Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

The hunt for a dry suit has sorta hit an obstacle that is to say they've all sold out.
So I have turned my attention to footwear, the idea is to wear the dry suit when the weather/water is cold, mainly I will wear it when paddling WW in my spec boat. I am pondering wearing my neoprene wellies with socks inside the suit. My wellies are the "muck boot" type.( There will not be a entrapment risk as the boat has a foam saddle etc. ) any thoughts/recommendations?

Cheers
Tim

Socks are a must under a drysuit or dry trousers with feet, saves you rubbing the feet of the suit with your toe nails, I usually wear the Reed Transpire Fleece socks as they are quite thin but warm.

As for shoes, you need the next size up (with fabric socks maybe 2 with latex socks) from what you normally have to allow for the extra thickness of the suit.

A good sole and fit is the key, I would not wear Muck Boats for paddling with a suit on especially SWWC as they are quite bulky, so options are either the Typhoon Rock Boots or the new Palm Gradient Boots the Palm ones have a lot better sole for grip on slippery surfaces.

I have a pair of the Typhoon boats and they have been good, I also have a pair of Merrell Maipo shoes and they are ace with great grip and really lightweight.

Hope that helps?

how about these to match the yellow suit???

(16-01-10 05:09 PM)Graeme @ YC Wrote: [ -> ]Socks are a must under a drysuit or dry trousers with feet, saves you rubbing the feet of the suit with your toe nails, I usually wear the Reed Transpire Fleece socks as they are quite thin but warm.

As for shoes, you need the next size up (with fabric socks maybe 2 with latex socks) from what you normally have to allow for the extra thickness of the suit.

A good sole and fit is the key, I would not wear Muck Boats for paddling with a suit on especially SWWC as they are quite bulky, so options are either the Typhoon Rock Boots or the new Palm Gradient Boots the Palm ones have a lot better sole for grip on slippery surfaces.

I have a pair of the Typhoon boats and they have been good, I also have a pair of Merrell Maipo shoes and they are ace with great grip and really lightweight.

Hope that helps?

I like the look of the Palm ones

(16-01-10 05:25 PM)BB. Wrote: [ -> ]how about these to match the yellow suit???

Doh! the yellow suit is now blue so will have to be Marge's hair do slippers.

Cheers
Tim

(16-01-10 05:43 PM)Tim Wrote: [ -> ]I like the look of the Palm ones

So do I, they were launched in October 2008 and are only just filtering though I have had some on order since early last year so fingers crossed they will be here soon

(16-01-10 09:56 PM)Graeme @ YC Wrote: [ -> ]

(16-01-10 05:43 PM)Tim Wrote: [ -> ]I like the look of the Palm ones

So do I, they were launched in October 2008 and are only just filtering though I have had some on order since early last year so fingers crossed they will be here soon

Only trouble for me is that I have broad feet sorta like a Hobbit and Merrel boots/shoes seem to be too narrow, may look at the five ten canyoneer's

Cheers
Tim

Alex and I have got the Canyoneers and they are really good - They fit with the dry suit, so need additional socks without the suit.

The soles are pretty stiff though, not too much flex so if you're under a thwart you need to ensure you don't get trapped!!!

Graham

(17-01-10 11:22 AM)GrahamD Wrote: [ -> ]The soles are pretty stiff though, not too much flex so if you're under a thwart you need to ensure you don't get trapped!!!

Graham

No prob's the boots are really for the spec boat so no chance of entrapment in that.
Cheers
Tim

I use 5,10 canyoneers, use in my spec and trad boats, very robust but best of all being black and yellow they match my LOMO drysuit, ok maybe not a major consideration.

See we are into the colour coordination again

I have always found the soles on the 5:10 not flexible when I have tried them on and I like to be able to bend my toes when kneeling, great for walking on slippery surfaces but they are expensive @ £80.00 RRP so top end boot

The Palm look like an excellent option...

I found that with proper boots, with laces, the laces and knot started to hurt after 1-2 or more hrs paddling, but I wanted the insulation of the thick sole in winter conditions....

I found these in the fishing section of Decathlon, can't remember the price, and can't find them on their website so they may have been discontinued.... (Label say's...."Botillon Camo Geologic" E.A.N. 3583780911034)...



Cheers
Red.

5.10 Canyoneers for me. Some think they are expensive, but then if you want a robust boot that gives good grip on wet rock and trees then you are going to have to pay for it.

Whilst the credit card was in one hand and dry suit in the other I thought I'd better try some boots, y'now while I was there with dry suit an all.
1st port of call was the Palm Gradient, nice lookin boot, but They made them in conjunction with Merrell. I have no gripes with Merrell but I have found there boots/shoes to be a tad on the narrow side for my Hobbit shaped feet. I tried their 8.5......nope can't get my foot in. Then the 9 still no joy, I didn't want to go any higher as I didn't want clown sized shoes.
So I tried the 5'10 Canyoneers. A snug fit with the dry suit and cold weather seal skins. So there you go. A review to follow.

Cheers
Tim

Good choice Tim - now onto your Dry suit page!

Graham

I like to wear shoes or boots, they sometimes are interesting...



Cheers
Red.