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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Shoes/boots
 
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straighthairedcurly
01/19/2021 10:17PM
 
gymcoachdon: "I prefer good ankle support, so I use Keen Voyageurs. They are not waterproof, so water drains. They will be wet most if not all of the trip, so I wear wool socks with a poly sock liner."


Same. My ankles are my weakest body part so I never portage without good ankle support.
 
mmrocker13
04/25/2021 11:41AM
 
Keen Newport H2 (kids version) for portaging. In camp, an old pair of Teva Mush flip flops and Keen hikers.
 
mschi772
01/20/2021 07:34AM
 
Astral Loyals are my choice. I wouldn't recommend going straight to tripping in them if your feet and ankles are accustomed to being locked-up in stiff, padded boots as you'll be likely to hurt yourself. If you ease into it giving your body time to adjust to a minimalist shoe and more natural use of your feet, you'll have stronger, healthier feet and ankles as a result.
 
bombinbrian
01/13/2021 03:14PM
 
We wear Nike Boots, their combat boots. Found them on sale at a Sierra Trading store but not online. They're light and have support. I also take a pair of tennis shoes, usually just in camp but tail running shoes work great for portaging too.
 
Unas10
01/12/2021 04:54AM
 
I am one of those with the old running shoes. I only make one trip per year and so far, they have worked well enough that other things are higher up on the list of items to upgrade.
 
Cc26
01/12/2021 09:00AM
 
Regular old “poop boots”
 
gymcoachdon
01/12/2021 09:42AM
 
I prefer good ankle support, so I use Keen Voyageurs. They are not waterproof, so water drains. They will be wet most if not all of the trip, so I wear wool socks with a poly sock liner.
 
MikeinMpls
01/12/2021 12:43PM
 
I've always been a wet footer, and I always will be. I wear Chota high top boots with either the "Hippie" or "Caney Fork" waders. The Chota system looks good on paper, but the waders don't stay up very well. The Chota waders use a thin elastic cord with a plastic spring lock, but it's just not strong or durable enough. I end up using an elastic clip or suspenders to keep them up. The boots are rugged, BUT they only come in whole sizes. I don't understand why...so mine are a bit too big for me. I wear a 10.5 shoe, but an 11 Chota.


Perhaps one of these days I'll try a different system.


Mike
 
TomT
01/12/2021 03:56PM
 
I use Chota lightweight hybrid boots for travel days and Astral water shoes for day trips and around camp.
 
DanMN
01/12/2021 06:26PM
 
Worr Keen sandals last 2 years. My feet hurt after all day trip. So this year I'm trying Jungle boots.
 
AmarilloJim
01/12/2021 07:19AM
 
I use Astral TR1's. Basically running shoes with drainage holes. Used old running shoes for decades without issue. My wife loves her Muck boots.
 
Scout64
01/12/2021 08:02AM
 
With Kevlar canoes, I wet foot when I get in and out. I have been using the New Balance Abyss II 8-Inch Boot for years. They have drain holes in the sole to let the water out. They dry quickly and offer good ankle support. I highly recommend them.
This reminds me I have 2 pairs of size 9 OTBs that my sons wore that I should put on the "for sale" forum.
 
A1t2o
01/12/2021 11:17AM
 
Keens and Crocs


I have 2 pairs of Keens I use depending on the trip, waterproof if I plan on keeping my feet dry and the Voyagers if I plan to wet foot. I only take one pair along and it depends on the temp.


The Crocs I wear in camp. They are great for going in and out of the tent, or walking in the water since they are not porous.


I have noticed that my Keens can work as a shoe too. If I tie them loosely at the eye loops then I can slip them on and off easily for when I am getting firewood or if I want more substantial footwear than the Crocs. It is nice to just have another option without carrying anything extra.
 
JWilder
01/12/2021 10:17AM
 
Solomon Quest Prime GTX


Great ankle support which provides confidence on the trail and around camp doing chores or exploring. Also wet the majority of the trip.


I sport the crocs ONLY when in leisure mode...


J
 
Chuckles
01/12/2021 11:44AM
 
When I dryfoot (October) I wear 18" insulated neoprene boots. I wear a Lacrosse model that isn't made any more.


I took my first wetfoot trip this past summer and both me and my partner went with old high-top sneakers. I can't imagine I'll ever use anything else. Featherweight (~12oz per shoe) with ankle support, good traction and they dry quickly.


The trend in sneakers over the last few years has been very thin, breathable fabrics with vents. I picked up a pair of used Nike Hyperquickness for $5. I'm not sure this exact model is easy to find but you can see all the vents and holes in the link.


Nike Hyperquickness


My partner used a pair of basketball sneakers that were 20 years old and he said that despite them being heavier and drying slower, they were still better than anything he'd tripped in previously.



 
StLouisPaddler
01/12/2021 05:27PM
 
I’ve had good luck with the Chota Hybrids.
 
kjw
01/12/2021 05:54PM
 
I use Cabelas wading boots and bring regular hiking shoes (low cut - doesn't cover ankles) for camp. Any wading boot will do the trick. Only takes getting injured one time and you will never wear anything that does not cover your ankles again. I had an object pierce all the way into my ankle while in the water at a portage while wearing Keens that did not cover my ankle. Trip was over. Was on crutches and took extremely large doses of antibiotics for over a month to prevent bone infection. Emergency room had to cut 2nd hole in my ankle to insert tube to flush all the dirt/other items out the original hole with saline solution.
 
