Good River wading sandals

[Rwren]

Sure would like to get some recommendations on good, reasonably priced wading sandals that don't hold water, and do a good job of keeping most rocks out from under your feet.  I have some shorty neoprene boots that do a great job of keeps rocks/ pebbles out,  but they sure get hot.   

Had my best outing last fri. in southwest Missouri before this darn rain, cool , cold front came through. I know it has shut the bite down a bit,,,,,,,but wow do we need the water in the creeks down here.  Cranks and soft plastics,,,,,,,as usual.

Thanks for any feedback on the sandals.

[jtram]

18 minutes ago, Rwren said:

Sure would like to get some recommendations on good, reasonably priced wading sandals that don't hold water, and do a good job of keeping most rocks out from under your feet.  I have some shorty neoprene boots that do a great job of keeps rocks/ pebbles out,  but they sure get hot.   

Had my best outing last fri. in southwest Missouri before this darn rain, cool , cold front came through. I know it has shut the bite down a bit,,,,,,,but wow do we need the water in the creeks down here.  Cranks and soft plastics,,,,,,,as usual.

Thanks for any feedback on the sandals.

Nice fish, Elk?

[hoglaw]

Go to salvation army and pick up some high tops. Seriously.  Or buy a 30 dollar pair of canvass lace ups.  Chuck Taylor's are awesome for lifting and creek wading. If you feel like you just have to spend money, I have some simms wading boots that are pretty awesome. I see zero advantage for sandals. I walk through some rough stuff from time to time and wouldn't want exposed toes. BUT maybe I'm missing out. 

[Al Agnew]

I agree, sandals are about the worst thing for Ozark streams...the gravel gets between your foot and the sole a WHOLE lot easier than you can get it out.  But it's a never ending and never quite successful quest finding the perfect wading shoe/boot, and for some stupid reason, whenever a company DOES come up with a good one, it gets discontinued after a year or two.

I bought two pairs of a water shoe that was about as good as I'd ever found--when they were discontinued but still available a few years ago.  My last pair is not about shot, so I'm in the middle of investigating what's out there.  Most of it seems, as you said, to be too much neoprene and too hot if you're looking at good wading boots.  But here are a couple of choices I found that sound like possibilities--if you don't mind spending some money.

Simms Rip Rap--these are like low top tennies, but with material that doesn't soak up water, supposedly good drainage, very fast drying, good grip, and has neoprene around the top to seal out at least some of the gravel.  No ankle support, though, and every low top I ever used eventually got just enough gravel inside to make you stop and dig it out.  But they have been getting good reviews and they've been available for several years so they must be good enough to get repeat buyers.

Five Ten Canyoneer 3--Canyoneering shoes are actually a specialty product supposedly for hiking, climbing, and jumping around in wet western canyons.  Most of them are low tops, but this one is a high top version...synthetic mesh uppers, and supposedly the best gripping sole material available.  This is a newish product that replaced one that several anglers had tried and absolutely loved, said it drained quickly, dried very quickly, and DID have the best grip on slick rocks that they'd ever used.  No reviews yet from anglers that I could fine on this newer version.

Five Ten Water Tennie--this one is actually supposed to be designed specifically as a wading and canoe/rafting shoe.  Supposed to have good drainage, quick dry, and very good traction, though supposedly not quite as good as the material they used in the Canyoneer.  It sounds really good.

You can google all of these and find lots of places selling them, prices range from $100 to $180.  I am leaning toward the water tennie myself.  

Maybe somebody else on here has found something better.

[MOPanfisher]

I used to wear open toes sandals but have finally given them up for wading.  After a while my toes get soft and sore from banging on rocks.  I have used the cheapest walmart velcro shoes they had and they do OK, but like AL said they eventually sink in past the tops into gravel or sand.  I have taken to wearing socks while wading, doesn't keep sand or gravel out but you can tolerate it a lot longer.  When you do stop to clean them out you wash out the socks too, then throw them away when you get home.  A few years ago I fell into the "crock trap" thinking they would be ideal.  Luckily I survived the slippery SOBS, they are fine for gardening etc but dangerous in the water.  One of my buddies wears wading boots, like what you would wear with stocking foot waders, they may be my next choice if I can find a pair at the outlet store.

[evilcatfish]

I've used many different types of footwear in the river but the best are just old athletic shoes. Whenever a pair of my running/gym shoes start to get worn they become my river shoes

[Danimal]

Go to Academy Sporting Goods and buy the cheap canvas felt sole wading boots for about 20 bucks (Magellan I think is the brand name).They drain well, aren't too hot, and offer some ankle support.

[TroutRinger]

55 minutes ago, evilcatfish said:

I've used many different types of footwear in the river but the best are just old athletic shoes. Whenever a pair of my running/gym shoes start to get worn they become my river shoes

I've started doing this as well.

Asics seem to work well and dry quickly 

[TroutRinger]

Now I'm thinking about it again. Darn all of you.

 

I wonder if incorporating sand volleyball socks into a wading shoe would work.

Any thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A9UXGCA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463539843&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=sand+volleyball+shoes&dpPl=1&dpID=41fa5KhMeiL&ref=plSrch

[TroutRinger]

Or these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017P5FODK/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8