Do You Wear Shoes While Sailing ?

[Elsakis]

I have a pair of Vibram toe shoes, they have supurb grip and feel like you are barefoot
Vibram FiveFingers : Barefoot Sports Shoes : Natural & Barefoot Running
they look a little odd but I love them. Get them a size smaller than your normal shoes, they will be tight at first but then after they break-in they wil fit like a glove

[hooligan6a]

As an old infantryman, we learn to take care of our feet and to protect them with shoes/boots. I think I will make it mandatory on my boat to wear shoes at all times while sailing. That will make three rules on my boat. Rule #1 Don't fall overboard. Rule#2 No animals allowed aboard that you can't eat and rule #3 All hands will wear deck shoes while sailing. I love my Dubarry Deck Shoes.

[Steve Pope]

I do like to go barefoot and occasionally bare assed, but! I am currently waiting for a big toe nail to replace itself and no.2 toe to cure from yet another break, having broad feet ( from going barefoot as a kid) I have difficulty finding anything close to comfortable in the shoe range that has soles that work well on a boat and yet not cost a fortune.

[SaltyMonkey]

Elsakis - those are really interesting! Love them!

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by jean1146

I never wear shoes and ask my guest not to wear shoes either.I have noticed that french sailors don't wear shoes when most americans do!In fact I don't wear much of anything. When weather permit it......

Ah, yes, the offshore uniform of floppy hat and...well, that's it, really.

[atoll]

as a blue water sailor never,
as a green water sailor, colder climes,rigger boots are the way to go,
yellow wellies never!!!!!!!

[Tallswede]

I'm generally barefoot, I have some sandals to slip on when walking hot dock though.

Kev

[Ram]

back in spring of 06 I had my first charter with this yacht in Crete, as I came into pick up the people i stubbed my toe bad and blead all over the deck ,i could not stop the bleeding for about an hour and was franticly washing the deck off so the people would not see it- still going barefoot, but have not stubbed my toe so bad again-knock on wood

[tallyhorob]

I wear my five finger toe shoes, everyone looks at them but them grip very well.

Vibram FiveFingers : Water Shoes : Sailing Canoeing Kayaking & Surfing Shoes

[ShaunJ]

Shoes for sure, I don't even walk around the house without them, I am prone to toe stubbing.
Red Wing Irish setters are my boat shoe of choice.
When I first started wearing boat shoes I figure I could get them wet and with the drain holes and mesh in them they would dry quickly. Much to my surprise when helping launch a buddy's boat I volunteered to jump in and help like I have seen many people do, thinking my new boat shoes would dry in no time. WRONG, wet leather for two days took a little getting use to.
Lesson learned......


ShaunJ

[Bloodhound]

After the first 15 posts I don't have to read any more. The shoes have it, feet down. You want to sail on my boat, you put your bloody shoes on. I don't like (a) removing skin burned onto teak decks and (b) removing blood seeping from wounded feet onto teak decks. No shoes, no sail, and thongs (aka flip flops in these parts) don't qualify. A pair of Diesels works really well - feels like bare feet, but soft, comfortable and great protection, dry fast too.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by bstreep

I only wear shoes when it's too cold not to.

Like the last week?

[tager]

I try to go barefoot most of the time. With a pair of flip flops on hand. When fall comes around I go to vans or some other light shoes. Winter is usually xtratuf boots.

[barnakiel]

Leisure sailing barefeet is OK. But whenever I go to do anything on the deck I jump into my sailing shoes.

Kicked objects badly too many times to risk again.

Actually, I believe there are boats where just walking the deck barefeet is a risk - to much hardware everywhere.

b.

[jackdale]

One crew member, not wearing shoes, lost some skin on the top of the feet when stepped on by another wearing shoes. Sailing shoes will also grip skin.