Best sandals for small boat mucking about?

[MushCreek]

Once my boat is done, we'll be trailering her to Florida several times a year. In FL especially, I tend to spend as much time out of the boat as I do in it, and would like to get some sport sandals that work well on a wet deck as well as walking across oyster beds and the like. My old sandals are beyond saving, so I need to gear up with something for my feet. Any recommendations?

[Garret]

My shoe of choice is Crocs. New ones grip OK - unless there's oil/gas where you're stepping.

Many disagree that Crocs are any good

[Ian McColgin]

I like the Teva sip cut. The ones with leather are less likely to the dreaded "Teva Toe".

[jpatrick]

Once the warm weather sets in, I live in my Keen Newport sandals. I have leather ones for general use and nylon topped ones for sailing my boat. The nylon pair will dry out in a few hours sitting in the sun. The sandals are very comfortable and fit very securely.

Jeff

[robm]

I like Tevas. Try to get the ones without the fuzzy stuff on the nylon straps, just a bare nylon strap is best. The fuzzy stuff traps sand, and will destroy your foot if you have to walk anywhere.

[neil.henderson]

I wear Shimano fishing shoes - made of plastic with a padded insole so very comfortable, grippy and my toes are protected.

Regards Neil

[Ted Hoppe]

I have been rocking the Van water shoes. Style, tread, and dries fast without rubbing. A full shoe that works beyond the boat, protects the foot in muck, sand and oyster beds. They pack tight too.

[MattGER]

Keen Newport for me or some old Crocs.

[wizbang 13]

Makita 9207 is the best all round sander .

[wizbang 13]

Sandals, flip flops and godforbidcrocs get the biggest eye roll from Jan and I .
You wackos wear em with socks?
do you have matching belly packs?
where’s yer self respect
I would expect Pat Ford to wear em… but the rest of you lot….. pffffffft .

[Garret]

Socks & Crocs are not a good match. I don't have a belly pack either. Sure they are goofy looking shoes, but I don't wear them to impress anyone, I wear 'em because they are comfortable. Fun colors too - though the good ones are hard to find in my size.

A fashionista like you might not understand a person not really caring if a stranger thinks you're unstylish

[wizbang 13]

https://youtu.be/zyXt_vzIeR4
Two straps is so last year, you need a fashion upgrade.

[Breakaway]

Sneakers. Break em in and seal the lace tie with a bit of goop from your next project. That way they work as slip ons.

Kevin

[willin woodworks]

Adidas Stan Smiths. Best damn sailing shoe ever. Good grippy sole, comfortable even when soaking wet, and the snoots at the club are OK with them cuz they're white....I get three seasons out of a pair.

[JimConlin]

My ancient feet are hard to please, so I’m in Crocs year round.

These are my everyday crocs.
050F6119-B638-47BF-9C6B-5A88A7A44109.jpg
I have other gay colors for parties.

The decoration is an artful mix of Interprotect barrier coat and Awlgrip Oyster white.

[Garret]

My ancient feet are hard to please, so I’m in Crocs year round.

These are my everyday crocs.

I have other gay colors for parties.

The decoration is an artful mix of Interprotect barrier coat and Awlgrip Oyster white.

Great minds! My work crocs are also blue, but I have bright red & purple for special occasions.

[Ben Fuller]

Mud can pull Crocs off your feet. That said Ive had mud pull the sole off Tevas.

[Bruce Brown]

Crocs float. Tevas don't.

[Michael_Owen]

I've had a pair of these (they are for water, not really for climbing, don't know why it says that ) for about five years and just now need to replace them. https://www.amazon.com/adidas-outdoo...025&th=1&psc=1

They drain, and can be rinsed out.

I like to be barefoot, but I've whacked my heel or toe a few times and it sucks!

Mike

[cstevens]

I'll put in a vote for just about any water shoe from OluKai. They are all I wear when boating these days. They come in versions for every possible use but I think these are excellent shore/muck shoes:

https://olukai.com/products/laeahi-m...akers-pavement

I have a previous version that I've used for years. They are sturdy, comfortable, secure on the foot and can go into the wash. More expensive than crocs, but completely worth it.

For another option, you could also look at the Astral Loyak Water Shoe:

https://www.rei.com/product/204327/a...ter-shoes-mens

I have a pair that I use for rowing. They are lighter than the OluKais, which is nice for some things.

