Gear Review: Bedrock Sandals Mountain Clog
Born in the river and woods of Northern California, Bedrock made their stake in the outdoor industry by designing and building truly adventure-capable sandals. Still a relatively small company founded by two young geologists in 2011, the brand has grown substantially to the point when something special needed to be added to their inventory.
Enter the Mountain Clog.
The inspiration for this shoe came with the company's relocation from sunny California to the mountains of Missoula, MT and the realization that a more capable clog was needed for four-season use. The driving concept was to capture the performance and freedom-feel of their sandals in a closed toe clog for when the temps begin to dip. Multiple prototypes were made and consequently deconstructed to crack the code on how to develop a clog which would suit the needs of their users. Footwear experts from across the industry were brought on the team to assist with development and after more than two years of research, meeting with production teams in South Korea, and going back and forth from the drawing board, the Mountain Clog was born.
Ok, time to rock into some specs for all you shoe nerds out there. The Mountain Clogs officially come in two different versions with a lot of similar DNA shared between them.
First, the similarities: Both clogs feature a wide and natural toe-box, zero drop, cushioned anatomically molded PU footbed (the same as in their Cairn 3D Pro II Sandals), and a three point sandal strap design which allows for fine tuning adjustments and adding a secure fit to the clog. Weight is surprisingly light on both models with the website listing only a one ounce difference for the pair with the leather being slightly heavier. And after measuring my size 10 men’s leather clogs on my kitchen scale, they come out to a whopping 26 ounces or about the weight of two empty coffee mugs because you know…science. They will both also feature a climbing rubber toe cap for added toe protection and to top it off, both come with a Vibram Megagrip outsole. Solid.
The differences between the models solely reside in the upper material, one is leather and the other synthetic so let’s break that down a bit. The leather features an unlined, one-piece oiled Nubuck Ecco Leather tanned with Dry-Tan water savings technology. Do keep in mind though that the leather will show more marks from water or dirt due to its natural properties. The leather will naturally be slightly stiffer out of the box and will require a longer break-in time but will also age/wear in more gracefully and is more durable compared to the synthetic. Speaking from experience, the break-in time was shorter than expected. No more than 2 weeks in, they are feeling quite comfortable and fitted on my feet. Do expect though to adjust the strap system as they age due to the leather softening with time affecting the volume of the shoe.
In comparison, the synthetic upper features a Clarino microfiber upper lined with a comfy polyester spacer mesh. The synthetic upper can get wet but will dry quickly and the spacer mesh lining acts as a vapor barrier similar to an athletic running shoe. The uppers will be a bit softer, have a shorter break-in time, will not stain as easily, and yet will not be as durable or graceful in aging compared to the leather. At the time of writing though, the leather model is only available in one color (like a golden tan, unburnt honey, yellowy copper, or…eh you get the idea) and the synthetic comes in two colors, a gray charcoal or (my personal favorite) a reddish clay.
From my own personal experience with the leather mountain clogs, I can truly say I’ve been having a hard time wearing anything else recently. They have ample room in the toe box which my toes are quite happy with and with a couple adjustments as the leather was breaking in, they feel extremely snug and secure on my feet. With regard to performance, I have been wearing them while bike commuting to work on blustery, drizzly, and gray Portland days, staying warmer than I have a right to with those exposed heels. The footbeds provide enough support for standing in them all day and the look is something which suits this area nicely. I am constantly on the lookout for gear which can seamlessly transition from the mountains and trails to a casual work function or coffeeshop vibes and these certainly fit the bill. I have also taken them on some day hikes and the Vibram soles show their worth, no issues there. Downsides are minimal but if anything the toe box may be too wide for some people and not the most shaped which has led to me occasionally hitting more corners or tripping on some roots on hikes. There is also the exposed heel bit which has led to some occasional soggy heels in wetter conditions but such is the price to pay for clog lovers like myself.
Bottom line: if you’re in the market for durable closed toe clogs with versatile performance, solid vibram outsoles, that look great either in town or on the trail, for sure take a look at these.