Looking for suggestions. What do you like to wear on your fee while Viper sailing?
LOL 21 views and no replies? Apparently nobody had feet in the Viper class?
For reference these are what I'm wearing...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71e-%2BZ6SJPL._SL1500_.jpg
My Gul shoes are pretty ripped up and I need something else to wear. I also have these as my big boat shoes, but I don't think they would work so well on the viper...
https://www.sailingworld.com/sites/sailingworld.com/files/styles/500_1x_/public/_images/200703/124-GearUpVortexSt.jpg?itok=8R1jWtz7
I've seen a few people wearing what I'll refer to as "skater shoes". They look like the old Vans I use to wear back in the day.
Ha. Good question Darren. I am guilty of a couple of those views because I am also curious to see responses.
The past several years I have used Nike running shoes. They have obviously have several options. I just picked a pair that had breathable upper and sturdy solid white soles. To me, they are more comfortable than most "boat" shoes, and easier on the budget. I also still use my Gill dinghy boots when it's cold up here in the PNW.
I have often thought the Class should try for a sponsorship from a shoe manufacturer that currently isn't in the sailing market. Nike or....fill in the blank.
Most of our team has been wearing the Zhik 360 boots since we also have VX One Zhik hiking straps, and we decided to see whether the Zhik marketing hype about straps mating with boots produced some great result (and since we wanted padded straps and that was the only option out there, and we already had the boots). The boots are awesome. There is no difference with the Zhik hiking strap though vs. the stock Viper hiking straps. Someone else must have thought the boots were awesome too since they were stolen out of my boat in Ft. Walton, at which point I pivoted to the Rooster boots since that's all Craig had for sale. The Rooster boots are fine, but I miss my Zhik boots, which Jay and Rachel still wear. They're a bit fragile though, so like most boots, we try to avoid walking around with them in the drysail area too much and prefer to just put them on when we're in the boat on the way out to the course.
I was a Zhik boot fan for quite some time. And the Zhik boot technically I feel is a better boot for hiking, as compared to a Rooster Hiking boot. However the Rooster soles, last longer. Like Peter suggests, if you go Zhik, don't go walking around the boat park in them, as you will wear the soles down fairly quickly. My Zhiks I had to toss after the soles wore out, My Roosters, I need to replace the lacing, and soles are still good. The Roosters on your first time or two are hard to put on, but after that, it is fairly easy.
We sell both Zhik and Rooster out of the trailer. Actually have some Rooster Pro Lace boots on sale right now too.....
Barefoot, Crocs, Sandals, my crew wear actual sailing shoes and give me grief for my choices. Honestly there isn't too much aft of the main sheet to step on worth worrying about.
Barefoot on my boat with the hydroturf, Zhik on other's boats...
I had a pair of Gil hiking boots, They were great but forone thing. The ridges on the bottom were pretty big, but the place where the ridges came together on the soul was quite thin. And as I am +250lbs, I went right through them disappointingly fast. Not the ridges, but the junctions between the ridges. So, I said, I guess I'll try other boots.
But then the Gils model was updated, and the bottom went to a smaller ridge with thicker souls. So far I have not put a major dent in them since pre-July 2018. That much sailing in my old gils and I was already seeing the wear and tear. All I have so far is the usual funk and a scar were my boot got in a fight with the metal rings around a Laser main block. Anyways, much happier with this purchase....so far.
https://www.gillmarine.com/us/sailing-accessories/sailing-boots/edge-boots-961.html#