On 2 Jul 2003 at 14:11, bobvolin_at_optonline.net wrote: > Foot padding is probably best accomplished by finding paddling > shoes with firm soles and good heel protection (and if you know of > such shoes, please let me know Me too - so make it public, please. I recently tried on the 5-10 shoes. They didn't make my size (13) until recently and 12 was too tight. The running-shoe-like ones were good, except the heel was so thick/high that I knew I'd have trouble getting them to fit into my kayak. The soles were also quite stiff. Other than that, they seemed nice. The higher ones with the slipper- like sole would fit the kayak better, but offered no support or protection when walking compared to no-name reef boots. I also tried these barefoot and found that the seams were proud and irritating. No way I'd buy these. So far the ideal running-shoe style water shoe still doesn't exist. I want something like the 5-10 with a much less bulky heel and a bit more flex in the sole. Other brands I've looked at have drawbacks like: - Too much open space that lets in sand/gravel without letting it out. - Soles that are slicker than owlshit on wet surfaces. - Too much neoprene, so when you get wet, your feet stay soaked all day. - Laces - give me buckles (even velcro beats laces) - Not sold anywhere near where I live. The ideal shoe: - Fine mesh that keeps out all but very fine sand and still allows your feet to dry some during the day. - decent heel cup/counter so you feel like you have a good shoe on. - Sticky soles (I don't care if they wear out relatively fast as long as replacement sole material is readily available and I just rip off the old and glue on the new). - Buckles or some such so you don't have laces hanging everywhere. - Soles that are relatively thin yet stiff enough to prevent rocks and stuff from making you "ouch" when walking. Flex in the forefoot so you can walk or flex your foot easily in the kayak. - Construction that makes them feel good when worn barefoot, No scratchies, itchies, pinpricks or blistermakers. Every maker provide some of these features - I'm looking for all of them. Mike *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Jul 02 2003 - 12:57:12 PDT
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