footwear in monsoon

piglet · May 30th, 2003, 14:13

can any of you old hands advise on this one? what does one wear on one's feet in the monsoon period? Sandals? closed in sneakers (think not), wellies?
We will be mostly in Kerala,goa and maybe Tamil Nadu.
By the way thanks all for the animated umbrella discussion. It was most enlightening.

Midnite Toker · May 30th, 2003, 15:35

"Jellies" were what my girlfriend wore in Mysore. I think they're available in India - they're translucent sandals in tough plastic.

If not plastic sandals, then go the other way - full walking boots with box-tongue. I'm not joking, this is what I take. They give a wonderful feeling of confidence in deep water with floating debris. They are rather warm in the south, but I did use them in Periyar quite successfully.

Thongs (flipflops, shower sandals) are OK if you are used to them but can be prone to skidding unexpectedly on damp surfaces.

piglet · May 30th, 2003, 15:43

thanks MT knew I could rely on you for prompt reply! Have the plastic thingies already! not too comfortable for long wear though

pquekel · May 30th, 2003, 16:07

The boots MT refers too helped me through some rain showers in Kerala and in Bangalore e.g. but Teva sandals were good too, strong and not slippery at all...

vinayverma · May 30th, 2003, 16:15

Theie used to be a brand by Bata called 'sandak' for sandles made of rubber and/or plastic. If its still available, go for it...most of the people in costal areas of India wear it during monsoon.

vistet · May 30th, 2003, 16:49

Quote:

Originally posted by pquekel
Teva sandals were good too, strong and not slippery at all...

Once you leave plains a heel strap becomes essential to keep us untrained angrezis from landing on our fannies. Another thing I like with my Tevas (or silmilar types) is that they are longer in the front ; saves stubbing/scraping toes. If you are thinking of buying new sandals, there are some models made for rafting etc with high friction rubber. Avoid models w too much padding around straps - they will never dry and will get a real funky smell after a while.

PS. There is also an earlier footcare thread , started by Alan D - check it out

-m2- · May 30th, 2003, 23:34

what vistet says...Tevas are good in the wet and I think they are worth their somewhat high price as the cheap 'knock-offs' don't last long in my experience and will usually break down at the worst possible moment.

vistet · May 31st, 2003, 00:34

Durable too - I`ve had the same pair for a couple of years now. Used them hiking in the Highlands and in my homemountains, in Dharamsala during monsoon and in between that at my work with regular visits in the washing machine. One minor repair of the velcro with hot glue.

UltraViolet · Jun 1st, 2003, 02:34

what are tevas?? they sound useful.

-m2- · Jun 1st, 2003, 02:54

here's the website for the women's versions of the original Teva's;

http://www.teva.com/products.asp?d=1...ri ginal&sc=8

UltraViolet · Jun 1st, 2003, 03:37

They aren't the sexiest shoes in the world are they. Still, they look practical and i suppose you could wear them in the sea for protection from the nasty little crabs that want to nip at your feet. I think I might get myself a pair of them. thanks for the link

-m2- · Jun 1st, 2003, 04:24

they are a bit 'clunky' even for men, but they do offer the extra toe-stubbing protection vistet mentions, and they are very durable for hiking as well as just goofing around. They will slow you down a bit in the sea I guess, but they are great for crossing streams, wading thru puddles etc. and I've found the traction pretty good even in the wet. I also pick up a pair of cheap flip-flops for general use (for the bathroom and when when the going is flat and dry) because I find straps a nuisance unless really necessary. Flip-flops last a season, Teva's should last for years.

picklepak · Jun 2nd, 2003, 06:37

Whatever you do, don't wear flip-flops during the monsoon! I did so because I wanted to be "cool" and was traveling especially light at the time, but ended up having bandages on my feet for MONTHS trying to recover. Why?

Flip-flops are slippery on both sides, but more so on the inside. Ever try to climb a cliff in Goa with wet flip-flops? Dangerous! (And I'm a guy who rides unicycles, meaning my balance is pretty good.)

Flip-flops suck when you walk through the wet mud. The 'flop' part of the flip-flop kicks mud up the back of your leg, and until I got good at not 'flopping' so much as I walked I'd get mud on my butt as well!

When you have bandages on your feet, as you inevitably will, flip-flops do not keep your feet from getting wet yet again, thus destroying the bandages. I had a friend who gave me some special "Bio-Gauze" from Belgium, and even putting this on my feet daily didn't help my feet heal. Why? Because I was wearing flip-flops!

And finally, your richer Indian friends in Delhi and abroad will call your flip-flops "chuppals" (sp?), or "bathroom slippers" and will refuse to believe you when you tell them that several hundred million Indians wear these things on a daily basis. Even your friends will make fun of you if you wear flip-flips.

