What the . . . ? Not sure what was going on in my mind over that post. Probably woke up from a bad dream in which I was paddling a big loaf of bread or wearing water shoes made out of bread. Lost on me now.
Yep, after an in-hand inspection, I have no confidence in them. They are going back. It was an experiment. Besides, I think the out-gassing of the materials is exposing my family to carcinogens (they smell really foul!).
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I rolled with it. I’m here for the party and the good times!
I look forward to your next dream. Maybe…
Next up - maybe…
Columbia Drainmaker XTR
It checks my boxes for materials and design. But, I’m concerned with heel stack / boat geometry. I wear a size 9.5 so size overall is not a real issue. it’s just that I have my paddling position just right. If you’re a cyclist you’ll relate completely!
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My favorite pair was Columbia, but the model isnt made anymore.
gregofdelaware recommended the west marine men’s aqua socks in jul '23. I tried them and like them. I was looking for a low bulk water shoe for a cramped foot space in a kayak.
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Looks like its going to raise your heel an inch and a half off the hull. At least it doesn’t also have a toe bumper.
Yep. Still using them. I wore out my first pair, so bought a replacement pair.
They fit tight and have fine mesh, so do a good job of keeping sand and small rocks out, while still letting water drain fast. For where we paddle, mostly sandy more or less, the soles are fine.
When we went up to Georgian Bay, I brought these and a pair of Astral Brewers, which I like a lot, except for the fact that the drainage holes let sand and small rocks in, and my foot is irritated by all the rubber nubs on the insole. But I wore them due to the slippery algae on the rocks, otherwise I would have worn the West Marine Aqua Socks.
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Have you looked at boat shoes?
I have a pair of all plastic (like Crocks) Sperry Top Siders I use sailing and kayaking. They are a loafer style shoe. I wear a pair of thin nylon socks with them. This combo dries very fast. I have an old pair of Adias paddle shoes that is on their last legs (pun intended). I use NRS neo boots with my dry suit. I don’t have anything newer than about 5 years old. So can’t be much help in that respect.
It will be less that that at back of the heel but, it will still be significant. Again dimensionally it won’t be an issue but I’m concerned about the body geometry change. We will see!
Sharp rocks and even sharper oyster shells are a big part of my considerations.
I have a pair of NRS Kicker for sandy shores.
Can I offer some advice, it seems like you and others are concerned about this?
They’re shoes. Try them, they buy them, if you like them. Nobody has the same fitment or needs.
Each to their own.
I was going to add that, but I didn’t. But it works.
The primary reason to wear shoes is to protect your feet between the transportation and the launch. The distance and the type of terrain varies for everyone, depending on the launch site or need to portage around impassable areas. If you take the shoes off in the kayak, there is a risk of losing the unattached shoes. If you live on the water and have a pier, your needs may be very different than a person who has to walk a long way across public land with broken glass strewn across the path, or someone carrying over rocks to get to the launch site.
Sand on the bottom of the boat make it umcomfortable for me if I’m not wearing shoes.
This may sound shocking, but I don’t overly rely on the foot peg for added power while paddling. I can get adequate energy transfer with torso rotation rather than jambing by feet into the foot pegs. I learned how to paddle faster without loading my body with all that stress. I basically use the foot pegs to help control the kayak for bracing against waves and to help with edging, otherwise my legs are relaxed, and sometimes simply extended out straight on the bottom of the boat.
I’m not sure about all the fuss over water shoes. Maybe it’s a different topic, but isn’t anyone also curious about the bests work boots, dress shoes, hiking boots or walking shoes. Try the damned things on and buy the ones you like. I don’t buy shoes on line unless I previously owned that shoe or tried it on to check fitment. When I started kayaking, I bought cheap K-Mart (a long time ago) slip ons but they didn’t offer much support while carrying a 59 lb kayak and they didn’t last. Then I bought a solid pair at an outlet, and they lasted many years. I couldn’t find a suitable replacement, so I bought a cheaper pair that only lasted three seasons. Now Ill buy another pair. It isn’t hard to figure out. Am I the only one who thinks this is getting silly?
I have to disagree. The degree of comfort and control offered by a foot pad basically fitted to the inside shape of the hull, far outweighs concerns of losing the shoes if capsized and discomfort of sand in the bottom of the boat, both of which that can be easily avoided. It also provides the opportunity to wear a much stouter shoe that is more stable and lasts longer because you do not have to paddle with it.
But as a great philosopher once said… “ Each to their own.”
To each his own . . .
One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. Floor making this relevant to the discussion of footwear. 