I bought these shoes for white water rafting. I have used them on one three-day trip down Hell's Canyon. The upper is almost a mesh-like nylon fabric that dries fairly quickly. The sole has a good tread pattern and is made of good gripping material for an excellent sole when trying to move across slick, wet rocks on river shores. I bought these shoes on the recommendation of a friend who wore a pair on a two week raft trip on the Grand Canyon. The big surprise to me has been how comfortable these shoes are. They are like wearing moccasins or socks--but with arch support and foot protection! They are probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. These shoes are fairly light. They seem durable, but I would like to see how well they last out on some of the long, multi-day river trips.