Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Portage boots
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NikonF5user |
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YetiJedi |
NikonF5user: "Not quite understanding why more paddlers are not using water shoes to wet foot in and out of the boat, then changing into hiking boots for the actual portage, especially for longer carries..." For longer carries, yes, I have changed into dry shoes and socks but I suppose "longer portage" is a matter of individual paddler perspective. For me, most portages under a mile one way aren't worth changing into dry shoes and socks. The other issue is that some of the longer portages have water along the trail in the form of puddles, stream crossings, bogs, mud, weather, wet undergrowth, etc. and I would much rather have dry foot gear in camp. Besides, on the shorter portages, my feet are fine hiking while wet. The portage from Burntside into Crab - dry feet for me. The portage from Cap to Boulder - I keep my wet shoes on. Suum Cuique. |
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Blatz |
NikonF5user: "Not quite understanding why more paddlers are not using water shoes to wet foot in and out of the boat, then changing into hiking boots for the actual portage, especially for longer carries..."I did this for a few years but found it to be a pain. Plus many portages have their own water features, thus getting your dry portage boots wet anyways. |
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BrianDay |
NikonF5user: "Not quite understanding why more paddlers are not using water shoes to wet foot in and out of the boat, then changing into hiking boots for the actual portage, especially for longer carries..." One of the keys to skillful travel in canoe country is making your transitions from paddling to the portage trail as efficient as possible. You can waste a lot of time at portages and it really adds up over the course of the day. Changing shoes at every portage might eat up five minutes per portage. Maybe more. Over the course of an average travel day this could easily add up to an hour of wasted travel time. That's an hour that might be better spent getting to your favorite campsite, fishing, or relaxing by the fire. Brian |
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MDVancleave |
Many portages have multiple sections you'll need to get your feet wet for. Variable water levels and beaver activity make this difficult to predict. Unloading your packs/canoe to change shoes multiple times on the trail is a major time suck and obstacle for those around you. Finding a stable footing without worrying about flooding my footwear is a priority for me. I wet foot in the summer and use sock-foot hip waders with Chota boots in cold weather (if/when I manage to flood them, they're easy to reverse and dry overnight). |
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boonie |
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MDVancleave |
I’ve never really thought about it being overkill, honesty. Haha The gortex runners seem tougher than other materials. The socks nor the shoes are 100% but the combo keeps the feet pretty dry. " The Goretex membrane is generally not used on the outside of clothing-especially not with shoes. It is relatively delicate and often sandwiched between layers of other more durable materials. Rain jackets made this way typically have a DWR coating on the outer later that needs to be reapplied regularly to keep repelling water. A waterlogged outer layer prevents the Gortex from working effectively. |
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scramble4a5 |
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Blatz |
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timatkn |
Ankle support or no ankle support? It really depends on what you like. You can find studies that show increased risk of Achilles injuries or fractures with more ankle support, and more knee injuries and you can find individuals that swear by more support and vice versa…in the NBA the trend now is less support vs. 20 years ago where everything was high tops. You can also find studies that show braces reduce sprains. What does this mean? It depends… If you like ankle support then use boots with support…if you hate support and find it restricting don’t wear boots with support. Personally I use Salomon Tech amphibians…they have good wet traction. With no support my ankle can flex more and put more traction on wet rocks. I’ve tried high top “supportive” boots and they SUCK for me. I can’t get the same traction on wet rocks, they limit how I angle down or up a wet rock. The difference is significant to me. There just isn’t one perfect shoe/boot. T |
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mirth |
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Barca |
Random selection to illustrate. https://tacticalgear.com/rocky-prolight-snakeproof-waterproof-mossy-oak?sku=1570-4m&ft=e3f7bec5-8df6-438f-88ce-592a9bedc97a&gclid=CjwKCAiAr4GgBhBFEiwAgwORrZPMKYNz7ibFtGrXyLT1dnWZlfYc2I5y0xynpIDefLqw-fy0pQyRRxoCjGwQAvD_BwE#/5230/5129,23540,760/1&dl=b&catr=1 |
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BrianDay |
MossBack: "Apologies for my whining....I wish someone made wet footing shoes to fit those of us who have duck feet......like 5E or even 6E width. OK whining over." Jungle boots might be an option. They come in wide sizes. Although maybe not wide enough... Brian |
