Best Non Slip Footwear

[doratheexplorer]

6 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

My roof and gunwales are painted with Epifanes Grey, probably Multiforte, but I am not sure on that. Never had a problem slipping

My Panama Jacks have Vibram soles

Vibram make lots of different soles for lots of different purposes. 

[trane]

6 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

I have a couple of pairs of shoes with vibram megagrip and they are excellent in mud, but I still wouldn't recommend them for wet gunwales, not enough contact.  They are common on better trail running shoes in the £120-£150 bracket.

They are the best I have found for the wet, having to cope with gunnels, roof and lock side. Siped soles are best for wet smooth metal but lose their advantage once you step on and off the boat. At the end of the day there is no perfect sole, but some are considerably worse than others

[trane]

15 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

I have a couple of pairs of shoes with vibram megagrip and they are excellent in mud, but I still wouldn't recommend them for wet gunwales, not enough contact.  They are common on better trail running shoes in the £120-£150 bracket.

I think that there are different sole patterns and while "megagrip" is a specific compound the boot manufacturer can use it's own pattern. I've checked my shoes which are flat and have relatively big lugs that are siped. The lugs are not straight. They seem to put a lot of rubber in contact with the ground. Looking online the trail running shoes seem to have a different sole pattern to the hiking shoes.

[doratheexplorer]

13 minutes ago, trane said:

I think that there are different sole patterns and while "megagrip" is a specific compound the boot manufacturer can use it's own pattern. I've checked my shoes which are flat and have relatively big lugs that are siped. The lugs are not straight. They seem to put a lot of rubber in contact with the ground. Looking online the trail running shoes seem to have a different sole pattern to the hiking shoes.

This is exactly right.  But the type of compound used in megagrip tends to get used in trail runners, so they tend to have very deep lugs for grip on loose and muddy surfaces, which is less good for painted metal.  It's a pretty soft and sticky compound which is why it grips so well.  The trade off is it isn't all that hard wearing, which is why it's not used so much for hiking boots, which tend to have a harder sole which will slip even more on a boat.  There are some cycling shoes which use megagrip,

 

eg https://www.sidi.com/en/outdoor-freetime/201-scarpa-sds-dimaro.html

 

Which might be the best compromise between grip on painted metal while still holding up in mud.  They're ugly though and have pedal clips so would probably be uncomfortable to stand in for long periods.

[Tony1]

 

I tend to use wellies for most of the year, and I suspect the sole isn't ideal for flat and painted metal surfaces. 

For me its the convenience- I can kick the wellies off in a second or two after I step back inside the boat, and when exiting I get back into them just as quickly without needing hands. 

The advantage of slip-on wellies is you can nip in and out of the boat and you wont spread dollops of mud along the floor- and of course you can wade through 6 inches of mud with no problem, and - were I not so slovenly-  I could easily rinse the mud off them later. 

The disadvantage is there's an increased chance I'll slip on something and hurt myself. It's nearly happened a few times in the rain. 

I might have to rethink the whole wellies strategy.

 

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Tony1

[cuthound]

20 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

I tend to use wellies for most of the year, and I suspect the sole isn't ideal for flat and painted metal surfaces. 

For me its the convenience- I can kick the wellies off in a second or two after I step back inside the boat, and when exiting I get back into them just as quickly without needing hands. 

The advantage of slip-on wellies is you can nip in and out of the boat and you wont spread dollops of mud along the floor- and of course you can wade through 6 inches of mud with no problem, and - were I not so slovenly-  I could easily rinse the mud off them later. 

The disadvantage is there's an increased chance I'll slip on something and hurt myself. It's nearly happened a few times in the rain. 

I might have to rethink the whole wellies strategy.

 

 

 

The disadvantage of wellies is that they quickly fill up and drag you down if you are unlucky enough to fall into a lock or anywhere else where the water is deep.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

I like wellies but find me feet are too cold in them, even with layers of socks.

Otherwise I think I’d wear them most of time. 

