There are lots of threads in the archives for best footwear in the BWCA, but I haven't found many specifically geared towards wet footing.

For those that wet foot, what are the best boots you've come across? I've always just used old trail running shoes, but I am doing the border route and am looking to up my footwear game. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

i always used light weight hiking boots for the support. couple of trips ago i started wearing simms fishing wader boots with smart wool socks. love them. drain well and dry fast

thanks for the suggestion. how are those portaging? I've thought about wader boots before but they don't seem like they'd be very good for portaging.

Palm Gradient Boots

Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too.

There are different manufacturers making self-draining hiking shoes. Most important criteria in my opinion are a) the bottom having good traction on wet surfaces, b) the shoes not absorbing water and c) light weight. Chota HYRB-800 Hybrid fits the bill, if you can find a proper size. Astral Merge (discontinued) was perfect in b and c, but poor in a. Currently Astral came up with Russler model, which is even lighter. I don't know how good is its traction. Merrel Moab 2 is heavy and sucks water like there's no tomorrow - when wet it's 2.5 times as heavy as Russler.

straighthairedcurly: "Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too."

you wet foot with those and approve?

Keen Voyagers are fantastic. They're very light, drain remarkably well, and hold up very well. Been using them for years

Chota Caneyforks with Smart wool socks. Not cheap but going on 15 years. Good traction and good draining.

For peak season I like the Merrill MQC2 tactical boot. Light and quick to dry. Shoulder season hip-style neoprene sock with portage/wader boot. Once a big time Chota product supporter, but not anymore as their portage boots fall apart and the hippies are much more expensive than knockoff brands.

i use chota wading boots --- made for fly fishing --- they're solid for portaging with good grip especially while wading in streams/up onto an embankment...

work great on portages. good traction and drain well

jwmiller39: "thanks for the suggestion. how are those portaging? I've thought about wader boots before but they don't seem like they'd be very good for portaging."

work great on portages. good traction and drain well

I love my Merrill Moab lows. I use them for just about everything except wet footing. The non-waterproof ones dry out OK for a hiking shoe, I guess, but definitely not a strength.

I'm still a Keen sandal guy in the wet. Biggest issue I have is when debris gets in you usually have to take them off to get it out.

Those Russlers look interesting, though I'm skeptical of trail traction since there aren't any lugs.

I've been using Keen Arroyo sandals for the last 15 years or so. They have the same footbed and tread pattern as the Keen Voyageur, but there are some open spots on the Arroyos where the Voyageurs have a mesh pattern.

I have some wool socks of varying thickness that I'll choose based on the season, but these have worked really well for me, and they do actually dry out fairly quickly.

I keep thinking I should get something that supports the ankle, but then I'm look at some heavier thick boots that will never dry and will always be exceedingly uncomfortable in the canoe.

EddyTurn: "There are different manufacturers making self-draining hiking shoes. Most important criteria in my opinion are a) the bottom having good traction on wet surfaces, b) the shoes not absorbing water and c) light weight. Chota HYRB-800 Hybrid fits the bill, if you can find a proper size. Astral Merge (discontinued) was perfect in b and c, but poor in a. Currently Astral came up with Russler model, which is even lighter. I don't know how good is its traction. Merrel Moab 2 is heavy and sucks water like there's no tomorrow - when wet it's 2.5 times as heavy as Russler."

+1 Astral shoes! I have the lowyaks and love them. Taking a scroll through their shoe lineup, it seems like they have a good variety of ankle heights and outsoles.

straighthairedcurly: "Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too."

This is what I used last year, only they were waterproof. Thankfully they were so old and beat up though that it didn't matter.

This year, same boots (the non-waterproof this time) paired with Chota Hippies and wool socks underneath.

I like the Astral TR1 Mesh. They are lightweight, drain well, dry fast, are pretty sticky to slick rocks and they have a thicker sole than the Loyaks. They also have traditional lacing, which allows you to wear your wool socks.

