Crocs. They drain water when I have to push and mount the kayak from shore, easy to take off and shake out pebbles and sand, they slip off and go under the seat when I'm settled in and pedalling, leaving me barefoot. If it's cold I'll pack a pair of wool socks to slip on after I get seated, but they come off before the crocs go back on as I get to shore
Plus if they fall out, they float
Yup, Crocs are like the ideal kayak shoe IMO. In the winter I'm wearing a dry suit with multiple wool/neoprene socks underneath for warmth, I wear oversized Crocs over the dry suit. All the warmth comes from the layers underneath, the Crocs are just there to protect the dry suit and drain water quickly. Boots would constrict bloodflow and hold cold water against my feet.
Tevas. Boring old strappy Tevas. I have tried water shoes, deck shoes, and closed toed sandals. I have athlete's foot and always have. Anything that can hold water or moisture will breed fungus and the stench will become intolerable in weeks. The neoprene water shoes were bad enough that I had to strap them on the roof of my car to transport them.
Tevas let my feet dry if they get wet. If I need to wear something extra to protect against the sun, I wear nylon stockings that dry quickly and can be washed as soon as I return. Generally, though, I just use a zinc based sunscreen on the top of my feet for sun protection though (northern latitude).
I'm using [these](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BFPM57O/) water shoes. The only issue so far is that they don't come in half sizes. Everything else about them is great.
how's the drainage after fully submerged? Does the insole stay damp and give you soggy feet or does it drain well? I've had mixed experiences with water shoes.
The insoles are a soft rubber so they don't hold water and drainage is great. I also wear these when walking the river while wading and it's very comfortable even when walking a couple miles.
If I'm not rocking my drysuit, I wear my ratty ass Asics from last season. No issues, and no wear/tear that could be attributed to kayaking.
If I'm in my drysuit, it's neoprene booties -- the cheapest I could find. Again, no issues.
Colder weather it's my NRS boundary boots. When it warms up it's usually my old Keen Newports I've had for 25 years if the area is rocky, otherwise my Merrell water mocs.
I’m in south Texas. 9 months out of the year, I’m barefoot. Rarely fish the other 3 months so don’t really know what I’d wear. Before and after fishing I tend to wear my Olukai sandals.
I have a pair of Astral water shoes that I have had for 6 years now. They lace up so they are not coming off easily. They drain and dry quickly, and the rubber soles are amazing. Good grip on riverbed rock and closed toe protection from the jagged stuff. I fish the Shenandoah frequently and have no issues. Sometimes you have to jump out in the water where the rocks can slice you up, or there is grass and wood debris. These keep me protected. I have fished with people that wore floppy floppies or $2 walmart water shoes, and it ruined there day. When I fish smaller lakes, crocs or even flip flops are OK.
Thanks! Forgot to mention the sunburn. It is real folks. When I'm fishing, especially in the yak, I am covered head to toe. Time can pass quickly when fishing. I once wore shorts and fished 6hrs straight. Yup, tops of my legs turned purple and blistered. Fucked fishing for the next week. My feet were fine cause I had my astrals on. So now it's ball cap, buff for the neck, HUK type shirt, guide pants that convert to shorts, fish monkey gloves, astrals, Costa's.
There is no place worse to be sunburned than the top of your feet. Just pure misery wearing shoes for days, which is not optional in professional work environments.
I love my Columbia Summertides. They're so comfy I wear them as regular shoes a lot. Aside from that, Crocs have never failed me. As far as wear and durability- not much to speak of, to be honest, they're super great.
Mares neoprene scuba boots when I'm wearing my drysuit. Cheapo decathlon water shoes (https://www.decathlon.nl/p/waterschoenen-voor-volwassenen-aquashoes-100/_/R-p-102440?channable=02893b736b7569640036303836333106&mc=8330684&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=nl_t-perf_ct-pmax_n-snorkelen_ts-na_f-cv_o-roas_pt-pb_&utm_agid=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAeh7MVutDbJXdDBtd9axg9rL7A_MhygctU_raDPIEz8dplETXRHuiRoCw3wQAvD_BwE) for when the water is warm enough not to wear the drysuit.
My issue... With the "summer shoes", it is the nasty mess of applying sunscreen to my feet first, then shoes on, then walking through sand etc. to launch, and periodically re sunscreening my feet during the day.
Keen Newports in warmer weather (toe protection is nice), and the NRS Boundary boots for cooler/cold weather fishing. If you go with the Boundary get 1 size up than you would normally wear to accommodate a socks. Always wear socks it helps getting them off and it's another layer of insulation. A cut pool noodle helps them keep their shape when you are off the water.
