What's the deal with Sandals?

saikyo · Jan 13th, 2004, 11:06

Hey guys, newbie here...

Everyone is always talking about sandals... why do people who travel to India wear sandals so much? This is really baffling me...

Bug bites? Tired feet? Stubbing your toes and crap? Isn't this a problem? In my mind sandals aren't the thing for walking around confusing giant cities or treking through the backwoods..

I know there must be a reason but, could you guys elaborate for a newbie?

Thanks

Rachel · Jan 13th, 2004, 11:24

Well based on what I have heard, I think I would bring a pair of sturdy sandals rather shoes any day. The reasons I'm aware of for wearing sandals are: heat and humidity (I know my feet swell and get sweaty when I go south and I'm wearing shoes.
And I've seen the sandals my friends wore to India. They definietely weren't flip flops, more like Tevas with straps, buckles and supportive sturdy soles. I also wouldn't want to lug around any dirty socks....ick!

Rachel

Arun · Jan 13th, 2004, 13:45

And no one bothers you about shoe-shines!

lemonade · Jan 22nd, 2004, 08:37

it's all very contraversial... i am wondering what people think about thongs (known as flip flops for people outside australia)? i was planning to take a pair of shoes for hiking and a pair of thongs for getting around india. would berkanstocks be better? (problem with that is that they can't be washed easily i think...)
i can't afford new shoes, so it's thongs or berkas - any advice!!??

Tomi · Jan 22nd, 2004, 08:51

You often have to take off your shoes, for temples, for shop interiors, etc., and sandals are easy to shed.

They are also easy to wash.

Colin · Jan 22nd, 2004, 09:32

But boy do your feet get filthy!
Shoes are quite cheap in India, I bought a good pair of business type shoes in CP for Rs500. There are dozens of different types of sandals, if you go to a reputable shoe shop you will pay a little more but the quality more than makes up for the few extra rupees.

Kiki · Jan 22nd, 2004, 10:04

Birks are great for getting around. Comfortable. Easy on and off. And flip-flops are indespensable for use in public showers--keeps off the nasty fungi, etc. Both are light, so why not take both? You can also easily buy flip-flops in India. The only time you really need proper shoes is if you are hiking--then hiking boots are the thing. But, as I understand it, even those you can get there.

vistet · Jan 22nd, 2004, 12:37

Birk`s have a great (recessed ) fit - which is why they´ve been popular with hospital workers with cool feet. If you are a warmfooted person (who isn`t , in India ? ) you will become intensely aware of the buildup of sweat in the non-washable sole of the traditional model.

Good sandals can be showered every evening before going to bed ( and after encountering the faeces-slingers of the Connaught

) ...and thrown in to the washing machine every now and then. I have a pair of Teva`s that are on their last leg after a number of years heavy use in the home mountains, the Scottish Highlands, northern India and the workplace.

Flip-flops outside the bath room will make you flip - and flop - , especially in the monsoon.
Provides good entertainment if you don`t mind the extra washing/nursing days.

New-South-Welshman · Dec 18th, 2006, 14:45

I love wearing sandals/thongs/flip-flops. On my next trip to India, I'm taking a pair of thongs, a pair of walking shoes, most likely my Converse chucks, and a pair of formal shoes for those suave places. Most likely, wearing my chucks everywhere while travelling, except Goa. That's thongs' territory.

freenote · Dec 18th, 2006, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arun

And no one bothers you about shoe-shines!

This is not true , i have even had shoe shine boys trying to clean my flip flops

Nick-H · Dec 18th, 2006, 18:34

Sandals are just the best thing to wear!

I would never wear anything else outside of UK winter or monsoon flood.

If you get properly fitting sandals they should protect your toes from being stubbed or cut, and that is important in a dirty environment. And yes, your feet get filthy --- wash them!

As for the mosquitoes biting your feet.... yes, that is a problem.

It is all utterly personal anyway. But shoes and socks in Chennai? Ughhh.... cooked feet!

Vasko · Dec 18th, 2006, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by freenote

This is not true , i have even had shoe shine boys trying to clean my flip flops

I second that! And I actually let them, to see what would happen. After the "shining" the boy proceeded to demonstrate how the sole of the sandal was not securely attached to the straps, and hammered little pegs into the sole to somehow magically fix the situation. He then demanded ten rupees for each peg. I picked them out one by one and handed them back to him.

Regarding the original topic, I couldn't imagine being without my sturdy (trekking) sandals in India.

Noodle · Dec 18th, 2006, 19:24

Nothing but sandals for me except in Dec/Jan in the evenings when it can get quite chilly here. But at other times? No, your feet will sweat - at least mine would like hell!

Yes, you have to wash your feet in the evenings and maybe put a little Odomos to keep the bugs at bay but that's not a big deal. Sandals are so much more comfortable in the heat here.

An exception even in hot weather would be if you have open wounds of any kind on the feet or lower legs - tropical ulcers! Careful about that! I know two people struggling with them - hard to get under control.

Noodle · Dec 18th, 2006, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasko

I picked them out one by one and handed them back to him.

Nice one

sbhikes · Dec 26th, 2006, 03:46

It's really hot and you have to take your shoes off a lot. Sandals are easier and more comfortable.