I also have a pair of Loyaks. My 2 issues with them are: 1. the opening where you put your foot in is too tight for me to wear socks, making them a warm weather option only. The tight fit is great at keeping debris out of the shoes. I wear them all summer on my motorboat. 2. The sole, while the stickiest around and great for slick rocks, is so thin that you'd feel every root or sharp rock on the portage trail.

Deleted

I actually found that I really love just wearing a good pair of neoprene booties like these when in the canoe and when landing/launching or on short portages. This is mainly because I kneel a lot when paddling and I find these to be super comfy for that purpose and they clear seats better with my size 12 feet. They also work just fine on the landing and even for short/easy portages. On longer portages I would swap these out for real hiking boots/shoes.

The alternative is that I will wear my chota hybrids for launching, landing, and all portages. This works well when the feet meet the ground, but I have to remove them while paddling in order to clear seats and be more comfortable.

Seems like I generally chose between whether I want to be changing my footwear in the canoe for paddling or on land for portaging. I will do either or depending on the trip.

I use Astral Rasslers. They have the same low, wide, sticky lugs as Astral's brewers and loyaks (as well as their awesome sandals), but with a toe-guard and mid-top that helps prevent the shoe from slipping off my heel when it catches on rocks, roots, mud. The latter was a recurring problem with the brewers for me - the soles seem a bit oversized.

The soles are like glue on wet, sloping rocks. The trade-off, as posited above, is traction in mud. Not the greatest. But I'll take the occasional slip in the mud over a fall on a rock ledge or boulder field anyday. The one time I wore trail running shoes that were pretty good at both on a trip, I took a nasty fall down the rock wall exiting the Frost River at Afton lake.

They are lightweight, not very comfortable, and dry in a moderate amount of time - slower than the brewers, but faster than moabs.

straighthairedcurly: "Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too."

+1 I buy a new pair every year and finish off last years as portage boots

I'm going a different route this year. I have had two pairs of Chota Queticos, one with the hiker tread and one with the wading tread. They were fine and I put a lot of mileage on them, but they both failed the same way: side seams started to blow out. The seams would start to go, I would glue them back, and eventually all of the thread would be torn out. It's fine, I got hundreds of miles out of each of them, but I wanted to go a different route this time. For me, I knew I wanted some ankle support, I wanted good traction on wet surfaces, and nice drainage would be appreciated. That said, there isn't much specifically for our activity. There are wading boots which tend to be a little clunky, but handle the water and the slippery conditions well. Water shoes and sandals were out since they don't protect the feet as well as I would like (the emergency room visit after putting a stick half way through my foot has made me extra cautious.) Whitewater shoes like the Astrals seemed great, but a lot of them are somewhat soft sided. I know they are made tough, but the softer materials seemed a risk of tearing on a bushwhack somewhere. So I ended up in the canyoneering department. Canyoneering seemed similar to wet-foot canoeing: a lot of water walking, wet rocks, mud, and a need to protect the feet without them getting stuck in boulder fields. The problem was, two of the brands were only available overseas and Adidas discontinued the ones they made. So I am trying the La Sportiva TX Canyon this year. They have a lot of really cool features I liked such as sticky rubber soles, a climbing toe, a thoughtful shape to avoid getting stuck, good drainage, laces protection, and they are built rugged like the mountaineering boots they are known for. I am not a fan of the bumblebee colors, but if they work I can live with that. Wearing them to work this week as "breaking in" has me dreaming about canoe season even more than usual!

Trrebear- I'd love to know how you like the Canyons. My favorite wetfoot shoe, the Swamp Buggy, is also discontinued, and while mine are still in good shape, someday I'll have to replace them.

This has got to be my biggest concern year after year, a quest for the perfect tripping footwear. So much that I have finally decided to post a reply after years of reading the great discussions on this board.