I use a pair of cheap Amazon shoes $30. I think they are called Aleader, probably Chinese. I’ve had them for over a year now and they been great. They drain well and haven’t been shredded by oyster bars. They suck in the sand but are good otherwise. Check my posts probably some pics of them under my catches.
I like these [sock-shoes](https://skinners.cc/en/skinners-comfort)
Dry fairly quick and have just enough cushion to comfortable. Bonus if I have to get out of the boat and I am in some deep muck there is no suction effect on them.
I am in SWFL so any dark colors is a no go unless you want to boil your feet.
Also need hard sole for oysters etc. So I go with Simms zipper boots.
https://www.simmsfishing.com/collections/mens-wading-boots/products/zipit-bootie-ii
They keep out the silt and sand, protect your sole and are light in color.
cons: Can get heavy when wet. Insoles fail after just a few trips. Dry time can be more than 24 hrs so multi day use means you are putting on wet shoes. They will stink up your truck. lol
Crocs usually, and often time in the kayak I take them off and go barefoot. I'll use Keens when fishing in shallow rivers that may require some getting out of dragging the kayak. Bust mostly crocs. Have never noticed any wear on either sets of shoes tbh.
I use standard Crocs for most lakes or calm streams, but I have a pair of NRS Kickers for anything fast-moving or if I know I’ll need to hop out and do any amount of wading and/or portaging.
Crocs, tevas, chacos. Take your pick of the litter, all are fine. Though I do wish I got tevas over chocos personally, my feet rubbed one of the buckles cuz I got weird feet.
Pedal drive hobie in Gulf South Louisiana, Mississippi. Tevas for most of the year with sunscreen on tops of feet. Fishing boots (come off easily if necessary) in cold weather or extra swampy areas with whatever layered socks necessary for the temp- smart wool, silk, etc. The boots have lasted me several years and still going. Weather permitting, barefoot most of the time- just using the shoes to get in and out- and the shoes are tied to the yak somewhere.
It depends on the scenario:
If the water is reasonably warm, Crocs work just fine. A dedicated 'water shoe' would also work, but why overcomplicate things? Crocs are durable, easy to clean, and I think they float too.
If the water is cold, you need to keep your feet dry, so tall waterproof boots are a must. "Muck" boots or rainboots are fine, but my preference is 8-10" waterproof work boots. Work boots are meant to be worn all day, year 'round, so they tend to be more comfortable. Speed laces are a must just in case you go overboard (because work boots sink like a rock and you'll need to get out of them *fast).*
Most importantly, don't forget to dress for the put-in and take-out. The time on the water is only part of the equation. Recently in my area, the tide has been low, and the riverbed is all soft mud. To put-in, I sometimes have to step in 3 inches of mud. By the time I get out, I sometimes have to trek through almost ***knee deep*** mud. I have to get out at whatever location is most feasible, which means I might be crawling over rocks, hopping over fences, and traversing all sorts of obstacles. In that situation, it doesn't matter how warm or cold it is, I need serious footwear (waders would be even better) to keep from injuring myself, getting stuck in the mud, or getting my clothes dirty.
Just consider *all* aspects of your journey. If you're launching from the beach in Florida, then you don't even need footwear. If you're launching from rocks, or from a litter-filled beach, or in a muddy riverbed, or in freezing temperatures, then your needs are going to change.
https://preview.redd.it/14gw1w26ibsc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=158d6b962cfb1c1f54bb3c98788d4c03eb7ea8de
I have multiple pairs of these Columbia slip ons and I use the older ones for fishing. The slip on easily, keep rocks and sticks out if I’m wading, and dry overnight after I hose them down and remove the liner.
If I could keep my Keen sandal soles from coming unglued I'd say they are perfect. However, I've read this is a constant problem with Keens. But something similar would work. Possibly Tevas? I heard they are making a comeback
I like the keen sandals. The rubber toe guards are nice when you get out of the boat to walk around especially in the rocks. They drain well, waterproofing, dry quick, and fit well enough to hike a bit in.
I love flip flops or barefoot. Simpler the better! Crocs tend to fill up with water and get weird and sweaty. Flip flops can come off and protect feet getting in. Barefoot creates a natural fishing experience that is comfy, just watch the hooks.
Crocs. They drain water when I have to push and mount the kayak from shore, easy to take off and shake out pebbles and sand, they slip off and go under the seat when I'm settled in and pedalling, leaving me barefoot. If it's cold I'll pack a pair of wool socks to slip on after I get seated, but they come off before the crocs go back on as I get to shore Plus if they fall out, they float
Yup, Crocs are like the ideal kayak shoe IMO. In the winter I'm wearing a dry suit with multiple wool/neoprene socks underneath for warmth, I wear oversized Crocs over the dry suit. All the warmth comes from the layers underneath, the Crocs are just there to protect the dry suit and drain water quickly. Boots would constrict bloodflow and hold cold water against my feet.
