Sandals Recommendations

Judith said:

I have wide feet (but narrow heels).

Buoyed by your enthusiastic reports of the Roclites I tried a pair
on last weekend, but alas they were rather narrow across the
forefoot for me. Hey ho, think of the money I saved... ;-/

The more I come across text-based foot shape descriptions the more
I feel trying things on is a Really Good Idea! Doesn't matter so
much with sandals as you can adjust for volume simply by letting
straps out, but of course the anchor posts need to be in more or
less the right places.

Quoted message said:

I hated my Merrell sandals, and they almost put me off sandals for
ever, but I love my Teva Terra-Fis. I found that the Merrell straps
weren't adjustable enough for my funny-shaped feet. (With hindsight,
I wonder why I ever bought the things!)

Wonderful thing, that hinsight stuff...

I found the previous incranation of the Terra Fi (with a wavey sole
pattern) a bit odd around the arch. Not uncomfortably so but not
as comfortable as they might be (normally arch shape isn't much of
an issue for me as I have fairly gothic arches). The current one
(with the studded sole) works much better for me, but again this
just goes to show that trying on is a Good Thing. Even the same
manufacturer's different incarnation of the same model in the same
size can feel quite different.

So to the OP, do try things if you can !

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

I found the previous incranation of the Terra Fi (with a wavey sole
pattern) a bit odd around the arch.

I didn't realise they had changed but, from your description, I
realise that I have the older type. For the first few days I found
the instep to be very high, almost uncomfortably so, but I had heard
that some people do notice this..... so I persevered.

Quoted message said:

Not uncomfortably so but not
as comfortable as they might be (normally arch shape isn't much of
an issue for me as I have fairly gothic arches). The current one
(with the studded sole) works much better for me, but again this
just goes to show that trying on is a Good Thing. Even the same
manufacturer's different incarnation of the same model in the same
size can feel quite different.

Why do they have to change things just when I get comfy!

Judith

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I think sandals are much more comfortable with socks.

Fashion suicide though.

As for walking in sandals, I hate it. I'm forever having to stop to
remove stones.

Ditto. I wear sandals around the house, on beaches etc, but even on
a stroll round the local country park in Tevas requires a stop every 200
yards to get stones out. :-(

I dress to suit myself, if I feel like wearing socks I wear beige ones
which hardly show, but if the grass is wet I don't wear socks!
--
Gordon H
(Remove invalid to email)

Judith said:

Quoted message said:

Not uncomfortably so but not
as comfortable as they might be (normally arch shape isn't much of
an issue for me as I have fairly gothic arches). The current one
(with the studded sole) works much better for me, but again this
just goes to show that trying on is a Good Thing. Even the same
manufacturer's different incarnation of the same model in the same
size can feel quite different.

Why do they have to change things just when I get comfy!

It's The Rule: if something's good it has to be 'modernised', redesigned or
stopped.
The current version of my Merrel is getting a bit flimsy. Many so-called
trekking sandals are almost useless due to stuck-on junk.
--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

Peter Clinch said:

ave to admit that I wear socks with sandals :-(

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Just can't tolerate sandals on bare feet.

I think sandals are much more comfortable with socks.

It's an accilmatization thing IME. At first, yes, after awhile
you don't notice in benign terrian, and in bogs and rivers you seen
find that otherwise bare feet /can/ be a good thing.

I've tried, but can't get used to it. Either my feet stick to the sandals
or the sandals stick to my feet - either is uncomfortable.

Part of my problem with getting footwear is due to running around with bare
feet when a child.
--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

Rob G said:

As far as Crocs are concerned, I do suggest that you go and look at
them, think about how much they cost and relate that to the actual
cost of the production process. You should quickly realise that the
cost is totally out of proportion to their real value.

Though "value" in material sense rather than real worth sense... Of
course, if you can buy basically the same thing at a fraction of the
cost it makes a lot of sense to do that, but if something /works/ then
the fact that the folk selling it in are getting a better than usual
return is less important than the "works" bit IME.

/Almost/ the same isn't always quite there. I've seen quite a few pairs
of sandlas over the years that look /almost/ the same as Terra Fis, but
none of them have turned out to be quite right when tried on.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Judith said:

Why do they have to change things just when I get comfy!

At least for my feet, the new ones actually /are/ an improvement, which
makes a pleasant change!

