Walking in sandals?

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 08:41:15 +0100, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I've only just looked into the Teva Terra Fi thread, and it's v.
interesting. Unfortunately I'd deleted the earlier posts unread, so
I've dropped into the middle of a discussion and I'm not sure of the
context.

People are talking about walking and scrambling in these sandals. Does
the walking include walking with a pack? Things have moved on a lot
since I last looked at footwear in detail, and if it's possible to
walk in sandals in appropriate weather then I'd like to take a look.

Also, if it does include walking with a pack then do people tend to
wear socks too?

Many thanks for any help 🙂

Best wishes,

I see lots of sandal-wearers carrying a heavy pack. I don't wear them
myself, but a good number of the posters here recommend them, as long
as they are good ones. Reckoned to keep your feet blister free and
fresher too. I use trainers or approach shoes. My boots have been
relegated to winter/severe wet.

Interesting to see the walkers in Austria. Most of the older ones were
kitted out in boots, tailored shorts, poles hats, etc. Mostly they
seemed to keep to the wider, lower tracks, or walk around town,
keeping their boots as good as new.
On the tops there were more in light shorts, and lighter shoes, and a
very small number without poles.
The walking leaflets that you get in tourist offices etc. still go on
about ankle support - but that's been done to death here!

--

Paul

(Watch this space)

Peewiglet said:

People are talking about walking and scrambling in these sandals. Does
the walking include walking with a pack?

Yes. Next time you see a documentary with Sherpas involved, see if all
of them are wearing high lace up boots with loads of ankle support...

Quoted message said:

since I last looked at footwear in detail, and if it's possible to
walk in sandals in appropriate weather then I'd like to take a look.

It is, but note there's sandals and sandals. I use Teva Terr-Fis and
like them, but they suit my feet and may not suit yours. As with boots,
try a load on.

Quoted message said:

Also, if it does include walking with a pack then do people tend to
wear socks too?

No. In the UK it's entirely likely you'll get wet feet. Sandals and no
socks this isn't a problem: they just dry out and you carry on. With
socks they'd typically get pretty filthy and 'orrible in short order on
many walks, and you'd want to stop and take them off for river crossings
etc.

No socks requires your feet are relatively hardy, but ultimately sandals
and no socks /makes/ them hardy. Being inside a warm sock all day leads
to soft feet, while being out in the open naturally hardens them up.
This has useful side effects for walking in boots in winter, as you get
fewer blisters. If you're starting walking in sandals and no socks then
build up slowly and give your feet a chance to get used to the straps:
quite possible there'll be some rubbing problems at first, in which case
some tape at an early stage and keep with slow acclimatisation. Sandals
with lined straps (like the Terra Fi) are usually better in this regard.

As well as harder (and more cold resistant) feet, your feet are less
smelly and you're carrying less weight on them. Tevas's marketing
slogan is "Free your feet and your mind will follow", which is of course
a daft marketing slogan but I do feel slightly that way strolling
through streams on a hot day

Sandals don't give your feet armoured protection so they're really not
up to much for running down scree or foot jams, but that aside I've
found them fine for many walks and have converted to sandals from
trainers for slumming about town etc. in most of the year now.
--
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/

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 10:45:15 +0100, Peter Clinch
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Yes. Next time you see a documentary with Sherpas involved, see if all
of them are wearing high lace up boots with loads of ankle support...

<snip>

Many thanks: great advice, as always! I'm off to the shops to see
what I can find :-)

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 09:07:44 +0100, Paul Rooney <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I see lots of sandal-wearers carrying a heavy pack. I don't wear them
myself, but a good number of the posters here recommend them, as long
as they are good ones. Reckoned to keep your feet blister free and
fresher too. I use trainers or approach shoes. My boots have been
relegated to winter/severe wet.

<snip>

Many thanks :-) I think I'll try them out!

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

Peewiglet said:

Many thanks: great advice, as always! I'm off to the shops to see
what I can find :-)

If you have narrower feet have a look at Merell sandals, they work for me.

Roos

I've just returned from doing the Ennerdale Horseshoe in the Lakes in
Tevas througout (TR to follow), with a heavy (35lb or so) pack. My first
really serious Teva excursion; I carried approach shoes, but didn't need
to wear them. It's taken me a very long time to get used to this
footwear!

