Teva Terra-Float Churn It Up - Women's Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Comfortable, drain well, lightweight, decent traction on hard surfaces
Cons: Lack traction in mud and sand, slip off the heel with layers, low sensitivity, laces loosen throughout the day
Manufacturer: Teva
Our Verdict
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Teva Terra-Float Churn It Up - Women's | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $49.83 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $89.07 at Amazon | $89.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $52.46 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $45 List |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Comfortable, drain well, lightweight, decent traction on hard surfaces | Exceptional comfort, great traction on wet surfaces, sensitive underfoot, drains well | Top-notch traction, flexible, snug fit | Comfortable, sticky rubber, great drainage | Very sensitive, good traction, secure for swimming |
Cons | Lack traction in mud and sand, slip off the heel with layers, low sensitivity, laces loosen throughout the day | Sizing seems to run small, shows slight signs of wear | Lack in durability, not warm | Take a long time to dry, difficult fit when adding layers | Not versatile, lack in support and protection for rough terrain |
Bottom Line | This pair doesn't measure up to other models we tested in terms of traction and sensitivity | This excellent shoe handily beats out the competition, most notably due to their comfort and versatility | For the avid kayaker, the flexibility and traction in this model is unparalleled | This model offers versatility and top-notch traction at a moderate price | If you plan on staying in your boat all day or anticipate only short scouts, these booties are great |
Rating Categories | Terra-Float Churn It Up | Chaco Torrent Pro - Women's | Astral Loyak - Women's | NRS Vibe - Women's | Ultra Flex Booties |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Traction (25%) | |||||
Versatility (15%) | |||||
Warmth (15%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Sensitivity (10%) | |||||
Specs | Terra-Float Churn... | Chaco Torrent Pro... | Astral Loyak -... | NRS Vibe - Women's | Ultra Flex Booties |
Measured Weight (in lbs per pair, size US Women 8) | 1.28 lbs | 1.08 lbs | 0.87 lbs | 1.36 lbs | 0.56 lbs |
Drainage Features | Drainage from the insole to midsole | Quick drying drainage | Outsole is draining | In-step drainage | None |
Footwear Closure | Elastic quick laces | Elastic quick laces | Laces | Laces | Velcro strap |
Available Widths | Medium | Medium | Medium | B width (Medium) | Medium |
Upper Materials | 56% synthetic/44% textile | Knitted polyester upper | Hydrophobic Canvas | 1000 denier nylon, quick-drying Cordura | 3mm neoprene |
Removeable Insole? | Removable insole | No removable insole | Removable insole | No removable insole | No removable insole |
Midsole | ultralight FloatLite⢠(EVA) | Women's-specific LUVSEAT EVR midsole | 7mm thick, 45C closed cell EVA foam | EVA foam | Rubber |
Outsole | Siped rubber | Non-marking ChacoGrip Plus rubber compound, self draining Flexi-grip | Flexi-grip, G15 (Astral tech) | Siped, sticky rubber | Rubber |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Terra-Float Churn It Up looks good walking around camp or on the town. Their mesh uppers dry quickly and the comfortable FloatLite midsole provides excellent support on longer side hikes. Yet they aren't quite specific enough for someone looking to get after it on the water.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The insole of the Terra-Float provides great arch support and cushioning. The laces adjust easily with single-pull elastic lace. However, the lace loosened slowly with extended use. They're comfortable with sockless feet, the mesh tongue and synthetic uppers providing an ideal design to prevent irritating seams.
We also found the elastic tightening mechanism to only cinch down on the top of the foot, leaving space enough in the heel for them to slide off when striding uphill. The synthetic material didn't pair well with warm layers; the heel slid off even more easily when we added neoprene socks or a drysuit. While the shoes drained well through the mesh and through holes in the insole, the mesh let in quite a bit of sand, which was difficult to remove.
Traction
The Terra-Float Churn It Up gave decent traction on hard surfaces like a cement boat ramp and dry rocks. However, its veritable lack of lugs made them unreliable for sand and mud.
We found ourselves in a treadmill situation ascending a muddy trail, our legs trembling from the effort of keeping our feet from sliding back. Forget going downhill in the mud. We similarly found them unable to dig in well to sand.
Versatility
These shoes work great on casual walks or kicking it at camp, but lack the tread and durability to reach for them on more serious water adventures. They're relatively lightweight but are too high-volume for a kayak.
Their poor lacing system makes it difficult to wear these with neoprene socks or a drysuit, making them less than ideal on colder days. In a swim or even steep hike, they'd be likely to come off. But they're nice for walks and wearing around town due to their more street-style design.
Warmth
Made almost entirely of mesh, the Terra-Float Churn It Up are more of a sunny-day shoe. They also stay on the foot better with bare feet.
In addition to making space around the heel when tightened, the shoes slip off the heel more easily when neoprene socks or a drysuit were added. The shoes drain quickly with its mesh exterior and holes through the insole. The uppers dry fast as well. They're a good pick for warmer, sunnier regions and warmer water.
Durability
While the insoles and tongue help up against sand and months of harsh treatment, the mesh showed significant signs of fraying. We doubt they'd hold up being stuffed under a raft thwart or into a kayak, the toe bumper not big enough to provide any sort of useful protection outside of stubbing your toe.
The hard lacing system coupled with nylon lace holes presents a potential issue, as hard pulls on the laces and extended use is likely to rip through the holes or break the lace itself.
Sensitivity
The Terra-Float Churn It Up sacrifices sensitivity for a cushy footbed. It looks and functions more like a running shoe, with a substantial heel to toe drop, leaving much on the foot without direct contact with surfaces.
The stiffness and heel-to-toe drop of the shoe prevent it from wrapping flexibly around rocks and logs. While you're unlikely to feel nuances of unstable terrain, you'll have great support and cushion.
Value
For a more versatile and sensitive shoe, you could find a more high-performing shoe at a lower price. Even for a shoe that you're looking to wear casually, we find the Terra-Float Churn It Up to be a bit above what we'd like to pay.
Conclusion
The Teva Terra-Float Churn It Up provides excellent cushion and great drainage. It functions decently as a casual shoe to wear around camp, but its poor adjustability and low sensitivity make it less than ideal for a water-specific shoe.
— Monica Nigon