[alias]

3 minutes ago, Goliath said:

I like wellies but find me feet are too cold in them, even with layers of socks.

Otherwise I think I’d wear them most of time. 

 

It makes a big difference to keeping warm feet if you can get some that are lined with 3 or 4 mm of neoprene. Muck boot company and Aigle are makes I've used. The downside is that alongside making a big difference to warmth, it makes a big difference to price.

[Alan de Enfield]

18 minutes ago, cuthound said:

 

The disadvantage of wellies is that they quickly fill up and drag you down if you are unlucky enough to fall into a lock or anywhere else where the water is deep.

 

Funnily enough water is neutrally buoyant - it doesn't drag you down. In fact your wellies or waders filling with water is much preferred to not filling with water as the air in your feet means that you are floating with your feet up, and cannot get your legs down to stand upright.

 

I agree wellies are dangerous, but for the opposite reason to that you suggest.

[cuthound]

3 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Funnily enough water is neutrally buoyant - it doesn't drag you down. In fact your wellies or waders filling with water is much preferred to not filling with water as the air in your feet means that you are floating with your feet up, and cannot get your legs down to stand upright.

 

I agree wellies are dangerous, but for the opposite reason to that you suggest.

 

OK, fair point.

 

When I was learning to canoe, many years ago at Thames Young Mariners, I wore wellington boots and a warm wooly jumper. 

 

I capsized and found it very difficult to swim in wellies, and even more difficult to climb out. By the time I eventually managed to climb out the wooly jumper had absorbed so much water that it stretched below my knees!

 

Ever since then I have carefully considered the absorbancy and water retentive properties of my boating apparel! 😂

[Tony1]

2 hours ago, Goliath said:

I like wellies but find me feet are too cold in them, even with layers of socks.

Otherwise I think I’d wear them most of time. 

 

 

Blimey, yes. How could I have so quickly forgotten having cold feet every time I cruised this winter? The wellies slip on and off very easily, but that loose fit means the cold air can get in there quickly. I took to wearing an extra pair of socks on cruising days, but even that wasn't enough really, after a couple of hours. 

 

I did think about getting some heated insoles to help keep my feet warm- there are some battery powered, and some that are single-use. But I'll worry about those next winter - I reckon we're through the worst of this winter now.

I already have battery-powered heated gloves and they are great- its lovely to get an injection of warmth after you've gotten your hands really cold doing something like handling frozen ropes, or things that have been in near-frozen water.

 

I'm pretty sure that using heated gloves make me a wuss, but at least I'm a comfortable wuss. 

 

[cuthound]

31 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

 

Blimey, yes. How could I have so quickly forgotten having cold feet every time I cruised this winter? The wellies slip on and off very easily, but that loose fit means the cold air can get in there quickly. I took to wearing an extra pair of socks on cruising days, but even that wasn't enough really, after a couple of hours. 

 

I did think about getting some heated insoles to help keep my feet warm- there are some battery powered, and some that are single-use. But I'll worry about those next winter - I reckon we're through the worst of this winter now.

I already have battery-powered heated gloves and they are great- its lovely to get an injection of warmth after you've gotten your hands really cold doing something like handling frozen ropes, or things that have been in near-frozen water.

 

I'm pretty sure that using heated gloves make me a wuss, but at least I'm a comfortable wuss. 

 

 

I use Ironclad cold condition waterproof gloves when boating in winter. They are the only warm winter gloves that don't quickly disintegrate when handling wet or icy ropes.

 

https://www.toucantools.co.uk/ironclad_ccw2-04-l_cold_condition_down_to_20f_waterproof_gloves_size-large_duplicate.html?source=googlebase&kw=&ci=55752840518&network=g&pm=&cid=210807998&aid=16891513718&tid=pla-62599898618&dev=m&mt=&lim=&lpm=1007147&pos=&dm=&fid=&mid=100535314&productid=8799&country=GB&source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmpyRBhC-ARIsABs2EArsDamGQlL8KU1JQY3yNmmSJspDoxj_9-_sbXUzKRpCg-gNoQdPa0waAsdmEALw_wcB

[Tony1]

1 minute ago, cuthound said:

 

I use Ironclad cold condition waterproof gloves when boating in winter. They are the only warm winter gloves that don't quickly disintegrate when handling wet or icy ropes.

