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How many pairs of footwear: in canoe vs. on portage vs. in camp?

I've used a variety over the years. I've been most happy with 'jungle boots' such as the OTB Abyss (no longer available, as far as I know) and Rocky SV2 Jungle boots. They give good support for portaging and also offer good ankle protection when wading through rocks when lining/pulling up rapids. On my last trip my feet wedged into rock crevices on more than one occasion when walking up rapids and it was painful enough with the ankle protection.

The boots have drains in the soles and are made of a breathable material so they don't hold water but you can expect your feet to be wet from morning to night. This can lead to cold feet in chilly weather on days without portages (to get the blood flowing) but it's great in hot weather. While my boots and socks might be wet they never feel steamy, swampy or stagnant since the water is flushed clean every time I step out of the canoe.

I've never had a problem kneeling with those boots but I don't kneel for long periods of time, only in rapids or large waves.

I kick around the idea of taking plain leather boots. Jungle boots have absolutely no resistance to water and will wick it up through the soles even if it's less than an inch deep. It would be nice to have boots that could resist enough water for those quick splash-throughs. On days with only one or two portages it could be possible to have dry feet all day long if the boots offered just a little water resistance.

I've never tried neoprene other than local paddles in cold weather. It seems too uncomfortable to have my feet encased in neoprene all day and I worry it could lead to fungus issues over the course of a few weeks.

Alan
 
What I wear on my feet while paddling depends on who I'm with. For all school related trips we had a policy of "closed toe shoes" for all excursions. While I retired at my college, I still work seasonally for another school that uses the same policy. For those trips I have an old (and I do mean OLD!) pair of Addidas water shoes that are like a rock climbing shoe. When the water is cold, I add a pair of SealSkin socks and I'm good to go. If I'm on my own, I'll probably be in either Crocs of Chocos sandals. For portaging, I'll pull out my Keen hikers. It's all worked out well so far so I'm not going to futz with it.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper
 
It seems too uncomfortable to have my feet encased in neoprene all day and I worry it could lead to fungus issues over the course of a few weeks.

I've been wearing neoprene socks, slippers, water shoes and boots for 45 years and have never felt them to be uncomfortable. They are very soft and flexible and hence virtually unnoticeable. What neoprene doesn't offer is ankle support, but I've never felt the need for that and think the whole concept is somewhat overrated. I mean, the very few times I've seriously bent an ankle, a leather hiking boot never prevented the flexure.

You can wear the same socks when encased in neoprene footwear as you would when encased in rubber or waterproofed leather footwear.

That all said, if you are not a kneeler or use a high enough seat that you can kneel in hard boots, then flexible neoprene is not necessary for footwear and would be inferior to hard boots for portaging.

It would be nice to have boots that could resist enough water for those quick splash-throughs. On days with only one or two portages it could be possible to have dry feet all day long if the boots offered just a little water resistance.

I'm not exactly sure what jungle boots are, but Bean Boots are water-resistant enough to remain dry through brief immersions. They come in different heights.
 
I guess my comfort issues with neoprene stem from when I would wear light neoprene booties when paddling hard in warm weather. I had a racing kayak that was difficult to fit shoes into so I'd often wear some neoprene booties and I also used them for some races that involved short portages to save my feet from sticks and stones. On those days I'd literally be pouring the sweat out of the neoprene booties after a few hours and it was uncomfortably squishy and slippery inside them.

Probably not such an issue on most canoe portages but there were some notable days with difficult 1+hour portages in very hot weather were I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have wanted neoprene on my feet.

Alan
 
On those days I'd literally be pouring the sweat out of the neoprene booties after a few hours and it was uncomfortably squishy and slippery inside them.

Not trying to convince you to wear neoprene, as you have your own experience and opinions, but on hot days I wear low cut neoprene or bare foot water shoes with drain holes to get rid of the squishy water. For trips with portaging, I wear thick sole neoprene boots with screened drain holes like the NRS Attack Shoes I pictured in my first post.

Also for hot weather, my one pair of LL Bean closed toe sandals that have a stretchy instep and thick soles with screened drain holes are very good for both kneeling in the canoe and on portages. No ankle support, if that's important, but very quick drying footwear for wet-footers in warm weather.
 
I have a sturdy pair of Merrell watershoes that I wear for long day marathon canoe tripping. Now they are caked with Yukon silt. They are very adequate both for rocky in-water walking, paddling, and on moderate trail portages. For less rugged daytrips or training, I have a couple of different pairs of quality lightweight water shoes. For a long time I had a pair of Chota "trekkers", which were a soft upper hiking style boot, no longer available. But one day they just completely disintegrated on me. Chota replaced the trekkers with heavy clunky Frankenstein boots. For cold water I use Chota neoprene boots, similar to the NRS model. If I am portaging long distances, especially if bushwhacking over rough ground off trail, I bring along sturdy hiking boots to change into. For comfort in camp I bring a pair of very cheap lightweight Walmart quality running shoes.
 
For years, I’ve backpacked in trail runners in all weather save deep snow. They’ve become my paddle shoe of choice as well. They work well for me for portages, remain comfortable when wet and dry quickly. I wear a simple smart wool sock with them that insulates even while wet.

In camp, I wear tevas. If it’s cold or raining, I wear neoprene socks with them.

This combo has worked well for me in all weather conditions- 38 degree rain to 70 degree humidity.
 
What do you folks wear with your drysuits?

As above, there are many different options. I always bring my uninsulated bean boots and Crocs for camp in the warmer months. I just got my first drysuit and will use it here in about a month or so. Had thought about using dive boots, but a bit more support would be good for the quick ports where I don't change footwear.

Sorry for the drift.
 
Astral boots for canoeing and a low-top pair of astrals for in camp. The flaw with this system is that if the high-tops blow out for any reason, the low tops are not a great second choice in terms of ankle stability.
 
I have the Hiyaks but will opt for the Rassler 2.0 next time around. The Hiyaks are a little too thin for my taste, but they held up fine to a lot of use last summer.
 
Western rivers have some gradient and are mostly rocky, lined with gravel and some sand. There is little muck and boggy country like the North Woods. I wear lace up water shoes to protect the feet in the boat and when wading. They stay on in fast water. Never sandals.

Usually one other pair of shoes like Crocs for in camp.
 
My tripping has been shoulder seasons. On a trip I wear Chota Mukluks in canoe and on portage trails. In camp I wear moccasins. Summer day trips I wear Chaco sandals.
 
Astral Brewer for most paddling days, barefoot inside or a thin wool sock for extended portages (light cush). The grip on Astral is phenomenal. I’d wear Astrals while river surfing/river SUPing and my feet never left the board even while I was dunking under. Chaco Z2 sandals also come along on almost every paddle. Both can get wet and both dry fast. Very comfortable. Sometimes, used to be mostly, I’ll wear an approach shoe from La Sportiva or whoever. Camp shoe is usually wool socks and chacos. Usually only bring two pair with me, and sometimes it varies which two exactly. Muck boots for the cold
 
on the water and on the portage I wear canyoneering sneakers with a sticky tread..Falling loading a canoe while standing on leather lichen encrusted rock is a real hazard in the Northeast and Canada. .We have bogs but no mud. The camp shoes are holy and are kept dry.
 
Chaco sandals with a neoprene sock for the boat, crocs in camp. I'd like the high-top waterproof boots except I know myself, and would go in over the top multiple times on any trip.. so might as well just start out with the wet feet ;-)
 
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