i just threw a pair of chota's, after getting wet, drying, they stink bad. went thru this last year, not anymore, can't stand the smell.
looking for an option for anti-stink material, you can get wet, and do lite hiking.
what is working for u?

Keen's, the style with the rubber toe guard.

Yep, Keen H2.

Keen Newports . I actually prefer the nubuck over the H2O material. It's a softer feel and equally good when wet. Keen Uneeks are cool but don't offer as much toe pertection

I would think they are all going to smell after getting them wet. I use some Mirazyme to get the smell out of my sandals and kayak booties. Another alternative is to soak them in white vinegar solution. Mirazyme

I've always used plain black 2-strap tevas. I've owned 2 pair over the last 15 years. They last and are stable, Rocks and muck wash out easily: they were designed for River rafting. I think light hikes in them aren't too bad.

But toes are exposed, so your feet will get muddy :)

quote muddyfeet: "I've always used plain black 2-strap tevas. I've owned 2 pair over the last 15 years. They last and are stable, Rocks and muck wash out easily: they were designed for River rafting. I think light hikes in them aren't too bad.


But toes are exposed, so your feet will get muddy :)"

I still have my river rafting Tevas that are now close to 30 yrs old. Those things have been Mexico and Jamaica several times and on numerous canoe and backpacking trips as my camp shoes.

have to agree, I do like my Keen h2's.

I have used them all, or at least the big three, Teva, Keen, and Chacos. For the boundary waters I prefer to have my toes covered. I have used both Keen and Teva with toe boxes. The Keens are a little more ruggedly built in my opinion. I usually were a pair of ankle high smart wool socks to keep leeches and other things from my toes when wading with them.

Bruce

i have had keen, chota, i am looking at teva's. need to try them on for comfort. these sandals will just be for camp, swimming, etc.
i always wear my boots portaging. thanks for the input.

I think it depends on what your priorities are. I like to have dry shoes at the end of the day. In cold weather you MUST have dry shoes at some point. I wear cheap Croc knockoffs in my kayak. They dry instantly. In camp I wear Teva Omniums, which have heel and toe protection and are wide enough to wear with heavy socks.

I learned the hard way that sandals like the Omniums that have fabric or neoprene uppers take a very long time to dry---up to two days indoors. So I don't wear them in the water because on a camping trip you would never have dry shoes.

On the other hand, it has happened to me twice in emergency situations that I had to tow my kayak behind me for long distances while walking along a treacherous rocky lake bed. In that situation you DO want a very solid sandal like the Teva Omnium with heel and toe protection. The time that I only had my Crocs my feet were torn up pretty bad and one of the Crocs broke. That's a reminder that shoes are an important safety item in the outdoors.

So I recommend two pairs of shoes. One light and quick drying and one rugged. I've tried a couple of Keens and found the insole too hard. The Teva Omnium is slightly softer, although I would only wear it for light hiking for short distances. It has no real arch support.

During the day I have been using keen owyhee sandals for the most part. Comfortable, and dry quickly for the most part. Price is not too terrible either. I am on my 3rd season so far and they get pretty heavy use, so I consider them a good deal.

My Teva Dozer 2's have outlived a pair of Keen Newport H2's & Teva Dozer 3's. Wish they still made them, the sole was vastly superior to what is on the newer model Dozers or Newports.

I need a new set of sandals, not sure what I'll get but whatever they are will likely still be outlasted by my Dozer 2's.

Toe protection is a must, along with as aggressive a sole as you can find. IMO the soles on the H2's are more reminiscent of boat shoes and suck when trying to use on slick granite.

I will also echo the comments made by others that it is good to have a set of dry camp shoes as well. Nothing better than drying off your feet once camp is established and changing into dry socks and shoes.

I've got Keens and some old school Tevas. I prefer the Tevas.

I wore my Keens on one trip and won't take them again, except maybe as camp shoes. Their propensity to gather pebbles is just too irritating. Perhaps there are new designs that solve this?

If you soak your old pail in vinegar the smell will go away. I have the Keens Newport and they tend to get small rocks in them.

