I've been watching a lot of river SUPing videos lately (horrible weather on my off days for going out on any body of water) and I've noticed a variety of shoes being worn on the rivers. I was hoping to collect thoughts on the various types people are wearing and why they wear them.
I wore New Balance 920 (water shoe with mesh) and Sperry booties this summer. I kinda liked the support the shoes gave me (but the booties were warm) and they were much better to walk in.
I use TEVA Gnarkosi and Keens. I like the burley sole for walking around on shore and they are awesome when in the whitewater swim position..(which happens quite often..ha).
aaron
Do you have any problems with board feel? I've thought about getting some Vibram FiveFinger Flows since I really like the road feel that I get when I run with the FiveFingers. Granted, they may not give me the rock bashing protection that I will need when I take the inevitable dip.
Board feel is a lot less with shoes..I agree. But it really doesn't take long to get used to. I have used thin soles in the past. My feet still took a beating. I switched to thick soles out of necessity and found that I could manage the board all the same. Give it a week or two and you won't even notice.
Aaron
Shoes don't bother me on WW. I paddle a rapidfire and when running the river my feet are kinda wedged up against the side of the foot wells in a modified surfer stance. My "footwork" when switching stances is more of a hop...real graceful-like...not. ;D
Keen Gorge. Comfortable and lots of protection from rocks.
TEVA Gnarkosi
Eddy turrn final v1.mov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRwlQx_HJ-4#ws)
I use these with a thin 2 mm bootie sock and its a bomber system. Dry quick and really thin under your heel so your close to the board. They drain instantly and the traction is unreal. I often Kick rocks whilst attempting to remount... ;D
Just got the Teva Gnarkosi and took them out on Thursday. They have a bit more arch than I'd like, but I'm hoping that'll mash down over time. The drainage is awesome, though, and I like the flat sole for that skateboard shoe feel.
Check these out! I've been using these daily for that past month and they are great. Better stick than Gnarkosi's and they have the kind of sole I like. Not so much in the heel. Great material and dry fast!
http://www.teva.com/mens-fuse-ion-casual-water-shoes/1000225,default,pd.html (http://www.teva.com/mens-fuse-ion-casual-water-shoes/1000225,default,pd.html)
aaron
After some serious testing with both the Fuse-Ion and the Gnarkosi's. I have decided I like the Gnar's better. Especially if a rock rolls over your foot better foot protection all around and IMO better traction that the new Fuse Ions. I like shoes because it makes your "footprint" on the board larger and gives you more leverage with your feet than booties or (god forbid) bare feet on the river.
I recently demo'ed a pair of OluKai Malikos and liked them so much I brought them into my shop. They're made for SUP. I paddled a BIC ACE-TEC SUP and the grip was excellent. Very comfortable walking around and wearing in dry conditions. I'm curious how well they'll work on a non-traction pad deck like the Starboard Startouch deck. It appears that it would grip very well but I'll let you know within the next day or so.
http://www.olukai.com/Product_AllMens_Maliko_10163-4243.aspx (http://www.olukai.com/Product_AllMens_Maliko_10163-4243.aspx)
Those OluKai Malikos look great. They might have to be my new sailing shoes since they have a non-marking outsole.
Yea, the pad in the BIC ACE-TEC is white and not a mark on it from the shoe.
I'm really liking my Body Glove 3T's. Nice traction and I didn't screw up my feet after repeated dumps into the rocky Nantahala.
How does the water shoe size compare to your standard shoe size? .5 smaller?
I just ordered and received Tevas Fuse-ion in size 11, which is my normal size. They fit good. Barely any room, so my foot wont slide around much. I have some wide feet but they seemed to fit good. I'll be wearing these on Madeline island for kayak and sup'ing. See how it goes. IMO they are maybe .5 smaller than your standard shoe, as there is no extra room in front of toes? :shrug:
OK, wife cut her foot on in the shoals on the Santa Fe River. 10 stitches and a month later she's back to SUP'ing in the ocean but is interested in shoes for the river... We SUP warm water mostly and she wants a shoe that will stay cool. What do you think of the Columbia Sportswear Women's Drainmaker Water Shoe?
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Womens-Drainmaker-Water/dp/B003XPGNF0/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3 (http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Womens-Drainmaker-Water/dp/B003XPGNF0/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3)
I have been wearing cabelas rubber sole fishing/hiking boots. I am on my 3rd season in the same boots. They feel flimsy for hiking boots, but have 3x the support and protection as most wetsuit boots. Cabelas is the kind of place for hunters that need GPS cameras and $3000 tree stands, not very eco friendly, but the boots work.
When I surf my Uli I ride it right up onto the beach and run off the end.
Cheers M
Quote from: surferkarl on August 01, 2012, 04:14:19 PM
OK, wife cut her foot on in the shoals on the Santa Fe River. 10 stitches and a month later she's back to SUP'ing in the ocean but is interested in shoes for the river... We SUP warm water mostly and she wants a shoe that will stay cool. What do you think of the Columbia Sportswear Women's Drainmaker Water Shoe?
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Womens-Drainmaker-Water/dp/B003XPGNF0/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3 (http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Womens-Drainmaker-Water/dp/B003XPGNF0/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3)
For the river, think about one of these two shoes. Both are excellent
http://www.coloradokayak.com/Water-Tennie-Five-Ten.html (http://www.coloradokayak.com/Water-Tennie-Five-Ten.html)
http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/2012/products/brewer.php (http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/2012/products/brewer.php)
They both have the same rubber sole and drain well. The stealth rubber is by far the best for wet rocks.
this summer I used a pair of body glove toe shoes. Worked quite well but as with all my river shoes, they wont make it to next season. :)
Quote from: northvibe on July 06, 2012, 08:25:30 AM
I just ordered and received Tevas Fuse-ion in size 11, which is my normal size. They fit good. Barely any room, so my foot wont slide around much. I have some wide feet but they seemed to fit good. I'll be wearing these on Madeline island for kayak and sup'ing. See how it goes. IMO they are maybe .5 smaller than your standard shoe, as there is no extra room in front of toes? :shrug:
These ended up being a bad water shoe. They are uncomfortable to stand on the PB with, then when they get wet the water does not drain. I'd say, more of a dock, or boat top shoe.
I've been happy with the NRS Freestyle; a few more options listed here: https://endlesswaves.net/2016/09/10/river-surfing-gear/
So far I've used NRS Attacks & Freestyles, Teva Sunkosi (generation before the Gnarkosi), FiveTen Water Tennies, and Astral Brewers and Hiyaks. My hands-down favorite have been the Astral Hiyaks. Great traction on and off the board. Low profile for great feel underneath, but enough support for walking/hiking. Lacing system is also good, the velcro overwrap keeps them from coming undone. I've used these throughout the Northwest, and for 2 weeks straight on a Grand trip, and am still happy with them.
I've used two kind of shoes. These are shoes I already had, I didn't bought them specifically for wwsup.
The first one are vibram five-fingers. Useful for hot weather when you want to be light. But not suitable for real river sup when you have to walk on stones inside the river for a long time, or when your foot may fall among stones.
For serious wwsup, I use canyoning shoes: brand Bestard and model Guide, because it's made in Spain and I'm French, but any canyoning shoes will have the same characteristics: protect the foot, allow walking on rough floor, but dry slowly.
Surprisingly, I don't feel a lack of control with these big boots.
If I know that I will have to walk a lot after or before, I put acrylic socks for feet breathing, else I use neoprene socks.