Recognizing that sailing shoes are a fiercely competitive, high-tech performance product, Finnish sailing magazine Vene recently conducted a thorough evaluation of 14 leading sailing shoes. They used subjective tests as well as EN certification tests* defined by CEN, an organization that creates standards for evaluating products and services in Europe.
Harken’s two entries took 2 of the top 3 spots. The Valencia received a recommendation and the Vortex was named the overall test winner.
Harken’s two entries took 2 of the top 3 spots. The Valencia received a recommendation and the Vortex was named the overall test winner.
The Testing Facility
Staff at the Finnish Occupational Health Institute (FIOH) performed the EN-based testing. FIOH is a specialist institute affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Office (ILO). They offer EN and ISO testing and certification for safety footwear. The Institute's research includes the evaluation of footwear slip resistance and methods of reducing accidents caused by slipping.
Grip Tests
These tests determined how well the different shoes gripped a wet gelcoat surface. Grip depends on a number of factors like the softness and type of sole material, how flat the sole is, and how well the tread pattern channels water out from under the shoe to maximize the sole’s contact with the deck.
Vene commented that Harken shoes have an unusual tread pattern that works very well on boat decks. This pattern centers independent 360-degree radial traction zones on the highest-pressure contact areas of the sole. As a result, wearers have grip in all directions regardless of whether they are on the balls of their feet or standing flat on the deck.
Methodology: Shoes were cleaned with 50% ethanol and lightly sanded with 400-grit sandpaper to simulate wear. Using specialized slip resistance measuring equipment, shoes were tested on a horizontal gelcoat surface wetted with a slippery soap-like solution (0.5% NaLS and 3.5% salt). Each test was performed 5 times on both the left and right shoes.
Subjective Tests
Vene compiled the following comments on the 14 pairs of shoes. The tester assessed features such as lace tension, fit, water retention, ankle support, and comfort.
Methodology: For the first test, the tester walked at 6 km/h for 5 minutes. He then climbed up and down steps to examine how the shoes dealt with twisting and flexing.
*EN ISO 20345:2004 Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear
EN 13287:2004 Safety, protective and occupational footwear for professional use. Test method for slip resistance
Staff at the Finnish Occupational Health Institute (FIOH) performed the EN-based testing. FIOH is a specialist institute affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Office (ILO). They offer EN and ISO testing and certification for safety footwear. The Institute's research includes the evaluation of footwear slip resistance and methods of reducing accidents caused by slipping.
Grip Tests
These tests determined how well the different shoes gripped a wet gelcoat surface. Grip depends on a number of factors like the softness and type of sole material, how flat the sole is, and how well the tread pattern channels water out from under the shoe to maximize the sole’s contact with the deck.
Vene commented that Harken shoes have an unusual tread pattern that works very well on boat decks. This pattern centers independent 360-degree radial traction zones on the highest-pressure contact areas of the sole. As a result, wearers have grip in all directions regardless of whether they are on the balls of their feet or standing flat on the deck.
Methodology: Shoes were cleaned with 50% ethanol and lightly sanded with 400-grit sandpaper to simulate wear. Using specialized slip resistance measuring equipment, shoes were tested on a horizontal gelcoat surface wetted with a slippery soap-like solution (0.5% NaLS and 3.5% salt). Each test was performed 5 times on both the left and right shoes.
Subjective Tests
Vene compiled the following comments on the 14 pairs of shoes. The tester assessed features such as lace tension, fit, water retention, ankle support, and comfort.
Methodology: For the first test, the tester walked at 6 km/h for 5 minutes. He then climbed up and down steps to examine how the shoes dealt with twisting and flexing.
*EN ISO 20345:2004 Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear
EN 13287:2004 Safety, protective and occupational footwear for professional use. Test method for slip resistance
Harken Sailing Gear | Harken Vortex shoes | Harken Valencia shoes
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