Water crossings and spare shoes

[Dutch]

I tend not to worry and just let them get wet. If i'm close to camp or there's only one crossing that naturally aligns with a break, i may change shoes to save drying a set of socks, but mostly “plow right in”
….This wasn't alway the case though, so I’ll detail my personal observations (i started high km/day trekking about 12 months ago)

I started by using some heavy Helly Hansen winter boots (that i thought would be great for South America - urgh) Using since 2009, they were well worn in.

Pro
. ankle support; having a safety buffer in the night if i misplace a foot / out shooting and want to keep eye on a target
. waterproof up to ~100mm
. some snake bite protection
. toe protection for stubbing

Con
. heavy, 860g each
. being waterproof up to 100mm means once wet, they will never dry over a multi-day hike
(0700h morning trek up Feathertop, all the morning dew from tall grasses ran down my legs and while feeling amazing, filled the boots with water to the equiv of dunking them in water. They didn't dry)
. they CONSIDERABLY heavier when wet
. hard wearing boots have zero traction on wet / smooth rock
. non flexible soles don’t shed dried mud from the cleats
. with thick wool socks and liners, i lost a nail and blackened 3 others(probably a fit issue so maybe not worth mentioning)

I then started using my old cross trainers (5yr old ASIC $100 somethings)

Pro
. light, 390g each
. faster draining
. better traction on wet / smooth rock


Con
. zero ankle support
. less traction than boot on mud (and pretty much all other surfaces) due to shorter cleats and sole pattern
. thinner sole; arch pain from stone strikes

Now im on trail runners (La Sportiva Wildcat 3)

Pro
. ridiculous traction in all conditions; i averaged 5.5km/h while night trekking into Sealers Cove in the rain with a 17kg pack
. stone plate prevents strikes
. greater overall rigidity in “lower”
. faster draining than runner

Con
. heavier than runner at 416g each
. soft lugs that bite through mud and cling on wet / smooth rocks will wear flat quicker on hard 4WD trails, losing effectiveness

So to directly answer your question, with fast draining shoes and good woolen socks and liners, i have no problems having them soaked as the shoe drains quickly and the sock retains structure (no blister) and warmth - bring it on.


Other thoughts

Shoe type - I find it hard to imagine ever going back to a boot. With the UL thing going on, is the support needed? If a youth of soccer and rugby has damaged ur ankles, this option might not be for you.

Blisters - I've found this transformation particulary amazing. I watched blisters on my heals appear and go twice, then never return. I then watched blisters on large toe appear once, then never return. I had a 3cmx3cm blister on the entire ball of my foot appear then heal. 5wks later when it appeared again after a 40km/36h trek, I cut into 3-4mm of skin to drain – never returned.
I recently blitzed around the southern Prom loop, carpark > Sealers > Waterloo > carpark in 15hours (34km) and instead of abrasion blisters, got these “hoops” 10mm above both heals where the thick skin meets the thinner.
So after 10 night hikes and another 10 fast 25km@5.5km/h day hikes over 12 months in -3-40c temps, dry and SOAKED, i feel my feet have increased greatly in terms of robustness = maybe as time goes on, ur wet feet won't bother you.

Maintenance - Im barefoot around the house and in thongs at almost all non-formal occasions in summer. When i get to camp, I wear thongs (year round) to let my feet dry out. I feel this is super important for feet health though am not sure if this is proven.

Random - Shoes that are too tight or just shoes in general, limit the amount of proprioceptive feedback from your feet to your brain. This lack of feedback has been shown to decrease the amount of weight an olympic lifter “feels” they can lift. This data alone, kicked off a craze of people weight training with no shoes.
If the above is true, are your over tight boots or shoes preventing you from banging out that last 5km / ascending that last 100m?

In closing , the last year of trekking has raised the bar of copable personal discomfort far above a childhood of triathlons, slow ADSL speeds and itchy woolen jumpers from grandma.
Where once wet shoes were a flood of memories of being 13 years old on a Scouts trip in 5 day old socks and tinea, it now doesn't phase me in the least.

Wet feet don’t necessarily equate to blisters or odour, they’re simply a state between now, and the end of the day with dry camp socks, hot food and hard liquor.

EDIT: Iv only done 3 season

[nq111]

Shoe type - I find it hard to imagine ever going back to a boot and everyone is seemingly going lighter with their packs so is the support needed? If your youth of soccer and rugby has damaged ur ankles, this option might not be for you.

I have bad ankles (well one particularly) and have transitioned to trail runners using light ankle braces (they allow most movement and are a little flexible in the plane of spraining, but stiff enough to stop a full roll of the ankle). The trail runner / ankle brace combination is still super light.

I like boots but they aren't built how i like (light, breezy, free-draining, some ankle support). So not so much I am in the trail runner camp, just they are the best solution for me until someone makes a suitable boot

[north-north-west]

As soon as someone makes a shoe that can cope with the abuse of scrub-bashing Tassie style, I'll buy 'em. But the last eleven days would have torn shoes to pieces, while only scuffing up my leather boots a bit. No contest.

[PedroArvy]

If you go somewhere really wet like NZ or SW Tassie you are going to get wet so it's pointless carrying spare shoes.
If you hike in trail runners, like me, they will dry in about 2-3 hours after a full dunking.
If you just get over the wet feet, there is no issue with a full dunk and I can't justify the weight or volleys or crocs.
I'd love to know the full pack weight of people carrying those things.

[corvus]

With respect this was not a Boot/Shoe post but what do wear for Water crossings and spare shoes, there is a very large topic on footwear on the forum if you look

[taipan821]

Getting on topic, water crossings

I don't bother. whether I'm in runners and sealskinz socks or leather boots and woolen socks (Nth QLD) If i can't avoid it by rock hopping i go through and keep walking. i do this because i'm either on a roll or on a search. the bonus is i don't have to worry about stopping and changing shoes and my pack is lighter (no spare shoes)

helps if your boots were designed for water immersions though. I wear military style boots designed for jungle/amphibious use while on search

[jobell]

I walk on through in my trail runners. Gives me a good grip and washes the sweat off my feet [WHITE SMILING FACE]

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[zac150]

I carry spare shoes as I don't like the idea of cutting a foot in a river and it's nice to change shoes at the end of the day.

I follow the following criteria, comfy for the end of the day, they have to dry quickly, suitable as emergency back up shoes and provide enough support to cross rivers (grip + tight fit) and light.

I started in crocs which are great for the end of day, they are light and dry quickly, but are hopeless to walk in long distance (a walking companion of mine walked 42km in them after loosing his boots and his feet suffered for months). I also don't like the support when crossing fast flowing rivers (this is personal).

I tried the fives which I love as the freedom of movement especially after a long day is great but there no good if the river is close to camp, why change shoes to avoid wet feet and then end up with wet camp shoes.

I have now moved onto the bivi barefoot, without the inner sick which is neoprene they are lighter than the crocs and only just heavier with the sock, but this suits me as I don't carry socks for night time and rely on the neoprene sock. Great for river crossings, people run marathons in them and they are rubber so dry quickly. I'm pretty happy with them so far and they appear to hold up ok.

[-dz-]

Cross in boots, shoes, whatever I'm wearing. If not crossing again for a while I'll take a break, boots off to drain opened up to dry a little, change into clean and dry socks, carry on.

Risk of crossing barefoot too high imo, need full, covered protection and grip in a river far more than anywhere else.