Complete BWCA newbie here. I’m taking my first BWCA trip with my husband around the end of August. We’re getting a Kevlar canoe, so my understanding is we need to wet portage. I’m wondering if there are any women’s brand/shoe soecific recommendations?

I’m not sure if there will be future trips, so I may also just end up saving $$ by using some old running shoes. How well has that worked for others, especially regarding traction for wet portages? I also have an old pair of the vibram toe shoes, but read they’ll likely be too cold? Also curious if there’s a general recommendation to always wear wool socks, even with wet portaging? Any issues with blisters?

Thanks!

Hello! I can relate, I did my first trip a couple weeks ago with my husband. I ended up buying these Merrill boots:

https://www.merrell.com/US/en/moab-2-mid-ventilator/27937W.html?dwvar_27937W_color=J500054#cgid=women-footwear-boots&prefn1=isOnSale&prefv1=false&start=1

I didn’t know how they would actually work for portaging/hiking, but I found they did well. They did drain most of the water and I wore a liner sock (Polypropylene) with a merino wool hiking sock. The boots (mostly) dried over night. My feet were wet, but it wasn’t as bad as I expected and they didn’t feel “soaked.” I don’t really know what the “ideal” boot/shoe is, but this worked better than I was expecting for my first trip. Hope this helps and have a great trip!

No recommendation on shoes but your feet wont be cold in late August or early September.

On the other hand, I have the mens version of these: NRS Women's Kicker Remix Wetshoes

They work fine for wet footing, and ok for short portages. For anything lengthy I would put on my hiking boots.

There are many "ideal" footwear choices. I prefer an ankle high boot that ties on securely (less likely to come off in boot-sucking mud), protects my feet all around (bottom/sides) from sharp sticks, rocks, etc., and has good grip on wet rock.

There are some specialized footwear choices, but for a first trip in August, you'll be well-served by something like piercem09 used. A liner/Smartwool sock combo is good and you should have no problem with blisters. Take 3 pair socks - travel, camp, sleep - and a pair of camp shoes (old running shoes are good). You don't want waterproof boots. Old running shoes do not have as good grip on wet rock as expected; prioritize good grip on the boots.

I would just use the old running shoes with wool socks. They should work fine. Maybe take a second pair of sandals for around camp(closed toe).

Considerations:
1) If you have ever had any ankle issues in your life, make sure you wear something that provides ankle support. I wear this Merrell boot or an equivalent by Keen. Both these boots are ventilated so they drain somewhat.
2) If you plan to just use something you already have, make sure you test the soles on wet rocks before your trip. Also test them after stepping in goopy mud and then balancing on rocks. Slips and falls are no fun.
3) Wool socks will be much more comfortable wet than any other material. I only wear a single pair of socks and have no issues with blisters, but I always travel with well broken in footwear. If you can't break in your boots before you go, then a thin liner sock with a thicker wool sock will be helpful.
4) Also to help prevent blisters, always rinse the mud and dirt out of your socks every night.

Have a great trip!

I'd also vote for old running shoes and wool socks. We usually go in July or August and it's been several years since I've done anything but Chaco sandals. Or Chacos with wool socks if it's cooler. There are a couple of portages where it would have been easier with closed-toe shoes (mostly because of the sticks that would get caught in the straps), but overall I'm more than happy with my sandals. If you don't think you'll use the boots outside of this trip I wouldn't worry about buying them just for this. Of course my hubby thinks I'm crazy to do as much as I do in sandals, but he wouldn't bat an eye if I had tennis shoes instead.

I hope you have a great time!

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

I have flyfishing boots from Simms. I get good support and great traction. if you look, make sure you do not use the felt soles and they can be slippery on the trails.

Since I made this purchase I have been much happier.

I concur with (1) wear boots - for the ankle support. A sprained ankle could be a trip-stopper; and (2) good traction on wet rocks. I have found it challenging to get a good women's portage boot. I now have a pair of OTB Abyss boots by New Balance - a tactical military style boot. I use them, but underwhelmed. A stitch came loose on first trip, and they do not have good sole support. I add an additional insert. The old Chotas worked ok, but new ones aren't a good fit for me personally. I once took an older pair of hiking boots and punched/drilled drain holes in them! You can probably find the OTBs used or in surplus stores to save $ (men's sizing, fyi).

In our 40+ years of visiting the BWCA/Q we've used a variety of footwear. I started with military surplus 'jungle boots', and had several years' good service from them. My wife tried the jungle boots, but quickly changed to Alps (now part of the Teva line). On a mid-'80s trip, I found a pair of portage boots in an Agnes campsite--perfect fit--and got several years' service from them. Tried running shoes one trip--poor traction on wet rocks, so I won't try that again. I tried the jungle boots again, but the knock-offs now available just didn't hold up like the pair I had in the late '70s. I'm currently using the NRS Workboot Wetshoe--great traction and decent ankle support. The soles are thin, but I use SuperFeet arch supports, which give me some extra sole thickness. I've used them on two Quetico trips, two Okefenokee Swamp trips, and several local lakes/streams. Their only drawback is that after several days of steady use and no opportunity to completely dry out, they REEK! Meanwhile, my wife is using a Keen model with a toe cap, but early in last summer's Quetico trip a stick poked through the toe area and lifted the nail on a big toe--she's looking at closed-toe shoes again.
TZ

AmarilloJim: "I would just use the old running shoes with wool socks. They should work fine. Maybe take a second pair of sandals for around camp(closed toe)."

What AmarilloJim said.

A full shoe is way better than sandals (of varying brands) at protecting your feet from sticks, rocks and simply sand and gunk getting in. This is your first trip. Don’t go and spend a lot of money on items you might only use once. Wear what you have.

After getting to camp, it’s hard to beat a dry pair of wool socks and some dry shoes.

Enjoy your first trip to the BW!!