Dry feet

[Darteres]

I've been woods bumming (and daily wearing) a pair of New Balance All Terrain sneakers that take FOREVER to dry for probably the last 5 years. Before that I ran around the woods with some nice Vasque Gore-Tex stompers that kept my feet dry, but man they were heavy! Now that my New Balance are wearing out, I've been looking at these and these. The first ones seem to be light and would drain really quick so either go with no socks when in an wet area, or change socks after going through. I really like the look of the second pair. They seem to have better lateral support and would hold up better to stomping around. They would also work well with my semi-casual dress for work as well. My concern would be going through anything more than ankle-deep and now the waterproof shoes are glorified buckets on your feet.

What do you look for? A shoe that helps keep your feet dry or one designed to let the shoe drain and dry as fast as possible?

 

[BOOMSTICK]

well there is the problem of your feet staying wet. how long are you going to be on the trail in them. me personally i would rather have heavier boots that are high tops so that I don't get water in my boots. I like to have something cover my ankle so that nothing cuts or hits them. I use asolo boots. they don't have much to rip and they are leather.
http://www.shoebuy.com/pi/asolo/asolo47534_38199_jb.jpg
if you know you are going to hike down the middle of a river your boots will get soaked no matter what. in that case you can by seal skins socks that are water proof socks, or some gortex boot gators that cover the tops of your boots and keep most water out.
http://www.greatoutdoorsdepot.com/waterproof-nylon-gaiters.html

 

[Darteres]

One of the trails I like to frequent has several wide, shallow stream crossings. Even my tall Vasques would get water in them. I have some seal skins, but unless it's winter, they are just too warm to hike in. Louisiana may be "sportsmans paradise", but dang, it gets warm down here. I assume you are referring to rocks cutting your ankles? There isn't anything like that around here to deal with. If you get cut, it's the vicious thorns that will eat you up!

 

[BOOMSTICK]

One of the trails I like to frequent has several wide, shallow stream crossings. Even my tall Vasques would get water in them. I have some seal skins, but unless it's winter, they are just too warm to hike in. Louisiana may be "sportsmans paradise", but dang, it gets warm down here. I assume you are referring to rocks cutting your ankles? There isn't anything like that around here to deal with. If you get cut, it's the vicious thorns that will eat you up!

here is cali we have alot of shale and loose granite that always seems to find your shin or ankle. that is true though the seal skins make your feet sweat if you are in really humid area's.

 

[fishiker]

You may want to look at these: http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/fw09/shoes/men/trailhead/growler/black or these: http://www.keenfootwear.com/product...ead/newport trail wp/stone grey - silver mink

 

[hollowdweller]

I think wet grass will quickly overwhelm anything but leather and gore tex.

 

[PayetteRucker]

nope nope and nope. You're looking for a lightweight hiking shoe that gives you the support of a boot but is still waterproof/will dry quickly, correct? Make a beeline for TNF's website and search Rucky Chucky GTX. God's gift to the hiker. I have used New Balance All Terrains for trail runners for 5 years now and they make a fine shoe at a good price, but for anything longer than an afternoon jog I use my Rucky Chuckies or my Converse combat boots. They have rigid inserts in the arches and heel to give your feet support with the extra weight. They are very light and wear like a tennis shoe but give you so much support... Plus they're goretex. And you need wool socks.

 

[Hassilov]

What do you look for? A shoe that helps keep your feet dry or one designed to let the shoe drain and dry as fast as possible?

My answer to hiking through wet areas has been a pair of Salomon Techamphibians, paired with a thin, synthetic liner sock + Rocky goretex oversock. The shoes have a very grippy and aggressive tread. They drain very well and dry quickly. The Rocky socks keep my feet dry right up to the top of the sock. What moisture does appear inside is my own sweat. I also find that my feet are relatively warm even in cold water. If you get Rocky socks, you're supposed to get them one size larger than your shoe size for proper fit.

 

[Ankar Sheng]

I've given up on goretex boots, I'd rather have a super light breathable footwear that drains well. Goretex boots are good for small puddles a few inches deep, anything deeper and they become buckets that dont drain and take forever to dry.

 

[Darteres]

Those Keen's and North Face shoes look nice!

 

[kgd]

Rocky goretex oversock.

Yep

I've given up on goretex boots, I'd rather have a super light breathable footwear that drains well. Goretex boots are good for small puddles a few inches deep, anything deeper and they become buckets that dont drain and take forever to dry.

Yep

As Ankar says, you fill up your gortex boots and you'll be wet for a while. They don't drain or dry well after. I like a decent pair of leather boots coupled with gortex socks. The socks can be taken off if they get hot or easily changed and dried out in a flood. Plus the socks, even when you flood your boats tend to keep you pretty dry - just the tight fit of a sock keeps them from flooding themselves.