Dunlop Volleys
The Dunlop
volley is a kind of sandshoe, widely used by bushwalkers in New South
Wales, Australia. I've used them for all the walking I've done,
both around Sydney and overseas (climbing volcanoes on Java, wandering
around Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, hiking around Northern Pakistan).
But for my first New Zealand trip,
I bought a pair of boots -
though I took the volleys too.
In most of the world people seem to think you need boots for any
kind of serious walking, but it's a "religious war" topic in some
parts of Australia, where sandshoes are the norm. See, for example this thread
from aus.bushwalking. Volleys are particularly recommended for
canyoning.
 an Oxford St shopfront |
Fashion Volleys
In 2002 Dunlop introduced a new style of volley. These are more expensive (around AUS$50) than the older ones and are actually sold in fashion shops. I always knew that if I waited long enough that I'd become fashionable!
Testimonials and Links
- David Jones writes:
- "Dunlop Volley shoes are the best investment you could ever make. Good
footwear is essential for canyoning, and virtually all hi-tech $200 Nike's
and Rebooks are absoutely useless, you just slide off the rocks. Get a
pair of Dunlop Volleys, they grip to anything, and they are the status
symbol of canyoners. You will look out of place without them!"
- Roger Lembit writes:
-
Well I've taken volleys to Tassie, NZ, Chile, Argentina, Scotland, Wales,
Norway, Spain and Estonia & never, ever regretted it. This includes the first
ever volley ascent of Eggjapiken in central Norway (admittedly only 1524 m, but
involving climbing a snow gully and nearby cliff), a traverse across snow on
the lofty, jagged peaks of An Teallach in western Scotland and snow traverses
on the ranges near Villarica in the Lakes District of Chile.
- Ashley Burke writes:
- for everywhere in New Zealand below the snow line, volleys rule.
I have worn volleys to:
- Summit of Kilimanjaro
- Camp 2 on Aconcagua
- 17 000 feet on Mustagh Ata