C-Forum

The Teva Cherry Bomb thread got me thinking - what kind of foot-wear do people use for OC-1? I have been using Keen Newport sandals, which I like because of the nice big strong toe, and ability to drain and dry rather quickly. But I had one come off in a swim a few weeks ago, and that has me thinking I need to get something that stays on better.

I'm not worried about compactness so much, since I don't C1. I just want something that is going to last, something that stays on, and something that has a good sole.

Suggestions?

I wear high top Converse All Stars. Lace them up all the way and they will never come off.

decent foot protection, breathable, drain well, nice and flexible, plus they are SUPER STYL'IN.

I have portaged in them as well on multi-day trips. Muskeg never sucked them off.

I have been tempted to buy the Five Ten canyoning shoes because of the superduper awesome stick to anything rubber on them, but the clasp and the ankle might get uncomfy kneeling for long periods of time.

you can wear just about anything in an oc, right? a lot of guys (kayaker creeker) around here wear 510 shoes, and not necessarily the "water" shoes. The leather uppers seem to last a little longer than the mesh uppers, but they all fall apart in short order. they wear them for the traction.
unfortunately they're too stiff and chunky to fit in my c1.

Yeah, I've been looking at the Five Ten Canyoneer II, but want to see a pair in person and try them on before I spend the money.

Gord was wearing All-Stars @ ALF and he WAS stylin'!
I guess stuffing the gore-tex sock from the dry suit in the shoe isn't too uncomfortable?

I'm OC-1 too...so I'd be fine with whatever stays on my feet.

In the past I've used whatever old running shoes I had kicking around.

Now on my second pair of Merrell "Maipo" watershoes. First pair lasted 2.5 seasons. They're pretty good, light, flexible, drain well. Normal laces which I now tie real tight and double-knot. Some other Merrels have a draw-string type of lacing system which I think most people prefer.

I lost one once in a swim, in Phil's Hole on the Ottawa...happily enough it was floating next to me when I surfaced.

Todhunter wrote: I guess stuffing the gore-tex sock from the dry suit in the shoe isn't too uncomfortable?

I had to loosen the laces of my Chuck's substantially before getting the drysuit sock inside it. once the shoelaces were loosened, no problem.

I wear a pair of SIMMs self-draining flyfishing boots. They're light and you can lace them up so that your toes don't get scrunched up at the ends of the boots when you're bracing against the foot pegs. That's the problem I have with Keens and other similar shoes. Also, the SIMMs won't come off if you get munched in a hole. They also have great soles for wading, which makes them excellent for scouting. Because of their size, they'd be terrible for C1ers, but for OC1ers they're great. I'm on my second pair. First pair lasted three years (and that's about 65 days of paddling/year).

when paddling with foot pegs I need a big hard toe, andhavent found anything as good as my keen newport h2, make sure you cinch them up tho . i lost one on my first run of the upper yough last year.

I've been using Typhoon P5's for a while and they suit me good, as I raise my pegs up and get my feet under them with the pad of the heel touching the peg.

I need more traction, hence wanting the Teva's/Keen's

I go bare.

Josh,...don't fret over the Teva Cherry-Bombs (from thread). I got a pair last year hoping they would friction well on wet rock. And they did not. Maybe on Sierra granite, but not so good on (RockyMtn-n-Appalachian) rock I've tried them on. Found out... when ripping a 3inch tear in a dry suit. Also for some reason they are really hard to pull over dry suit (latex) booties. Yes - they looked like the shoe, felt (oh so good), and appeared to friction and edge well while walking around the store.

Currently wearing a pair of Solomon lace-up mesh (closed out-old amphibian style) and even they do not friction like I want. They do have great stability when it comes to walking, which a plus for a hike in or out. Sure both would do fine for the average boater, who would squawk at doing rock moves over wet rock. But having some climbing skills is a major plus, and makes friction-ing on wet rock a key component in a good shoe. As said somewhere - the 5.10's are great, but sure don't hold up very long.

Summer time - bare foot or any webbing style sandal.

philcanoe wrote:The 5.10's are great, but sure don't hold up very long.

The Canyoneers?

no... really would like to see a pair of them.

Was referring to a couple different previous 5.10 models, that I and a few friends went through (worn out) rather quickly.

philcanoe wrote:I got a pair last year hoping they would friction well on wet rock. And they did not. Maybe on Sierra granite, but not so good on (RockyMtn-n-Appalachian) rock I've tried them on.

Me too. I was not at all impressed by Teva's "sticky" rubber. MUCH better for me as far as wet rocks go have been my Chotas with felt pads on the sole. That felt sticks well even to slimy rock. Sorry, don't know what model they are. I think the important part is the felt.

I've been using the 5:10 Canyoneer as my main Canadian canoe tripping shoe for about three seasons now. I also use them in my playboat during the spring and fall. We bought them initially out in Zion while canyoneering slot canyons and realized that they would be great for canoeing. They grip wet rock, moss, knee deep muck. great, and are plenty flexible for OC-1 use on footpegs, but might be too stiff for C-1 use. They work great for those 2 mile ports on a mixture of rugged shield rock and kneedeep in loonshit, with a tripping boat or a 70# pack on your back. The thing they do awesome is pump water out on each step. As for durability, the soles do show some wear, but given how well they grip, it's not too surprising, but I suspect I'll be tripping in these for several years to come.