When you live aboard, you need to find the best boat shoes. But how many pairs do you need?
Once upon a time, I had lots of shoes. Lots and lots of shoes. Dress shoes. Business heels. Casual shoes. Beach shoes. Winter boots. And so on . . .
Since 2002, just after we moved onto Que Tal, I have had three pairs of shoes at any one time. Okay, I also had a pair of sailing boots that doubled as fin booties. So maybe you could say I had four pairs. Ditto for Dave.
But I do get asked about what shoes I/we had and what do I recommend.
Sandals
My favorite choice for everyday, warm weather boat shoes were Keens. I’ve worn Keen sandals since 2005 for about 95% of what I do. Obviously I love them. So most of this post is about why they work so well for boat life.
Hiking Sandals
Up until the very last pair that I bought, I always wore the Newport H2. My latest pair was the Whisper model. Dave also wears the Newport H2’s.
All of the models with “H2” are designed to go in and out of the water. They are perfect for wading to/from the dinghy, walking on the beach, etc. Several other models such as the Whisper, are as well. They don’t stretch out when wet, get moldy or create blisters when worn wet on a hike. They’re great when wading in places without a nice sandy bottom.
Almost all Keen sandals are what are called “hiking sandals.” That means that they have the support needed for all but the most rugged hiking. And we certainly put them to the test while cruising the Sea of Cortez. The soles are thick and thorn-resistent — a quality I came to value after taking a simple walk in Baja with Crocs. Pretty much every single one of those thorns came right through the sole.
One of the best features about most Keen models is the toe guard. It really prevents a lot of tripping incidents and toe injuries. Admittedly, it’s harder to shake a small pebble or bit of gravel out of the sandals. But overall that’s less of a problem than the toe injuries (and thorns I kicked) with my previous Tevas. Because of the toe guard, I was even able to wear them while hiking over a lava field in Hawaii. Keens are the only brand of sandals that the guide company will let you wear. Otherwise you have to wear sneakers or hiking boots.
Back in 2004/5, several cruising friends. recommended the Keen Newport H2’s to me after that thorn incident with the Crocs. I resisted for over a year due to the cost. Nearly $100 for a pair of sandals??!!? I finally broke down and bought a pair when I realized that the cheapies only lasted a few weeks with the abuse I gave them. Shoes today, it seems, generally aren’t designed for people who walk just about everywhere). I’ve decided that Keens actually are a good deal. A pair lasted me 6 to 9 months of pretty much constant wear and then becomes my paint shoes!
Repairability
One thing that I particularly like is what I can “field repairability.” If anything in the sandal fails, it tends to be the stiching that holds the woven fabric (almost webbing) to the neoprene lining, and the shoes get loose — but not unwearable. A bit of dental floss or sail thread and a needle, and they’re good as new again.
I’ve never had the shock cord lacing break.Bbut if it did it could be tied back together . . . and we always have spare shock cord on board if we needed to replace it. The repairability was critical when we were in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico and there were no shoe stores nearby. And the ones in the bigger towns only carried “dressy” sandals for women, not walking sandals. Other sandals that tend to fail when the uppers pull out of the sole are not nearly as easy to repair.
TIP: If you’re going to be cruising Mexico, take several spare pairs of sandals with you. Women’s “recreational” sandals (Tevas, Keens, etc.) are almost impossible to find. And it’s hard to find men’s sandals in sizes over about a US 9.
About 2 months ago, I bought a pair of the Whisper model because I didn’t like the colors then available in the Newport H2’s for women. I like the Whispers even better. They aren’t as heavy or as clunky looking, and seem to be giving me every bit as much support and toe protection. They have the same great non-slip sole as the Newport H2’s, too. While the soles are black, they’ve never marked a boat I’ve been on.
It used to be that you could find Keens online for 25 to 30% less than in stores, but that’s pretty much gone away now — although if you wear an odd size or are willing to live with an unusual color, you may find a pair at 10% off. I buy mine from Amazon due to the huge color/size selection:
See related products to the above links for more sizes and styles.
Enclosed Boat Shoes
Although you might want to wear sandals or go barefoot every day, it does occasionally get cold. Usually, that means that I put on a pair of socks with my Keens. But occasionally I need something more. So I get out my sneakers. If it’s that cold, I’m usually wearing jeans, so they fit right in.
Once in a while, I even wear my sneakers for a hike or long walk, but it’s pretty rare since I discovered Keens with the toe guards.
Dave’s second pair of shoes is also his running shoes; he wears them about as often as I do.
If you’re going to leave your sneakers on the boat full-time, don’t make the mistake I did when we first began cruising on Que Tal. If there is any real leather on your shoes, it will mold and then disintegrate. Only buy shoes with no real leather!
Dressy Boat Shoes
I wear dressy shoes maybe four or five times a year — most of our socializing is very casual.
For me, a pair of somewhat dressy sandals in a neutral color and style works for all occasions. I keep the heels low — after wearing flats most of the time, high heels are dangerous for me. And frankly, I’m not about to wear hose!
Here too, the no real leather rule applies. My current dress sandals are wide black elastic bands with low heels, chosen for their ability to go with just about anything. Espadrilles in a neutral color also work well.
A far cry from the days where I had a dozen pairs of pumps, each specially matched to certain outfits!
Dave wears dress shoes about as often as I do. He doesn’t have a suit on the boat, so “dress” shoes means something to go with nice slacks. He has a much harder time finding something appropriate without real leather than I do. Several years ago, he found a pair that are styled similarly to TopSiders, but made with synthetic leather. They work.
Final Thoughts on Boat Shoes
Neither of our cruising boats have been particularly large. And what space we do have we’d rather use for things like spare parts, tools and maybe a bottle of wine. We’d rather spend our money on those, too.