Although I now wear Tevas year-round, my first attempts at walking
(with TerraDactyls) weren't good at all; I got blisters on the soles of my
feet. On Pete's advice, I got some Terra-Fis, which were considerably
better, but the problem remained. I finally fixed it when I realised that
I had the heel strap too loose, letting my foot slide over the sole with
each step; tightening the strap sorted this out.

I then wore the Tevas earlier this year for a walk in Upper Eskdale
(*lots* of wet grass). I ended up with no blisters on my soles, but
*very* sore feet; the Tevas rubbed a lot, and it was hard to keep a
plaster in place covering a blister in the wet conditions.

More recently I did a local walk with one just one small blister;
things seemed to be going in the right direction.

And then finally the recent long weekend, doing about 25 miles and
8000+ feet of ascent including non-graded, but not entirely easy,
scrambling. I took the Tevas thinking that I'd only be able to use them
on the walk-in and the grassy section of the ridge; in fact they were
fine, and gripped much better than I expected; I didn't need the
alternative footwear at all. I had no blisters whatsoever.

At the "crux" of the Beck Head descent from Great Gable, I was able
to smear across a slab with a 20 degree slope down and feel secure. I was
worried about getting my feet damaged; I did stub a toe now and then, and
tipped a rock onto my foot. It hurt, and I got grazed; but it wasn't too
terrible.

I was aware I was watching my footing much more carefully than when
wearing boots, which can only be a good thing. And overall I think my
feet were more comfortable at the end of the walk than they normally would
have been with approach shoes. And they had been *much* cooler; my
footwear had been much lighter; and (an unexpected bonus) I had fresh air
in the tent when wild-camping, rather than the smell of sweaty socks!

In my experience, Tevas take a *lot* of breaking in (or rather, your
feet do). Think of them (or any other walking sandal) as needing a
comparable acclimatisation time to four-season boots suitable for
crampons. But my experience is that it's worth it; I fully intend to take
Tevas (and no backup footwear) for my next trip to the Lakes!

Hope this is useful!
Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

On 16 Aug 2004 16:28:37 GMT, Mark Manning <[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip excellent review>

Quoted message said:

Hope this is useful!

Thanks, Mark. I'd like to wear sandals a lot more often than I do but
was put off because I got blisters the first time I did a semi-serious
walk. Actually, it was a very easy walk indeed - which worried me.

But you suggest that it's worth me carrying on.

I have Merrells which somebody else (in this thread, I think) suggest
are better for narrow feet. My feet are wide and the straps on the
Merrells aren't quite long enough for me to be completely flexible in
the way I adjust them.

I think I'll see if anyone has any end-of-season Teva sales!

Judith

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 16 Aug 2004 16:28:37 GMT, Mark Manning <[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip excellent review>

Quoted message said:

Hope this is useful!

Thanks, Mark. I'd like to wear sandals a lot more often than I do but
was put off because I got blisters the first time I did a semi-serious
walk. Actually, it was a very easy walk indeed - which worried me.

But you suggest that it's worth me carrying on.

I have Merrells which somebody else (in this thread, I think) suggest
are better for narrow feet. My feet are wide and the straps on the
Merrells aren't quite long enough for me to be completely flexible in
the way I adjust them.

I think I'll see if anyone has any end-of-season Teva sales!

Judith

Take a look at Keen sandals from the US, they have a wide footbed and a toe-cap

Orlando

Judith said:

I think I'll see if anyone has any end-of-season Teva sales!

Field and Trek have the Teva Terra-Fi discounted to £49.99. I bought a
pair earlier today on the strength of this thread (and previous
recommendation). So far on a hilly walk in the wet I am very
impressed. 🙂

"Orlando J A Wiebe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On 16 Aug 2004 16:28:37 GMT, Mark Manning <[email hidden]> wrote:

SNIP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have Merrells which somebody else (in this thread, I think) suggest
are better for narrow feet. My feet are wide and the straps on the
Merrells aren't quite long enough for me to be completely flexible in
the way I adjust them.

I think I'll see if anyone has any end-of-season Teva sales!

Judith

Take a look at Keen sandals from the US, they have a wide footbed and a

toe-cap

Quoted message said:

Do you know of any UK retailers who stock these?

Nick

Chris proteus1@gmxDOTnet said:

Judith said:

I think I'll see if anyone has any end-of-season Teva sales!

