Sandals, Slippers, Flip-Flops, and Thongs

I have a pair of Keens that I have tried to kill for 5 years now. No luck:D When backpacking I carry a pair of flip flops to get a break from my hiking boots. Nice to slip them on after a long day on the trail.
 
Tevas rock. I have a pair of the Terra-Fis that I've used for certain kinds of hikes, but I do like the protection of a foot-covering shoe or boot.
 
I can never wear less than a pair of boats or sneakers. It's a lesson I learned from Die-Hard. Some dude told Bruce Willis to take off his shoes and flex his toes to relax, then the SHTF and he had no shoes which left him vulnerable throughout the whole movie. The same thing happened in Children of Men to Clive Owen who was pretty sad when he was stuck in a war zone in a pair of flip-flops.

These are just movies, but your feet are your foundation and if they are compromised you have tough times ahead. I like to stay protected by hard leather.
 
I backpack and trail hike bare foot. Off trail, I usually wear moccasins in cactus country, bare foot otherwise. Moccasins in the snow. Sandals on really sharp rock like limestone or volcanic stuff. Vibram five fingers on steep rock or in deep mud if the base is too gnarly for bare feet.

Gordon
 
gaj999 said:
I backpack and trail hike bare foot. Off trail, I usually wear moccasins in cactus country, bare foot otherwise. Moccasins in the snow. Sandals on really sharp rock like limestone or volcanic stuff. Vibram five fingers on steep rock or in deep mud if the base is too gnarly for bare feet.

Gordon
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What kind of mocs do you wear?
 
HotSwat said:
I can never wear less than a pair of boats or sneakers. It's a lesson I learned from Die-Hard. Some dude told Bruce Willis to take off his shoes and flex his toes to relax, then the SHTF and he had no shoes which left him vulnerable throughout the whole movie.
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LOL That scene in Die Hard with the glass gave me the willies when I saw the movie. After a few of years running barefoot, I have to laugh. Had his feet been fit and his technique good, he could have run through that stuff at speed without a scratch.

Reminds me of the tarantulas in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Since I had a big Mexican Red Leg(the kind they used in the movie) as a pet, it didn't bother me one bit. Har.

Gordon
 
Shotgun said:
What kind of mocs do you wear?
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I make my own. I got a little booklet written years ago by George M White. It's a little cryptic, but after making one moc, it all makes sense. Overall, I've made seven pairs, five different patterns. I like the Apache styles the best for cactus country. For overall comfort, the Salish(Flathead) style is the best.

Gordon
 
gaj999 said:
I make my own. I got a little booklet written years ago by George M White. It's a little cryptic, but after making one moc, it all makes sense. Overall, I've made seven pairs, five different patterns. I like the Apache styles the best for cactus country. For overall comfort, the Salish(Flathead) style is the best.

Gordon
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gaj999, If you ever have the time to take some pictures, I would love to see your moccasins. :)
 
MustardMan said:
Go for the fivefingers, treechopper - you get weird looks from people, but they are awesome!
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Thanks for the push over the edge! :thumbup: I have a little more Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket and FiveFingers will probably get it. :D Bring on the weird looks... I don't care. :p
 
I really enjoy flip-flops for casual wear, walks, yard work, camping, etc. For real hiking it's always a pair of boots, mostly out of concern for rattlesnakes and because I like the ankle support. Back in my younger days, when things didn't hurt so much, I would hike barefoot. When I'm out pruning trees in the yard...climbing all over them...I do it barefoot. Drives my wife crazy.
 
The Teva Trail Wraptors are my most comfortable sandals. I also have a set of the Chacos linked in one of the first posts. They are very sturdy but a bit clunky and heavy.

DancesWithKnives
 
gajinoz said:
Anyone walking around in the Oz bush in anything less than a good pair of boots is likely to gain first hand knowledge of how snake poison works. :)
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I've been doing pretty well in dunlop volleys and the like for the past 15 yrs with no problems.
 
If anyone has any inkling of checking out Vibram Fivefingers I'd encourage you to do so. I have a pair of KSO's that I've worn all over the place. They are my most comfortable pair of shoes. It's like being barefoot but you're protected from all of the little sharp rocks. Just be warned that your feet and ankles may be sore for a few months while you strengthen muscles that are never used.

They would make great in camp shoes for backpackig the only exception being that they take longer to put on than flip flops. (Could be a factor if you need to step out of your tent at night should nature call.)

