Ok, I'd like to solicite some opinions about what you creekers prefer as far as footwear goes. I'm rockin a pair of Custy Booties, and they SUCK. Time for something better.

Here's what I'm looking for:

-Something I can hike in, portage class V rapids in (that means class V portaging, generally)
-Something with good traction and good ankle support
-Something that drains well and won't stay water logged, yet won't allow sediment, sand and gravel into my shoes.

Yes, I care about a low profile to fit in my boat to a limited extent, but I wear an 8 or 8.5 size shoe, so that's not much of an issue. No offense, Tall Guys: I'm not concerned w/ your big footed woes and scrunched toes.

Not getting these for playboating. So not interested in any booty sock crap I wouldn't want to do an 8mi hike in.

Class IV and V Creekers: let's have it- what do you guys (and girls) like?

Edited by jP - 23 Feb 2012 at 9:32pm

5.10 savant my last pair i had for 3 years...roughly 50-75 days a year on the water. traction is second to none. Just got my second pair recently.

Big fan of the 5:10 water tennies. Have reasonable good ankle support from the high-top, lace-up build, and good cushioning under the soles while still keeping a relatively slim profile.

I know of a few folks who have the 5-10 Canyoneers as well (too bulky to work in my boats).

Whatever model you go with, you'll get the 5.10 aqua-stealth rubber, which is miles ahead of anything else I've tried in terms of grip on wet, slippery rocks. It's worth it's weight in gold when you have to negotiate treacherous riverside terrain.

The only downside is you get used to negotiating slick rock surfaces with so much confidence that your instincts change, and if you find yourself wearing booties that aren't as grippy you can easily find yourself falling quite a bit...

Here's an idea - buy whatever sort of creeking footwear with will work best for you in terms of fit, support, etc - and retrofit them with aquastealth soles:

http://fiveten.com/products/accessories-detail/4314-aquastealth-kit-reg-

I've had a pair of Teva Gnarkosi's since last April/May, I'm usually not too nice to my footwear and these seem to hold up pretty well. The stitching is starting to blow out in the usual places, but they don't look rotten like some Not Really Sturdy shoes I had before these. I spent the extra $5 and am happy. After one year with my previous shoes, they were totally destroyed and rotten. Teva's design allows me to take the insole out (yes, they have an insole) and I believe that helps dry them out faster, not to mention they just feel a bit burlier than the others I've had. Haven't tried the 5:10 or Canyoneer. I think time spent drying any river gear thoroughly   (sooner than later) is time well spent. I'd buy another pair.

I still prefer to drink my bootie beers out of neoprene, though!

I must have the Avatar. The mid-shoe. It's def not the Cherry Bomb II. You know what I have, Pizzle.

Ok, so I'm resurrecting this thread, cause I'm about to get myself some 510 canyoneers. I have a mid-sized foot, so they should fit in my boat just fine. Here are some 510 canyoneer related questions:

1) the word seems to be that you want to get a size bigger than you normally wear, presumably to accomodate a neoprene sock and the gortex booty of a drysuit. Seems 1/2 a size would do for that.

fu*k, I hate the idea of ordering shoes online. Shoes need to be tried on. I can't believe in Seattle there's no where to try a pair on. I'm usually an 8 or 8.5, depending on the shoe.

2) It's not lined w/ neoprene is it? Do I need that neoprene sock? I've been wearing them inside my goretex booties since they leak. Before, when they were dry I wore them on the outside. What sort of layers do you guys wear w/ your 510 canyoneers?

3) what about those 510 canyoneer SAR's? ("Search And Rescue"). They are orange but otherwise look the same. They have a "composite toe", but I couldn't find any explanation about what that meant other than it implied a stiffer toe. Seems like a bad thing for squishing into a kayak. Anyone got any knowledge about them? They cost a little more so Ima prolly stick w/ the yellow ones.

Anyway, I need to get these ordered. Wetsuit booties suck.

When I asked about the 5.10 Canyoneers before, somebody on here posted that the Seattle Bouldering Project (http://seattleboulderingproject.com/) has them in stock to try on. I have yet to get down there to see for myself, but my be worth a phone call at least.

I hate buying shoes without trying them on as well, especially something that you have to calculate for so many other inner layers.

Edit: Guess not-very-clever beat me to the punch with the SBP recommendation.


Edited by briandunnington - 16 Apr 2012 at 2:51pm

Thanks, guys-
I'm getting sick of abusing my feet. The last thing I need is to roll an ankle hikin around some sketchy terrain w/ a boat on my shoulder. Gettin too old for this sh*t.

Ima check the SBP tip. Really appreciate it. I'd be stoked to try them on before ordering, and if they got them, I'd be even more stoked to buy from them. This is exactly the kind of item I wish I could buy at my local kayak shop, but I guess they don't sell enough to stock. Too bad they can't stock a model of each size for peeps to try, then special order when you buy. That would be my suggestion to Charles if he was reading this, and if it was feasible.

Anyway, yall never heard of the SAR version? I doubt they are what we'd want for creeking cuz I think their distinguishing characteristic is the stiff toe. Seems like that's one part of the shoe you'd want to conform to the space between your footbraces and the deck, or to flex good once the heel is crammed against the hull. I do dig the orange, but pretty is as pretty does. Pretty much nothin once you go trudging downhill through the fern infested, shale-shard infused chocolate cake of the PNW forest. Umm- so moist!
Anyone find my drainplug on the recent hike into the upper Sultan?

Yo Jp,