What about footwear

[Netrick]

I was wondering, now that most sailors have their boats in the water, what type of deck shoes are they wearing?
I have worn many types of popular boat deck shoes and find that once wet they must be taken off to dry. Some hold water to the point that you are walking in two buckets, or feel like two wet socks. Other deck shoes leave your feet brown once they get wet. I do not see how some deck shoes are so popular when they do not let the water drain and your feet dry. I have resorted many times to bare foot cruising while the so-called deck shoes lie in the sun (like a guest on the boat) to dry.

There is an endorsement on you tube for the crocs hydro that you can see here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EZFez9M6aI
If you like crocs, they look promising for drainage and ventilation.

There is also a shoe by speedo that is along the same lines as the croc, but better looking that you can see here. http://www.speedousa.com/product/in...dium=pi&utm_date=20090511&utm_content=7491105
This shoe also looks good at draining water and drying.
By the way, both of these shoes are hard to find and purchase online.

So what kind of shoe or deck shoe do you wear? Are you concerned about getting wet and the ability to dry? Does any deck shoe out perform the bare foot?

 

[higgs]

I have a pair of croc flip flops that are so slippery on smooth wet surfaces that they are dangerous. I had a pretty nasty accident on a flight of stairs because of them. For casual sailing, I usually go barefoot. Otherwise I just use the tradition moc.

 

[kloudie1]

In cool weather, I wear regular boat mocs but in the summer, I wear the cheap non slippy shoes like West Marine Strappy Aqua Socks. There are some very nice kayak shoes at Cabella’s or other suppliers that don’t hold water and are non skid and non marking

 

[NYSail]

I have two pairs

Keen which is like a sandle with a closed toe....real comfortable, fast drying, great traction, supports the foot real well and protects your feet well. My other pair are made by Harken...great full shoe, fast drying, has drains built in the sole, sup[ports the foot, comfortable and great traction. Most of the time however I am barefoot unless sever weather, I am racing or getting ready to dock. I hate getting stubbed toes when running around the deck or jumping on the dock.

The leather deck shoes by sperry and others just never did it for me...

Greg

 

[sailingdog]

I'd second Keen sandals for hotter weather... I have a pair of Newport H2s that I wear a fair bit during the summer... enough so that my feet get tiger-stripe tans from the sandal straps.

I also just got a pair of Rugged Shark boat shoes... these are designed to drain and dry relatively quickly, unlike other boat shoes. They look very promising.

One reason I like to wear either the keens or some sort of deck shoe is that foot injuries are fairly common on a sailboat. Whether it is breaking a toe on a deck organizer or block you didn't see or dropping a winch handle on the foot... you can have some fairly serious injuries to your feet if you're not careful.

 

[jackhartjr]

A friend that is a sailfisherman swears by the Crocks. Doesn't slip, drains and is comfortable.
(I asked him once if a customer DEMANDED that he take a sailfish in for mounting what he would say...he said this..."I make my living taking folks like you out sailfishing...if we mount every one we catch...sonner or later it affects the number of sailfish!"
Jack

 

[Tim R.]

Bare feet, Keen sandles and WM foul weather boots. In cold weather I wear Garmont low top light hikers.

 

[Warren Milberg]

For many years, I used and loved Sperry Topsiders. I'm not sure how we fell out of love, but I did. Perhaps their product changed. I found that after a season, their patented sole became hard and slippery to the point of being dangerous on a wet deck. Now, they are only good for slippers around the house.

I stumbled on a pair of "Summer Sneakers" at LL Bean and use them exclusively on my boat. They are inexpensive (+/- $35), are light and airy, and most of all have very good traction on deck.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd have to agree that the Sperry's have gone down hill in terms of quality. I have a pair of season old Figawis from them and the soles are hard and slippery....

 

[tsmwebb]

I prefer bare feet. But, on a particularly wet month long trip (mostly upwind) I learned that it is very important to give your feet some time to dry out on a regular basis. "Trench foot" is not at all nice.

On short trips in warm weather I still mostly sail barefoot. For longer runs I have a set of no-name Chinese "reef walkers" with light but fairly thick and grippy soles. The soles are kind of like crocs but with a softer rubber area added to the ball of the foot area for added traction. They drain well and are tall enough to keep my feet above the puddles. The uppers are nylon with an elastic closure. I have looked all over them for a brand name, but there is none. Sorry. When it gets a little cooler but is still not too wet I add neoprene socks to them. If it gets a bit cooler and wetter I have some dingy boots and for colder and wetter yet I have some plain rubber sea-boots that I bought in a fisherman's supply store in New Zealand. I have a nice set of moisture wicking socks that I use with the latter.

I've also got a set of leather deck shoes. I've never worn them at sea. They are for quasi-formal wear ashore.

--Tom.

 

[Nereussailor]

Bare feet 99% of the time, otherwise Sperry Topsiders.

 

[48dodge]

I love my flip flops on our fishing boat. I may end up hating them on the sailboat, though. They are Ocean Riders and have a very grippy bottom even when wet because the sole is covered in siping. I have another pair that eventually got too old so they are now my "work" flip flops. Still have some good grip, but a little too hard for using on a boat.

 

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

I agree with the comments about the deteriorated quality of Sperry Topsiders.

I will not sail barefooted as I think it's just asking for trouble.

For the past several years, I've been wearing the plain old-fashioned Jack Purcell sneakers. The bottoms are absolutely smooth, so no worries about picking up something that'll scratch the deck. In spite of the smooth tread, I've found them to provide sure-footing, especially when wet.

Paul

 

[larryw]

I prefer the sneaker-type boat shoe with a padded collar. The old-skool boat mocs are OK for the club, but not for the boat. Sailing barefoot is asking for trouble, in my opinion, with decks full of stainless hardware.

 

[caguy]

I have a pair of water proof open toe sandals that I picked up from a WM sale. I've had them 4 seasons and they're about the only shoe I wear. They drain quickly, the sole is non marking and they have enough straps to give me good support. I like them especially at the launch. I can wade into the water to winch the boat and then wear them home without soaking the truck.

 

[Rick D]

I have to special order due to some foot irregularities. I used Perry (SO) for years but they got too pricey especially in my special sizing. Changed to Serbago but a pair I had on the boat for three years darn near killed me several times last time I wore them before casting off. I think the bottoms just hardened way up. I put on my street New Balance tennis soled shoes which I now use all the time. I did just order a generic branded set of deck shoes tho. The best deck shoes I ever had were Timberline. Great on the boat but foot killer on the street.

 

[WallyQ2]

Bare feet and vented Crocs. I've never had a problems with them being slippery on a wet deck, as long as the soles aren't worn out. There're great for getting in and out onto a dock or the water onto shore.

 

[Mel Elliott]

I usually buy what my ex called "Grocery store shoes". I go through a pair in about 2 mos.

 

[Steve.Cook]

flip flops or canvas deck shoes

the cheaper the better

 

[catsailor]

Chaco Sandels, the ones with the smooth sole and big toe strap.

They are a bit pricey, but VERY durable with excellent arch support.

I can't abide most sandals, or Keens, because they trap shells while wading and make it impossible to walk. With Chacos, the junk washes through.

Closed toes are better for keeping lines out from under the toes. I prefer sneakers when the wind is up.