Deck shoes - recommendations?

Best deck shoes I ever owned were a pair of Musto picked up at SiBs they looked like trainers were a sort of brown suede with a fine razor cut sole lasted very well. The worst were Quayside the soles went rock hard after about 15 months. After that Sebago and Dubarry were good but expensive.
 
I'm told that all the boy racers these days wear cheap squash shoes. As most of the sailing brands don't make their sportier shoes in women's sizes it seems worth a try so am planning a trip to Decathlon and/or Sports Direct this weekend.
 
I still use a pair of XM shoes which I bought in 2008, sadly the sides are splitting but they are comfortable, grip well and were cheap. Non-marking trainers also work well. Price does not seem to indicate functionality.
 
MissFitz said:
I'm told that all the boy racers these days wear cheap squash shoes. As most of the sailing brands don't make their sportier shoes in women's sizes it seems worth a try so am planning a trip to Decathlon and/or Sports Direct this weekend.
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I knew there was a reason I kept my Dulop squash shoes, back in fashion at last.
 
When my trainers are retired from running they become deck shoes. Comfortable and reasonably grippy.
I have some (Dubarry and Chatham) deck shoes. Real leather. Too posh for the boat but ideal for land use. Even a pair in black for weddings/funerals.
 
I have until recently sworn by Quayside Sydney, but the last two pairs show a massive reduction in longevity at a higher and higher price.

I had experienced ~18 - 24 months reliable use for £50 worn every day including work on client sites before they would be consigned to rough service in the garden or boatyard, but my last pair split along the base of the canvas side patch after ~6 months, and the latest pair (£70) the heel seems to have a plastic reinforcing pad covered by cloth. After less than 6 months the cloth has disintegrated and the heel piece is breaking up leaving annoying bits floating under my feet, and regular removals to shake the stuff out.

I dare say the reason for this is also due to the fact I don't undo them but force my foot in, but I have been donning my deck shoes this way for longer than I can remember and have never had heels disintegrate before, although inspection of the prior pair shows the heels in these displaying similar break up.

In the absence of much else that looks half decent below £80 I've just bought another new pair, now £79, and if these go the same way I will be looking for another make.
 
I've just remembered I also had a pair of those Quayside Sydneys ... they went rock hard and nearly had me off the pontoon and the swim platform. Downright dangerous and not recommended.​
 
Cheap squash shoes - Sadly no boy racer but I can confirm these to be excellent; Quick drying grippy and cheap , at least the ones I have are. And you don't look like a yottie about town if you don't wear the Mustos.

Decathlon snow boots at £12 look like a great prospect. Warm and half-way between wellies and shoes hence ideal for the Sussex 'summer'. Just waiting for an opportunity to confirm their performance at sea in other than nice winter/spring conditions. The issue could be drying them if saturated inside as they are lined and I don't have an eber on the boat.
 
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