Shoes for fishing

[Bankc]

The best shoes are no shoes.  The reason your feet hurt probably isn't your shoes, especially if you've tried a bunch of different kinds and they all hurt your feet.  The problem is most likely that your feet aren't strong enough to support your body.  And they got weak on you because you wear too soft of shoes too often. 

 

Go barefoot as often as you can.  Walk on hard surfaces as often as you can.  Get yourself a pair of those bare feet type shoes with the individual toes on them and walk around in those whenever you can't go barefoot.  Go to the store, walk around the neighborhood, wherever you feel brave enough to get caught in those hideous things.  Go running in them if you can.  It'll train you to walk more on your midsole and toes and less on your heel, since you won't have the padding to cushion your heel, and it'll strengthen your feet.  

 

Then the shoes you wear won't matter, so long as they fit.  Otherwise, you'll spiral down the rabbit hole of constantly needing softer and softer shoes with better support until eventually, your feet hurt no matter what you wear.  

[casts_by_fly]

I'm a barefoot person most of the year, inside and out, fishing or not.  Next I'll throw on a pair of Havianna's flip flops if I need light protection for the bottom of my feet.  I've even shoveled snow in flipflops if it isn't that deep.  In my kayak I have to wet launch.  Early and late season I use muck boots that hit the top of my calf to keep my dry and warm.  When the water temp hits 60+ I'll swap to flipflops or crocs.  I used flipflops all of last season and when I get into the boat I take them off and put them in the rear well.  This year I've been using crocs to keep some more gravel/sand out of my flipflops at launches and they are good also.  I can stand and fish in them better than flipflops, but I still prefer bare feet.

 

If I'm in the boat then its either comfy sneakers or bare feet.  Current sneakers are nikes, but asiic full support are my more preferred sneaker.  

[flyfisher]

Best thing to do is to get insoles that are for your specific footbed.  Doesn't have to be custom but that wouldn't be a bad idea.  People confuse cushion with comfort when in reality it makes things worse.  You need support and your foot pain will begin to subside.  

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Best thing to do is to get insoles that are for your specific footbed.  Doesn't have to be custom but that wouldn't be a bad idea.  People confuse cushion with comfort when in reality it makes things worse.  You need support and your foot pain will begin to subside.  

 

I was going to mention a certain insole in my post but I couldn't remember the name. I had a pair after my fourth foot surgery (fractures and ingrown toenails). A few family members had them as well. Anyway,  you heat them up in the oven, put them in your shoes, and walk around for an hour or two. The insoles mold to your feet.  They helped me recover faster and they were quite comfortable but unfortunately I worked on concrete in steel toes for 12 hours a day, which made wearing them impossible. I wish I could remember the name brand but it was years ago.

[flyfisher]

56 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I was going to mention a certain insole in my post but I couldn't remember the name. I had a pair after my fourth foot surgery (fractures and ingrown toenails). A few family members had them as well. Anyway,  you heat them up in the oven, put them in your shoes, and walk around for an hour or two. The insoles mold to your feet.  They helped me recover faster and they were quite comfortable but unfortunately I worked on concrete in steel toes for 12 hours a day, which made wearing them impossible. I wish I could remember the name brand but it was years ago.

there are quite a few out there that do that now.  I know superfeet does them and we used to sell a ton of them for people to use in their ski boots.

[Functional]

14 hours ago, FishTank said:

I hate to admit it but at one point in my life I managed a shoe store. 

please tell me you played football?.....Polk High perhaps?

[FishTank]

19 minutes ago, Functional said:

please tell me you played football?.....Polk High perhaps?

You got me. 

 

[rboat]

I jump in and out of the water, because it is easier launching and loading my boat and many times I am alone. I wear Teva sandals. They dry fast, have great tread, and are cushioned for comfort. It never really gets too cold here so it works. I would probably try crocs, but the sandals just seem to work. I stand the whole time I am fishing and the comfort and support lasts all day.

[MN Fisher]

I found these on Amazon - good reviews so bought a pair last spring. These are now my boat shoes...comfortable, drain well, rubber sole for non-slip, decent arch support.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NPFZY8K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

1 hour ago, rboat said:

I jump in and out of the water, because it is easier launching and loading my boat and many times I am alone.

Since I wear long pants - and I don't like being in wet pants all day, I got a pair of these

Put them on over my shoes/pants to launch/land...then take them off...pretty cheap at $25

https://www.amazon.com/Hodgman-Gamewade-Hip-Packable-Wader/dp/B00PCAGY4Y/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=hodgman+waders&qid=1685998977&sr=8-14

[Spankey]

Zeko’s most of the time, other times Crocs. Nice to walk around bare foot as long as I’m not toasting the tops of my feet.  

[TnRiver46]

My feet are flat on the bottom so I usually wear something I’ve worn down to flat .

