I have a pair of rubber boots and flip flops in the boat, but there are times when I want to wear a pair of waterproof shoes.

I’ve had a few pairs of Solomon X ultra. They are nice, but they don’t hold up. I bought the wide and it’s still not wide enough so the lower always separates from the upper and I’m over that for the price.

Does anyone have a good pair to recommend?

I don’t know what your budget is but these LL Bean shoes have been serving me well for several years.

@Scott F are they breathable enough for summer use?

Breathable, waterproof and durable? That’s a lot to ask. They are very durable and waterproof but not breathable.

Usually the breathable ones are gortex and so far I haven’t been able to find one that’s durable. I guess I am asking for too much.

Solomons run narrow. I have a pair for hiking and always end up needing to get a wide. If it's warm I could care less about getting wet, and my ambition for going out in cold driving rain is not what it once was lol. I've been eying the shorter ankle height deck boots that Grunden's makes, but realistically I wouldn't use them much so I haven't pulled the trigger.

I've tried several brands and they've all failed miserably in the durability dept.

Been wearing Crocs ever since.

Scott's recommendation looks interesting 🤔.

@MassYak85 Even the solomon wides aren’t wide enough. They are nice but just cant go that route anymore.

I have some huk deck boots that are nice, they run a little narrow but not bad. If it’s super rainy I’d prefer to not wear flip flops or deck boots.

@Bird I hear you there. I have a croc hybrid where the upper is actually cloth that I keep in the boat. Super comfortable and ugly as heck, but I like them.

how waterproof and what boat?

In the kayak I either wore muck boots if it was cold or crocs if it was warm (socks if chilly or for bugs). Since moving to the boat, I've just stuck with my allbirds. They are super comfy for standing all day, stretchy enough I can put some sucks under them but also breathable enough that I can wear them in modest summer temps and not fry. If it is 80+ I'm barefoot anyway and that's flip flop weather in the boat.

I ask how waterproof because they aren't like a rubber boot. If it's raining hard all day and water is running down your raingear pants then you feet will get a bit wet. If it is just off and on drizzle then you'll be fine.

Mine are the wool runner mizzle but the equivalent would be the wool runner mid waterproof. Those even look nicer than mine with the thicker sole and middle fabric portion.

21 hours ago, Scott F said:

I don’t know what your budget is but these LL Bean shoes have been serving me well for several years.

I’m in a similar pair of LL Beans. Love em

And yes, not really breathable. Well not breathable at all. In fact you sweat in them and your family walk around with clothespins on their noses when you take them off … haha

@casts_by_fly I would prefer them to be 100% waterproof and these would be used in my bass boat.

I’ve never heard of allbirds but they look nice so I might give them a try even if I don’t use them for fishing.

Always been a believer in Keens

Wide toe box and super comfortable but pricy

How well do they hold up after a year? I only get about 1.5 years on my Solomon’s with fairly light use (camping, trails, and fishing) and the lower starts to separate. At that point they get water in them and start to smell.

Allbirds were launched around 10 years ago as a sustainable materials type shoe with good design and (in the tennis shoes) decent support. They have them in wool and in a mesh material. I really like the original wool runner. It is a low top casual shoe that you can wear with socks, with invisible socks, or barefoot. I have a half dozen pairs still. They created the mizzle versions which are modestly waterproof. I haven’t dug into their latest versions in the past 3 years or so. All super comfy. And machine washable.

1 hour ago, stk44 said:

How well do they hold up after a year? I only get about 1.5 years on my Solomon’s with fairly light use (camping, trails, and fishing) and the lower starts to separate. At that point they get water in them and start to smell.

I don’t wear mine everyday but going on four years this summer. I do wear Keen water sandals in the summer when the water is warm/hot but gore-Tex tennis shoes rest of the time.

Awesome. The targhee hiking shoes / boots look like they are right up my alley. Thanks!

Great thing about them is the 30 day return policy if you don’t like them.

If I'm wearing rain gear, uninsulated neos are the only option for me. It all packs up pretty tight and works with whatever I was wearing before inclement weather. The neos have outlasted 2 sets of rain gear and don't look likely to give it up anytime soon.

scott