I have been canoe tripping since 1995, most of my pre-Covid trips being in Algonquin PP. I started out as a jungle boot guy, and still believe that's a solid choice. Cons would be they can be uncomfortable for long stretches of kneeling and the black polish on the leather parts may leave marks in your canoe. Good drainage (that's what they're all about) and the sole can handle sharp rocks. Not too heavy either. Altama makes the best jungles.
Altama also makes a Maritime Assault shoe in low, mid, and high. Great drainage and a sticky sole that handles slick rocks no problem. Lacks cushioning in the sole though, not the best on long rocky portages. I have a pair, but they just don't feel right on my feet. Maybe I need a 1/2 size larger.
I usually bring a pair of Teva sandals for camp, but one long trip my jungle boot blew out on the instep and I did most of the trip in the Tevas. Just tightened them up more than usual and watched my step placement more. I recently noticed Teva has an Outflow model that is basically a TerraFi but covered in mesh so it's a shoe. I'm probably going to pick up a pair and try those out this summer.

I bought a pair of Moab lows last year for longer portages and ended up having to wade a creek that I didn't expect. Comfy shoes but it took too long for them to dry out. They were supposed to be my dry camp shoes too!

There are so many good options out there to fit an individual's preferences. Although I would love to find the perfect tripping footwear, there is some fun in the searching.

MichiganRory: "...I have finally decided to post a reply after years of reading the great discussions on this board.... "

I'm glad a post about shoes caught your interest!!

Good for you, jwmiller, for taking on the Border Route Challenge. I'm impressed by those that participate and admire their abilities. Good luck!

I would imagine putting as many miles as the Border Route requires and as fast as the participants travel, my vote would be for the Chota boots, or something similar, used by fly-fishers who wade rocky streams. Lightweight, good traction, drain well, and offer good support. Of course, socks will also be important for warmth and comfort.

On a lighter note, my daughters have portaged over 100 miles in these!

Still trying to use up my old pr of Chota Quetico Trekkers which I have had for years. And I have a new pr I got when Piragis was closing them out. A bit heavy but the durability, ankle support and overall foot protection outweigh the slight negative.

For the last 10 years I have used New Balance OTB Abyss II boots. They have drain holes in the bottom and sides that let the water drain out. I like the ankle support they provide and they do not readily slip on wet rocks.

I'd want something that would keep my feet dry...

Gym shoes become lawn mowing shoes. Lawn mowing shoes become portage shoes.

straighthairedcurly: "Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too."

+1 used successfully and recommend.

I use a pair of Merrell "wet" hiking shoes and highly recommend them, as long as you are OK without ankle support. They fit just like any pair of sneakers and water practically jumps out of them when you step out of the water. I wear Smartwool socks with polyprop liners and my feet "feel" dry within seconds. I think the current model is called "Blaze" but they change the name every couple years.

LetsGoFishing: "I like the Astral TR1 Mesh. They are lightweight, drain well, dry fast, are pretty sticky to slick rocks and they have a thicker sole than the Loyaks. They also have traditional lacing, which allows you to wear your wool socks.


I also have a pair of Loyaks. My 2 issues with them are: 1. the opening where you put your foot in is too tight for me to wear socks, making them a warm weather option only. The tight fit is great at keeping debris out of the shoes. I wear them all summer on my motorboat. 2. The sole, while the stickiest around and great for slick rocks, is so thin that you'd feel every root or sharp rock on the portage trail.


"

My exact thoughts as well. We have 4 guys all using different models of Astrals.

I like good gear but I’m kind of a tightwad by nature. I’ve always had a hard time throwing down a lot of money for expensive footwear only to immediately “trash” them. For my needs I like shoes that are lightweight, quick drying, have good traction and preferably don’t break the bank.

I usually end up wearing a pair of well used cross training shoes. Salomon Tech Amphibs have proven to be very a lightweight, quick drying and durable option with excellent traction.
Last year I broke down and bought a pair of Astral TR1 Mesh shoes. At the last minute I decided I just couldn’t throw them on new and march straight into a bog so I wore them around last year as my good “town” shoes. Unfortunately the mesh panels developed holes pretty quickly. To Astral’s credit they sent me a new pair with upgraded materials within days. Haven’t tried them yet, way too much winter left up here in AK.
All this being said my best option has been going to my local thrift store. Several times now I have found high end, super lightweight running shoes in “like-new” condition and they’ve served me really well.

soundguy0918: "I use a pair of Merrell "wet" hiking shoes and highly recommend them, as long as you are OK without ankle support. They fit just like any pair of sneakers and water practically jumps out of them when you step out of the water. I wear Smartwool socks with polyprop liners and my feet "feel" dry within seconds. I think the current model is called "Blaze" but they change the name every couple years."