 

I will add this: not fishing, but standing on the river bank cleaning fish last week. Some sort of insect lit my world up after dark, my friends think it was an assassin beetle, I kind of thought it was a cicada killer.  There were 3 of us standing around a fish cleaning table and I hollered out and started dancing. I saw something pretty big flying away from my foot. I finished cleaning the fish and it felt like I was standing on a softball. I then sat down and iced it for half an hour and took a Benadryl, still swelling to massive size, at least double my other foot. Finally I decided to walk around the campground loop 3 times, got a little adrenaline flowing freaking out over it. That got the swelling to go down

 

the one time I wish I had boots on in the heat of summer! 

[Spankey]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

My feet are flat on the bottom so I usually wear something I’ve worn down to flat .

 

I will add this: not fishing, but standing on the river bank cleaning fish last week. Some sort of insect lit my world up after dark, my friends think it was an assassin beetle, I kind of thought it was a cicada killer.  There were 3 of us standing around a fish cleaning table and I hollered out and started dancing. I saw something pretty big flying away from my foot. I finished cleaning the fish and it felt like I was standing on a softball. I then sat down and iced it for half an hour and took a Benadryl, still swelling to massive size, at least double my other foot. Finally I decided to walk around the campground loop 3 times, got a little adrenaline flowing freaking out over it. That got the swelling to go down

 

the one time I wish I had boots on in the heat of summer! 

Yeah man that sucks I can feel for you. A few years ago I got bit by a wolf spider on the inside of my elbow. Same thing swollen 3x  4x time that of normal. Couldn’t bend my arm and the lump was hot/warm as heck. Hope ya get to feeling better. 

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, Spankey said:

Yeah man that sucks I can feel for you. A few years ago I got bit by a wolf spider on the inside of my elbow. Same thing swollen 3x  4x time that of normal. Couldn’t bend my arm and the lump was hot/warm as heck. Hope ya get to feeling better. 

Yea sir it was fine and back to normal in under 24 hours. I’m allergic to bee stings but I think I’ve been growing out of it for years 

 

We’ve spent a small fortune on epipens since I was 8 years old but I’ve never used one 

[Spankey]

6 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yea sir it was fine and back to normal in under 24 hours. I’m allergic to bee stings but I think I’ve been growing out of it for years 

 

We’ve spent a small fortune on epipens since I was 8 years old but I’ve never used one 

I have a pen as well in the truck all the time. Yellowjackets will get me sicker than heck. Worse than a wasp. Don’t know how some people do it by never getting bit by nothing more than a misquote their whole like. 

[33oldtimer]

On 6/4/2023 at 1:05 AM, Glenn said:

Hey guys,

I admit, after a long day of fishing, my feet are sore!  They just hurt for several hours after I get off the water. So I've been trying different shoes to try to solve the problem.

 

Simms sandals - excellent for hot weather.  They have great arch support. Problem solved.  However, in not-so-hot weather, I'm still troubleshooting.

 

Hoka One shoes - I was told they're "like walking on pillows".  NOPE!  I have to take them off in just a few hours.

 

Huy Dude shoes - I've worn them around a bit, and so far so good. But I haven't tried them yet for a full day of fishing.  They seem to lack arch support like the Simms, so I'm hesitant to try.  But they seem they might work.

 

Asics work the best so far, but even then, my feet still hurt - a lot - at the end of a long day.

 

I'm considering trying nurses shoes or something similar.  But before I do, I want to know what works for you.  Let's hear it!

AISICS are great, and I wear insoles in them as well. Worth trying if the shoes aren't too tight.

[Bankbeater]

This time of year I like to wear running shoes.  They dry out pretty quickly when they get wet, but I like them because the bug repellant soaks into them.

[Alpster]

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 40 years and my feet/toes are a twisted mess. I never wear shoes at home unless I work outside. For many years I bought the shoes most highly recommend (by my podiatrist) and spent small fortunes on shoes. You all will laugh at me, but in an emergency, I bought a cheap pair of slip on sneakers from wally world and now I don't wear anything else. The most comfy shoes I've worn in decades. I forget I have them on. $24 at Walmart. I bought several pairs, just in case they discontinue them. It's crazy, but they are awesome.

[volzfan59]

6 hours ago, Alpster said:

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 40 years and my feet/toes are a twisted mess. I never wear shoes at home unless I work outside. For many years I bought the shoes most highly recommend (by my podiatrist) and spent small fortunes on shoes. You all will laugh at me, but in an emergency, I bought a cheap pair of slip on sneakers from wally world and now I don't wear anything else. The most comfy shoes I've worn in decades. I forget I have them on. $24 at Walmart. I bought several pairs, just in case they discontinue them. It's crazy, but they are awesome.

My late ex father in law swore by those canvas loader style slip in (he called them boat shoes) from Walmart. Said that they were very comfortable to him too.

[Obi_Wan]

Keen Newport sandals.  I’ve worn them for years.  Got my first pair in Alaska.  I was experiencing shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis from too much running.  It was suggested I but a pair of Keens and wear them as much as possible.  Helped more than anything else I’ve ever done.  Keen sandals have toe coverage, drain well, and are easy on the feet and the back.  I’ll never be without a pair.