The T-F is now in (at least) it's 4th incarnation. The original had a
heavily ribbed/cleated sole and the original "brain drain" topsole
pattern (if you saw it you'd see why it was called that). The Mk2
changed topsole and outsole, topsole for the better IMHO (better
drainage and general comfort, though not looking like a brain any more,
hey ho) and the outsole better in terms of stickier rubber ("Spider"
rather than "River"😉 but worse in terms of pattern (nothing much except
"Teva" under the mid foot and a much flatter tread elsewhere so more
sudden sitting down on wet grassy hillsides).

The next one is the one I believe you have, where the outsole is much
improved with a deeper tread and pattern all over but there's that
oddness around the arch. Current (AFAIK!) takes away that strange arch
feeling and has a studded outsole ("different" rather than "better" or
"worse" IMHO).

Each version has had minor changes in the strapping and anchor posts,
usually improvements in the padding and the turning of the ankle posts
outwards to prevent chafing. I regard these as generally positive.

I've been much less impressed with the evolution of their leather casual
sandals, which seem to get heavier and thicker with each passing
generation for no obviously good reason. The main upshot is it actually
takes quite a while for my feet to get used to a new pair. That sort of
"improvement" is, sadly, rather more typical of things one gets to
really like :-(

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Rob G said:

Gordon H said:

John Dawson <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Whenever I go away on an organised walking trip I'm told to take
trainers for use in the evenings. I don't find trainers comfortable,
possibly because wide feet and I have arthritis in my big toes, so I'm
considering sandals. One of my possible future trips requires sandals
for a river crossing so I need to get some that are OK in water.
Any recommendations for that dual duty?
TIA
John D.

Both ALDI and LiDL are offering men's "trekking" sandals in the next
week or so, at £9.99. Worth trying before spending any more....
--
Gordon H
(Remove invalid to email)

No - they're rubbish.

Though if all you're doing is relaxing in the evenings that might be
enough. Having said that, you could probably save a few pounds more and
take a pair of flip-flops, which are cheaper, lighter and more compact
than "proper" sandals.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

PeterC said:

I've tried, but can't get used to it. Either my feet stick to the sandals
or the sandals stick to my feet - either is uncomfortable.

What sort of sandals are these?

Quoted message said:

Part of my problem with getting footwear is due to running around with bare
feet when a child.

I'd see that as a potential bonus as much as a drawback. Tougher feet,
and used to more than socks next to them.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

PeterC said:

I've tried, but can't get used to it. Either my feet stick to the sandals
or the sandals stick to my feet - either is uncomfortable.

What sort of sandals are these?

Quoted message said:

Part of my problem with getting footwear is due to running around with bare
feet when a child.

I'd see that as a potential bonus as much as a drawback. Tougher feet,
and used to more than socks next to them.

Pete.

Yes, but one then has feet that are foot-shaped and don't fit in to
shoe-shaped things.
Many a shopdroid has said that my feet should fit in to ordinary widths of
shoe - until I stand up and put all of my weight on the front of 1 foot.
Anyway, in a few days I can go back to my wet-day sport of annoying shops
by trying on boots. Used to do it a lot in the'70s, but never found
anything to fit.
--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

PeterC said:

Yes, but one then has feet that are foot-shaped and don't fit in to
shoe-shaped things.

Though that's not so much of a problem in sandals, because for the most
part the uppers aren't there to get in the way. As long as the
strapping supports are far enough apart you should be okay. Tevas seem
wider than many other brands in that respect.

Quoted message said:

Many a shopdroid has said that my feet should fit in to ordinary widths of
shoe - until I stand up and put all of my weight on the front of 1 foot.
Anyway, in a few days I can go back to my wet-day sport of annoying shops
by trying on boots. Used to do it a lot in the'70s, but never found
anything to fit.

You could always get some made-to-measure.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Quoted message said:

No - they're rubbish.

Though if all you're doing is relaxing in the evenings that might be
enough. Having said that, you could probably save a few pounds more and
take a pair of flip-flops, which are cheaper, lighter and more compact
than "proper" sandals.

Got some Tescrot's sandals last year. Cost £14, but quite robust and just
about OK for rough walking. As you say, don't quite hack it for fit and
feel.

I've used Merrell rather than Teva because I prefer 2 side-straps, but
might try a change.
--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

Gordon H said:

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I think sandals are much more comfortable with socks.

Fashion suicide though.

As for walking in sandals, I hate it. I'm forever having to stop to
remove stones.

Ditto. I wear sandals around the house, on beaches etc, but even on
a stroll round the local country park in Tevas requires a stop every 200
yards to get stones out. :-(

I bought some Brasher - they were ½-price and fitted - and the footbed has
the turned-up edges, specially to retain stones. They're a bit poncey for
the hills but OK for the pub.

