Depending on your body style, fitting comfortably into a freestyle whitewater kayak can prove to be a bit difficult. For me, a 5’9″ guy, fitting into a medium sized Jitsu, Rockstar, or Jed usually isn’t a big deal. The problem is when I try to wear booties/ shoes when I paddle my play boat.
If I am just going for a casual float down some class I/ II whitewater I typically can deal with being barefoot in my kayak. A problem arises when I hit the play hole/ wave and start face planting and contorting my body into positions it was never supposed to be in.
Having shoes/ booties when you are doing some hardcore freestyle, or at least attempting too, can make all the difference.
Should I Wear Shoes for Freestyle Kayaking?
When I first started whitewater kayaking I either went barefoot or wore a pair of NRS Kicker booties. Keep in mind at this point in my paddling career the most intense paddling I had ever done was Pattons Run on the Nantahala River.
Now that I have ventured into more serious paddling and freestyle, I understand the value of a good pair of booties/ shoes. If you are doing any form of whitewater kayaking I highly recommend that you wear booties or shoes. DO NOT paddle barefoot. I learned this the hard way.
I have been through a wide variety of different shoes/ booties. Below I will discuss my experiences with different shoes/ booties when Freestyle Kayaking.
What Kind of Bootie/ Shoe Should I Wear For Freestyle Kayaking?
When selecting a shoe or bootie for freestyle whitewater kayaking, there are a couple of different factors you need to keep in mind. The first thing you need to think about is how you fit in your boat. If you have extra room in the bow you can probably get away with more heavy duty footwear. If you don’t have much room your options are pretty much limited to neoprene booties.
Below are some of the choices that I have made in the past and what my experience has been. Don’t judge me, I know some of my choices in paddling shoes were not the best.
Can You Wear Chacos Sandals For Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking?
Okay, I know wearing Chacos for Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking seems like a bad idea and as it turns out it is a bad idea. At my time as a guide at the Nantahala Outdoor Center I would frequently find myself with a 2 hour lunch break, an Outfitter’s store with free hour demos, and a world class freestyle hole.
During some of these lunch breaks the only shoes I had with me were my Chacos and a pair of sneakers. Now you tell me, which would you choose to wear for kayaking between those two options?
So anyway, I ended up paddling freestyle at the NOC Freestyle Hole with my Chacos on at least ten different times. You may ask why I didn’t just go barefoot and the answer to that question is simply the fit is too loose. Without soles on my feet I did not fit tight into my boat and whenever I would try to throw a loop my thighs would slip out of the braces.
For the purposes of keeping me snug in my boat Chacos worked great. The biggest problem I faced with wearing Chacos was that by the end of my session the straps would cut the top of my big toe and the back of my Achilles. In short, don’t wear Chacos for Freestyle Kayaking unless that is your only option.
Can You Wear Astral Brewer Shoes For Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking?
We all know the Astral Brewer. If you are a serious whitewater paddler, or just someone who enjoys the outdoors, you have likely owned a pair of Astral Brewer shoes. They drain well and offer great support and grip, making them ideal for slippery rocks around a whitewater run.
But how do Astral Brewers perform in a freestyle environment?
In my experience as a shorter guy paddling a medium sized freestyle whitewater kayak, the Brewer performed well. Wearing a Brewer gave my feet enough support to where I did not slide forward at all when initiating aerial moves or cartwheels. If you already have a tight squeeze in your freestyle boat you might want to steer clear of the Brewer as it’s thicker mid and outsole could present a problem when trying to fit into your boat. When I wear Brewer shoes in my Dagger Jitsu I usually take out the foot foam and just use the shoe to support my feet and lock in.
Using Astral Loyak Shoes for Freestyle Kayaking
The Astral Loyak is also very versatile in the light that I can hit the play hole on the Nantahala for a few hours then when the Cascades release I can hop in my car, drive ten miles down the road, get in my creek boat and lap some class V without even changing my footwear.
The Loyak is definitely my go to shoe for all whitewater kayaking but specifically for freestyle. I may not recommend it for longer more technical hikes to or from the river but for the purposes of hitting a roadside run or for parking and walking to an eddy below your favorite freestyle spot, they are perfect.
The NRS Freestyle The Official Bootie of Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking… Sort of
For me my go to bootie is the Astral Loyak, but that’s just me. For some a more sock-like fit is necessary. They need something that takes up less space in the bow of the freestyle kayak.
For those who have a little less leg room in their freestyle kayak, the NRS Freestyle Bootie, or “wetshoe”, is a great option. The freestyle bootie literally has what it was designed for in the name. This bootie was designed to be compact yet still offers a somewhat durable sole that provides a bit of protection for your feet when walking to the water. The NRS Freestyle Bootie also provides a decent amount of warmth as it is basically a crew neoprene sock with a bit of rubber for the sole and some rubber around the Achilles and ankle bone for extra protection and comfort.
The NRS Freestyle Bootie is always a solid option for freestyle kayaking.