G'Day, Thanks for all the safety advice - Points well taken. I won't consider wearing sandals anymore (in the kayak). All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "PeterO" <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au> To: "'Paddlewise'" <Paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> > Thanks for all the safety advice - Points well taken. I won't consider > wearing sandals anymore (in the kayak). > Again, I think people are jumping to conclusions about sandals and entrapment. It is just certain sandals and certain types of pedals that are a potential problem. Yes, there have been cases of people getting their sandals caught on their foot pedals. Documented ones and not just urban legends. Obviously even one case can scare the beejeez out of paddlers and lead trip leaders into blanket bans on wearing sandals. But there have also been documented cases of PFD straps getting caught on deck fittings on re-entry after a capsize, zipper pulls getting undone when they catch on a fitting, etc. I don't see anyone saying no PFD straps nor zippers. I have a Fujita folding kayak with Keeper pedals and did a test with Chaco sandals just now in my living room with just the frame assembled. Tried and tried as I could, there was not even an inkling of potential entrapment on any part of the sandals. I could not even force the sandals into entrapment by scootching forward and trying to force the foot and sandal with my hands on to the Keepers pedal. I even had my wife try to force any part of my foot or sandal straps on to the pedal. Nothing would get caught, not the straps over the feet nor between the foot and footbed. Tevas are another matter. I have not worn Tevas since the late 1980s but looking at them, I can see where a potential entrapment may exist because of the spacing of the straps that might allow certain kinds of pedals to slide in between the foot and footbed on the lateral side of the foot (i.e. the outside). My suggestion is that the next time you paddle and you happen to be a sandal wearer, try on land to get the sandal caught either the straps or between the foot and footbed. Then report back here to PaddleWise with how a particular brand of sandal faired vis-a-vis a particular type of pedal. What's that saying about not throwing out the baby with the bath water. Having some form of footgear is important to avoid getting cut from sharp gravel and glass, broken beer cans, the lot. Sandals provide a nice solution with good support compared to neoprene booties. And protection from ground objects. I was on a trip a few months ago with one leader who was a definite "no sandals" philosophy and dictate. I was only allowed to go on the trip because I was in a folding kayak because he believes that they don't have pedals (he didn't know it had :-)). As we were all getting ready to launch I suddenly saw him winch with pain. He was wearing neoprene booties and had stepped on something that went right through the sole and into his foot causing profuse bleeding. He needed first aid. I bite my lip in order not to make a wisecrack or comuppance statement but, boy, was it tempting! :-) As for walking with them, some sandals give excellent support for the arch and foot. I regularly manage to carry a folding kayak in its bag with paddling gear while wearing Chacos and my weak arches do just fine. I am carrying about 45-50 pounds of boat and gear walking about a quarter of a mile or more from launch site to a bus or taxi; and going up and down stairs as well. Ankle support is none existent but so too with running shoes and certainly neoprene booties. The only time I concede that I can't walk with just sandals is when I am carrying the bagged boat, paddling gear AND camping gear and the total load gets to about 80 pounds. Then one needs a hiking boot for full support of the ankle and foot. ralph *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:30 PDT