sandals = blisters? Can’t find proper fitting sandals

Everyone is different. Moi, I spent almost an hour at REI trying out brands that many people loved — and like you, there was always a strap or a shape just wrong for one foot or the other. And then, I came upon a pair of el cheapo at Payless (of all places)! These will last about a month of hard, daily wear — much longer if otherwise. They are also clearly not for hardcore, off trail use. But for my feet, the comfort is simply unmatched.

Moral of story: No easy answer, but to try out all different ones.

what I am thinking is perhaps buy some light el cheapo shoes and cut off most of the upper mash.

I did find a very comfortable pair of keen but one of the fabric strips in the middle foot was rubbing on the inside, if I cut that out will the shoe hold up? These are expensive experiments.

If it's going to be el cheapo shoes anyway… I have met a few PCT / JMT hikers wearing Crocs and swearing by them…

if I were to cut this part of the shoe, would it still hold up and be comfortable? This is the keen kanyon, that part rubs against the inside of my foot.

You got to wear socks because they will help the blisters. It is like a cushion for your feet and they help wick moisture.

Moisture equals blisters, including the bottom on your foot walking on the foam or rubber sandal. Joe from zpacks wears sandals on long hikes and he seems like he knows a thing or two. He wears socks with them.

I just about live in Keen H2's all summer with no problem. I wear them biking too. Yes, I imagine some break-in may be needed, so wear them for short periods until you are comfortable with them. Don't wear them too tight. Sandals and socks are a very PNW thing :)

I wouldn't remove the strap. That may cause stress in other areas, and as you said, that is an expensive experiment.

The "original" Tevas have tubular webbing straps that you might find softer. You can shake the rocks out of a Teva while wearing them by tapping the toe on the ground, which you can't do with Keens. Tevas are better on beaches with small rocks and gravel. Then again, Keens protect your toes.

The Crocs Swiftwater sandals might work for you too.

" I am wearing them without socks, for the record."

Hmmm… I don't know what to say. There are a few people that can backpack miles in sandlas w/o socks. Me– I usually get a blister w/o socks.

Good luck,
-Barry
-The mountains were made for Tevas

Plus one for wearing socks with sandals.

It looks like he hasn't posted in about a year but Ryan French was making custom sandals on here:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=87515&skip_to_post=745749#745749

The website for his company is a bit confusing, I can't find an order form. You could try contacting him: http://exodussandals.com/

I haven't tried them but they might work for you since they are made to your exact foot dimensions.

Columbia makes (or made) a pair of cheap, super comfy sandals. I got some at Famous Footwear a couple years back. The straps have a nice, soft, cushy lining. Like a foam I think. Couldn't be more comfortable. BUT, and it's a big but, the tread is terrible for anything other than pavement or the most pampered trails. They're more like shoes you'd want to be wearing while standing on the deck of a boat fishing. That kind of tread pattern.

zeroshoes are my favorite, I wear them everyday all year and never get blisters. The problem is not always the shoe,but your skin. If you keep your feet in a cushioned cacoon all day your entire life, your skin is not thick enough to handle irritation. Thats not to say it isnt the shoe's fault too. Zeroshoes are great for natural walking too! It's a feel good accomplishment when you can walk on hot gravel driveways only to realize you didn't even notice.

No matter what they do it seems the nylon webbing has edges or a texture that will rub my skin raw somewhere. The worst sandals have "hardware", like the tevas. What I did for my chacos, partly for the chafing and partly because they were too big and I couldn't tighten them more, is I hand-stitched strips of sheepskin on so that the sheepskin rested against my skin, not the nylon. Also, I have some leather sandals that don't hurt. They are similar to the single tab sandals sold by Native Earth. http://www.nativearth.net/sandal.html

I wear Teva Tanza's with Darn Tough 1/4 Cushion Socks and I would think that if I didn't I would get blisters.
Mike

Buy tape from the drug store. It is just glue on one side and a band aid type of material on the other. Can't remember the exact name of the tape but if you tell them what you need it for they'll know what you need. Cost you like $5 per 3 or 5meter roll (can get different widths of tape). If need be replace it every morning before heading off on that day's walk.

BE SURE to apply tape before walking of course….not when you get a blister