They are now "Speed Strike" and they have two versions. "Sieve" has an open heel and more mesh, while "Aerosport" is a more traditional shoe.

They look well ventilated, but appear to lack drain holes. Aerosport is on sale now for $68.

thanks for the suggestions everyone

bobbernumber3: "I'd want something that would keep my feet dry..."

not really practical on the border route trip. If you're just doing 1 or 2 portages, sure you can probably tip toe around and keep your feet dry but not really an option in some areas. IMO, not wanting to get your feet wet in the bwca is kind of like not wanting a single mosquito bite while you're there... not very realistic

Kendis: "

straighthairedcurly: "Merrill Moab Mid boots (non-waterproof version) is what my son and I have used for years. The Boy Scouts all use them, too."

+1 used successfully and recommend."

Getting ready for a Northern Tier trip this year, last fall I wore a new pair of Merrell Moab mid vents and my feet were happy as a clam the entire trip. The fact I never once had to worry about my foot moving in them, or spin around my foot (this has happened w/Keens) was worth every penny. Yeah, they don't "dry" fast, but paired with wool socks I didn't really notice dampness other than when I was fresh out of water or getting into the boat.

I'll probably still wear toe sandals on summer trips, but one trip and I'm sold on boots.

jwmiller39: "

bobbernumber3: "I'd want something that would keep my feet dry..."

not really practical on the border route trip. "

Yes. The more portages you do, the more likely you are to get a soaker so you may just as well dive in! Keeping dry feet at any portage is always a challenge.

Scout64: "For the last 10 years I have used New Balance OTB Abyss II boots. They have drain holes in the bottom and sides that let the water drain out. I like the ankle support they provide and they do not readily slip on wet rocks.


"

I always wanted to try a pair of those OTB Abyss boots, or one of the other models in that series. I don't think they make them anymore though. I'm afraid I missed my chance. So I'll decide between the Teva Outflow, Salomon Crossamphibian, or a Merrell watershoe.

I have a pair of the original Salomon Techamphibians that must 18 years old if not more and they have been fantastic. They have now been relegated to camp shoes but they have a ton of miles on them and just can't be killed.
My last pair of shoes I used for portages was a set of Merrell Maipo 2's, these were pretty good all around shoes. Maybe lacking a little traction on rock faces that were off camber and wet but fit was good. The negative is that after two seasons the lace loops started to break so they went into the garbage.
Now for this season I just received a pair of the Astral TR1 Mesh to try out. I will say they look like a pretty solid shoe and it's the first shoe that I've had of this type that actually has some arch support with all my previous shoe being pretty flat. I'm hoping they will hold up at least a few years!

I’ve used Teva Omnium on a couple of August trips and they work fine. Drain easily and don’t let in debris. Very secure. Dries quickly. Wool socks finish for comfort

Wet footing: Chaco Odyssey w/ Darn Tough Wool socks

Dry footing: NRS Boundary Boots

The only problem I have found with dry footing in neoprene boots is that eventually from sweat my feet become wet. I always swear I must have a hole in them somewhere but it’s actually sweat.

Jasonf: "I have a pair of the original Salomon Techamphibians that must 18 years old if not more and they have been fantastic. They have now been relegated to camp shoes but they have a ton of miles on them and just can't be killed.
My last pair of shoes I used for portages was a set of Merrell Maipo 2's, these were pretty good all around shoes. Maybe lacking a little traction on rock faces that were off camber and wet but fit was good. The negative is that after two seasons the lace loops started to break so they went into the garbage.
Now for this season I just received a pair of the Astral TR1 Mesh to try out. I will say they look like a pretty solid shoe and it's the first shoe that I've had of this type that actually has some arch support with all my previous shoe being pretty flat. I'm hoping they will hold up at least a few years!


