I am a recent convert to hiking in sandals. These are the real deal. The soles grip any and all terrain and nothing is lighter or more comfortable. Ankles are somehow solidly supported. No idea how, but, I promise you if my ankles suffered I would be screaming it from the roof tops. These things keep you rock solid. Oh, and your tootsies DO NOT get banged up in rocky terrain or when you get lead footed and started banging into roots, etc.. The only time I had any issue at all was when walking through boot sucking mud. If there are stones or debris in the mud it can get trapped under the arch requiring you to clean it out with your hand or by hitting the sandal with some water. Everything else that might get trapped clears itself with a little shake of the foot. The only advice I would give is to carry a small tube of hand lotion with you for awhile because your feet will start to crack after a few days due to exposure. A little hand lotion in the morning, at lunch and at night cures this. If you are only out for the day lotion is not necessary. Also, if you are between sizes order down. Be aware that some others on the trail will feel compelled to comment on your choice of footwear. Be gentle with them. After all, ignorance is bliss.

I purchased 2 of these and they both failed in the same location out of the box. There is a plastic support plate on the inside of the bladder and it caused a small (not perceptible on visual inspection) hole to form at one of the top corners causing the bladder to leak. Not an issue I suppose if you fill your bladder once you arrive to where you are going and do not fill it to capacity. Me? I'm furious.

Hard not to laugh when saying this but there is so much to like about this bladder. See, I told you. Hard not to laugh. The tube protection is really everything for me. This bladder doesn't leak out all over my back (and backside) after a day of being pushed against lift chairs. Love it.

My 13 year old snowboarding/park rat son and I have been wearing the Bad Lt. for the past 2 seasons. There are no downsides to this item. It looks great, the audio ear flaps sound great and keep ears warm, a sturdy snap strap holds goggles in place and there are no gaps between the goggles and helmet. The lack of vents is a non-issue - you do not overheat. The fact my son proactively puts it on for the looks and the music and I wear it because I'm old enough to know that it could be the difference one day (and as I said, it does keep ears warm and does sound great) makes this an all around winner. I also believe that the helmet has a timeless enough quality (in other words it will still be "cool", "steezy" or whatever the word will be in 3-5 years) that I have one each extras in the attic.