MichiganMan
01/12/2021 07:01PM
 
Dry footer here with a history of ankle issues. So Keen or Timberland hiking boots on the trail, and Keen closed-toe sandals for around camp or day trip fishing. There's no right or wrong way. It's all about what what works for you.
 
AdmAckbar13
01/13/2021 10:46PM
 
I wet foot all portages and in the summer I either wear Chaco sandals or a well-draining trail running shoe like the LaSportiva Bushido. If I'm going to be doing relatively short, easy portages or it's super hot I'll opt for sandals. More challenging, longer portages or cooler weather I'll opt for the trail runners. In the shoulder seasons I add a thin neoprene sock under the trail runners. The system has worked very well for me for all the trips I've taken.
 
Unas10
01/21/2021 04:22AM
 
For all those who talk about wanting ankle support, I saw an article about this many years ago on a running website. My recollection is foggy, but I believe it was written about a coach from one of the Oregon universities famous for their running program. A simple exercise that can be done while watching TV. Wearing no shoes, stand in one place and lift one foot into the air. Stand there like that for as long as you can and then switch and repeat for the other foot. When you reach the point of being able to do that for 5 minutes, make it a little tougher by standing on a pillow. After the coach instituted this exercise, he reported a 20% decrease in ankle injuries.
 
Litehiker
02/10/2021 06:26PM
 
Ya know I have found my Merrill MOAB low hiking shoes drain very nicely in situations like canoeing and walking in Utah's Coyote Gulch where almost 1/2 of the trip is IN the creek.


I've used military "jungle boots" and they are just OK but not as comfortable as my MOAB hiking shoes. Want more protection? Merrill makes a MOAB Mid that covers the ankles.


But above all I wear all synthetic clothing, from my BVDs to my heavy nylon pants to my bug-proof shirts. Dries fast and is fairly lightweight. A far cry from the surplus wool pants and shirt I wore in the '80s in Quebec's Kippawa Game Preserve on a week long wilderness canoe trip.
 
MM
04/18/2021 08:57AM
 
Hello, how do Atrals work for portaging? Ankle support?
 
BPD
01/13/2021 08:24AM
 
For wet-footing I really like these:


Astral Rassler Water Boots


I wore jungle boots for years but the Astrals are much stickier and seem to provide plenty of ankle stability.


Brian
 
thistlekicker
01/13/2021 09:31AM
 
Simms Riprap wading shoe for "normal" trips and OTB Abyss boots for more rugged trips.



 
butthead
01/13/2021 08:44AM
 
Probably get crap for this but it's what I wear. Custom made leather hiking boots, and I do wet-foot. Current favorite pair has about 20 trips on them as well as daily wear at home. Yes they are looking at 10 years of almost daily use. Another pair has 20 years, 10 in daily use 10 partial use dedicated to hiking. I have short but wide feet at 8 1/2 EEEE, never had real foot comfort till buying custom made. Expensive? YES! Worth the cost? Most defiantly.
Well treated and cared for, they will dry over nite in camp. Wet weight gain is within ounces of synthetic boots, 6 ounces wet vs dry. The 10 year old pair is as bought, the 20 have fresh soles from 5+ years ago.


butthead
 
TrailZen
01/13/2021 08:04AM
 
DanMN: "Worr Keen sandals last 2 years. My feet hurt after all day trip. So this year I'm trying Jungle boots."


In the late '70s and early '80s I had good performance from jungle boots. When my second set of them died, I used some canvas portage boots for a couple years (don't remember the brand), and have used old running shoes, too. In 2018 I bought a pair of NRS Workboot Wetshoes and really like them EXCEPT for the odor after a week+ of wet-footing. If you get jungle boots, don't go cheap--I bought a Rothco pair in 2017; they began separating from the soles on the third day of a 10-day trip. I had to do some MacGyver crap to keep them together for the rest of the trip. Tried to get warranty replacement from Rothco, but couldn't return the trash boots because I'd put them in the Dumpster at Piragis...


TZ






 
RunningFox
01/13/2021 07:01PM
 



Meindl. Tons of ankle support and foot protection. Uninsulated and waterproof. This model (Vakuum) with rubber surrounding the foot bed has never leaked.


I like Butthead’s answer. Russell boots rock and there is understandable pride in ownership. They last just about forever when cared for.



 
BoundaryLife
01/11/2021 09:36PM
 
What are your favorite shoes for the BWCA trails? I've seen everything boots, water shoes to old running shoes. What do you like?
 
mmrocker13
01/19/2021 05:11PM
 
Keen. Newport H2 (youth) for wet foot; hikers for camp and fishing.
 