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Jackfish |
Barca: "A number of years ago I bought a pair of snake boots for portaging. While they've since grown too small, the ones I had (Cabelas I think) worked very well. 15 inches of waterproof with good hiking support. Hard bottom soles which some aren't a fan of, but certainly another option to consider. Hey Barca... check out this tutorial. It's very easy. |
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golds009 |
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wxce1260 |
I love my NRS Portage boots. They are not cheap, but they are well made and keep me dry. NRS Boundary Boot |
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YetiJedi |
wxce1260: "I love my NRS Portage boots. They are not cheap, but they are well made and keep me dry. NRS Boundary Boot I think my question is in the spirit of the original post...How do the NRS Boundary Boots do on portages? Ankle support? Sweat or just wear them in May/September? Ample room in the toe box? |
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A1t2o |
golds009: "I have not been a “wet footer,” instead choosing to balance on rocks and other solid objects. Last year I broke my foot (not on a trip) and have decided that solo tripping at age 74 may require some adjustments. So, this year, I plan to wet foot without getting my feet wet. Voila, portage boots. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you in advance for your comments." I was in the same boat. I always avoided getting my feet wet and liked having dry boots. I'm only 35, but I realized I was wasting time and energy on pointlessly trying to keet my feet dry. I switched over to the Keen Voyageur II Mid and love them. They are light, even when wet, fit my feet, and don't take a week to dry. I am also much faster on portages and burn less energy in the process. Rock hopping and watching your footing so carefully slows you down and requires much more effort. It doesn't seem like much, but after a day of portaging, I could feel the difference. Especially when my tripping buddy, who has always been much more fit than me, was slowing down and wearing out faster than me when he was trying to keep his feet dry. |
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sns |
boonie: "Like others, I can't imagine doing that. It would double my transition time at portages. It would be especially problematic on days with multiple short portages. Occasionally portages are flooded. What then? I have not found it problematic wearing the same footwear all day, so for me it would be a solution without a problem. YMMV" Same - would abhor extra time at the beginning and end of portages. Also, I would feel super uncomfortable if I were holding up another group because I am changing footwear. Regardless, this is always a fun topic - and possibly the most divisive one of all. |
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scottiebaldwin |
YetiJedi: "wxce1260: "I love my NRS Portage boots. They are not cheap, but they are well made and keep me dry. NRS Boundary Boot They are true to size. I'm a 9.5 and I have a 10 and they're comfortably roomy. Be aware: there is almost no ankle support! You absolutely WILL sweat in these to the point that you'll think that they are leaking or that water got in. It hasn't but you'll feel that way. I've gotten this feeling even while wearing them on dry land after a couple hours or so. Get used to your feet being clammy. Just wear Darn Tough wool socks in the NRS Boundary Boots and you'll be happy. I love mine early and late in the season. Just wet foot in the summer. It feels good. Bring comfy camp slippers for the evening/morning. Enjoy! |
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RedLakePaddler |
Carl |
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MossBack |
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timatkn |
tumblehome: "Last year in Quetico I met two guys on a wet and muddy portage wearing tennis shoes, soaked past their ankles and it was their first day out. That had to be extremely uncomfortable for them and I knew that they were not experienced or prepared. I think that is a really big assumption on your part. The boots you link would be torture for me to wear. I’d assume you were rookie wearing those (I guess we’d both be wrong :) ) Getting wet to my ankles or knees is no big deal to me…you just get wet and then ya don’t worry about it…I swim every day usually. I couldn't care less…the first five seconds is uncomfortable, then you move on… I’ll just go back to my previous post…it really depends on the individual. T |
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Minnesotian |
Used to wet foot. Used to use the waterproof socks too. Didn't really like either method because my feet hated being slightly wet/damp all day or the socks trapped so much of my perspiration I might as well have been wet footing it. So, I use Dryshod Boots year-round now. For me they breath excellent, no buildup of perspiration and yet are warm enough for shoulder seasons. Also, they are tall enough and tight enough I haven't had any water slop over the top. Used to use MuckBoots, these are better. |
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iCallitMaize |
