I'll be heading up to the BWCA next weekend for the first time and I have a question about what to bring for shoes. I have hiking shoes that I was thinking of wearing in the canoe and for portaging. They are not waterproof though. Will I need waterproof shoes while in the canoe and getting in/out? Should I just bring some other shoes to wear around camp too?

Definitely bring two pairs of footwear-one for portaging and paddling one for camp.

Even just tennis shoes, keens or sandals for around camp are fine-main thing is comfortable and dry.

Hiking boots or shoes are fine for in the canoe and portaging. They will get wet, but it is extremely hard to avoid wet feet. Bring extra socks so you can put on dry socks and shoes when you make camp.

No sense going out and buying new footwear. Bring what you have and enjoy the journey.

TWO PAIRS OF SHOES!!! Unless you like wet feet ... Just use one for 'in camp' while the others dry when necessary.

Stand by for wet foot - dry foot debate. (I agree with first two responses - shoes or boots that you are fine with being in knee deep water and "camp shoes" - which might be moccasins or sneakers. In summer, I also carry water shoes for swimming.)

Just came back from a trip - and the water is starting to get cold. I 'wet-footed' wearing waterproof light hiking boots and wool socks - and my feet were cold. Luckily, I had a pair of camp shoes to change into. I saw people with knee-high, waterproof boots - I'm not sure what brand. LL Bean is known for waterproof boots - I have a pair and I was sorry that I didn't bring them on this trip.

quote mnwild37: "I'll be heading up to the BWCA next weekend for the first time and I have a question about what to bring for shoes. I have hiking shoes that I was thinking of wearing in the canoe and for portaging. They are not waterproof though. Will I need waterproof shoes while in the canoe and getting in/out? Should I just bring some other shoes to wear around camp too?"

In Fall and early Spring I wear Chota Mukluks. I prefer dry feet or at least drier feet you can have with a neoprene or similar boot. Try looking at their website under paddling gear and see what you prefer. Many people buy their boots and use waterproof socks.

Chota

Best

I use Chota Mukluks and change to a running shoe in camp. I find the Chota mukluk to be flexible so I do not feel bound up in the canoe. Being able to slosh right on through the portage puddles is a lot easier with the Chotas. I did the wet shoes in my 20's and 30's but not anymore.

I wear waterproof boot,6" gortex, in canoe and portages, while at camp a pair of sandals. As long as your feet are warm and dry choices and situations vary. Sure I've gone in over my boot, but more often not. My main tip would be to wear something "broken-in" as blisters do appear after unstable portage trails. If your worried about what you got getting wet in and out of canoe, grab a couple plastic bags and rubber bands. My lady friend wears tennies and her feet are always dry, UNLESS it rains. Plus it helps i piggy back her in low areas:)

If your hiking boots are good ones, and you intend to use them for hiking again, don't use them on a canoe trip.

Standard hiking boots don't seem to handle being worn while soaking wet. They WILL get wet on the inside and the leather won't really dry out until you get back home. Wet leather is soft and weak. Wearing them on rough portage trails will do a number on them.

Pete

I forgot to bring my Brookies this fall and wet-footed it in my Merrel water shoes. I was freezing a lot of the time. On one day trip I actually paddled barefoot in 50 degree temps because at least my feet were dry and warmer than with my shoes and Smartwool socks on. Dry is good. I have a pair of light Vasque Goretex hikers that I wear around camp- nice when it is raining and wet. I usually bring a light pair of running shoes for around camp when it is dry.

I wear a pair of knee high boots made by LaCrosse for wet footing the canoe. They also work good for short portages. If a long portage is ahead I will switch to my Merrels boots. Keens for swimming on the summer trips.

My first three trips I wore Gore-Tex snake boots from Cabela's.
My fourth trip I wore NRS Boundary Socks (knee-high neoprene).
My last trip (just finished) I wore Salomon water shoes and wool socks.
I'll go back to the snake boots when the water's cold, but not the neoprene socks. They kept my feet wet from perspiration, and since they insulate well, also cold. In warmer water I'll just wetfoot.

ClarkPeters, thanks for the comment about wet leather weakening. I almost wore my Lowa light hiking boots in the boat but decided to keep them dry for in camp. A good thing for the boots, I guess, and definitely a good thing for my feet (and spirits).

quote Koda: "My first three trips I wore Gore-Tex snake boots from Cabela's.
My fourth trip I wore NRS Boundary Socks (knee-high neoprene).
My last trip (just finished) I wore Salomon water shoes and wool socks.
I'll go back to the snake boots when the water's cold, but not the neoprene socks. They kept my feet wet from perspiration, and since they insulate well, also cold. In warmer water I'll just wetfoot."

Koda: Can you elaborate at all on the effectiveness NRS Boundary Socks (were they cold and wet the entire time?)? I just bought a pair of OTB Abyss boots. I wore medium weight Smartwool socks with them and they worked great for wetfooting on my trip a few weeks ago (late August). I was thinking I'd try those Boundary Socks with the Abyss boots for wetfooting when I go back up next May. Last May I tried thick Smartwool socks with Keen watershoes (didn't have the OTBs yet) but my feet were too cold (and it was a warmer than average spring). I'm afraid the OTB/Smartwool combo won't be warm enough during a more typical May trip.

