Footwear for canoeing?

On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 15:49:33 GMT, Richard Ferguson
<fergusonOMITsculpture.DeleteThis@omitthisatt.net> wrote:

>For those types of conditions, I like rubber boots that come up to a
>little below my knee. They are excellent in mud and sand. Cost about
>$15 at Walmart. Your feet stay more or less dry, and the boots have
>tread with reasonable traction. They often have steel shanks which
>protect your feet from rocks to a large degree, and you can wade in a
>few inches of water without a second thought.
>
>The Irish and Brits call these kinds of boots Wellingtons, after Lord
>Wellington, who is reported to have invented them. We visited his
>estate once, and I can see why he needed them. I always take them when
>I go to Ireland, just for casual hiking. Ireland is green for a reason.
>
>However, I do not recommend this kind of footwear for white-water, water
>tends to get in the boots and stay there.

>
>Richard

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have a pair of wellingtons, but I
find them unsuitable because many of the places I need to beach my
canoe are beaches cosisting of deep, sticky clay, mixed with shingle.
A wellington boot would simply stay firmly stuck in the mud when I try
to lift my foot out. What I need is something that cannot be pulled
off the foot, once fastened.

>You might consider wearing socks with your sandals, looks silly but
>protects your feet from that abrasion and the sun. I went that way on
>my recent week-long Utah trip, which included some whitewater.

I have been thinking about trying knee-length goretex waterproof socks
worn with sandals. I've never tried waterproof socks, but the concept
sounds appealing. I am thinking that this set-up would allow the
sock+sandal to dry out gradually, while the foot inside stays dry. Has
anyone tried this?

Al D
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

On Sun, 4 Jun 2006 08:14:48 -0700, "Bill" <ibhere.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:

>I've used aqua socks, but they need to fit tight so they don't get left in
>the muck when you walk.

Hi Bill, Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, the sticking-in-the-mud issue
is a real problem; especially for me; the beach mud in my area is made
of clay and very deep. I've thought about wet suit boots with ankl
straps, but I'd rather find something that actually keeps the feet dry
....or failing that, something that dries out quickly.

Al D
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

Crocs or Keens when it's really rocky. Chacos or Tevas when it's not.
I like the toe protection for the rocks.

Al D wrote:
> Hi,
> What do you canoeists wear on your feet? I'm lookin for something that
> will be suitable for when beaching and launching a canoe on soft,
> gritty, muddy beaches of river banks and estuaries. I've tried
> sandals: no good because the grit gets in-between the sandal and the
> foot, causing abrasion. I have not tried wet-suit boots. Is that a
> possibility?
>
> Thank you
>
> Al D
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

My oldest pair of trail running shoes with socks. So what if your feet
get wet? I can't portage in sandals, and I don't want a loose high boot
that might fill with water and get lost (or drag me down, either).
In the springtime, I use Chota Mukluks, and I'll use Keen sandals for a
quick paddle, apres paddle, or around camp, but I can't get Keens in the
bow of a racing canoe, and they just don't have the ankle support I need
on trail or running portages.

Marsh J

Al D wrote:
> Hi,
> What do you canoeists wear on your feet? I'm lookin for something that
> will be suitable for when beaching and launching a canoe on soft,
> gritty, muddy beaches of river banks and estuaries. I've tried
> sandals: no good because the grit gets in-between the sandal and the
> foot, causing abrasion. I have not tried wet-suit boots. Is that a
> possibility?
>
> Thank you
>
> Al D
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

Al D <wmth2581.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:

> On Sun, 4 Jun 2006 08:14:48 -0700, "Bill" <ibhere.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> >I've used aqua socks, but they need to fit tight so they don't get left in
> >the muck when you walk.
>
> Hi Bill, Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, the sticking-in-the-mud issue
> is a real problem; especially for me; the beach mud in my area is made
> of clay and very deep. I've thought about wet suit boots with ankl
> straps, but I'd rather find something that actually keeps the feet dry
> ...or failing that, something that dries out quickly.
>
> Al D