Quoted message said:

I dress to suit myself, if I feel like wearing socks I wear beige ones
which hardly show, but if the grass is wet I don't wear socks!

Um, I often wear white socks, but most of the time that's because I've been
out on the bike. Usually dark blue at other times.
--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

PeterC said:

I've used Merrell rather than Teva because I prefer 2 side-straps, but
might try a change.

Teva do quite a range, if you want more side straps look at the Volterra
Alp and Karnali Wraptor.

If you have width problems (not enough width) Teva generally seem to be
wider than Merrels.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

PeterC said:

Yes, but one then has feet that are foot-shaped and don't fit in to
shoe-shaped things.

Though that's not so much of a problem in sandals, because for the most
part the uppers aren't there to get in the way. As long as the
strapping supports are far enough apart you should be okay. Tevas seem
wider than many other brands in that respect.

Quoted message said:

Many a shopdroid has said that my feet should fit in to ordinary widths of
shoe - until I stand up and put all of my weight on the front of 1 foot.
Anyway, in a few days I can go back to my wet-day sport of annoying shops
by trying on boots. Used to do it a lot in the'70s, but never found
anything to fit.

You could always get some made-to-measure.

Bit expensive! I did do so in the '70s and still have a pair (but my feet
aren't the same shape, so I'm trying short walks to decide which pair to
take.
There was an owner of a shoe factory (when we still had those in
Northampton) who was a walker (had a cottage near Llanwrwst) and he made
boots for me at about half the price of those in shops.

Also got 2 pairs from Lawries - rode to London and put the boots in the
panniers. Still have both pairs, but 1 pair is more for crampons and
rock-climbing (last used on Pillar Rock).

--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

Peter Clinch said:

PeterC said:

I've used Merrell rather than Teva because I prefer 2 side-straps, but
might try a change.

Teva do quite a range, if you want more side straps look at the Volterra
Alp and Karnali Wraptor.

If you have width problems (not enough width) Teva generally seem to be
wider than Merrels.

OK, thanks, I'll look out for them. Quite looking forward to getting back
on to 'proper' hills and in to good shops.

--
Peter.
If you can do it today, you didn't put off enough yesterday.

Peter Clinch said:

PeterC said:

I've used Merrell rather than Teva because I prefer 2 side-straps, but
might try a change.

Teva do quite a range, if you want more side straps look at the Volterra
Alp and Karnali Wraptor.

If you have width problems (not enough width) Teva generally seem to be
wider than Merrels.

No one has mentioned the Karrimor Kiwi yet. Is there a reason for
that? It looks like the Teva Tera Fi but much cheaper.

John D.
--
John Dawson at home in Kendal, Cumbria.
Lake District Walks Web Pages http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/
Kilimanjaro trip at http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/kilimanjaro/
Sicilian Volcanoes http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/sicily/

John Dawson said:

No one has mentioned the Karrimor Kiwi yet. Is there a reason for
that? It looks like the Teva Tera Fi but much cheaper.

My experience of Karrimor sandals to date is picking up a and then
noting (as I also noted with Rohan's TerraFi-a-likes, similarly a fair
bit cheaper) that the strap padding and anchor posts aren't done as
carefully to avoid chafing, with rather square cut pads and the posts
not turned out under the ankles. Didn't actually try the Ks after
seeing that, as the similar looking Rohans had been quite a let down.

But as with all of these things, there's not much to lose trying them
on. In practice few of us (Chris T excepted!) will have tried on that
many different brands in anger and thus can only comment on a few, and
what annoys my feet may not bother someone else's.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Lots of people have recommended Tevas, and I've found these good
over a few years. The Merrells I bought I gave away: the fit was just too
narrow.

I've just got myself a pair of Chacos, and think they may actually
suit me better than the Tevas. The problem I found with Tevas was that
grit would get between the inside of my ankle and the strapping, giving me
a nasty sore. The Chaco binding doesn't come close to this part of my
foot, so I might have that problem solved.

But as ever, to quote Pete, "you choose, you lose". You need hard
feet with Chacos: the straps are less well-padded, the footbed feels a
lot rougher. They aren't sandals you'd wear just for slouching around.
But first impressions are good for the hills.

Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

PeterC <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Um, I often wear white socks, but most of the time that's because I've been
out on the bike. Usually dark blue at other times.

Best thing I did recently was to buy 7 pairs of black socks at a local
store which sells 'em cheap in seven packs.
They are my standard except when wearing light trousers, and I don't
even have to match them in pairs!
Also solves the problem of the sock which is swallowed by the washing
machine.
This group is becoming too sartorial. :-)
--
Gordon H
(Remove invalid to email)