Field and Trek have the Teva Terra-Fi discounted to £49.99. I bought a
pair earlier today on the strength of this thread (and previous
recommendation). So far on a hilly walk in the wet I am very
impressed. 🙂

My local Black's doesn't have them. I rang Manchester, and they said
that it just seemed to be the blokes' version. Has anyone seen the
women's version for sale?

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

Judith said:

Thanks, Mark. I'd like to wear sandals a lot more often than I do but
was put off because I got blisters the first time I did a semi-serious
walk. Actually, it was a very easy walk indeed - which worried me.

But you suggest that it's worth me carrying on.

Mark's hit it on the nail, I think. First sandals I got were leather
ones for town.work, and the first few times I suffered with chafing
straps. But I persevered, and am glad I did. Straps load your feet in
a limited area which isn't used to that sort of thing, and no socks if
you're not used to that will be a change of what your feet are ready for
too. Once over that initial barrier you have a happy positive feedback
loop, with open air access to your feet toughening them up, and being
tougher they can do more, so they get tougher, and so on.

Quoted message said:

I have Merrells which somebody else (in this thread, I think) suggest
are better for narrow feet.

Roos (my GF). She does have narrower feet than me, and finds they fit
her well, while they're too narrow for me.

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:

Mark's hit it on the nail, I think. First sandals I got were leather
ones for town.work, and the first few times I suffered with chafing
straps. But I persevered, and am glad I did. Straps load your feet in
a limited area which isn't used to that sort of thing, and no socks if
you're not used to that will be a change of what your feet are ready for
too. Once over that initial barrier you have a happy positive feedback
loop, with open air access to your feet toughening them up, and being
tougher they can do more, so they get tougher, and so on.

Why do I get the impression that barefoot hiking will be common in a few
years? Maybe lush hair will begin to grow on top of our feet...
; )

Chris

On 16 Aug 2004 15:52:14 -0700, [email hidden] (Orlando J A Wiebe)

Quoted message said:

Take a look at Keen sandals from the US, they have a wide footbed and a toe-cap

Suggest you read the following if you do:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Footwear/Sandals/Keen%20Newport/Shane%20Steinkamp/Field%20Report/

http://tinyurl.com/4mzok

The guy who reviews them was initially extremely positive in his
initial review:

http://tinyurl.com/5f38p

(this gives a good overview of the product with plenty of photos)

HTH

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

SteveO said:

http://tinyurl.com/5f38p

(this gives a good overview of the product with plenty of photos)

Hm? They look interesting. Like boots with drain holes!

Judith said:

SteveO said:

http://tinyurl.com/5f38p

(this gives a good overview of the product with plenty of photos)

Hm? They look interesting. Like boots with drain holes!

Indeedomundo, they do... but read his field report (rather than just
the initial report) before you leap in with both feet, as it were,
metaphorically speaking

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://tinyurl.com/5f38p

(this gives a good overview of the product with plenty of photos)

Hm? They look interesting. Like boots with drain holes!

Do yourself a favour before you get too enticed - have a look at the
long term field report from the same tester.
He went from being (almost) in love with them to absolutely slating
the second rate materials and construction applied to what should be a
novel and first rate concept.
Maybe if amother manufacturer picks up on the idea they may be worth
trying. It just shows that independant gear testing is a very valuable
service and not just for those who get the benefit of free gear to
test.

Steve

Chris Loffredo <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Why do I get the impression that barefoot hiking will be common in a few
years? Maybe lush hair will begin to grow on top of our feet...
; )

I was out in shorts last Sunday, only did 4m or so, but got nettled to
death, fortunately I always carry antihistamine cream. My feet and
ankles were safely in my boots. :-)
--
Gordon

"Mark Manning" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

In my experience, Tevas take a *lot* of breaking in (or rather, your
feet do). Think of them (or any other walking sandal) as needing a
comparable acclimatisation time to four-season boots suitable for
crampons. But my experience is that it's worth it; I fully intend to take
Tevas (and no backup footwear) for my next trip to the Lakes!

I bought some Terra Fis a few weeks ago on the basis that they have a more
secure foot holding system than my old Merrell ones which whilst I've always
found them fine for anything I'd usually meet in the Lake District have
never been very well suited to traversing steep pathless slopes that are
common in Scotland. Unfortunately the first time I wore the Terra Fis for
any length of time the arch support bit made them pretty uncomfortable for
me. It'd probably be better if it wasn't so rough. Don't know why I didn't
notice that in the shop. Like you said I think I need to experiment with
the strapping a bit.