You could always try and start or finish where there isn't any mud .
I use wellies myself, you can get some that are secured by laces as
well, such as the 'Chota Quick lace' by Mukluk.
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

On 4-Jun-2006, Al D <wmth2581.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote:

> I have been thinking about trying knee-length goretex waterproof socks
> worn with sandals. I've never tried waterproof socks, but the concept
> sounds appealing. I am thinking that this set-up would allow the
> sock+sandal to dry out gradually, while the foot inside stays dry. Has
> anyone tried this?

I have and it's good. But the sandals I use are not the webbing and old tire type,
rather the almost-a-running-shoe type. AKA watersports shoes like some Teva, 5-10s,
Adidas, and other vendors' products. These shoes drain quickly and provide much
better foot support for a portage than a basic sandal. The soles are also stickier on
wet rock than cheap sandals (5-10 are quite good, I hear, but they don't make my
size).

I also use neoprene socks in these - the socks + shoe are as warm as reef or dive
boots but can be turned inside out to dry over lunch. I've become convinced after
all these years that the sock+watershoe is the best combo. In really hot weather,
just take off the sock and wear the shoe barefoot.

The trick for me is finding a watershoe that fits inside my kayak - given the size of
my feet. Not a problem with a canoe (except for some when kneeling w/ my feet
under the seat).

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

Sandals, Source RiverCrosser being my favorite.
With wool socks (Falke Walkies) when it is cold,
and Zoelzer waterproof foldable stockings over
the socks when it rains.
Neopren socks for whitewater paddling.

Dirk Barends
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

"Al D" <wmth2581.TakeThisOut@aol.com> wrote in message
news:5v3682l62g459vuclgtqc89u0qmsfdpgp0@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 4 Jun 2006 08:14:48 -0700, "Bill" <ibhere.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>I've used aqua socks, but they need to fit tight so they don't get left in
>>the muck when you walk.
>
> Hi Bill, Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, the sticking-in-the-mud issue
> is a real problem; especially for me; the beach mud in my area is made
> of clay and very deep. I've thought about wet suit boots with ankl
> straps, but I'd rather find something that actually keeps the feet dry
> ...or failing that, something that dries out quickly.
>
> Al D
>
>

I started out the early days with sneakers; they worked well enough but did
come off in the mucky sand of SW rivers. Then I switched to Tevas (with
velcro straps) which got weak over time and would come off when swimming.
Then I went through various incarnations of Teva Pros with buckles: they
worked fine enough, but many models would get very slippery when I walked
through mud, and my foot would slip sideways out of the shoe. Then I went
with snug fitting wetsuit booties with zippers and straps. They worked very
well, but after a day on the water or a week in the sun, I had these white,
wrinkled things with toes on the end of my tanned legs. Then I went
barefoot, which worked best of all except on cold days or in gravel.
Finally, I resorted to paddling barefoot, and keeping a pair or Tevas
(velcro model) handy. I walk in the mud barefoot, and carry the shoes to the
dry land where I wipe off my feet and put them on. For cold weather trips, I
wear LLBean boots.

Sorry, this probably doesn't help you, but if its any consolation I don't
think there is a perfect solution out there yet.

--riverman
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing? 

On Fri, 9 Jun 2006 00:33:32 +0800, "riverman" <nospam.RemoveThis@sorry.com>
wrote:

>Sorry, this probably doesn't help you, but if its any consolation I don't
>think there is a perfect solution out there yet.

Thanks... I'm glad you understand the problems. I think I will start
experimenting with sandals and wet-suit boots and see how it goes.
Bare feet are fine, of course, as long as it's sand. Unfortunately,
many of the places I need to beach my canoe consist of nasty smelly,
gritty clay-like mud mixed with sharp broken sea shells.

Al D
 >> Stay informed about: Footwear for canoeing?