What is the best shoe??

cbcboat · Post by **cbcboat** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:39 pm

I am looking for the 'ultimate' shoe for boating in. I need something that will work for OC, C-1 and K-1(SHHH!). I have size 12 feet and have been wearing just neoprene socks in the decked boats but really need to have a shoe with some support for hiking/portaging etc. What are yalls thoughts on footwear?
Thanks,
B

mshelton · Post by **mshelton** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:33 pm

I use the NRS rodeo socks and tuck a pair of old Tevas under my air bags in case I have to walk over a 1/4 mile.

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:12 pm

My favorite for a very flexible boot that still has some tread for bushwacking is the Acona booty. They are the only booties that don't scare me silly when I wedge myself into my C1 race boat.

They've got high-tops too.

NateOC · Post by **NateOC** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:35 pm

I have a pair of the NRS Rodeo Socks, which I use in my C-1, but I find they aren't too comfortable in my OC1 when I use the foot pegs, so in it I typically use the NRS "Paddle Wetshoes" shoes. If for some reason I don't use my foot pegs, I just use the rodeo socks for both boats.

It looks like the Desperado shoe or sock might be a medium between the two shoes of mine. Maybe one of those would be what you are looking for.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... eptid=1169

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... eptid=1168

bearboater · Post by **bearboater** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:39 am

brandon,
you can try my rodeo shoe from NRS if you want, I think they are in the garage amidst a pile of gear that I havent put away from the winters travels. but if you stopped by, or called my house, and told them you were looking for my booties, they would know, and I think they would know where they are.
-isaac

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:56 am

i've got a pair of these....latest and greatest..
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/23123998/c/86563.html
i wore them exactly once. they are very good and solid for walking. traction on wet cali granite is just ok. not as good as 510 or some others. AND< they are too big for me, so i'd let you ( or anyone else) have 'em for cheap. i'll send them to you if you want. just send 'em back if you don't like 'em.

size 11.5 (seem to run big)

cbcboat · Post by **cbcboat** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:22 pm

Larry,
How much would you want for them?
Thanks,
B

Post by **sbroam** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:21 pm

I paddle both open boat and C-1 with my foot flat on the floor - my ideal shoe has :

*just enough sole to protect my feet from stones (too thick and stiff and my feet cramp)
*a low profile heel to get easily out of my tighter c-1s
*a durable upper (I wear the tops out due to my foot position)
*a "sandproof" upper (sand in between shoe and foot = ouch)

For summer - "add lightweight / ventilated".

Nike's Aquasocks were as close to perfect as I ever found and I wore out 4-5 pairs before I couldn't find them any more.

Sandals are terrible for me, I end up grinding the tops of my feet off with trapped sand.

For winter I have a pair of NRS Cross 4 Wet Shoes. They have been working very well for several years, though in my playboat the heel is a little troublesome. Since I can't find Aquasocks any more, I think I am going to try NRS's Kickers again - the rubber rand does not cover as much as I like, but some Aquaseal / Goop should fix that.

LEW · Post by **LEW** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:38 pm

NRS Kickers work well in all the boats I paddle, even squirts. They have pretty good protection for such a low profile shoe. They might not meet Scott's sandproof requirement though.

These look pretty strange, but they may actually be a good idea.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/produc ... -grey.html

LEW

cbcboat · Post by **cbcboat** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:53 pm

The thing with the Fivefingers things is you can't wear a sock in there. Drysuits w/booties need a shoe to go over the booty for protection. Thanks for all of the opinions gang, I'll have to keep doing some looking.
Thanks,
B

Post by **sbroam** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:16 pm

LEW wrote:NRS Kickers work well in all the boats I paddle, even squirts. They have pretty good protection for such a low profile shoe. They might not meet Scott's sandproof requirement though.

These look pretty strange, but they may actually be a good idea.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/produc ... -grey.html

LEW

The 4-5 pairs of Aquasocks had variously a tight mesh, a thin neoprene like material, and a combination of the two - the sandproofness was not perfect, but exceeded the $10 "K-Mart watershoes" by a lot.

The last time I had an NRS shoe like a kicker, it had no rand at all so it wore it quickly, but was adequately sandproof until then. They did come off in a swim in Frank Bells (the home of the "deep swim" - French Broad Section 9), but I was lucky that I didn't lose *all* of my clothes in that swim!

billcanoes · Post by **billcanoes** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:19 am

light sole - very flexible- can hike 3 miles in them with only mild blisterring

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:12 am

cbcboat,
i dunno...40 bucks? they have only been worn once so they still have that new car smell.

oc1paddlr · Post by **oc1paddlr** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:16 am

I sport some 20 year old Deep Sea. Havin said that, my new boat/outfitting has them slip'n toe first under the yak foot brace on my new UFO ped. Lookin at the NRS paddling boot(4551) but still wonder why my toes dive under . i'll investigate

Li'l D · Post by **Li'l D** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:15 pm

I tried a pair of these on. They feel weird at first but after a little while they feel like you are barefoot with rubber protection on your soles.
They are machine washable too.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.html

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What is the best shoe??

What is the best shoe??

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