I have Keens and Tevas, and I also prefer the Tevas. I just do not find the Keens comfortable at all, and they are more prone to gather sand, pebbles, etc. than the Tevas. While I like the toe protection they offer, I just have never been able to get comfortable in the Keens. Could also be a fit thing as I have some rather weird feet.

Just make sure to have toe protection. MANY trips have been ruined by foot injuries. Think about a stick buried under your toe nail. I have witnessed this, not pretty. Take care of your feet. I would never portage with sandals, poor ankle support, sand and debris under foot, poor traction when climbing slippery rock faces. It also sucks to wear sandals when walking through knee deep muck. But, to each their own.

quote Blatz: "Keen Newports . I actually prefer the nubuck over the H2O material. It's a softer feel and equally good when wet. "

Found this true too re nubuck and H2 but still i like either Keen, Newport or Newport H2s. Both super tough and have taken years of abuse. Great sandal. On the other hand, i also had a pair of Keen Owyhee, which fell apart after one year of light use, horrible sandal. Personally the Keen Newport footbed fits me better than the Teva Dozer.

If you want to save some money these look interesting for $22:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010LGP11A/ref=twister_B019H6GKZG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

There is no heel protection and the toe is not as protective as the Teva Omnium, but you can't beat the price.

My latest are some Simms water shoe on clearance a year or two ago I forget model but they have replacement very similar. Good grip,good heel cover,and a wide fit. not very deep cleated and drain fast enough.

quote overthehill: " My latest are some Simms water shoe on clearance a year or two ago I forget model but they have replacement very similar. Good grip,good heel cover,and a wide fit. not very deep cleated and drain fast enough."

Are they the "ripraps" if so those are great lightweight vibram soled shoes with plenty of protection!!!!

quote marsonite: "I've got Keens and some old school Tevas. I prefer the Tevas.


I wore my Keens on one trip and won't take them again, except maybe as camp shoes. Their propensity to gather pebbles is just too irritating. Perhaps there are new designs that solve this?


"

For this reason I like the Arroyo 2. The ankle is enclosed and the slits don't go all the way to the sole. Wearing wool sock also helps rid your shoes of pebbles.

quote bdubman: "

quote overthehill: " My latest are some Simms water shoe on clearance a year or two ago I forget model but they have replacement very similar. Good grip,good heel cover,and a wide fit. not very deep cleated and drain fast enough."

Are they the "ripraps" if so those are great lightweight vibram soled shoes with plenty of protection!!!!"

Mine were Simms Mariner. Look very similar to riprap. You have to tie the laces. New ones seem to have quick- draw lace. Good heel protection.

I was in the same boat last year. I had been a Keen's user for several years, but could never get them to last for more than 6 months. The heals would tear the tread would separate from the bottom of the shoe. I would wear them as my primary shoe for doing everything from walking the dogs to mowing the grass...rain sun or snow that is what I wore.

My current shoe is made by Merrell (Saugatucks). I was a little skeptical about the elastic straps but I have found that it was a needless worry.

I have been wearing these shoes for almost 10 months now and I find them to be a better shoe than my Keens. They are more comfortable, better constructed, last longer.

The only thing I can find wrong is that compared to Keens the Merrell tread must be made of a softer material as I am wearing them smooth. I guess its better than the tread coming off though.

previous post

I used to bring cheap flip flops, but this year I'm going to grab a pair of crocs. Footing is too unsteady for the flip flops, especially if I need to use the latrine in the dark. They are light, comfy, ventilated, water proof, and most importantly cheap.

Keen Rialtos look interesting. $20 more than Newports but the sole looks much better and it has a removable footbed so if you're a bare footer you can wash them to get rid of the stank. Personally I wear socks with my sandals and no longer have that problem.

I use Chacos for everything, including portaging. In cooler water temps I wear a pair of wool socks. They do leave your toes vulnerable, but for me the traction is superior to any other options and I can't imagine traveling all day with wet hiking boots.

