Water shoes for fishing - avoiding stinking shoes

[snake95]

I have long been a fan of Keen’s sandals: they allow air in, are resistant to water, and provide some protection and grip like shoes.

 

They are ideal for kayaking.

 

However, after mine get wet they stink to high heaven and I have to throw them out.

 

anyone with a solution?

[.ghoti.]

I have had several pair of Keen sandals and never had that problem. But, I never wear sandals while in the yak, so the sandals remain mostly dry.

 

Try hanging them up to dry completely before using them again. And maybe using silicone spray or saddle soap, depending on materials. 

[Glenn]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNWNXAW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Wash your sandals with these. Use a generous amount and wash by hand.  I recommend letting it soak in for 10 mins before rinsing.  Air dry thoroughly.

 

You're welcome. 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Crocs, best water shoes ever made. 

[bulldog1935]

The best kayak/hike/wade water shoes ever were Keen Hood River boots, long discontinued.  

I bought 2 pairs on close-out, and finally fished through the last of them (including 2 re-soles)

 

The best kayak shoes currently made are these Chaco Torrent - bought the color because of great on-line discount

 

Stepping into quicksand, it's Astral Hiyak.  My review on Moosejaw won me a $250 gift certificate, which I turned into a Thermarest Tent-cot.  

 

Stink?   take the liners out, rinse them, and hang them to dry after use.  If you knew what was in the mud you were stepping into, you'd do the same with your feet.  

[snake95]

10 hours ago, Glenn said:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNWNXAW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Wash your sandals with these. Use a generous amount and wash by hand.  I recommend letting it soak in for 10 mins before rinsing.  Air dry thoroughly.

 

You're welcome. 

Thanks that’s what I needed.  I placed an order this morning and have some shoes to test it on!

[TnRiver46]

I use old tennis shoes for serious wade fishing. My fiancé got me some Chacos for my birthday, they are alright but not at the ocean, not for serious wade fishing, and they smelled god awful after……. the very first time I used them. And I only wore them for like an hour and a half 

[bulldog1935]

I was with a buddy in the surf one day who was wearing tennis shoes, and he came out with the soles of his feet bleeding - the sand in the tennis shoes sanded the soles of his feet away.  

 

The serious wade fishing shoes, also great for hiking and kayak were the older Hood River boots,

 

the Astrals for kayak and wade fishing (not hiking). 

Soft Science also gets nods from my friends.  

 

The Chaco Torrents are for clean water kayaking, where gravel is all you're trying to keep out.  Unlike high-tops, if you sink into mud, you'll leave low-top shoes behind.  

 

Serious hike/wade boots are New Balance Abyss ATB - they claim they were made for Navy Seals, and unlike all the shoes above, the soles don't fit in a kayak footwell.  But when your day includes miles of hike/wade, they're choice, and extremely lightweight.  

All of these shoes drain through the soles, and all except the Chacos and Hood River should be worn with lycra scuba socks - Cressi are the best for fit and comfort.  

[desmobob]

Those Abyss boots look like something I could use.  I have 16EEEE feet and have depended on New Balance for a lot of my footwear; they make very large and wide sizes.  I couldn't find the Abyss boots for sale anywhere but I sent an e-mail to New Balance.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on those.

 

When I wade wet, I wear wading boots from the fly fishing industry and thick wool socks or neoprene socks.  I don't know how that would work out in the surf... I always have used waders here in the northeast.

 

I like zip-up neoprene SCUBA booties or fly fishing flats booties for kayaking/canoeing.

[bulldog1935]

@desmobob 

I'm afraid they may be discontinued like most of my good boots, bro.  

I see them on ebay occasionally, and may not have been worn hard - mine are niche boots and many years left in them.  When I buy online, tend to hunt the best-price closeout or overstock on odd colors.  

Another place to try for reasonable facsimiles is NRS.  

 

Before I found the Astrals, I bought a pair of 5Ten canyoneering boots - everything about them was wrong for me, and I sent them back - supposed to be kayak boots that don't fit in a kayak.  

 

No offense on zip-neoprene booties.  In and out of the kayak, and the same with wade/hike, I can't stand shoes that don't drain through the soles.  Spending the whole day with your feet submerged in water isn't good for your feet, either - though they do keep the sand and mud out.  For busting, they're not built with arch support.  

[desmobob]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@desmobob 

I'm afraid they may be discontinued like most of my good boots, bro.  

I see them on ebay occasionally, and may not have been worn hard - mine are niche boots and fairly pristine.  

Another place to try for reasonable facsimiles is NRS.  

 

Before I found the Abyss boots, I bought a pair of 5Ten canyoneering boots - everything about them was wrong for me, and I sent them back - supposed to be kayak boots that don't fit in a kayak.  

 

NRS only makes up to a size 15 (regular width).

 

Arghhh...   You can't imagine the trouble I have finding footwear.  I enjoy outdoor pastimes and besides normal casual and dress shoes, I need waterproof sandals, breathable waders, wading boots (felt and rubber sole versions), flats boots, insulated waders for duck hunting, hiking boots, hunting boots, sub-zero boots for ice fishing, ski boots, bicycling shoes, skates, etc. etc.

 

In many cases, I strike out completely.  There have been days when I've considered changing my foot size with a circular saw or axe... 

 

I recently received a pair of custom G3 Guide waders from Simms ($$$) and I'm waiting on a pair of jumbo-sized SCUBA boots on back-order from Divers Supply.

 

 

[genericname]

I got some water shoes on amazon called Dreamcity water shoes. Dry great and no smells.

[ATA]

I use sims brand, they are pretty good, also I have boots for trout fishing, no smell so far.

[Tim Kelly]

I have the same trouble. Water shoes or sandals are fine when they're dry, but if I get them wet they stink. I've ordered some of Glenn's magic potion, so if that's the answer I'll be delighted. 

[Nelson Wormefeller]

I've been wearing Teva for many years now. Great protection and water goodness.