Shoes and design compromises

Place: Olympia Washington

Design issue: I was thrilled to see Keen come out with sandles that were both waterproof and had a closed toe on them. No more stubbing toes on tidepool rocks! But it brings along with it a new problem: small rocks get into the toe via the sides and then they don't fall back out easily so you have to take off the shoe or walk painfully. So a design solution brings with it a new design problem. I think the solution might lie in a design that encloses the foot less while still providing reasonable protection in high risk areas such as the toes.