 

https://www.toucantools.co.uk/ironclad_ccw2-04-l_cold_condition_down_to_20f_waterproof_gloves_size-large_duplicate.html?source=googlebase&kw=&ci=55752840518&network=g&pm=&cid=210807998&aid=16891513718&tid=pla-62599898618&dev=m&mt=&lim=&lpm=1007147&pos=&dm=&fid=&mid=100535314&productid=8799&country=GB&source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmpyRBhC-ARIsABs2EArsDamGQlL8KU1JQY3yNmmSJspDoxj_9-_sbXUzKRpCg-gNoQdPa0waAsdmEALw_wcB

 

They look brilliant, I must say. 

I had this daft system where I tried using PVC type waterproof gloves to cast off, handle any wet/frozen ropes, all that stuff.

And when I'm under way, I wipe my fingers dry (ish) put on the heated gloves, which bring my fingers back up to operating temperature. 

 

What I stupidly didn't realise was that you cant really handle ropes with PVC gloves- they are too sticky to let the ropes run through your fingers smoothly, and it just gets awkward, so I ended up going back to using rigger style gloves- the ones you can buy for a couple of quid for gardening, and that fall apart within a month or so. But those are not waterproof, so I end up with those getting soaked, and putting on the heated gloves.  

But tbh you don't really need the heated gloves until Dec and Jan (although they are also brilliant for cold weather cycling trips), and normal gloves are fine most of the time. 

 

Those Ironclad gloves look just the job for most of the colder months. 

 

[cuthound]

Just now, Tony1 said:

 

They look brilliant, I must say. 

I had this daft system where I tried using PVC type waterproof gloves to cast off, handle any wet/frozen ropes, all that stuff.

And when I'm under way, I wipe my fingers dry (ish) put on the heated gloves, which bring my fingers back up to operating temperature. 

 

What I stupidly didn't realise was that you cant really handle ropes with PVC gloves- they are too sticky to let the ropes run through your fingers smoothly, and it just gets awkward, so I ended up going back to using rigger style gloves- the ones you can buy for a couple of quid for gardening, and that fall apart within a month or so. But those are not waterproof, so I end up with those getting soaked, and putting on the heated gloves.  

But tbh you don't really need the heated gloves until Dec and Jan (although they are also brilliant for cold weather cycling trips), and normal gloves are fine most of the time. 

 

Those Ironclad gloves look just the job for most of the colder months. 

 

 

Yes they are brilliant to but expensive. Mine is must be at my least 15 years old now.

 

I find "work wear" clothing to be at least as good as specialised clothing and usually much cheaper. When it is cold and wet I often wear Dickies Waterproof Overalls. 

 

Initially I was persuaded to by some waterproof merino wool gloves. They were warm and waterproof but fell apart the first time I tied the boat up in them.

[Tony1]

10 minutes ago, cuthound said:

 

Yes they are brilliant to but expensive. Mine is must be at my least 15 years old now.

 

I find "work wear" clothing to be at least as good as specialised clothing and usually much cheaper. When it is cold and wet I often wear Dickies Waterproof Overalls. 

 

Initially I was persuaded to by some waterproof merino wool gloves. They were warm and waterproof but fell apart the first time I tied the boat up in them.

 

To be honest once I started using mooring chains (about 2 months after I got the boat), I found I invariably had to kneel to reach down under the Armo/piling, and so I was frequently getting mud/grass stains on otherwise perfectly decent trousers.

So I ended up buying builders site trousers to actually cruise in winter or wet weather, with black knee patches for extra protection.  

