C-Forum

What kind of shoes are people wearing in their c1's these days? Now that I have a drysuit with cush goretex booties, the barefoot method doesn't really work anymore. Anything out there that works?
Thanks!

The main thing is that you want something supple with little or no heel. A heel can catch on the cockpit rim when wet exiting. I ware NRS Desparados. Mine are old so I hope they make them the same. I also remove the elastic draw string & springholder thing that are uncomfortable when kneeling.
Rand

Rand C1 wrote:The main thing is that you want something supple with little or no heel. A heel can catch on the cockpit rim when wet exiting.

I agree with Rand C1.

I compared lots of neoprene booties, and settled for a pair of DEEP SEE (?). They are ankle height, with zips up the inside. They had the slimmest profile, and at the back of the heel, the sole is flush with the bootie, and tapers inward.

I bought 'em snug, and they're a little tight around the dry-suit footies, but maybe worth a little discomfort to ensure a safer wet-exit.

Rick

What about just plain neopren socks, and you could have a pair of "Crocks" inside the boat for when you have to walk any distances...

Teva's or chaco's are better than crocs for pairing with neoprene socks, they have enough support and sole to allow for quite demanding terrain.

But I use Typhoon P5 booties, they're actually diving booties but they bought them in bulk at the rafting centre I used to work at, I used client pairs for about 2 years before being respectfully asked to buy some of my own... They're a great balance between having a decent sole (with a real insole) and having the upper foot flexibility needed for c-boating.

I ware NRS booties, over my dry suit. They are dirt cheap, or you can get some from a raft company.

Last time we talked you said you were going the kayak way. Glad thats not the case, coming to ALF

J. Wood

crocs? guess you didn't get the memo from the fashion police.
depends on what kind of runs you're doing. class II-III, ok. bring some beers while your at it. But if someone showed up barefoot or with socks on a class four or five wilderness run, they'd catch a lot of grief from me. shoes clipped in the boat don't do jack for you if you swim and have to chase down said boat. Or if you need to help someone out..oh, wait. lemme get my shoes..

There is a real need for a decent shoe that'll fit in a c1. Small heel, sturdy but not too stiff sole, cover the ankle, 510 rubber or better. How hard can it be?
There are lots of neoprene booties that will work, but many are too flimsy and they all (that I've tried) have terrible traction on polished granite. I like traction.

Nike are you listening? BRING BACK THE TOKETEE!!! That was the best boating shoe ever.

I'm still looking for something to fit over drysuit feet - the thickness of my wool socks inside and the drysuit fabric have me going up a full size or more - my shoe size is 11.5, but there are no 12.5s (at least not in water shoes), so it's up to 13s - that's getting pretty dern big in my C-1, even as generous as the room is in the Remix.

Crocs suck - soft as a sponge and the traction of a banana peel - great for the parking lot and the drive home

Chacos - great for walking/scrambling, but big and clunky in the C-1 and the sole is too stiff - plus you'll get sand between sole and sock

Keen H-2 (or similar) - similar to Chacos, but they trap the sand even better

Nike Aquasocks - great in the boat and *almost* enough sole, great for park and play

I'm going to see how an NRS (or similar) bootie works with a thinner inner sock (liner?) and the dry suit... Might be able to get away with a size 12...

I use Keen Sandals - but have put a "skin" of foam inside all by boats, so when I'm in the boat I am not wearing sandals, and store them in front of my knees. This works well regardless of whether or not I'm wearing my drysuit with attached Goretex socks.

Akona booties are the most flexible booty I've found and still have a sole (soul?). Cheap, and available up to size 13. The 3.5mm are also pretty stretchy.

http://www.akona.com/product.php?product_id=99

Stohlguist Water Moccosons (sp?)... thick neoprene with a aramid sole. And I have keen sandles that I biner in the front of the boat for hiking in.

Larry, I'm with you, croks sucks... and the Nikke shoe was a great sho, but to narrow for my big feet(13).... As any one tryed the canyoneer or sar shoe from 5:10? Look realy good and I,m sure they have great traction! http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/68-sar

welcome back will good to see you are having a relapse

Lappie wrote:Larry, I'm with you, croks sucks... and the Nikke shoe was a great sho, but to narrow for my big feet(13).... As any one tryed the canyoneer or sar shoe from 5:10? Look realy good and I,m sure they have great traction! http://fiveten.com/products/footwear-detail/68-sar

Never going to happen, they're incredibly clunky, and the SAR actually has a safety toecap and midsole, to eliminate any slight artifact of flexibility that was left in the Canyoneer 2 design.

Excellent rafting boots, even better water operations boots But poor kayaking boot, dire canoeing boot.

Prijon has some pretty light flexible shoes with a good sole, perfect for C1. Don`t know if you can get them over the great pond though.

http://www.prijon.com/produkte/bekleidu ... flach.html