CS24
02/08/2021 03:26PM
 
LL Bean's Maine Hunting Shoe is the by far the best. I wear the 12" boot, but they also have a 16" model. Using a good beeswax water proofer is a must to keep your feet dry...but of course if you step in knee-deep water it doesn't matter what type of boot you're wearing! Also has great ankle support and decent tread for portages. In camp Crocs are the way to go: comfortable, light weight, cheap



 
DanMN
02/08/2021 07:45PM
 
TrailZen: "DanMN: "Worr Keen sandals last 2 years. My feet hurt after all day trip. So this year I'm trying Jungle boots."



In the late '70s and early '80s I had good performance from jungle boots. When my second set of them died, I used some canvas portage boots for a couple years (don't remember the brand), and have used old running shoes, too. In 2018 I bought a pair of NRS Workboot Wetshoes and really like them EXCEPT for the odor after a week+ of wet-footing. If you get jungle boots, don't go cheap--I bought a Rothco pair in 2017; they began separating from the soles on the third day of a 10-day trip. I had to do some MacGyver crap to keep them together for the rest of the trip. Tried to get warranty replacement from Rothco, but couldn't return the trash boots because I'd put them in the Dumpster at Piragis...



TZ







"







I read the posts on this forum before I bought. So I knew not to cheap out on them.
Thanks everyone for the info. I ended up buying a pair of McRae Vietnam era Jungle boots. Brand new made in the USA.
 
pamonster
02/09/2021 08:36AM
 
butthead: "Probably get crap for this but it's what I wear. Custom made leather hiking boots, and I do wet-foot. Current favorite pair has about 20 trips on them as well as daily wear at home. Yes they are looking at 10 years of almost daily use. Another pair has 20 years, 10 in daily use 10 partial use dedicated to hiking. I have short but wide feet at 8 1/2 EEEE, never had real foot comfort till buying custom made. Expensive? YES! Worth the cost? Most defiantly.
Well treated and cared for, they will dry over nite in camp. Wet weight gain is within ounces of synthetic boots, 6 ounces wet vs dry. The 10 year old pair is as bought, the 20 have fresh soles from 5+ years ago.



butthead"



The world would be a lot happier place if everyone took the time to indulge in a custom set of footwear. I've not gone to this extent but have paid up for a properly fitting boot. As someone working long shifts standing on hard surfaces it's not an overstatement to say it's changed my life. My legs used to kill by the end of 10-12 hours, not anymore!


As for BWCA boots, I got a pair of ECCO gortex leather ankle high hybrid boots 10 years ago. I want an upgrade but just haven't worn them out yet.
 
Saberboys
02/09/2021 09:06AM
 
Scout64: "With Kevlar canoes, I wet foot when I get in and out. I have been using the New Balance Abyss II 8-Inch Boot for years. They have drain holes in the sole to let the water out. They dry quickly and offer good ankle support. I highly recommend them.
This reminds me I have 2 pairs of size 9 OTBs that my sons wore that I should put on the "for sale" forum. "



I may be interested in a pair of these, what do you want for them?
 
Rs130754
04/05/2021 09:07PM
 
This is a bit of a dated reply but I have been wearing these Lalo boots and shoes while wet footing and they offer great support, are lightweight, and dry quickly. They are pricey but both my boots and shoes from them have held up very well.
 
dschult2
04/06/2021 05:51PM
 
Trail runners and Darn Tough socks. Wet foot.
 
Blatz
04/07/2021 07:08AM
 
gymcoachdon: "I prefer good ankle support, so I use Keen Voyageurs. They are not waterproof, so water drains. They will be wet most if not all of the trip, so I wear wool socks with a poly sock liner."
As another PE teacher/ coach for 35 years, I use the same boot. Keen Voyagers are light, drain well, great support, and hold up.
 
cycle003
04/07/2021 11:02AM
 
dschult2: "Trail runners and Darn Tough socks. Wet foot."


This is what I have found works best for me when it’s warm.
 
timatkn
04/18/2021 06:27PM
 
Salomon tech Amphibian are my favs.


T
 
sns
04/18/2021 11:49AM
 
I wet-foot wearing low-top astral brewers, like them a lot.


No ankle support...I lack any connected ligaments on the outside of my left ankle. Tried high tops for years but the reality is that high tops provide so little additional support that it's not worth it to me. The only sure-fire way for me to ensure that I won't roll it is to wear a hinged, plastic Active Ankle brace. Which I don't do in canoe country.
 
HighnDry
04/19/2021 08:05AM
 
Chotas. Lightweight keens in camp.
 
mschi772
04/19/2021 08:30AM
 
MM: "Hello, how do Atrals work for portaging? Ankle support?"


My Astral Loyaks couldn't have less ankle support, and I don't care. I wear minimalist footwear so that my feet can work naturally and conform to the terrain as well as for maintaining strong foot and ankle muscles. In my past career as a biologist in the field, I have worn some pretty tall, rugged boots. I've never worn anything that can actually prevent an ankle injury--if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. In terms of support, all those boots ever did was restrict my motion, weigh me down, and atrophy my feet and ankle muscles, making them MORE vulnerable to injury. The one positive of my old boots was not as support but as armor--I wore them despite everything else because they protected my toes from being crushed and provided great puncture and abrasion armor for my feet and ankles, but those are protections I do not need on BWCAW trips.