"

Those Techamphibians were my favorite trip shoes.

Always in search for wet footing boots. These threads always offer a lot of info. I have learned that portage boots blow out too many times mid-trip so your camp shoes should be sturdy enough to fill the gap. The new versions of your time tested boots can be junk and come apart on their first trip. The favorite boot that sat for two years may have rotted in storage. Duct tape and zip ties can patch some issues to get you home. I have run out of old boots so bit the bullet and ordered a pair from the Atlai outlet store. Half price and size 13 is hard to find at the thrift store but I need a boot for a month long trip in rough country.

https://altaigear.com/

Keen NXIS. Hands down the best wet foot portage shoes I have used. Great traction and support and very fast drying.

Marten: "Always in search for wet footing boots. These threads always offer a lot of info. I have learned that portage boots blow out too many times mid-trip so your camp shoes should be sturdy enough to fill the gap. The new versions of your time tested boots can be junk and come apart on their first trip. The favorite boot that sat for two years may have rotted in storage. Duct tape and zip ties can patch some issues to get you home. I have run out of old boots so bit the bullet and ordered a pair from the Atlai outlet store. Half price and size 13 is hard to find at the thrift store but I need a boot for a month long trip in rough country.


https://altaigear.com/"

I just received a pair of boots from the Atlai outlet store. They look very good and are light. Limited sizes but two for one sale and the price was already half price. $5 per pair shipping so $40 a pair for vibram soled portage boots. Just drill your own drain holes.

MichiganRory: "This has got to be my biggest concern year after year, a quest for the perfect tripping footwear. So much that I have finally decided to post a reply after years of reading the great discussions on this board.
Altama makes the best jungles.
Altama also makes a Maritime Assault shoe in low, mid, and high. Great drainage and a sticky sole that handles slick rocks no problem. Lacks cushioning in the sole though, not the best on long rocky portages. I have a pair, but they just don't feel right on my feet. Maybe I need a 1/2 size larger. "

This is because the Altama is flat soled with no arch (so they can be used with fins). The mid is basically a synthetic Chuck Converse with some ankle padding and a stitched on sole. Add a stiff arch support insole (like plantar fasciitis patients use) and wear them a bit. All I do is adjust the thickness of wool sock to match the season and I am good to go on rocky portages. Did Crab Lake portage entry with a week long load on my back and was good to go. Love those shoes. (Former jungle boot guy myself.)

Scout64: "For the last 10 years I have used New Balance OTB Abyss II boots. They have drain holes in the bottom and sides that let the water drain out. I like the ankle support they provide and they do not readily slip on wet rocks.


"

I had the OTB Odhin. Loved them, can't find them or the Abyss anywhere anymore.

I like keen sandals. And dislike wet socks and shoes.

My concern with shoes and socks is muck. Some put-ins have that deciduous muck that I hate getting my keens but which rinses out quickly once in the canoe. I would think that muck would work its way down between the shoe and sock and will be with you until you get to camp. For me, that is not gonna happen.

I might wet leg more than wet foot than most of you but that is my preference.

Astral TR1's

I've had really good luck with these Adidas TERREX BOAT S.RDY WATER SHOES . I've taken them on 6 or 7 trips now, and also done a lot of hiking and wading in Colorado rivers/streams with them and they are holding up great. Two others in our party have had them for 2 years now and they have enjoyed them as well. I think on sale we paid under $40 too, which is a plus. They don't hold water at all, the soles are thick enough you don't run into the issue many have with Astrals, that you feel too many roots/rocks, and they grip really well on wet rocks.

billconner: "Chota Caneyforks with Smart wool socks. Not cheap but going on 15 years. Good traction and good draining."

Same boots here, but w/ the Chota socks.

I absolutely love Arteryx shoes. I’ve used their approach shoes and now a trail hiker - both are light, use high quality glues that hold up to water and dry quickly. My two cents.