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BrianDay |
Recently have switched to Astral Rasslers which are excellent. If you're dead set on keeping your feet dry you might try lining boots like these with a waterproof/breathable sock. Or you could go the rubber boot route. I've found XtraTufs to be outstanding. Have had a pair for nearly 20 years. XtraTuf Boots I prefer to wet foot and like the option of going in as deep as necessary to safely load and unload the canoe. I wear quick dry pants and boots that drain. As always, your mileage may vary. Brian |
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YetiJedi |
OldGuide2: "Long before most of you were born the folks I worked with preferred Converse All Stars." Hey OldGuide, Love this! My teenage daughter wore an old pair of converse all-stars last July on our week-long trip! It's what I wore wading as a kid to fly-fish the small mountain streams of north Idaho. Classic shoe. Thanks for the good memories! |
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tumblehome |
I have worn quality mud boot for many years because I don’t like wet feet. There are many brands out there and any outdoors store will sell you some. Unlike the fairer sex, I prefer to try them on in the store and not buy them online. If they don’t fit right… well… There are too many out there to recommend one particular pair. But plan on spending $100 for starters and don’t buy the $20 type that are just rubber galoshes. Here’s an example to start. Now go shopping and get a pair and you will be the happiest geezer, besides me, on the portages next summer. Neoprene boots Tom |
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deerfoot |
In terms of portage boots I have settled on Quetico Trekkers (no longer available but an updated version is at Piragis). For 15 years I tripped in Canada and although I really liked Salomon Techamphibian water shoes they did not provide enough ankle support and protection so I switched to the Trekkers. I have had 2 pair of the Techamphibians as well as other water shoes but they did not hold up well to tripping in NW Ontario. I am 75 and I have one unused pr of the Trekkers so I am all set for the remainder of my tripping days. |
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JohnGalt |
wxce1260: " Met a guy at the Ely Steakhouse last year who was raving about the NRS boots, he couldn't recommend them any more highly & he was wearing them at the bar he liked them so much. I'm a wet-footer so I'm out of my depth with all of this dry foot talk haha |
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NikonF5user |
dschult2: "iCallitMaize: "I prefer my Gore-tex trail runners, lock laces and waterproof socks. " GORE-TEX can actually increase drying time; the GORE-TEX membrane does let water vapor through, but it does not allow liquid water, meaning liquid water within the shoe is trapped. I've always felt one of the more foolish shoe designs is a low-top trail hiker with GORE-TEX (or any full-size GORE-TEX boot that features a detached tongue above the lacing rings / eyelets. The insides of these boots are bound to get wet in all but the shallowest puddle, and then the water is trapped within, causing the GORE-TEX show to dry far more slowly than a non-GT equivalent. |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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AlexanderSupertramp |
golds009: "I have not been a “wet footer,” instead choosing to balance on rocks and other solid objects. Last year I broke my foot (not on a trip) and have decided that solo tripping at age 74 may require some adjustments. So, this year, I plan to wet foot without getting my feet wet. Voila, portage boots. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you in advance for your comments." Maybe anecdotal advice, but at your age and given the foot injury last year, support should be your number 1 priority. So I'd pick your favorite hiking boot in a size or so larger, then get some waterproof socks and a thin pair of wool socks under that. If you dont want water on your legs at all, then get some hippies and pair those with a good supportive boot. |
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Tony |
Then I invested in a pair of chota trackers which replace my jungle Boots but I still use the rubber knee boots in May and September I have a pair of insulated rubber knee boots that I wear in May in a non-insulated pair that I wear in warmer weather I also just picked up a pair of chota hippies that'll fit inside my chota trecker boots kind of like a fabric hip boot that rolls down out of the way when it's warm out Tony |
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LaVirginienne |
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LaVirginienne |
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OldGuide2 |
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dschult2 |
iCallitMaize: "I prefer my gortex trail runners, lock laces and waterproof socks. " Out of curiosity, why Gore-tex? That seems redundant. |
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iCallitMaize |
dschult2: "iCallitMaize: "I prefer my gortex trail runners, lock laces and waterproof socks. " I’ve never really thought about it being overkill, honesty. Haha The gortex runners seem tougher than other materials. The socks nor the shoes are 100% but the combo keeps the feet pretty dry. |