Sandals Questions

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Jan 23, 2010
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I saw another thread about sandals but I didn't want to crap in his thread with my questions.

In The summer I love wearing the "TEVA" style sandals. Like going barefoot but with protection for the bottoms of my feet. I also like the ability to go in and out of water and not remove my shoes.

But there are issues for me and it seems a lot of folks can in here wear these so maybe I can get some help.

My feet are literally shaped like swim fins. I can never ever find leather boots or shoes even in EEEE width that fit my feet. I used to just get size 13 sneakers and they would hurt for a few days till my feet stretched them out. For the last 8 yrs or so a local shoe place at the mall has been selling 4E width sneakers made by New Balance that actually fit my feet and feel like they were made for me. So I wear the same style sneakers in different colors every day even for winter.

But sandals are a whole different story, can't find wide width ones, and typically the front strap that goes across the top of my foot isn't long enough and once my foot is in the sandal I can't attach that strap. In sandals it seems a 12 length is right for my foot but I need at least a 13 to have any chance of the width working so I end up with sandals with a too much unused sandal sticking out the front. I am afraid to buy anything online without being able to try them on first. They all fit so bad I usually just end up with a cheap pair of Wal-Mart ones. But I would love to have a pair that fit as well as my sneaks do. I few years back at a small clothing store I found a pair made by Body Glove that were 12 EEEE I believe and the felt amazing! I wore them for two summers till the rotted off my feet. Never been able to find that style again and I've looked online.

So does anyone know of a company that sells 4E sandals or custom makes them to like tracings of your foot? Or anyone else have a wide foot problem and found a solution?

I'm tempted to try to make a pair of the Tire Sandals but I know with my sewing and craft ability they would look like ass. So also if there is anyone out there who makes these and can do them nice I would be willing to pay.

My other question is how do you keep them from getting funky? After you wear them for awhile they can get pretty ripe I even wear mine swimming so you think they would be self washing but.................. Any secrets? Plz don't say wear socks cuz that's just ....wrong ;)
 
Chaco makes a wide width. They are going to get funky, but I use Simple Green to clean them.
 
I looked I saw nothing but M width but usually wide means a 2E I literally need a 4E if I was to buy something online without being able to try it on it would have to say 4E.

Can't be leather sandals either, I am in the water too much for those.
 
I've had Chacos for a couple of years now and they are nowhere near getting as funky as Tevas. I wore a pair of Tevas to Cozumel and noticed on the flight back home that my sandals stunk like Nick Nolte peed on them. Just something to consider.
 
Softsoled mocs. What drives me crazy is the price tag on these 'outdoor' sandals, 80, 90, 100 bucks for two chunks of molded rubber with some canvas or nylon straps... If you like tevas, try Minnetonka softsoled mocs. I have 3 pair, paid 35 bucks for em. They're absolutely awesome for backpacking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, you name it. I wear them for everything. Like you said, they feel like you're barefoot but offer protection for the soles of your feet. I purposely buy mine a full size smaller because I know the leather stretches. After a day of wearing a new pair they have shrinkwrapped to your feet. Maybe if you buy them your actual size or a size larger there will be enough stretch in the leather to widen for you. I wear EE shoes, by the way, and it drives me nuts, the lack of options we have for footwear.
 
Well if you like the barefoot feeling with protection I would recommend Vibram Five Fingers. They are really cool and I love mine, unfortunately I am pretty sure they do not come in the width you are asking about.

-Alex
 
not sure if they sell wide sizes but I tried a pair of Vibram Fivefingers at REI last week and they were amazing....now if I can just find a pair in stock somewhere in my size
 
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