Steve

I have yet to find the perfect all-round shoe. Considering drying may be a slow process this time of year, wool socks sock socks.

quote sdebol: "

quote Koda: "My first three trips I wore Gore-Tex snake boots from Cabela's.
My fourth trip I wore NRS Boundary Socks (knee-high neoprene).
My last trip (just finished) I wore Salomon water shoes and wool socks.
I'll go back to the snake boots when the water's cold, but not the neoprene socks. They kept my feet wet from perspiration, and since they insulate well, also cold. In warmer water I'll just wetfoot."

Koda: Can you elaborate at all on the effectiveness NRS Boundary Socks (were they cold and wet the entire time?)? I just bought a pair of OTB Abyss boots. I wore medium weight Smartwool socks with them and they worked great for wetfooting on my trip a few weeks ago (late August). I was thinking I'd try those Boundary Socks with the Abyss boots for wetfooting when I go back up next May. Last May I tried thick Smartwool socks with Keen watershoes (didn't have the OTBs yet) but my feet were too cold (and it was a warmer than average spring). I'm afraid the OTB/Smartwool combo won't be warm enough during a more typical May trip.

Steve"

As you no doubt know, Neoprene doesn't breathe. But your feet do - they breathe moisture. The result is wet feet. And if you don't roll down the socks, the wetness extends all the way up the calf. I wore thin wicking-type liner socks but they didn't seem to help because there was just too much moisture. My feet were hot when it was warm out, but when they got cold from walking in cold water, they stayed cold. The Neoprene socks might be better if thicker wool or wicking liner socks were also worn, and the tops turned down to expose the liners. They aren't very expensive ($40 or so), so your best bet might be just to try a pair.

If I want to keep my feet really dry and warm, I'll wear the Gore-Tex snake boots.

Welcome mnwild37. This isn't mnwild from woodbury, the geocaching cop is it?

Thanks everyone for the input.

quote pswith5: "Welcome mnwild37. This isn't mnwild from woodbury, the geocaching cop is it?"

Nope, it isn't.

I'm with overthehill.....still searching for the perfect footwear (if it exists) I have come close with Merrel Moab Ventilators. Light, good sole, dry fairly fast, and good support. They work great for warmer waters. Last fall, I used them with a tall pair of Sealskins and wore a pair of polypros under those. I did not stay totally dry, but was still comfortable. In colder waters/weather, a wet lower pantleg is almost as chilling as wet feet IMO. To avoid that, I tucked the pant cuff into the tall neoprene socks and wrapped the whole area in a gaitor to keep the mud, rocks and debris out. Seemed to work ok. I could avoid all that rigging by using the Muklucks, but I just don't like their sole support. The next option would be a tall Cabelas rubber boot or similar tall Muck Boot, but they seem too heavy to me for long portages.
If you wear a hiking type boot with a combo of wool, neoprene or whatever socks, just realize you will eventually have water go over the top no matter how hard you try. For that reason, I rule out waterproof or Goretex models cuz they will simply trap water IN the boot. So, either find the right combo to just keep your feet comfy in cooler conditions or go with the TALL rubber/neoprene models to keep water OUT in colder conditions.
Still searching...

Since I can't stand wet footwear, warm or cold, I have a pair of Muck Edgewater 15" boots. The foot box is rubber and the upper is neoprene. Last week at EP 49, I double portaged the 320 rodder from Poplar to Skipper. These boots kept my feet dry at the landings and are surprisingly rugged yet comfortable to walk in. While paddling I rolled the neoprene upper down so I could easily adjust the position of my feet. This is my choice and I'm sticking with it.

Around camp I wear a Columbia hiking shoe.

i use xtra high converse all stars with wool socks for everything when in the bwca. they're fairly fast at drying out also .around camp i use moccasins or just wear wool socks.
i always take plenty of wool socks.


vinnie

Great topic!

Thank you, I have learned a lot.

Steve

I've known people that use the Chota Mukluks. And they seemed to be good boots. I tried the Chota's new improved version of the Quetico Trekkers... I can't forget the actual name of the new model. I got them at Midwest Mountaineering's Spring Expo. I did a ten day solo with them using just Smartwool socks and ended up with nasty blisters which popped and became sores the second day out. So that trip was sort of miserable due to that. My second trip I did a ten day in WCPP using sock liners and they seemed to do the trick, but I didn't have any 200+ rod portages to try them out on. I just got back Tuesday from the BW and did some nasty portages and the only time I had real problems is when I didn't wear the sock liners... With the boots with drains in them you don't have to be to deep to get wet feet. My feet were never cold even when wet. I'm not to happy with the Chota boot I have, but I am considering the Mukluks. I'm also considering the Abyss boots as they sound comfortable for warmer weather. I was waiting to hear how they did on drying out. My current Chota's did dry out well.

nctry, I suggest you carry some moleskin with you. As soon as you start getting a hot spot on your foot (or hand), cut a piece and stick it on. It'll prevent a blister from forming. If you already have a blister, make a cutout in the moleskin so the blister doesn't get squashed.

Thanks for the advice Koda... Never in my thirty plus years of tripping have I gotten a blister so big so fast. I'll be packing the moleskin to be sure.