I've done a fair amount of hiking in mine and the only time I wished I had different shoes was in the Columbia River Gorge area. That was rocky in a bad way.

Humans were designed to walk barefoot. Vibram Fivefingers gets you close. It's awesome.:)
 
I started running and trail hiking in Vibram Five Fingers last year. They are extremely comfortable and I love mine--they're like going barefoot but with artificial calluses. They really strengthened my Achilles tendons, feet and calves. Plus, the knee pain I would inevitably develop 3 or so months into a running program disappeared completely. (I used to be a very active half-marathoner, but gradual knee pain had sidelined me for a couple of years--it's gone now). YMMV, but they extended my running career, plus they're light/quiet on the trail.
 
agent cooper said:
If anyone has any inkling of checking out Vibram Fivefingers I'd encourage you to do so. I have a pair of KSO's that I've worn all over the place. They are my most comfortable pair of shoes. It's like being barefoot but you're protected from all of the little sharp rocks. Just be warned that your feet and ankles may be sore for a few months while you strengthen muscles that are never used.

They would make great in camp shoes for backpackig the only exception being that they take longer to put on than flip flops. (Could be a factor if you need to step out of your tent at night should nature call.)

I've done a fair amount of hiking in mine and the only time I wished I had different shoes was in the Columbia River Gorge area. That was rocky in a bad way.

Humans were designed to walk barefoot. Vibram Fivefingers gets you close. It's awesome.:)
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^I would love to find a pair to try on for wide feet. I have the duck foot going on. The longest toe is the second one. It sucks for finding shoes that fit.

gaj999 -Thanks for sharing that link with me:). I am impressed:eek:. My feet are about as tough kneenex paper towels compared to yours. When I lived in Hawaii I wore cheap $4 dollar slippers all the time (AKA sandals). Since I have been away I have been wearing shoes. Me feet have become pretty soft.

I will probably spend the rest of the night figuring out that basic "spartan" pattern you use for your home made sandals. If my slippers ever broke, it would be nice to know how to improvise some solid straps.

Thanks for al the replies everyone!
 
Over here in OZ they are extremely commonand all get used for different reasons. Mostly because they are cooler and lighter than shoes.

I would break them into thongs (flip flops to NZers) and sandals

Thongs (slip on)- cool, cheap, light,good to rest the feet at the end of the day - so camp relief not trail walking. Good for going to visit a tree in the night
Sandals (strapped into) - cool - light trail walking, the new ones with enclosed toes are becoming pupular - they protect the toes more. I have had several sets of Tevas and love them for what thye are good for. However really for around water, sand and hot environments. Would not use them as a primary shoe for a serious hike

Frankly have not seen anyone wearing sandals for more than a day hike, though now with the enclosed toe versions it is more likely
 
I can't have pressures on my ankles after my accident so I hate shoes and cannot wear boots, so I wear sandals throughout the year, unless it gets really cold, and I found some camp boots from Mountain Equipment Co-op. I get all sorts of looks, but I don't care. In the winter I can wear these in -30 C without socks and be perfectly comfortable. Since I have been walking again I have worn my Keen sandals and love the fact that I don't have to have anything around my ankles. The Vibrams look good and I'm sure that they will be my next shoe purchase.

To me ankle/ foot support is vastly overrated.
IMG_5732.jpg


I'll show my sandals tomorrow.
 
The only time I wear boots is when the snow is too deep for sandals. Most of the time I am barefoot. Barefoot works well in canoes and boats, much of the time I cut wood with the chainsaw and weedwhack barefoot. The reason being that I sweat very easily and barefeet make a good heat exchanger. In the house I am barefoot all the time, I don't like wearing socks, as they make me and my foot sweaty.

I wear Doctor Schoals (how ever that's spelled), and wear out a pair every 2nd year. Very comfortable, but they don't seem to last.
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
I can't have pressures on my ankles after my accident so I hate shoes and cannot wear boots, so I wear sandals throughout the year, unless it gets really cold, and I found some camp boots from Mountain Equipment Co-op. I get all sorts of looks, but I don't care. In the winter I can wear these in -30 C without socks and be perfectly comfortable. Since I have been walking again I have worn my Keen sandals and love the fact that I don't have to have anything around my ankles. The Vibrams look good and I'm sure that they will be my next shoe purchase.

To me ankle/ foot support is vastly overrated.
IMG_5732.jpg


I'll show my sandals tomorrow.
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What are those synthetic mukluks?
 
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