What type of shoes for the beach?

[coriedorie]

I am hoping I can get some good hints for the best type of shoes or sandals to wear for the beach. We went on our first cruise last November and I had what I thought was going to be a good pair of water shoes to wear at Castaway Cay. They were miserable!! The sand got inside and under the top of the shoe and rubbed my feet raw. It was like wearing sandpaper! We are going to be cruising in December and I need to look for something while they still have Summer items out on the shelves. Thanks for any help.

 

[Honu]

I wear crocs or scuba boots (both are so sexy, I know). Crocs because they are good in and out of the water and are easy to shake off/clean. Scuba boots offer the best protection in the water. Never had rubbing or blisters with either.

 

[ShannonRT]

I am looking at Crocs to wear for work (on my feet all day in a hospital). They seem to be the latest and greatest thing. Lots of people at the hospital are already wearing them. My question is....I can't figure out the difference between the Beach and the Cayman? They look exactly the same to me. Anyone know?

 

[Honu]

Beach are sized small, medium, large and the Cayman are sized in numbered shoe sizes. I have both. That's the only difference I see. They are very comfortable, but I find they are too soft and squishy for me to wear all day if I'm walking or on my feet. As a water/pool shoe, they can't be beat.

 

[coriedorie]

I wear crocs or scuba boots (both are so sexy, I know).

Thanks for the tips Honu. I have been wearing "sexy" Birkenstocks for 27 years now, so the crocs actually do look sexy to me..LOL. What neat colors ! I think they are just tooo cute and I can't believe I don't know about them. I need to get out more often !! Are the sizes accurate for mailorder, or would you suggest fitting at a store?

 

[Honu]

The length sizing is right on the Caymans, but I think all the styles run a little wide. The length sizing is a little short on my Nile sandals. More and more retailers are carrying them now, so you may be able to find them to try on.

 

[TheWog]

I use a pair of Hobie water shoes. They fit snugly and work perfect for me.

 

[pdarrah]

For over 15 years I have been wearing water shoes to the beach, but I have to admit that I am now very torn between my water shoes and my crocs! I bought my first Crocs about 2 months ago (now I own 3 - 20% of my total shoe count!) and fell in love with them. 2 weeks ago I wore a pair to the beach for the first time and REALLY liked how they worked for that. However, I really don't like walking in the ocean or a lake without my water shoes on and the crocs aren't as good for that - Yes, you can wear them right into the water, but I felt like they were trying to float off my feet as I was wading.

(Even DS6 thinks Crocs are cool and we just bought him his own pair in red.)

pdarrah

 

[hawaii5o]

I wear my waterproof birkenstocks!!! You cant really go in the water with them all the way. They are just good for getting your feet wet etc... cant swim in um. But I love um........

 

[mecook]

The beach sand and shallow water was FULL of shells that hurt!
I stepped on one and got a blood blister.

 

[GoofyFD]

I vote for good old Slippers AKA Filp Flops!

 

[tvguy]

Flip flops here too.....paid 99 cents for them at Wal-Mart. Great on the beach, great in the water, great for walking, great for bike riding on Castaway Cay.

 

[krhardy]

teva type sandals are also very good...the sand rinses out easily, which it doesn't out of "water shoes". I got mine very inexpensively on ebay!

 

[branv]

I use my 8 year old Nike Sandals (i.e. Teva type sandals) Hard bottom so I can walk straight from rocks/concrete, onto sand and into the water. They have straps so they won't float off my feet and I won't slide sideways off of them when walking while they're wet like with flip flops. They're easy to take off and on, and b/c it's a sandal you can get more cool air on your tootsies when you're out of the water.

Not the sexiest shoe in the world, but I don't think a kitten heel mule works too well in the water

 

[Patty106]

Because of this thread I have decided to order my first pair of crocs. I hope I am not sorry

 

[txaggie94gigem]

crocs are great, for either the beach or at the hospital! My feet never hurt even after a 12 hour shift!

FYI...payless shoe source has a less expensive version in 4 colors...blue, pink, purple, and black...they work just as well

 

[mmouse37]

I just ordered water sneakers from Land's End.

They are lightweight mesh uppers and rubber soles and you are supposed to be able to wear them right in the water...there were $29.00. I like them but have not tried them in the water yet and would like to know how long they take to dry out.....if they dry quickly I could bring them as my one pair of sneakers for the repo cruise....they come in several nice colors...

http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/...00.html?sid=4285183302381119980&CM_MERCH=SRCH

MJ

 

[kecall]

Ok...I need to jump in on this discussion! I have never seen crocs before but they look "interesting" to me.....

My one concern is they remind me of the "jelly" phase everyone was into a few years ago....You know, those cute little rubber shoes that everyone wore, but after 2 hours of sweating in them, you ended up with horrible blisters!!! *yikes!* (I can still see all these cute little 5 yr old girls limping from the blisters!!!)

Are crocs different from this??? Don't you sweat in them??? Won't they make blisters??? (If not, I'm off to order myself a pair!!!)

karen

 

[kecall]

MJ:

Thanks for posting the Lands End shoes!! I LOVE them!!! I love the fact that they come in soo many colors!!! Decisions, decisions!! I think I'm gonna need SEVERAL pairs of shoes!!!

karen

 

[DVC Jen]

Ok...I need to jump in on this discussion! I have never seen crocs before but they look "interesting" to me.....

My one concern is they remind me of the "jelly" phase everyone was into a few years ago....You know, those cute little rubber shoes that everyone wore, but after 2 hours of sweating in them, you ended up with horrible blisters!!! *yikes!* (I can still see all these cute little 5 yr old girls limping from the blisters!!!)

Are crocs different from this??? Don't you sweat in them??? Won't they make blisters??? (If not, I'm off to order myself a pair!!!)

karen

I have 4 pairs. 2 knockoffs from payless and 2 real pairs of crocs. They are NOTHING like those horrible jelly shoes. These actually feel like a foam. You may sweat in them a bit, but not like you did jellies. Most models of the shoes have holes in them and air does flow through very very well. I wore mine at WDW for a 10 day trip and never once had a problem. They are the most comfortable shoe I have ever owned and wear them constantly.

BTW.. when we were at WDW in June my youngest DD and I were counting all the pairs of crocs we saw and counted 68 pairs!