Gave the jikatabi a fair shot on 9/12 roofs and I am going back to Vans

I had a similar run-in with the Rikio Fighter model last summer when we were doing a 10/12 pitch on a custom build. I completely agree about the arch; that "bridge" feeling makes it feel like you're walking on stilts when you really want that 100% surface contact. If the rubber isn't touching the OSB, you're just putting all that pressure on your heel and the ball of your foot, which gets exhausting after a few hours of sheeting. Regarding the sliding issue inside the canvas, I tried a pair of the Marugo Magic safety models that use Velcro instead of the metal tabs. It doesn't look as traditional, but you can actually crank the straps down to keep your foot from shifting during lateral cuts. Even with the better fit, I still find myself reaching for my old Vans Half Cabs most mornings. The gum sole on a standard skate shoe is hard to beat for grip, and you don't have to mess with those tiny metal clips when your fingers are stiff from the morning cold.

I've actually had a completely different run with the Marugo Jog 12s on cedar shingle jobs, and I think the difference might be the break-in period and the specific model. The high arch you're describing is definitely weird at first, but once the canvas softens up after about three days of heavy sweat and movement, I found the sole flattens out more than you'd think. I actually prefer the kohaze tabs over laces becuase I don't have to worry about a loose loop catching on a shingle edge or a stray nail head, which has sent me sliding more than once in my old Vans.

Regarding the split toe, I don't use it for 'grip' on the flat surface so much as for balance when I'm walking the ridge or bracing my foot against a 2x4 cleat. Being able to 'pinch' the edge of a roof jack or a toe board gives me a sense of where my center of gravity is that I just don't get with a stiff sneaker. It might not be the best for sheeting raw OSB all day, but for the detail work and trim on a steep 12/12 pitch, I'm not going back to standard boots anytime soon.

If you're done fighting with the tabis and want that full contact feeling, you realy need to just grab a pair of Cougar Paws. Unlike the split-toe stuff, the entire Performer boot sole is basicly a giant velcro pad for thier traction inserts. It gives you 100% surface contact on OSB without that 'stilt' feeling in the arch.

They use a standard lace-up system so you don't have to worry about metal tabs popping mid-pitch. It’s way more secure for lateral movement when you're humping sheets and actually keeps your foot locked in place.

I dropped the jikatabi experiment years ago after a nasty slide on a 12/12 pitch. If you’re over the Marugo stuff but hate the bulk of a Cougar Paw, look at the Merrell Vapor Glove 6. It’s got that zero-drop, thin Vibram EcoStep sole that gives you way better ground feel than a skate shoe without the annoying 'bridge' in the arch. You get 100% rubber-to-OSB contact and the lacing acutally locks your midfoot down so you aren't sliding around inside the canvas. It’s basicly a modern tabi without the split-toe gimmick.