Count me as firmly pro-sandal. One reason is I have odd-size feet: 6-1/2 EEEEE (short and wide) with high arches and insteps, and narrow heels. Feet like mine are hard to fit, especially in sports shoes, which tend to come only in standard sizes. However, I can make most sandals fit simply by by adjusting the straps. On warm water, I always wear Teva Guides when paddling. I have never had a problem with them snagging, and, not being the type to panic under water, I can't imagine a snag situation that I couldn't get out of, even capsized. (For novice sea kayakers who are not comfortable in water, though, it could be another matter.) I wear Neoprene booties only when wearing my dry suit, to protect the dry suit's latex booties. Another reason I wear sandals is because my feet get plenty of air and dry more quickly. I don't like enclosing my feet in non-breathable footwear for long periods of time. I started wearing Tevas when I was doing a lot of Boundary Waters canoe trips. Except for a pair of Goretex socks and some wool-poly socks, the Tevas were my sole footwear. I wore them for portaging, for paddling, and around camp. When the mosquitoes came out, I added the Goretex socks. When it got cold, I added the wool-poly socks. Still do. Before Teva sandals appeared on the market, I wore high-top canvas hiking boots into which I had drilled several drainage holes. But my feet were constanly wet because I always got into and out of my canoe while it was floating. And the high-top boots provided no more ankle support than the Tevas; the closest I came to spraining an ankle while portaging was in those boots. Speaking of ankle support, I think it is overrated. My podiatrist told me that the only scientific study of ankle support was done with infants, not with adults, and that most adult ankles don't need it. I, for one, have carried over a hundred pounds of gear over many long, rocky, muddy, rooty portages in my Tevas without injury (always being careful to watch my footing, of course). YMMV. As others have pointed out, some combinations of sandals and footpegs may be more hazardous than others. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 27 2002 - 11:38:11 PDT
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