Basic Footwear Selection
A Guide to Rafting Footwear
PSST!! These are not river guide feet...
Sandals
Recommended use: Warm Water to Cool Water
Pros - Good Drainage, Sturdy arch support, highly adjustable, great all around river shoe.
Cons - Little top of foot protection, you look like every other river guide, easy to mix up
Booties
Recommended use: Cold Water & Winter Boating
Pros - Adds punch resistance to drysuit socks, Keeps feet warm, cushions against foot and ankle impacts.
Cons - Does not drain well, Hot tub foot (if used without a drysuit), Can have poor traction, not good for hikes.
High Heels
Recommended use: Not Advised
Pros - Look fabulous, Prepared for dinner party after rafting, Heel easily punctures your ex's raft, Makes calves good amazing
Cons - Heel easily punctures your raft, breaks ankles at put-in and take-out, Expensive.
Athletic Shoes
Recommended use: All water condition with modifications.
Pros - Low Cost, Looks good, Floats, Can provide decent traction on unpolished rock
Cons - Does not drain (Without Modification), Poor durability, Smells like dead skunk
Climbing Shoes
Recommended use: Not Advised
Pros - You look like a Victorian court jester, Easily lets others know you don't know what you are doing on the river.
Cons - Can we say everything??? NO! Just, NO!
Let's face it you are a river guide probably own this boot already.
Animal Print Ski Boot
Recommended use: Frozen Water & Speedo-clad Pond Skimming
Pros - Works well with many outfits, especially if you were actually transported through time from the 1980’s.
Cons - You'll drown.
Proper shoe selection is an important part of any river guide's essential gear. Subscribe below for more helpful and not so helpful gear for your next adventure.
