Footwear

[Deuce]

This is more a question for open boaters. I think for cold weather canoe camping I'd be well advised to have on some sort of dry sock or shoe for launching, dragging (not that that would ever happen ), waves, etc. Seems like a tall dry sock under Keens would be a viable option. I also really like the NRS Boundary shoes or socks, but I'm not sure I like them as much as they do. The Sealskinz look okay and are pretty cheap, but I've read they' have delamination issues. I'm pretty convinced I want something that's at least over the calf. I don't mind paying if I need to; just don't want to be a chump. What do y'all use?

[kru1]

I've paddled for 8 years with a pair of Merrel water tennis shoes with synthetic socks in the winter. Yeah they lasted that long and I still have them for backup. This winter I purchased a new pair of 5.10 water tennies. Again I use a synthetic sock when it is cold.
For camping I always carry a dry pair of tennis shoes and socks. Nothing beats a dry pair of socks and shoes after a full day of wet feet. I put them on as soon as I pull up to a gravel bar and unload the boat .

kru

[Roger]

Footwear for cold-weather canoe camping for me is dependent on air temps and how often I will get my feetsies wet before I make camp and change into dry stuff. Got some muck boots that can be used for a low-water Buffalo trip or NRS wetboots that can be used with some wicking, warming sock.

If your feet are constantly wet during the paddling time, think about some sort of waterproof barrier for your footwear especially on long cold days with no sun.

The NRS product is simply a glorified muck boot when you think about it.

$0.02 from Roger

[Eric Esche]

When I am wearing NRS dry pants or my Kokatat Dry suit that has the ankle seals, I wear a set of British Military gore-tex over socks. Under these, depending on how cold it is, I wear one to three layers of socks. Layer one can be a polypropylene wicking sock. Layer two and sometimes layer one if skipping the wicking layer is a polyester pile sock. Layer three is a polyester Fleece sock, then the outside Goretex over sock. The ankle seals on my pants and drysuit both seal well against the gore-tex over sock, well enough to be able to stand waist or neck deep with no leaks. I wear a winter set of wet suit booties that are sized 3 sizes up from my normal summer pair so the 4 pair of socks are not compressed and I retain the insulation value. I wear NRS Attack boots as my winter pair.

Haven't worn my Kokatat gore-tex Smerf suit with the neoprene booties yet. Will probably wear 2 layers with one of them the gore-tex layer under it as well in case of leaks.

I have been frost bit badly in the past and have some circulation issues so I get cold easily, but I stay toasty even down to minus 15 with this combination. Other benefit with this much padding is that foot comfort is like wearing bedroom slippers, even on all types of rock.

You can laugh, but no one ever hears me complain about my feet hurting from the cold. I have extra insulated land boots that are sized for extra layers as well, and tent slippers in the tent to go with either of my minus 40F/C sleeping bags.

Looking at a larger tent, as after 35 years, I have decided that with my joints, it would be easier in colder temperatures to have more room to get dressed and move around in than a Eureka Timberline II provides, so look for a new Hilton on a river near you this winter. Blame Richard. IF he can carry the tents that he does, then so can I. I also like the idea of a dry entry area when it is raining hard.

Eric Esche

[Al Donaldson]

Luke:

Obviously, my take on cold weather gear is a bit different from others' views, due to my geographic misfortune.

Thus, take the Iowa difference into account regarding this opinion.

My wife and I have gone through a number of Sealskins socks and gloves. IMHO, they are not worth the shipping cost, much less the price. They leak after very short usage and the insulation value is questionable.

NRS Boundary Shoes work, are backed by a company that does back up their own guarantees and are not horribly expensive. They are quite flexible and do seal pretty well on the top, unlike farmer's muck boots. (Roger, no disrespect intended, but when I tried using my "Farm and Fleet" pull on muck boots while kneeling in my canoe in the rain. I discovered quickly that I needed no bailing bucket. All the water in the bottom of the canoe ended up rushing into the boots through their tops. Bummer.)

For cold weather gear, Eric's thoughts seem to be apt: multiple layers work better than single ones, and loose boots are warmer than ones that cut off circulation.

HTH

al

[OzarkTom]

I have had great luck with the 5.10 Canyoneer 2 coupled with the NRS titanium neoprene socks for cold conditions where my feet will be wet a lot. I have similar challenges as Eric with cold feet and this is the best I have found to date. I finally have warm feet under any conditions, incredible traction, and can still swim easily if necessary. I'd also have to concur with KRU that having dry socks and shoes ASAP at camp is really important.

