Opinions needed - What do you wear on your feet?

[Fox Morgan]

Calling all sailing boot wearers.

I'm looking for some help here to compile a users guide on sailing boots.

I've personally used a variety of sailing boots and each had their merits. Some had fewer than others.
But that's just my own view point. From dinghy sailing neoprene boots to cheap sailing boots, to expensive thermally insulated sailing boots as well as deck shoes and other shoes I wear on deck, not specifically designed as deck shoes but actually, better than their specifically-created-for-the-job counterparts.

Is there anyone on here that has either very small feet (or large) and what boots have you found that suit you? Even if you have average sized feet I'm still interested.

They don't have to be pure branded sailing boots, they could be anything at all as long as they have been used on a boat for the purpose of sailing.
(my petite co-skipper has very small feet and cannot find good quality branded sailing boots to fit her so uses ski/winter season boots)

You can contact me directly via PM on here, via my blog or facebook page or just reply to this thread.

I'm looking for a pic of the boots or footware as well as a few words about them saying what works, what doesn't, are they still available in the shops etc.
I'm hoping to compile a useful used boot guide for those seeking a good sailing boot without the sales hype.

many thanks

 

[vyv_cox]

In Greece we wear sandals for sailing, i have never owned any boots other than wellies. My sandals are Chatham, not too bad. The best either of us have owned were Aigle, unfortunately difficult to find now.

 

[sailorman]

winter time
Dubarry Newports & seal skinz

 

[telford_mike]

Keen sandals in Greece.

 

[capnsensible]

Best boots I ever had for sailing in Northern climates were Musto M1. Im sure Decathlon could do similar but cheaper. Have never seen any point in paying daft money for saily clothes when cheap can be just as good.

Personally tested all round UK and as far as Norway, Denmark Sweden ad nauseum.

All I need are some stiff sided boots, one size too big. Several pairs of socks worn 2 pairs at a time. Easy to get out of your rack at stupid oclock, boat bouncy, wet and windy. Easyfeet into easyboot. Sailor happy.

 

[prv]

Im sure Decathlon could do similar but cheaper.

And indeed my fair weather footwear is a pair of cheap Decathlon trekking shoes, which are much better than the Quayside deck shoes I used to use

Quayside leather boots for wet conditions, which are quite acceptable but nothing special.

Pete

 

[TeamSpirit]

+1 dubarry

 

[Searush]

Aldi Deck shoes, or sandals if likely to get wet. Musto wellies if too cold for wet feet.

 

[horatio_nelson]

SealSkinz socks and DuBarry boots combined. Never had cold or wet feet in any conditions :encouragement:

 

[Kelpie]

Yellow steelie wellies. Always.

 

[prv]

Yellow steelie wellies. Always.

Do they not slip on wet fibreglass (or perhaps all your decks are Treadmaster etc?) ? I'm sure my old farm-type wellies would have skidded like anything.

Pete

 

[Birdseye]

Aigle wellies lasted 20 years. Gill replacements manages 2. Now have some other rubber wellies - I cant find any leather ones that fit my very broad ( width G) feet. Otherwsie I just wear ordinary Clarks shoes, sandles in summer.

 

[Kelpie]

Do they not slip on wet fibreglass (or perhaps all your decks are Treadmaster etc?) ? I'm sure my old farm-type wellies would have skidded like anything.

Pete

Never had a problem with grip, either on or off Treadmaster.
Incidentally, I end up being the one who does all the 'wet feet' jobs since SWMBO's expensive Dubarrys have less freeboard, and don't seem to be waterproof anymore (but she should probably re proof them with something- any suggestions?)

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have unnaturally large calves, and the only boots I could find which fitted were Dubarry Ultima extra fit. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. They are wonderfully warm and comfy, but I generally find that a pair of sandals does fine unless it's raining.

 

[PetiteFleur]

In summer, sandals or Quayside deck shoes - if wet a pair of Aigle boots, bought in Scotland when I discovered my 'yellow wellies' leaked badly. Aigle was the only boots available in the shop. Understood they were not getting any more when their stock sold out.

 

[johnalison]

I choose my footwear almost entirely for a good fit. The shape of footwear, boots and shoes, varies so much that I would never presume to recommend a particular make, except in terms of durability and grip. This last factor is my biggest disappointment. My last shoes, quite expensive Chatham ones bought in spring 2013 are quite lethal already. Even if they were old stock, this is unsatisfactory and fairly typical.

 

[nigelmercier]

At home I wear Ecco shoes, if I wear any shoes at all. I've just bought a pair of their deck shoes, very impressed.

 

[seumask]

Croc's work well for me in the British summer, good grip on all deck's I've encountered. When its colder a pair of decathlon walking trainers for me, I don't yacht much in the winter so no recommendations for then.

 

[ronsurf]

In the summer, barefoot. If not, then old trainers, Vans or similar.

If it's cold and/or exceptionally wet I wear some sailing wellies like this, one size too big:
http://img.nauticexpo.com/images_ne/photo-g/deck-boot-21475-456097.jpg

I find sailing boots feel pretty clumpy* and big on my small boat whereas I love being barefoot.


*Personal technical term

 

[robertj]

Croc boots in winter, crocs au natural in summer.