I second Chacos. Same pair for 10 years. My first pair lasted 8. Sole came unglued once, replaced for free under the lifetime warranty and in less than a week! Almost the only thing I wear at home or on the water once the ice and snow clear. The beauty is the minimal moving parts. There is only one buckle that does not fail. No Velcro to get wet or collect crap in and stop working. They are extremely adjustable to fit you foot. I also like the more open quality of them. I use them on portages, hiking and wade fishing in rocks. No injuries with a lot of use. It can happen because your toes are more exposed. They have an incredible ability to grip wet rocks which helps prevent injury. Plus your toes do not slide out the front of the sandal because your foot stays put. Get the big toe grip as it increases the foothold significantly. Feels weird until you get used to it though. I like the Keens but felt they are more like a shoe and have a tougher time getting rocks, sand and mud out of them. Couple swishes in the water and your Chacos are clean. I go to a boot if I want more coverage. Less stinky parts too.

Xero shoes - I just bought a pair this spring (Amuri Z-trek). Minimalist/barefoot sandal. I love them, and there is nothing to them. No "padding" which means you have very good contact and feel with the ground - which causes surprisingly good stability, yet you don't get poked with rocks or anything. Padding in sandals can trigger instability and your foot to slide. That does not happen in these. The straps are very good and secure. Designed for barefoot running. Very light and pack-able and breathable is not even the right word because its like being barefoot - the opposite of keens. I think they are a significant improvement on Tevas due to the strap design and placement, but in the same category.

quote airmorse: "I was in the same boat last year. I had been a Keen's user for several years, but could never get them to last for more than 6 months. The heals would tear the tread would separate from the bottom of the shoe. I would wear them as my primary shoe for doing everything from walking the dogs to mowing the grass...rain sun or snow that is what I wore.


Interesting, my keen Newports last me over 6 years and wore them a lot

I have gone the sandal route with Keens and Sperry and one other pair trying to get something I liked. The big problem is once they get wet, they stay wet. Blah! Get up in the morning and put on wet sandals led me to the motto "Sandals suck".

I also think its dopey, with all due respect etc. etc., to portage in sandals......... so what good are they?.......One use and one use only as far as I'm concerned and thats when its time to take a dip and get cleaned up. So I still lug a pair and pull them out for that one purpose.

Crocs.......despite the advantages of the material are an accident waiting to happen when walking on uneven off road surfaces. To slippy slidy. But lots of thru hikers wear them mostly due to the incredibly light weight. I wore them offshore and ended up with a bit of a knee issue while wrestling with a big fish but thats another story.

For a shoe around camp I have settled on the absolute ultimate camp shoe and I accept all challengers. The Astral Brewer kayaking water shoe cannot be beat IMO. Incredibly light and airy sporting a very "grippy" sole. Its nice to walk about on a variety of surfaces with confidence. They are just a pleasure to wear.........and in a pinch I would feel OK about portaging out if need be in these. Yes they are expensive, (I don't need to be reminded that you could get 5 pair of tennis shoes from Wal-mart).

Astral Brewer water / camp shoe

quote Blatz: "Keen Newports . I actually prefer the nubuck over the H2O material. It's a softer feel and equally good when wet. Keen Uneeks are cool but don't offer as much toe pertection "

+1 i have both as well, like them both but prefer the nubuck for the same reason

quote airmorse: "I was in the same boat last year. I had been a Keen's user for several years, but could never get them to last for more than 6 months. The heals would tear the tread would separate from the bottom of the shoe. I would wear them as my primary shoe for doing everything from walking the dogs to mowing the grass...rain sun or snow that is what I wore.
My current shoe is made by Merrell (Saugatucks). I was a little skeptical about the elastic straps but I have found that it was a needless worry.
I have been wearing these shoes for almost 10 months now and I find them to be a better shoe than my Keens. They are more comfortable, better constructed, last longer.
The only thing I can find wrong is that compared to Keens the Merrell tread must be made of a softer material as I am wearing them smooth. I guess its better than the tread coming off though.
previous post "

i have 3 pair of Keen sandals. newport nubuck, H2, and some version of hiker.
the newport, H2 get a LOT of use and show no signs of breaking down. the oldest pair is about 6 years old now, not pretty but sill no signs of breakdown. love em.
the sandal/hiker fell apart after 1 quetico trip and 4 months of soft use. pure junk. it's like they;re from a different manufacturer.

