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mischief · 05-01-2013, 04:01

Hi
I hope someone here can help me out.
Since we are getting our lives in order to live-aboard soon we've not only been selling up but also changing items we desire to keep.
So besides exploring by sea we love exploring the landscape. For me this is climbing and trekking. For the family it's just the trekking. I've pretty much got My ultralite backpacking gear sorted. But here is the thing, I am hoping to find a pair of minimalist hiking shoes that are as comfortable on the foredeck as they are on the trail. Does something like this exist? I know I can only decide what the best shoe for me is but any help on which ones I should check out is appreciated. I already have my dress/casual deck shoes that are good for casual wear to fair weather sailing. So now if I can find a good were I/hiking shoe would mean that's all I need for foot ware besides my foul boots.
Cheers
Btw pls excuse any gram er errors etc as I'm typing blind because the cruiser ap has decided to stop showing what I am typing from about the 3rd sentence in. So I hope this posts ok.
Cheers

Trox · 05-01-2013, 04:17

I have tried many deck shoes and have found the Keen shoes best for hiking and are light and comfy for the boat. I have the "sandals" with a complete toe covering to protect my toes.

**boatman61** · 05-01-2013, 04:34

I've found if its comfortable on land its just fine on the boat... your biggest worry should be the soles and grip... some leave black marks that are hard to shift and others while great on a trek behave as if teak deck and grp is black ice...

Even some of the purpose made deck shoes should be avoided... to much fashion not enough grip.. like a pair I bought in Palm beach... slippy and fell apart in less than 8mths... at $149.99 I expected better from a 'Famed Brand'

Tar34 · 05-01-2013, 04:43

You mean like these? These are my favorite. Non scuff sole is all I require. I don't hike out much but they are good for getting into my hard dinghy which collects water now and again.

Deckshoe - YouTube

**boatman61** · 05-01-2013, 04:53

Got a similar pair....

Also found 'Roos' were pretty damn good...

**The Boat Galley** · 05-01-2013, 06:39

Another vote for Keen Newport H2 Sandals (the H2 series are designed to be in/out of water all day, they have others that look similar but aren't). May not have done as much technical stuff as what you're planning, but they went from the dinghy, through the water, across the sand and all sorts of rough hiking (not quite climbing) all over the Sea of Cortez. I'm on probably my tenth pair now -- they'll "last" (in the sense of not falling apart) over 1,000 miles, but they'll be broken down (stretched out and sole/arch wearing down) maybe around 400. But when it's hard to get replacements, it's nice that they just keep going.

And they have great traction on deck -- better than most "boat shoes" I've owned. The toe protector is absolutely brilliant and I know kept me from a couple of broken toes. But I'm still basically a barefoot girl on deck . . .

jackdale · 05-01-2013, 08:09

I prefer to keep my deck shoes on deck. I hate digging pebbles of of the sole as much as I hate scratches on the gel coat. I do wear closed toe sandals ; first Columbia, now Keens.

Dsanduril · 05-01-2013, 08:30

Have you considered some intermediate sole approach shoes? We like those in both places, on the rocks and on the deck. Our experience is that the "Sticky Vibram" soles are pretty much non-marking and get a good grip on deck and on shore. I wear Scarpas, they work for my feet. Not the best shoe when it gets wet. Works well on a wet foredeck, but when the shoe itself gets wet not so comfortable (pretty much true of most deck shoes too). Anyway, find them to be a good all-around pair.

Cheechako · 05-01-2013, 08:57

The best deck shoes I've had were actually racquet ball shoes! Very light weight super grippy amber colored soles (dont get black soles!) and I wore them ashore a lot too. It's been years though, not sure what a Racquetball shoe looks like these days.... PS: They were a bit like wearing enclosed sandals.... not much ankle suport like a hiking shoe though....

Artif · 05-01-2013, 09:00

Vibram Five fingers KSO's Vibram FiveFingers - KSO Men’s Minimalist Shoes for Running, Water Sports & More | Vibram FiveFingers

jackdale · 05-01-2013, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheechako

The best deck shoes I've had were actually racquet ball shoes! Very light weight super grippy amber colored soles (dont get black soles!) and I wore them ashore a lot too. It's been years though, not sure what a Racquetball shoe looks like these days.... PS: They were a bit like wearing enclosed sandals.... not much ankle suport like a hiking shoe though....

\
I have unsuccessfully tried squash shoes - they must be different.

saw77 · 05-01-2013, 09:10

Another vote for Keens, comfortable everywhere you go.

boatsail · 05-01-2013, 09:17

Chavis. Com

Sold at rei. Com

Vibram soles.

Awesome for boat and hiking

River Cruiser · 05-01-2013, 12:33

Keens & Zekos, I like keens the best . Zekos are light & comfortable, good for wearing in water, only thing I don't like is the Velcro strap to keep them on, may be my hi arch they will loosen up.