I ended up wearing my sandals almost every day even though I brought other walking shoes. The only issue I had with my Birkenstocks was the difficulty washing them. Your feet get so dirty it's hard to believe but I don't think you can wash birkenstocks. Well, I'm sure you can, but I figure they would probably never dry. If I could wear Teva-type sandals I think that would have been better to bring.

Jan 13th, 2004, 11:06	#1
saikyo Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Usually Japan Posts: 92	What's the deal with Sandals? Hey guys, newbie here... Everyone is always talking about sandals... why do people who travel to India wear sandals so much? This is really baffling me... Bug bites? Tired feet? Stubbing your toes and crap? Isn't this a problem? In my mind sandals aren't the thing for walking around confusing giant cities or treking through the backwoods.. I know there must be a reason but, could you guys elaborate for a newbie? Thanks __________________ http://www.japannewbie.com

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Jan 13th, 2004, 11:24	#2
Rachel Enigma Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 12	Well based on what I have heard, I think I would bring a pair of sturdy sandals rather shoes any day. The reasons I'm aware of for wearing sandals are: heat and humidity (I know my feet swell and get sweaty when I go south and I'm wearing shoes. And I've seen the sandals my friends wore to India. They definietely weren't flip flops, more like Tevas with straps, buckles and supportive sturdy soles. I also wouldn't want to lug around any dirty socks....ick! Rachel

Jan 13th, 2004, 13:45	#3
Arun zindabad! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Israel Posts: 174	And no one bothers you about shoe-shines!

Jan 22nd, 2004, 08:37	#4
lemonade Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 1	it's all very contraversial... i am wondering what people think about thongs (known as flip flops for people outside australia)? i was planning to take a pair of shoes for hiking and a pair of thongs for getting around india. would berkanstocks be better? (problem with that is that they can't be washed easily i think...) i can't afford new shoes, so it's thongs or berkas - any advice!!??

Jan 22nd, 2004, 08:51	#5
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	You often have to take off your shoes, for temples, for shop interiors, etc., and sandals are easy to shed. They are also easy to wash.

Jan 22nd, 2004, 09:32	#6
Colin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand Posts: 208	But boy do your feet get filthy! Shoes are quite cheap in India, I bought a good pair of business type shoes in CP for Rs500. There are dozens of different types of sandals, if you go to a reputable shoe shop you will pay a little more but the quality more than makes up for the few extra rupees.

Jan 22nd, 2004, 10:04	#7
Kiki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 154	Birks are great for getting around. Comfortable. Easy on and off. And flip-flops are indespensable for use in public showers--keeps off the nasty fungi, etc. Both are light, so why not take both? You can also easily buy flip-flops in India. The only time you really need proper shoes is if you are hiking--then hiking boots are the thing. But, as I understand it, even those you can get there.

Jan 22nd, 2004, 12:37	#8
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 2,256	Birk`s have a great (recessed ) fit - which is why they´ve been popular with hospital workers with cool feet. If you are a warmfooted person (who isn`t , in India ? ) you will become intensely aware of the buildup of sweat in the non-washable sole of the traditional model. Good sandals can be showered every evening before going to bed ( and after encountering the faeces-slingers of the Connaught ) ...and thrown in to the washing machine every now and then. I have a pair of Teva`s that are on their last leg after a number of years heavy use in the home mountains, the Scottish Highlands, northern India and the workplace. Flip-flops outside the bath room will make you flip - and flop - , especially in the monsoon. Provides good entertainment if you don`t mind the extra washing/nursing days.

Dec 18th, 2006, 14:45	#9
New-South-Welshman Drunk Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 1,574	I love wearing sandals/thongs/flip-flops. On my next trip to India, I'm taking a pair of thongs, a pair of walking shoes, most likely my Converse chucks, and a pair of formal shoes for those suave places. Most likely, wearing my chucks everywhere while travelling, except Goa. That's thongs' territory.

Dec 18th, 2006, 18:34	#11
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,173	Sandals are just the best thing to wear! I would never wear anything else outside of UK winter or monsoon flood. If you get properly fitting sandals they should protect your toes from being stubbed or cut, and that is important in a dirty environment. And yes, your feet get filthy --- wash them! As for the mosquitoes biting your feet.... yes, that is a problem. It is all utterly personal anyway. But shoes and socks in Chennai? Ughhh.... cooked feet!

Dec 18th, 2006, 19:24	#13
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Nothing but sandals for me except in Dec/Jan in the evenings when it can get quite chilly here. But at other times? No, your feet will sweat - at least mine would like hell! Yes, you have to wash your feet in the evenings and maybe put a little Odomos to keep the bugs at bay but that's not a big deal. Sandals are so much more comfortable in the heat here. An exception even in hot weather would be if you have open wounds of any kind on the feet or lower legs - tropical ulcers! Careful about that! I know two people struggling with them - hard to get under control.

Dec 26th, 2006, 03:46	#15
sbhikes Diane Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 60	It's really hot and you have to take your shoes off a lot. Sandals are easier and more comfortable. I ended up wearing my sandals almost every day even though I brought other walking shoes. The only issue I had with my Birkenstocks was the difficulty washing them. Your feet get so dirty it's hard to believe but I don't think you can wash birkenstocks. Well, I'm sure you can, but I figure they would probably never dry. If I could wear Teva-type sandals I think that would have been better to bring.