NRS Work Boot Neoprene Kayak Shoes. Used them first time at the end of May last year. A little heavy and hard to get off (good tip to use dress socks inside and needed a size bigger than my feet), but kept my feet warm in the cold water and portaged well through the May slop and across the rock. $85.

I always wanted to try a pair of those OTB Abyss boots, or one of the other models in that series. I don't think they make them anymore though. I'm afraid I missed my chance. So I'll decide between the Teva Outflow, Salomon Crossamphibian, or a Merrell watershoe."

This?

New Balance OTB Abyss boot

No experience with the actual models but I learned yesterday that Hoka makes some light hikers and something between a sandal and a boot that might work well. Love their running shoes.

Hoka hiking shoes

For around camp, I have these Keens. They are very comfortable & I could envision wet footing in them (rangers wear ankle boots) though the fabric would hold some water. Keen Ankle Boots

I prefer to use hiking sandals. I have a pair of Keens similar to the linked pair though I don't like them as much as the Columbia one's I used to use. The big difference is the Keens tend to hold small rocks undefoot due to the back of the sandal being blocked, the foot tends to slip in-shoe if used with socks (I wore wool sock+liner with the Columbia sandals), & the Keens use some non-leather materials which introduce a bit of stretch (I prefered the more 'rigid' Columbia materials). If I'm wet footing in cold weather with a long paddle, I'll take off the sandals & put on a pair of wool socks. If I have a very long portage, I may put on the Keen hiking boots once the canoe is unloaded. Keens Hiking Sandal

On my last trip I tried out a pair of Merrell Chameleon 8 hiking shoe and absolutely loved them. So much so that I am tempted to buy another pair just in case. They are very lightweight, well draining, quick drying, have a Vibram sole for excellent traction, and quick lock speed laces (a must have for any wet shoe IMHO). For point of reference I entered on May 15th and some of the portage trails still had a foot and a half of snow on them. They were paired with Darn Tough wool socks. I would change into a new pair of Darn Toughs and lightweight shoes when I got to camp. Never uncomfortable the whole trip.

Surprised there isn't more love for the Astral Rassler 2.0 here - I have not yet tried it, but the company suggests that it would be a rugged wet hiker and many of the YouTube and online reviews corroborate that. Has anyone got experience with the 2.0? Ankle support is my biggest concern carrying 35 pounds of boat plus a pack, any thoughts?

I'm going away from my trusty Keens this year--sometimes my pinky toe slides painfully out the side. I bought the Merrell Wildwood Sport and will be giving them a try. They look solid, open for water. We will see.

I have achilles problems in both feet and can't wear anything too tight across my achilles/heal area without irritation. I switched from Keen's to Crocs (i know no laughing) 8ish years ago and have never had an issue portaging or wetfooting in them. They work well, they tend to be a wider sole than most shoes so ankle turning not an issue, stepping in mud i don't seem to sink as far. I love them and they dry VERY fast.

Salomon Techamphibians
In early or late season, NRS Water Boots. They have a good sole, about 10" high, heavy duty zip on the sides, upsize them and wear 2 or 3mm neoprene socks. Wet but warm.

gsfisher13--no laughing! I've seen people happily portaging in crocs a lot! Everyone is different. Good luck!

Everybody laughs or asks when i'm portaging and i happily tell them to try it before discounting them. They'll probably add 10 years of trips to my lifespan.

gsfisher13: "Everybody laughs or asks when i'm portaging and i happily tell them to try it before discounting them. They'll probably add 10 years of trips to my lifespan."

I do as well besides our May trip which entails my NRS boots. I don’t recommend crocs to anyone though, because you need strong ankles (history without sprains, etc) and sure footing to accomplish this without getting hurt. But I find them to be excellent on slippery rocks & they can’t be beat with how fast they dry. In fact, in the Summer months, they’re the only footwear I bring along.

The Merrell Wildwood Sport shoes did a bang up job on my recent trip. I highly recommend.

I wore boots for several years (OTB abyss) but found they were over kill. Switched to Salomon amphibian a few years back and really like them. When the water is cold these would not be ideal.

Salomon