As a side note, in the first year I had them, my 5.10s began to delaminate on the toes. In spite of very heavy usage and wear, 5.10 happily replaced them under their warranty with no question since they were less than one year old! I really appreciate their standing behind their product so well and will buy from them in the future because of that.

[Cowper]

I have a some 5.10's, and I really like them so far. A friend's 5.10's are also delaminating, so I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

When I'm out on flatwater in the touring canoe, I find "the real deal" is the genuine Muck boots. Easy on and off, my feet stay dry, no need to hesitate when it is time to step out and wade. In about 4 years of use I've only gotten water over the top about two times. And they are highly useful for wear anytime it gets nasty outside. But of course I only wear these in the kind of water where splashes are rare and I'm 99.9% sure I'm not going to turn over and swim. And with something heavy like this on my feet, wearing a PFD becomes more important no matter how easy the water is.

[Deuce]

Thanks everyone. I've narrowed it down to Boundary shoes or socks. Now, which one? Hmmmmmm. I think I'd be well served by either. Seems like plenty of people happily wear them under Keens. I'm leaning toward the shoes since they're not much more expensive and could be quickly deployed for chores like extracting my brother and my john boat from below a shoal I expressly told him to stay above. :myday"

[Tim Eubanks]

Nobody mentionsed Chotas, I think they're called. waterproof to knee. They are popular up in Canada and Alaska.
I had a pair of Sealskinz, and they are truly not worth the shipping. Might as well use a bread sack and a rubber band.
I have seen convertable wader-like doodads at this link:http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/br ... ,8817.html

My work productivity today is exceptionally high, by the way.

[Deuce]

My work productivity today is exceptionally high, by the way.

Mine too as usual. I've looked at the Chota products before. They're kinda cool, but they're basically just cut down breathable waders. Not even sure if they're Gore Tex, and I don't like the idea of having to wear my wading boots all day in the canoe. I did it last week for six hours or so and I wouldn't want to exceed that. Also, I know of at least one place (Montauk) where felt soles are banned, which means I'd have to pony up for another pair of boots and the Hippies are $120 without a boot (knee highs are $80). That said, I can see where they'd be a really good choice for BWCA type trips that required portaging, but they just seem a little high to me for what they are.

[Shark Attack]

Dang Luke. Thanks for posting this question, it just cost me $89 plus shipping. I've seen these boots worn by others floating on the rivers & was wondering what they were. I've filled up a Muck boot or two & was wanting something that strapped around the top. Actually I just looked at the invoice from Amazon It was $88.15 & free shipping

[Lupe]

I'm not sure which product Tim might have been referring to, but the Chota boots I know are very popular with paddlers are Mukluks and really aren't anything like waders. They are more like muck boots (waterproof neoprene), but made to fit slimmer so they are not so bulky and clunky. I think they also make a wader-like product, but that's not what I see paddlers using (and Mukluks have a rubber sole - not felt). I think of Chota boots as being pretty similar to the NRS Boundary Shoe.
http://chotaoutdoorgear.com/shop/mukluk-light/

For swamp type paddling and some slow river trips I use the muck boots. Fine for sitting, not very comfy at all for kneeling. I also have a pair of knee high gore-tex socks made by Kokatat. They are just like drysuit socks, but come up high and then can be cinched with bungie at the top to stay up. I can actually put them just above my knee, but usually cinch them just below my knee. With these, I can wear nice warm wool socks underneath, and then wear the same type of water sneaker I wear over my drysuit booties. Dry feet but still flexible footwear which is more comfy than the big boots for kneeling. I still give the nod to my muck boots when there will be, well, you know - MUCK - that I'm also wading through, but for things like gentle rivers and gravel bar camping, the gore-tex sock/water tennies are a sweet combo.

All of these are for when I feel confident that I'll be staying dry except for getting in and out of the boat (so class I/swamp water). For spirited water or even non-spirited water but really seriously low temps, I'll go ahead and go with the full drysuit for the added insurance and safety.

By the way, if you have well defined (read: fat) calves like I do, then no, you do not get water gushing over the tops of the muck boots. But all you skinny legged creatures should heed Al's warning.

Which by the way is why I've never tried the Chotas or NRS Boundary Water boots which seem like the best of both worlds...I have high arches, weird ankles and calves that make that style of form fitting knee high boot just not work for me. But for those who can fit in them, they sure look like a nice option.

[Deuce]

Thoughtful responses. Thanks everyone.