Aqua Shoe Comparison

I haven't paid much attention to aqua shoes on the past, usually buying whatever is cheap and on sale. Lately I've learned there is a difference. Here are 3 brands and how they compare: Nike Sneakerboat ($40), Nautica Tack ($40 on sale) and Oxide ($9). I've rated each on a scale from 1 to 10 for different qualities. Here's what they look like:


Grip: Gripping the pedals is a high priority for me
Nike -- 10 -- by far the best
Nautica -- 6 -- not bad
Oxide -- 6 -- OK

Fit / comfort:
Nike -- 9 -- excellent walking and pedaling; tiny contact with toes -- I'm picky here
Nautica -- 10 -- very comfortable all around
Oxide -- 5 -- upper seam pinches top of my foot under pedal straps. Otherwise fine.

Sand: Intruding sand can definitely rub your feet the wrong way
Nike -- 9 -- minimal intrusion
Nautica -- 6 -- sand seems to sneak in; not too uncomfortable though
Oxide -- 5 -- sand is sometimes annoying

Construction / durability:
Nike -- NR -- seems well made. No foot liner, but not a problem. Light weight wet and dry; fast drying
Nautica -- NR -- well made, durable plastic foot liner, little heavier, slow drying, Vibram sole.
Oxide -- 3 -- shoe upper pulls away from toe in short order using pedal straps (I wedge my feet in); foam foot liner stretches in time.

Weight: (on the postal scale)
Nike -- 14.1 oz dry / size 11
Nautica -- 19.1 oz dry / size 10
Oxide -- 17.5 oz dry / size 10

Style:
Nike -- clean, functional, simple design
Nautica -- most likely to bag yachting invitations. Looks good with the Hobie Gucci seatback removable fanny pack. Best to be seen in at the Club!
Oxide -- Keep your feet underwater and you'll be fine

Overall rating / value:
Nike -- excellent so far; best value; outstanding sticky soles -- my favorite. Earth saving recycled materials an excellent conversation starter!
Nautica -- comfortable, versatile, can be seen anywhere. Competent shoe. I like it.
Oxide -- Better than nothing -- I've had several pair. Can't beat the price.

There are several other brands and styles out there. If nothing else, this gives some ideas of what to consider. If you have some likes or dislikes, how about sharing them?

Keens.

http://www.onlineshoes.com/search_resul ... rm=keen+h2

I thought these would be the perfect shoe when I got them. They are quite confortable and breathable, but you tend to get little rocks etc in the shoe pretty easily (which drives me crazy). Also, they hold onto some water longer than some of the style shoes shown above. Not to mention they are about $100 bucks. Grip is pretty good.

Overall its not bad, but for playing with your kayak, I would recommend a closed shoe.

What annoys me about water shoes (from a consumer point of view) is that just when I find a pair that fits and works good, the manufacturer discontinues the model.

That is so annoying.

Brian C

Sperry has a couple of water shoes also.
I buy whatever is on special and hope for the best.
My last West Marine purchase cost $21.

Has anyone done a review of neoprene booties for the "off" seasoners?

I use these felt soled neoprene wading booties when the conditions are more extreme, as in cold water and rocky conditions. The felt soles really help grip on wet rocks.

_________________
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Has anyone done a comparison between the two ways of
keeping the pedals in a ready position to slip your feet in?

I heard that one person put some weights to hold it in the down position.
If so what weight and how was it secured and has it been holding up?

The other way I heard was some sort of bungee cord arrangement.

If you have had any experiences with this let me know. I find it aggravating at times when I have to pedal quick to mess around with slotting my feet.

Bungees work great for me, always in position.



Kayaking Bob

Question prob should have been in another seperate post but . . .

I tried the weights. I purchased the steel weights trying to be environmentally friendly (no lead), but even using the whole pack, it wasn't quite enough weight to keep them nice and square (They were not nearly as heavy as lead). I just gooped them on and they have stayed on so far, but you can prob knock them off if you want to. I am considering ditching the weights and just going with a bungee. The weights don't look as clean either.

I picked up a pair of Speedo Buoy shoes at Costco in the spring for about $15.

http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/ProductDe ... pg=5051185[/url]

They worked so well, I bought another pair (knowing how Costco is with inventory). Although I like the comfort of my Keen's better for rough ground during launching, hiking, etc, these are better for the kayak, in particular because they empty and dry very quickly and easily rinse clean of mud and/or sand. The silver color also reflects some of the heat.

They tend to run a little big. I normally wear a size 11.5 - 12, but found a size 11 to work best for me. I could probably even go smaller.

One thing to consider: the soles aren't as thick as my Keen's so you might find it more comfortable to add a Dr Scholl's heel/arch support for long trips (say over 8 miles) just for variation, which I find nice. I start without the insoles. When I start to feel fatigue, I throw in the inserts and it feels great. Removing them after peddling a while has a similar recharging effect.

I tried a number of different brand of shoes until I realized that my real problem was that water shoes stay wet and keep my feet cold which gives me cramps (and go try to shake a bad cramp on a kayak!)

So, now I buy the cheapest water shoes I find just to get me from the house to the yak, and then I remove them as soon as I can pedal. The wind dries my feet which then stay warm. In fact when the water is flat, I've been known to wear regular socks (which I bring dry to the yak) while pedaling. A little too much maybe, but haven't had a cramp with them!

Thanks for the review RoadRunner. I use the Columbia Aquatooth, they dry quickley but let in a bit too much sand. Tey run small so order a size larger. The tops are mesh so my feet tan with wierd stripes. After about a year of use they still have alot of wear left, but they stink!

I think I'll try the Nike.

I have a pair of Sperrys but only use them when I know I am going to be walking in the water. They offer much better protection from stingrays and oysters. All in all I much prefer Crocks. They stick to the pedals, are extremly light, dry instantly and are comfortable even when wearing Seal Skinz socks. Pair of crocks weigh 13 OZs
Pair of Sperrys weigh 38 OZs and there is no way to wear them with Seal Skinzs