 

And instead of a fancy goretex waterproof, I was tempted to get a workman's site jacket, but since it also had to be worn when cycling to shops containing normal people, I reluctantly decided a fancy goretex jacket might be the best bet...

I certainly dont cut a very dashing figure when cruising, and I sometimes wonder what the fashionably-attired hire boaters must think of me, sipping their wine gently as they cruise past this grim and scruffy troglodyte.  

 

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Tony1

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

I have used my motorbike gloves in the winter. 
Leather and do the trick but seem a bit over the top. 
 

[ditchcrawler]

6 minutes ago, Tony1 said:

 

To be honest once I started using mooring chains (about 2 months after I got the boat), I found I invariably had to kneel to reach down under the Armo/piling, and so I  

 

Saw a lady using chains last trip, she held the chain by the large loop, lowered the small loop through the piling and then without hardly bending used a hook made from what  looked like a paint roller handle, hooked up the small ring, passed one ring through the other followed by the rope and it was job done, unlike my wet soggy knees and cold wet hand.

 

[Tony1]

3 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Saw a lady using chains last trip, she held the chain by the large loop, lowered the small loop through the piling and then without hardly bending used a hook made from what  looked like a paint roller handle, hooked up the small ring, passed one ring through the other followed by the rope and it was job done, unlike my wet soggy knees and cold wet hand.

 

 

 

Genius, my dear fellow. 

I don't mind the bending over/reaching part as I think it helps keep me reasonably supple (like climbing lock ladders and getting on and off the roof- the physical manoeuvres all help a bit), but I could do without the hands full of canal water and/or mud. 

The device that looked like a paint roller handle was almost certainly an actual paint roller handle. I'll definitely have one of those hanging about from a paining job that I should have done 3 months ago.

No more mud-soaked knees for me!

 

[Ianws]

I've got some Grubs wellies. Not cheap but neoprene lined. They do lots of different weights and styles and soles suitable for different conditions. I went for a cheap pair I found which are great for mud but they do other soles which work better on snow and ice which might be better for smooth wet surfaces. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Ianws
Remove a b from grubs

[Tonka]

I assume that is why yachting wellingtons tighten at the calf so as to reduce the water going in if you fall in

[jpcdriver]

25 minutes ago, Tonka said:

I assume that is why yachting wellingtons tighten at the calf so as to reduce the water going in if you fall in

No, it is to reduce water going in when waves are breaking over the deck.

[Tonka]

https://www.sfceurope.com/uk/?utm_campaign=&utm_term=shoes for crews&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_src=g&hsa_ver=3&hsa_cam=13158497658&hsa_kw=shoes for crews&hsa_ad=522550009814&hsa_tgt=kwd-11184641&hsa_mt=e&hsa_acc=1772510463&hsa_grp=121717970839&hsa_net=adwords&wg=uk&https://ad.atdmt.com/s/go;adv=11142237377155;ec=11142238477769;c.a=13158497658;s.a=google;p.a=13158497658;as.a=121717970839;qpb=1;?bidkw=shoes for crews&dvc=m&h=https://www.sfceurope.com/uk/&gclid=CjwKCAiAvaGRBhBlEiwAiY-yMIUUkLAleSv5mSdA1vVcurzFhBQ3b8RdSgkCtU4vSvHg1o2R9ic_XxoCdwIQAvD_BwE

 

Shoes for crews. 5 star grip

[LadyG]

I prefer mittens to any gloves, this year I bought waterproof mittens, and have a pair of gloves on standby if I need to handle ropes. I gave up with kneeling on the verge, I drop my chain through the Armco and use an undersized deck brush to capture the loose end. 

I bought a pair of winter boots from Ebay, unfortunately they were half price for a reason, they are  not waterproof! I find them very comfortable, the sole is groovy, not too much mud. OK for locks and walking along the gunwales. 

Ive painted gunwales with Interdeck non slip, it looks good for about two years but may need a good scrubbing on a regular basis. 

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by LadyG

[Chris Lowe]

Oddly I find the canvas deck shoes are the best for non slip.