaboard, Gulf of Mexico and a lot of places in between. Have not yet found a particularly bad spot to wear these shoes.
• COMFORT
Out of the box comfort, I give this shoe a 9 out of 10 score, only leaving some margin for those shoes with that velvety, soft feel against your skin. Mostly I’ve worn this one with socks and haven’t had a single comfort issue the entire ride. Inevitably, as it warmed up this spring I ended up spending several days in Loyak All Weather without socks. The liner inside the shoe is a recycled polyester (rPET) and is soft and padded, just enough to be fully comfortable. But without socks on a few sweaty days, that’s almost never a good thing when it comes to smell. See below ⬇️ how I cleaned these shoes up.
• TRACTION + GRIP
Traction on this shoe has clearly been designed for smoother surfaces like sidewalks, stairs, groomed trails and poolside decks. The treads have a zig-zag patterned, razor-cuts called siping that enhances grip. The “G-Rubber” formula sticks to pretty much anything you can throw it at – really tacky, I feel like I can walk up walls! And it’s non-marking so you don’t have to worry about Mom’s white kitchen floor.
• CLEANING + DURABILITY
As I approached seven months of wearing this shoe, yip, they got pretty dirty and a little too funky to wear around company. I gave them a solid soak with good old fashioned water and blue dawn dish detergent and scrubbed vigorously with an old toothbrush. If you watch the video above you can see they cleaned up perfectly, and the nice surprise was how easily I could ring the water out. The photo to the right here shows the shoes in their current condition after being cleaned and partially dirtied again. Still going, just like that energizer bunny.
• WHERE TO BUY
I recommend purchasing Astral Footwear from your local, independent retailer. Hopefully there’s one in or near your town. My experience with Astral Footwear retailers is that they care enough to recommend the right product for you. They have studied the market and curated the best assortment for their shoppers. Loyak All Weather will be available in the best outdoor + shoe stores all across North America. Search for it on LOCALLY.
- Video, Photos and Words by Spencer Cooke
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