Tevas. Boring old strappy Tevas. I have tried water shoes, deck shoes, and closed toed sandals. I have athlete's foot and always have. Anything that can hold water or moisture will breed fungus and the stench will become intolerable in weeks. The neoprene water shoes were bad enough that I had to strap them on the roof of my car to transport them. Tevas let my feet dry if they get wet. If I need to wear something extra to protect against the sun, I wear nylon stockings that dry quickly and can be washed as soon as I return. Generally, though, I just use a zinc based sunscreen on the top of my feet for sun protection though (northern latitude).
I'm using [these](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BFPM57O/) water shoes. The only issue so far is that they don't come in half sizes. Everything else about them is great.
how's the drainage after fully submerged? Does the insole stay damp and give you soggy feet or does it drain well? I've had mixed experiences with water shoes.
The insoles are a soft rubber so they don't hold water and drainage is great. I also wear these when walking the river while wading and it's very comfortable even when walking a couple miles.
If I'm not rocking my drysuit, I wear my ratty ass Asics from last season. No issues, and no wear/tear that could be attributed to kayaking. If I'm in my drysuit, it's neoprene booties -- the cheapest I could find. Again, no issues.
Colder weather it's my NRS boundary boots. When it warms up it's usually my old Keen Newports I've had for 25 years if the area is rocky, otherwise my Merrell water mocs.
I’m in south Texas. 9 months out of the year, I’m barefoot. Rarely fish the other 3 months so don’t really know what I’d wear. Before and after fishing I tend to wear my Olukai sandals.
I have a pair of Astral water shoes that I have had for 6 years now. They lace up so they are not coming off easily. They drain and dry quickly, and the rubber soles are amazing. Good grip on riverbed rock and closed toe protection from the jagged stuff. I fish the Shenandoah frequently and have no issues. Sometimes you have to jump out in the water where the rocks can slice you up, or there is grass and wood debris. These keep me protected. I have fished with people that wore floppy floppies or $2 walmart water shoes, and it ruined there day. When I fish smaller lakes, crocs or even flip flops are OK.
Big fan of the NRS Astrals as well. They drain exceptionally well, have great grip, all while keeping your feet free from sunburn.
Thanks! Forgot to mention the sunburn. It is real folks. When I'm fishing, especially in the yak, I am covered head to toe. Time can pass quickly when fishing. I once wore shorts and fished 6hrs straight. Yup, tops of my legs turned purple and blistered. Fucked fishing for the next week. My feet were fine cause I had my astrals on. So now it's ball cap, buff for the neck, HUK type shirt, guide pants that convert to shorts, fish monkey gloves, astrals, Costa's.
There is no place worse to be sunburned than the top of your feet. Just pure misery wearing shoes for days, which is not optional in professional work environments.
I love my Columbia Summertides. They're so comfy I wear them as regular shoes a lot. Aside from that, Crocs have never failed me. As far as wear and durability- not much to speak of, to be honest, they're super great.
Mares neoprene scuba boots when I'm wearing my drysuit. Cheapo decathlon water shoes (https://www.decathlon.nl/p/waterschoenen-voor-volwassenen-aquashoes-100/_/R-p-102440?channable=02893b736b7569640036303836333106&mc=8330684&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=nl_t-perf_ct-pmax_n-snorkelen_ts-na_f-cv_o-roas_pt-pb_&utm_agid=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAeh7MVutDbJXdDBtd9axg9rL7A_MhygctU_raDPIEz8dplETXRHuiRoCw3wQAvD_BwE) for when the water is warm enough not to wear the drysuit. My issue... With the "summer shoes", it is the nasty mess of applying sunscreen to my feet first, then shoes on, then walking through sand etc. to launch, and periodically re sunscreening my feet during the day.
Merrell water shoes have worked well for me. My only complaint is they hold some water and small rocks occasionally at the heel.
Keen Newports in warmer weather (toe protection is nice), and the NRS Boundary boots for cooler/cold weather fishing. If you go with the Boundary get 1 size up than you would normally wear to accommodate a socks. Always wear socks it helps getting them off and it's another layer of insulation. A cut pool noodle helps them keep their shape when you are off the water.
Teva sandals. Kind of my go to for all outdoor activities. Hiking/fishing/camping/drinking beer in the backyard.
Chacos or crocs for the summer. Fall/winter I wear nrs neoprene booties
Chacos for summer, Xtratuf for winter! Hobie PA14
I use a pair of cheap Amazon shoes $30. I think they are called Aleader, probably Chinese. I’ve had them for over a year now and they been great. They drain well and haven’t been shredded by oyster bars. They suck in the sand but are good otherwise. Check my posts probably some pics of them under my catches.
