What Are the Best Shoes For Sailing? A P&B Guide
Choosing the right sailing footwear is vital to maintaining your comfort while on a boat. Whether you’re a newcomer to sailing, gearing up for a new season on the sea or beginning to wind down after a thrilling and rewarding few months on the water, there’s never a bad time to look for new shoes and boots.
At P&B, we have half a century of experience in sailing and want to share our knowledge and expertise with you. In today’s blog, we will discuss what to look for in sailing boots and how to decide which to choose when buying your next pair. Read on to find your perfect pair so you can set sail confidently.
Table of contents
- Benefits of sailing shoes
- What to look for in sailing shoes
- Shoes to avoid while sailing
- The different types of sailing footwear
- How should sailing boots fit?
- Sailing footwear at P&B
Benefits of sailing shoes
While shoes might not be the first thing you associate with water sports, they are crucial to ensuring a safe and comfortable sailing experience. Staying in complete control of your movement, stability and comfort is only possible if you wear the right footwear. We’ve outlined some of the key pros of proper sailing shoes:
Sailing performance
Wearing high-quality sailing footwear can benefit your performance greatly when on the water. The right sailing shoes will help with bridge and ankle support while sailing and can significantly reduce fatigue in the feet, ankles and legs while hiking.
Protection
As always, safety first when setting sail. The deck of your boat could be full of ridges and obstacles that make for quite an uncomfortable ride when barefoot. Wearing sailing boots helps you protect your feet from bruising, cuts, and dangerous infections.
Enhanced grip
Maintaining your grip and footing is essential to achieving your sailing goals, so the top standard of sailing shoes and boots are made with enhanced grip. Wearing sailing boots helps you stay steady and move freely while sailing.
Better for your boat
Protect your feet and the deck of your boat by wearing sailing shoes. The non-marking rubber soles of sailing shoes and boots will make leaving marks on your deck much less likely so that you can come away with your feet and your boat scratch-free.
What to look for in sailing shoes
We know why sailing shoes are so important and what makes them useful, but what features and factors separate the wheat from the chaff regarding quality sailing shoes and boots? A fundamental requirement of any good pair of sailing shoes is the soles. Look for shoes with non-slip properties in the soles to ensure you stay on your feet while in the boat.
Breathability is another key aspect of good sailing shoes. Your comfort can be hampered by built-up sweat while sailing, so breathable shoes are necessary to fight against excess warmth and clammy feet.
It may sound obvious, but ensure the sailing shoes or boots you choose have sufficient waterproof properties. Neoprene and free-draining fabrics are recommended as they help remove water and allow your shoes to dry more quickly, allowing you to reach top performance without unnecessary obstacles.
Shoes to avoid while sailing
Deck shoes are great for casual wear, on shore leisure, or for some types of yachting, but for dinghy sailing they’re best left behind. Same goes for any other type of water-absorbent style – with canvas shoes, regular trainers and wellies all needing to stay in the changing room!
The different types of sailing footwear
Our collection of sailing footwear at P&B features various styles and designs to suit your preferred way of sailing. We’ve listed some of our favourites and how they can help you achieve your optimal performance on the water.
Best barefoot-like sailing boots
The Zhik Superthin Booties assist you movement and freedom while sailing and the best part is you’ll barely notice they’re on! If barefoot sailing feels more comfortable, but you still want the benefits of protection that come with sailing footwear, these are the boots for you.
Best sailing footwear for bridge support
Bridge support can be crucial when reaching top-performance while sailing. Zhik High-Cut Boots provide unmatched support so you can sail comfortably and have footwear that is putting in as much effort as you are as you tackle the ever changing currents and conditions.
Best trainer-like sailing shoes
Any high-intensity sport requires shoes that work with you every step, or wave, of the way. Gill Savona Trainers are perfect for the boat and provide an incredible range of movement so you can make movements freely and with intent.
How should sailing boots fit?
Comfort is the name of the game, so you need to know how your sailing shoes or boots should fit. Getting the right fit means you can reach top performance without being hampered by your footing or a feeling of something not being quite right.
You want a fit that’s snug and comfortable. An extremely tight boot will limit your movement and cause unwanted irritation, while a boot that’s too loose could allow excess water in and impact your temperature.
At P&B, we carry a vast range of sailing footwear that you can come and try on in store so you can be certain you’ve got the right fit. Find our store, see our opening times and come visit us!
An important note is that if you’re planning on wearing a drysuit when you set sail you may need to size up in footwear size. This is to allow room for the built in socks at the bottom of the drysuit. For some brands, including Zhik and Gill, it’s essential to check the sizing guides as they can change dramatically from brand-to-brand.
Ensure you find that perfect middle ground and test your boots before fully setting sail. Once you’re confident you have a full range of movement while still feeling secure, you’ll be ready to go.
Sailing footwear at P&B
Take this advice and let it guide you to choosing the perfect sailing shoes for your needs. Our collection of sailing footwear at P&B features everything you need, no matter your sailing preferences or experience.
Reach your potential and feel the thrill of high-speed sailing with your best foot forward by choosing dinghy boots. These lightweight, warm and comfortable boots allow you the range of movement required to focus on your performance and protect you from harsh temperatures and your boat’s surface.
Our yachting boots collection is perfect if you’re not used to the feel and fit and want something more familiar to wear on the boat. Yachting boots closely resemble wellies and will keep you dry and comfortable in style.
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