I bought mine in Laos, actually, because they sold pale orange ones that looked different from the blue-and-white ones you find in India. See, I was trying to be cool. I have pictures of me in Paharganj, Delhi with bandages on my feet... several months after the initial injury, if you still need more evidence as to why you shouldn't wear flip-flops during the monsoon.

May 30th, 2003, 14:13	#1
piglet Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 38	footwear in monsoon can any of you old hands advise on this one? what does one wear on one's feet in the monsoon period? Sandals? closed in sneakers (think not), wellies? We will be mostly in Kerala,goa and maybe Tamil Nadu. By the way thanks all for the animated umbrella discussion. It was most enlightening.

May 30th, 2003, 15:35	#2
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 509	"Jellies" were what my girlfriend wore in Mysore. I think they're available in India - they're translucent sandals in tough plastic. If not plastic sandals, then go the other way - full walking boots with box-tongue. I'm not joking, this is what I take. They give a wonderful feeling of confidence in deep water with floating debris. They are rather warm in the south, but I did use them in Periyar quite successfully. Thongs (flipflops, shower sandals) are OK if you are used to them but can be prone to skidding unexpectedly on damp surfaces. __________________ travel tips, blog, downloads, panorama photos, online security, tokes: the tokezone

May 30th, 2003, 16:15	#5
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,472	Theie used to be a brand by Bata called 'sandak' for sandles made of rubber and/or plastic. If its still available, go for it...most of the people in costal areas of India wear it during monsoon. __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

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May 30th, 2003, 15:43	#3
piglet Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 38	thanks MT knew I could rely on you for prompt reply! Have the plastic thingies already! not too comfortable for long wear though

May 30th, 2003, 16:07	#4
pquekel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands/Eindhoven Posts: 152	The boots MT refers too helped me through some rain showers in Kerala and in Bangalore e.g. but Teva sandals were good too, strong and not slippery at all...

May 30th, 2003, 23:34	#7
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,575	what vistet says...Tevas are good in the wet and I think they are worth their somewhat high price as the cheap 'knock-offs' don't last long in my experience and will usually break down at the worst possible moment.

May 31st, 2003, 00:34	#8
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 2,256	Durable too - I`ve had the same pair for a couple of years now. Used them hiking in the Highlands and in my homemountains, in Dharamsala during monsoon and in between that at my work with regular visits in the washing machine. One minor repair of the velcro with hot glue.

Jun 1st, 2003, 02:34	#9
UltraViolet Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 103	what are tevas?? they sound useful.

Jun 1st, 2003, 02:54	#10
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,575	here's the website for the women's versions of the original Teva's; http://www.teva.com/products.asp?d=1...ri ginal&sc=8

Jun 1st, 2003, 03:37	#11
UltraViolet Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 103	They aren't the sexiest shoes in the world are they. Still, they look practical and i suppose you could wear them in the sea for protection from the nasty little crabs that want to nip at your feet. I think I might get myself a pair of them. thanks for the link

Jun 1st, 2003, 04:24	#12
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,575	they are a bit 'clunky' even for men, but they do offer the extra toe-stubbing protection vistet mentions, and they are very durable for hiking as well as just goofing around. They will slow you down a bit in the sea I guess, but they are great for crossing streams, wading thru puddles etc. and I've found the traction pretty good even in the wet. I also pick up a pair of cheap flip-flops for general use (for the bathroom and when when the going is flat and dry) because I find straps a nuisance unless really necessary. Flip-flops last a season, Teva's should last for years.

Jun 2nd, 2003, 06:37	#13
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	Whatever you do, don't wear flip-flops during the monsoon! I did so because I wanted to be "cool" and was traveling especially light at the time, but ended up having bandages on my feet for MONTHS trying to recover. Why? Flip-flops are slippery on both sides, but more so on the inside. Ever try to climb a cliff in Goa with wet flip-flops? Dangerous! (And I'm a guy who rides unicycles, meaning my balance is pretty good.) Flip-flops suck when you walk through the wet mud. The 'flop' part of the flip-flop kicks mud up the back of your leg, and until I got good at not 'flopping' so much as I walked I'd get mud on my butt as well! When you have bandages on your feet, as you inevitably will, flip-flops do not keep your feet from getting wet yet again, thus destroying the bandages. I had a friend who gave me some special "Bio-Gauze" from Belgium, and even putting this on my feet daily didn't help my feet heal. Why? Because I was wearing flip-flops! And finally, your richer Indian friends in Delhi and abroad will call your flip-flops "chuppals" (sp?), or "bathroom slippers" and will refuse to believe you when you tell them that several hundred million Indians wear these things on a daily basis. Even your friends will make fun of you if you wear flip-flips. I bought mine in Laos, actually, because they sold pale orange ones that looked different from the blue-and-white ones you find in India. See, I was trying to be cool. I have pictures of me in Paharganj, Delhi with bandages on my feet... several months after the initial injury, if you still need more evidence as to why you shouldn't wear flip-flops during the monsoon.