I'm mostly satisfied with my Keen Rialtos, we'll see how they withstand another summer of fun. Still wish Teva hadn't messed with the Dozer II.

Mods - any chance you could close the quote tag on the post just before the empty guest paddler bumped the thread?

quote mastertangler: "I have gone the sandal route with Keens and Sperry and one other pair trying to get something I liked. The big problem is once they get wet, they stay wet. Blah! Get up in the morning and put on wet sandals led me to the motto "Sandals suck".


I also think its dopey, with all due respect etc. etc., to portage in sandals......... so what good are they?.......One use and one use only as far as I'm concerned and thats when its time to take a dip and get cleaned up. So I still lug a pair and pull them out for that one purpose.

Crocs.......despite the advantages of the material are an accident waiting to happen when walking on uneven off road surfaces. To slippy slidy. But lots of thru hikers wear them mostly due to the incredibly light weight. I wore them offshore and ended up with a bit of a knee issue while wrestling with a big fish but thats another story.


For a shoe around camp I have settled on the absolute ultimate camp shoe and I accept all challengers. The Astral Brewer kayaking water shoe cannot be beat IMO. Incredibly light and airy sporting a very "grippy" sole. Its nice to walk about on a variety of surfaces with confidence. They are just a pleasure to wear.........and in a pinch I would feel OK about portaging out if need be in these. Yes they are expensive, (I don't need to be reminded that you could get 5 pair of tennis shoes from Wal-mart).


Astral Brewer water / camp shoe "

I am very picky with shoes - As can be seen in this thread Shoes/Sandals et et this is a very personal individual thing . I have baby feet. I see you said you use " Astral Brewer kayaking water shoe " around camp they look interesting. What do you use during the day portaging et . ??

Ha! Baby feet.......I call mine "Baby ass feet" because I ALWAYS need some sort of shoes.

Phil trust me on the Astral Brewer........every time I put them on I have a little grin. They are that nice to wear. Plus they are super light and easy to pack.

My portage boot is also top of the line.......high quality footgear is supremely important to me since I solo a lot. I go with the Rocky SV2..........they also make a jungle version which is slightly lighter. These boots are flat out awesome but thats another thread.

Rocky tactical

I'll third or fourth the Chaco. The family has been wearing Chaco's for years. Love the soles on rock and gravel, thick and sticky. We do prefer the one with the "big toe" loop. More stability for cruising around and can flatten when wearing socks.

quote Blatz: "Keen Newports . I actually prefer the nubuck over the H2O material. It's a softer feel and equally good when wet. Keen Uneeks are cool but don't offer as much toe pertection "

This is my preference. I wear these all the time, even if I'm not in the water.

I also like the Salomon Techamphibians, which is more of a sneaker style but similar to the Keens... but instead of having open gaps, it's got a mesh that drains very well. So far, mine haven't developed a stink.

Jungle boots for traveling

a pair of knock off crocs for chillaxin' at camp.

I just have not been impressed with any of the sandle options, and I've tried most of them.

Croc's make a great sandal. Same sort of bottom with a keen style top. I like them far more than my keens.

I've tried many water shoes (sandals?) over the years and settled on the Salomon Techamphibians several years ago. They are lightweight, fit well, have a good tread, and they dry very fast. Much faster than any other similar shoe I've tried. They are always dry the next morning. I pair them with merino wool socks and the combo keeps rocks and sand out pretty good.

I also always bring a pair of Crocs for sitting around in camp, but would never consider portaging in them. Too slippery and no support.

quote jeroldharter: "Keen's, the style with the rubber toe guard."

I have these and they are great. When they finally bite the dust I'll get another pair.

I have had 2 pair of Keen sandals and tho' one is newer than the other pair, both are in fine shape. Never had any problems with smelling after a trip as long as I did an easy washing.

When I happened to catch a big walleye in the Quetico and had a "regular" pair of sandals on, I tore up my toes when I was out of the canoe reviving her to release it and was so psyched about the big fish, I never noticed I had torn flesh on my feet until later. I learned to protect my feet and haven't had any issues with "Rocks and Roots" (as Jerry Vandiver's song goes).