Boating shoes
 

In this time of chaos in our country let's talk about a lighter subject like random boating attire like shoes...I along with probably most people on here do not allow shoes on my boat for obvious reasons...I do however feel very awkward driving at speed barefoot...what are some options out there for boat shoes that could stay on the boat and hence stay clean and still give some comfort and rigidity while standing at the helm going 80+?? Just curious if there's an obvious alternative to flip flops or "slides" as the cool kids call them apparently hahaha

Light and comfy.

https://www.heydudeshoesusa.com/collections/mens

More fashionable and more expensive.

https://swims.com/collections/loafer...RoC69EQAvD_BwE

Usually tried and true Sperrys & Timberlands. Warparty's links look kinda cool too...might have to look into those.

https://www.crocs.com/

Plus you can get them with Cig logos and Fountain sawblades too! Don't forget the jibbitz charms! https://www.crocs.com/c/jibbitz :D:D:D

NIKE FREE 4.0 FLYKNIT.........Been using them since '04......Don't know if they make that model anymore, but there the lightest and grip a wet boat deck like nothing else!

Slip on Vans!

Hemp Sanuks

Bare feet only on my boat and I always advise my non-boating friends to always remove shoes if invited aboard a nice boat, don't even ask. Of course if boat is full of fish guts and fishing tackle ........:eek:

2nd this... all I wear besides thoroughgood work boots :drink:

I never had a problem with people wearing the correct type of shoes on my boats, it's a boat...big deal. I always wore my Sperrys anyway, better traction, no stubbing of toes. Besides not a big fan of other people's foot funk, toe jam, or spooge foot on my boat.

I love Keen. I usually need inserts due to my arch but these are great, they are high quality , I liked em so much I bought em for everyday wear too.

https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-UNE...=mens_footwear

You have to be 60+ to pull off wearing those thou

Under armour makes a great deck shoe . Very light breathable material and they look good

Can't help you - When May gets here I go barefoot all the time - no shoes ever for me other than to go to work....... My kids are already barefoot all the time and it's only in the 60's!!!

Top Siders

You can walk up a wet wall w/them.
Ive probably had a 100 pairs, worn them all my life.

Their quality has gone to **** in last several yrs though.

Sebagos are very nice and will be buying another pair.

Allen Edmonds makes a real leather insole etc. hand made in USA

To me a big concern is that people always step on the gunwale gelcoat while boarding or deboarding and shoes trap abrasive sand and gravel from the boat launch. Therefore all shoes come off before boarding. Who the hell needs to wear shoes on a boat anyway?

im only 3 years from there so all good.lol

I guess it depends on your environment. At our rack there's no sand or gravel or other junk to get trapped on the shoes. Why wear boating shoes? Slips, trips, dunks, stubbs, to me it's safer and if they're clean, better IMO. Gotta reiterate though, the correct type of shoe only. If they're not I have no issues telling them to take them off.

I absolutely love Keen, I use their Targhee shoes for construction.
I have something similar to your link and love them in the summer:
https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-NEW...otwear_sandals

Thanks for the info on these shoes, I have always had Sperry Docksiders, but will try the Hemps. I'm 66 years old so it's an automatic qualifier.

No shoes of any type when boarding or on the deck. That said I have Raynauds Syndrome and even in the summer my feet sometimes get cold. I keep a pair of bright yellow (matches the boat) clean Crocs on board. On poker runs or hard running i will wear a pair of good quality, clean running shoes for the stability and cushioning. Again bare feet when boarding or on the deck. Cockpit sole is carpeted so it periodically gets taken out and vacuumed. .

Padraig

I always kind of chuckle at the whole bare feet vs shoes thing. Particularly when people walk around land or the docks in bare feet, then enter the boat. The same holds true around the home. What most people fail to realize is that much more dirt is generally carried around on the bottom of a bare foot than on the bottom of a shoe. The oil in your skin attracts dirt and the dirt tends to more readily attach to that oil than it does a dry shoe bottom. Then on carpet, the oil and dirt transfers to the carpet fibers. I get the no shoes on my shiny fiberglass, makes sense. I'd guess the best approach would be to wear shoes right up to the point you enter the boat and remove them as you board. But I constantly see people walking around docks, restaurants etc in bare feet then step down on a vinyl seat to enter a boat that that has "bare feet only" signs on it. Maybe those signs should read "clean bare feet only"!

Keen Belize sandals.

welcome, they run a bit small but stretch quickly, i use them at docks and stuff but take them off as i board.

Last spring/summer Costco here had Sperry Topsiders. Bought three pairs just in case they don't have them this year.

I don't care about shoes either. I've boated plenty of times where I needed a hat, gloves and a parka. The same guy with the "no shoes" sign on a 50K boat, jumps into his 70K pickup at a muddy construction site?

shoes are inevitable for us due to gravel parking lots at the launch. most of the time people rock comfortable flip flops. I do encourage people to take them off when they board.

Flip flop suggestions: reef, ukalai, etc.

I’ve been a top-sider guy forever but I’ve really taken to Quciksilver’s Amphibian line of footwear. They’re extremely lightweight and breathe well. And, they never seem to get nasty. I pretty much wear them all the time now.

I've found that the socks from sky zone (trampoline park) work really well. They have a no slip sole, and they're only $1 per pair.

Wow thanks for all the replies everyone!! Will be doing some checking on all the recommendations!!

Ended up getting a pair of swims....thanks for the tip warparty!! Girlfriend actually bought them for me for a birthday present lol....talk about comfy!! Can't wait to wear these things in the boat!!