decent grip deck shoes please?

[[2574]]

Being a tightwad I buy M&S boat shoes at £25 per pair rather than the "brands" at £60 to £80 per pair. But my M&S jobbies are like ice skates on the teak of my cockpit floor. When beating in 25kts (as yesterday!) my cockpit is rather like an episode of "Dancing on Ice" with SWMBO and I doing a Torvill and Dean impersonation. The question is - do the expensive brand shoes grip significantly better than my M&S cheapo's?

Does anyone have an opinion on the subject?

rob

 

[lw395]

Port Solent normally have something with a proper sole for £20 -£30.
Teak is funny stuff though, some shoes that are good on gelcoat are poor on wet teak.
Bare feet are often best! you can feel how much grip you have.
Some <£10 canvas shoes are often very good.

 

[Ruffles]

John Lewis certainly used to sell own brand shoes with a proper deck shoe sole. I haven't bought a pair for a while. I tend to make mine last by restitching!

 

[Quandary]

Are you sure you don't have something on your teak? wet or dry mine is good with everything including Crocs or with nothing, the problems arise if you stray on to GRP.

 

[whipper_snapper]

By far the best footwear for wet decks I have ever found are flip-flops made from old tyres. Their grip is fantastic. I used to buy very basic ones from local markets, that worked well but looked outrageous. But they are now produced in more refined versions for tourists and are quite socially acceptable.

 

[FistralG]

By far the best footwear for wet decks I have ever found are flip-flops made from old tyres. Their grip is fantastic. I used to buy very basic ones from local markets, that worked well but looked outrageous. But they are now produced in more refined versions for tourists and are quite socially acceptable.

Is there much variability in grip/performance between different brands/models as there are between car tyres?

 

[pauldelaf]

Gill Deck Techs. Excellent grip, modern trainer style. On offer at www.the-chandlery.com for £25 (usually £60).

I'm not related to the chandlery in any way but a great price for a really good pair of grippy shoes.

Paul

 

[[2574]]

Gill Deck Techs. Excellent grip, modern trainer style. On offer at www.the-chandlery.com for £25 (usually £60).

I'm not related to the chandlery in any way but a great price for a really good pair of grippy shoes.

Paul

Thank you for that; I've ordered a pair.

Rob

 

[Norman_E]

Not all sizes though, mine sold out by the look of it.

 

[Georgio]

Being a tightwad I buy M&S boat shoes at £25 per pair rather than the "brands" at £60 to £80 per pair. But my M&S jobbies are like ice skates on the teak of my cockpit floor. When beating in 25kts (as yesterday!) my cockpit is rather like an episode of "Dancing on Ice" with SWMBO and I doing a Torvill and Dean impersonation. The question is - do the expensive brand shoes grip significantly better than my M&S cheapo's?

Does anyone have an opinion on the subject?

rob

As long as it is reasonably warm I find crock are excellent and grip far better than any deck shoe I have purchased over the years. They are also very comfortable, easy to dry and because they are open you never get smelly feet! There are cheaper Crock-copies around but these are made from a slightly different material and do not grip as well.

Of course, if it's cold and wet nothing beats the "posh" dubarry leather boots!

 

[rjandhl]

How old are your deck shoes?
We have found that both expensive and cheap shoes start off nice and grippy but the soles tend to harden over time, usually a couple of years, and lose all grip. We tend not to wear our shoes ashore as we have teak deaks and grit trapped in the tread pattern is not teak deck friendly. The slippery deck shoes get down graded to "going ashore" shoes and another cheapish pair purchased. We have given up with the more expensive shoes as they seem to become slippery just as quickly as the cheap shoes. Dubarry were good when they could be re-soled but their current ranges can't be resoled.