What type of footwear would be best with white water rafting and canyoning?

Question

I have canyoning shoes, but my 2 friends don't want to drop $100 on a pair of Keen or Tevas that they'll probably never wear again. I was looking at reg sport sandals, but I'm concerned about the lack of toe protection. What about old sneakers that would dry out quickly? We'll be repelling down waterfalls and we'll get pretty wet with both activities. Does anyone have a suggestion / opinion on this matter?

Answer 1

You will absolutely want to wear shoes with toe protection.  A good pair of 'sneakers', running shoes or such, will do as good a job as most specially designed rafting or canyoning shoes.....(the shoe companies don't want you to know that)!   Your friends should know that the shoes will show unusual wear from such an outing as you describe, so if they've got an expensive pair of Air Jordan's or something it might be better to purchase those Keens!

I've used old sneakers with pretty good results, but the kind with canvas uppers will take a long time to dry out.  Really beat up old sneakers may fall apart and that would be very bad, so they can't be too old.  (I had that happen on a trip down the Usumacinta River in Mexico/Guatemala...not a great thing to happen in the middle of nowhere!)

Really avoid the open-toed sandals.  I've seen several injuries related to those on river runs.  It may be stylish, but protection is more important!  It's also important that they fit well and stay on during unintentional swims through rapids!

Answer 2

neoprene booties--http://www.diveutc.com/Pictures/ProductP...

Answer 3

most likely flipflops