[stromborg]

My feet don't like Crocs and are the wrong shape for Vans (short, high arch and extra-wide). Those high arches do a great job of attracting small rocks so sandals are out too. My go-to are classic leather boat shoes, easy on/off and they don't seem to mind the wet/dry cycles. I'm almost always barefoot onboard so it is really about the ship to shore transition for me.

[Paul Denison]

Crocs get slippery when wet and my feet slide around in them, sometimes even rolling the shoe.

[YukonHarbor]

Once my boat is done, we'll be trailering her to Florida several times a year. In FL especially, I tend to spend as much time out of the boat as I do in it, and would like to get some sport sandals that work well on a wet deck as well as walking across oyster beds and the like. My old sandals are beyond saving, so I need to gear up with something for my feet. Any recommendations?

I've seen reasonable looking deals on water shoes, with or without toes, on amazon. Sorry I have no experience; but I've had hankerings of shoes with toes built in, and it just seems like they'd be great on a boat, especially in Florida where it's (almost) always above freezing.

[Woxbox]

So I've had a pair of these Crocs with a mesh top for years. Haven't near worn them out yet. More comfortable and less clunky than the all-rubber ones. Also fit better. They call it the "Swiftwater Mesh Deck Sandal." They dry quickly, too.

[Dan McCosh]

I tried some beach shoes a year ago, which were great since they had good grip on the deck and you could use them walk on gravel beaches, even underwater. Problem is that they had so little support, a mile-long hike did some permanent damage to my feet, which involved some $500 worth of orthopedic shoes to correct, the alternative being surgery. I've used all kinds of shoes on the boat--ranging from proper sailing shoes, to crocs and sandals. Latest are supportive, canvas-topped walking shoes with a good wet grip, with supportive insoles. Overkill for a canoe, but sometimes you have to take a hike.

[Autonomous]

My otherwise lovely, closed toe sandals have what amounts to a one-way intake valve for small gravel.

[Rob Hazard]

I mostly wear Crocs, and when their soles get too slippery I run them over the table saw with the blade set very shallow (~1/8") to make new treads. When they wear down again it's time for a new pair.

[Little Birdie]

I had Reef sandals that worked the best around water sand and muck. They had a loop around the big toe, strap around the heel, and straps that crossed over the top of the foot. The sole was wide creating a platform for my foot. The beauty of this type sandal is the openness. To clean sand or sticky muck off your foot, just slosh it back and forth in the water til clean. One foot at a time. Closed up shoes won’t rinse clean from sand and muck just by sloshing. Slosh then one foot in boat. Slosh now both feet in boat. I’ve seen lesser shoes just disappear. The straps were adjustable so I could position my heel back on the sole leaving my big toe further back from the front lip - further back from harms way. You don’t want to lead with your chin or your big toe.

Reef seems to not carry that style anymore. I can’t say they were as attractive as some other models but they worked very well for me. I was living at the beach and they fit the bill. So searching just now I found some I’ll look at as I’m in need of replacements ans this thread wasn’t giving me any options based on my experience of what was needed Chaco Z/Cloud 2 for example. Good luck…let us know what you find.
285B490E-AC49-4DE9-8108-0AF3C1E29980.jpg

Charlie

[David W Pratt]

WWJW?
What would Jesus wear?
Suitable for walking on water if necessary.

[robm]

I have Chacos now, since I can't find Tevas that work for me. The straps work fine (see post #28), but the soles are way too heavy and clunky. Like a mountaineering boot sole on a sandal. They are OK, but not great, and not cheap.

Best sandals I have had were cheap Teva clones, with a siped sole. Very light, did not slip when wet, and did not collect sand and gravel when walking on the beach.

[Paul G.]

Whatever you choose, you must always wear socks with sandals

[MushCreek]

I still haven't made a choice yet. They will need to be fairly open, as closed water shoes bother my big toe after hours of immersion. I have a badly damaged toe nail that doesn't like the combination of wet and pressure. The water shoes I used to wear when windsurfing used to really aggravate it.

[Garret]

Whatever you choose, you must always wear socks with sandals

White ones when wearing long pants, but black when wearing shorts.

[Rigadog]

Keens, they make a fishing one with gum soles

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[Rich Jones]

I have a Croc-like knock off from Walmart. I wear them when launching my boats because the launching ramps are too rough for bare feet. They also rinse easy and dry fast. Once in the boat, I kick them off.
When on land, I always wear firm and comfortable sneakers.