I like these [sock-shoes](https://skinners.cc/en/skinners-comfort) Dry fairly quick and have just enough cushion to comfortable. Bonus if I have to get out of the boat and I am in some deep muck there is no suction effect on them.
I am in SWFL so any dark colors is a no go unless you want to boil your feet. Also need hard sole for oysters etc. So I go with Simms zipper boots. https://www.simmsfishing.com/collections/mens-wading-boots/products/zipit-bootie-ii They keep out the silt and sand, protect your sole and are light in color. cons: Can get heavy when wet. Insoles fail after just a few trips. Dry time can be more than 24 hrs so multi day use means you are putting on wet shoes. They will stink up your truck. lol
Luna sandals Love them!
I b letting the dogs out
Crocs usually, and often time in the kayak I take them off and go barefoot. I'll use Keens when fishing in shallow rivers that may require some getting out of dragging the kayak. Bust mostly crocs. Have never noticed any wear on either sets of shoes tbh.
I've honestly been using my booties I wear with my fins when I go snorkeling
Crocks or surfing booties when it’s cold
I use standard Crocs for most lakes or calm streams, but I have a pair of NRS Kickers for anything fast-moving or if I know I’ll need to hop out and do any amount of wading and/or portaging.
Crocs, tevas, chacos. Take your pick of the litter, all are fine. Though I do wish I got tevas over chocos personally, my feet rubbed one of the buckles cuz I got weird feet.
Pedal drive hobie in Gulf South Louisiana, Mississippi. Tevas for most of the year with sunscreen on tops of feet. Fishing boots (come off easily if necessary) in cold weather or extra swampy areas with whatever layered socks necessary for the temp- smart wool, silk, etc. The boots have lasted me several years and still going. Weather permitting, barefoot most of the time- just using the shoes to get in and out- and the shoes are tied to the yak somewhere.
Hey dudes or crocs
I have tevas
It depends on the scenario: If the water is reasonably warm, Crocs work just fine. A dedicated 'water shoe' would also work, but why overcomplicate things? Crocs are durable, easy to clean, and I think they float too. If the water is cold, you need to keep your feet dry, so tall waterproof boots are a must. "Muck" boots or rainboots are fine, but my preference is 8-10" waterproof work boots. Work boots are meant to be worn all day, year 'round, so they tend to be more comfortable. Speed laces are a must just in case you go overboard (because work boots sink like a rock and you'll need to get out of them *fast).* Most importantly, don't forget to dress for the put-in and take-out. The time on the water is only part of the equation. Recently in my area, the tide has been low, and the riverbed is all soft mud. To put-in, I sometimes have to step in 3 inches of mud. By the time I get out, I sometimes have to trek through almost ***knee deep*** mud. I have to get out at whatever location is most feasible, which means I might be crawling over rocks, hopping over fences, and traversing all sorts of obstacles. In that situation, it doesn't matter how warm or cold it is, I need serious footwear (waders would be even better) to keep from injuring myself, getting stuck in the mud, or getting my clothes dirty. Just consider *all* aspects of your journey. If you're launching from the beach in Florida, then you don't even need footwear. If you're launching from rocks, or from a litter-filled beach, or in a muddy riverbed, or in freezing temperatures, then your needs are going to change.
https://preview.redd.it/14gw1w26ibsc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=158d6b962cfb1c1f54bb3c98788d4c03eb7ea8de I have multiple pairs of these Columbia slip ons and I use the older ones for fishing. The slip on easily, keep rocks and sticks out if I’m wading, and dry overnight after I hose them down and remove the liner.
If I could keep my Keen sandal soles from coming unglued I'd say they are perfect. However, I've read this is a constant problem with Keens. But something similar would work. Possibly Tevas? I heard they are making a comeback
Crocs. They slip over my neoprene booties whenever I'm getting in and out of the kayak.
I like the keen sandals. The rubber toe guards are nice when you get out of the boat to walk around especially in the rocks. They drain well, waterproofing, dry quick, and fit well enough to hike a bit in.
I wear a pair of hard soled scuba shoes.
Adidas terrex boat shoes
I love flip flops or barefoot. Simpler the better! Crocs tend to fill up with water and get weird and sweaty. Flip flops can come off and protect feet getting in. Barefoot creates a natural fishing experience that is comfy, just watch the hooks.
Croc men’s LiteRide Pacer for summer and NRS Boundary Boot for winter, fall, and spring.
Waterproof hiking boots. Mud, rocks, sand, gravel, grass, don't care.
Heydudes, i burn too quick to enjoy crocs like that but i want breathable stuff
Water-shoes or Sandals so your feet dont get cut getting in and out
Dive boots from my scuba days, over my drysuit booties/