When we first started cruising on Que Tal, we both way overestimated how many pairs of shoes (and how much clothing) we needed. Within just a few months, we’d both cut back to just three pairs. I was shocked to discover that I didn’t miss having more!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Bill Dixon says
Glad you recommended Keens. Love mine. No more crocs for me.
Lynn Kaak says
When you go for Keens, don’t get the aggressive hiking sole. It has a horrible tendency to delaminate, and they aren’t easy to glue back together. Get the soles that are one piece.
And they have some “cuter” ones, too.
The Boat Galley says
They double as my fin booties (neeoprene) and I’ll admit, maybe they’re a fourth pair. :/ I wear much more often for snorkeling than while sailing — where we are, it’s rare that we need them on deck.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I almost never rinse mine (only if, say, I’ve been playing in mud) and I don’t notice a smell at all. In and out of salt water almost daily.
Helen Kitchen says
Thanks Carolyn…it is a bother…will try them out…perhaps they don’t absorb the water!!
We cruised Mexico and on to the South Pacific with our kids for 3 years..we wore flip-flops and replaced them when we could! We live on the East Coast of Vancouver Island now …retired with kids grown…grand kids…and they have boats…go figure where they got that idea!
Cheers, enjoy reading your column…I have bought a “stove-top oven” and am about to try it out this coming week…we have gone to “the dark side” and have a Tiara 31 with no oven. I used to make pressure cooker bread when we were offshore, but am going to try the oven as suggested on your website!
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’m barefoot more than not on the boat — remember, you’re at anchor or at a marina most of the time. Other than that, I wear the same shoes (Keens or sneakers) on land and on the boat. Not quite sure why they said not to, unless it’s for not getting sand and dirt on the boat.
Some shoes, particularly with soft soles, will leave black marks on non-skid. I don’t really know of a way to tell in advance, other than seeing if they are advertised as “non-marking” or someone else telling you that a particular model hasn’t left marks for them.
Fin boots are the liner booties that you wear with snorkeling/dive fins — some fins are made with an enclosure for your foot while others have just a heel strap. If you have the type with a heel strap (typically a larger dive fin, which is what we like), you have to wear a bootie.
Cheryl Buckner says
Thanks! Maybe it was for the dirt? Taking some lessons this summer on our reservoir and am just doing some reading. Lots to learn 🙂
Wanita says
Strictly boat shoes, and not to be worn on land: it’s because of grip. The soles loose the ability to grip the deck especially when the deck is wet. Learned that when racing. It’s amazing how fast it happens! We cruise Canada’s East Coast so wear shoes/sandals most of the time.
Carolyn Shearlock says
My husband is on Medicare. I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, specifically because it offers a huge nationwide network of doctors and hospitals . . . and we travel a lot!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Glad that you’re finding it so useful. I remember what it was like before we cruised the first time — so many questions, and they just continued for the first year. After the first year, the learning curve wasn’t so steep . . . but I’m still constantly learning!
Cheryl Buckner says
That is soooo helpful to know! Love your site and thank you for sharing your abundance of knowledge!!
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, they do stretch some. I’m always surprised when I put on a new pair how much snugger they are then the pair I just took off! Then as I wear them and they stretch out a bit, I just pull the lace a bit tighter . . .
Carolyn Shearlock says
Great to hear! I always love it when someone likes something I recommended.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, that is a big point and one of the reasons they’re good for walking long distances in towns and hiking!
The Boat Galley says
I’m in the Florida Keys, so “chilly” is relative. Socks under my Keens covers most winter days here. Sneakers on the few really cold days we get.
Anonymous says
Ah…didn’t realise it was warm enough there for that. I sailed in the English Channel and the North Sea!
Carolyn Shearlock says
We’ve never had marks on the deck, and we’ve both worn Keens for over 15 years now.
nancy says
Crocks are not safe on boats. With a little bit of wear they have no grip if the surface is wet.
Carolyn Shearlock says
You can use silica gel but my experience is that the amount of humidity on a typical boat quickly overpowers the silica — it’s just not made to be used in un-airconditioned tropical humidity.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I have never had a problem with my Keens stinking. Dave had a problem with one pair, maybe 5 years ago, but not since.
Val Nucci says
When Peter got his first pair of Keens, I immediately wanted a pair for myself. But, as you women with a C or D width know, we can’t always get what we love. I even wrote to the manufacturer at the time that I was “Keenless in Connecticut” … as I remained in Florida and the Bahamas. I begged them to make a few styles in larger widths but it didn’t happen.
I agree with your choices, Caroline, in footwear, but had to make C/D width choices. Tevas Youth sizes fit Women’s Wide for beach sandals. And Ryka for sneakers (non-marking gripping soles). And Merrit sandals for cocktail hour onshore.
Keens, please … someday!
Tiffany says
Thank you for recommending Keens. I just bought some and I’m looking forward to trying them out. I’ve been living aboard a boat full-time for about two years now. My partner and I have spent the last four years fixing up our boat and are now about ready to go full-time cruising. I am also blind and have narrow feet. So I generally have issues with feeling secure that sandals will stay on my feet. Especially with lots of walking. And I always really like shoes that have the toe guards. So I didn’t know that shoes with all these features existed. I also got a discount at the store as the shoes were actually two different sizes by mistake and, as I didn’t notice a difference, they gave me a discount which they normally wouldn’t do as they wouldn’t actually sell those shoes. And they also happened to come in the cute color also. I am more new to boats and definitely have a lot to learn. Thank you so much for your sight. It’s been super helpful to me. As part of the issue is, of course, most of the systems and manuals and classes for boats are not accessible to disabled people. So having steps and things clearly explained in text is super helpful.