How to choose your boat shoes ?

The deck shoe, or boat shoe

The deck shoes , often compared to the timeless boat shoes, are shoes intended to accompany you on board during your navigation maneuvers. Even though fashion has taken over, and many of these leather shoes are worn on land, the primary purpose of a boat shoe is to provide your feet with comfort, resistance and grip on the deck of your boat. The deck, often wet because of the sea water, showers and spray,can quickly become slippery and make your navigation perilous, even dangerous.

Their usefulness, comfort and adherence is no longer to be proven, but how to choose the right pair of deck shoes? What are the characteristics to check in order to avoid any unfortunate slipping? And what is the price of such a pair of sailing shoes?

 

The essential elements of a deck shoe

Many characteristics are to be taken into account when choosing a deck shoes .

• The soleis the most important element. Grip is the most important feature of a deck shoe, and that grip comes from the sole. You will need to choose arubber sole (mostly on deck shoes) which is a material that offers a great grip. Then, the sole must have grooves and fine carvings (so as not to let gravels get stuck and scratch your deck) in order not to let water stagnate and facilitate its evacuation. You should pay close attention to these elements, as fashionable boat shoes do not necessarily have these features in the sole and will be ineffective. All the soles of the deck shoes we distribute are also non-marking.

• Theouter andinnermaterial used is also important. This is about the comfort and protection provided by the materials. Traditionally made ofleather, which prevents the appearance of bad odors, the boat shoe has evolved by integrating other materials. We can thus find an external coating in Gore-tex to make the shoe waterproof and breathable. The interior can be made of various materials to improve the comfort of the foot in the shoe. The laces are also traditionally made of leather or textile, sometimes with quick lacing systems.

• Thesize is an essential point common to all types of shoes. Here, we recommend that you follow the size guide, and if in doubt take a slightly larger shoe. This will allow you to easily wear socks in your deck shoes. If you choose leather shoes, they will be hard at first, but will quickly soften into a very comfortable shoe.

Which deck shoe should I choose?

Many brands exist, but the most famous ones are present on our site like Dubarry , a leather specialist, Musto and Gill , two must-haves for sailing and sailing apparel, or Helly Hansen, which offers great deck sneakers.

We have talked a lot about the boat shoe, but many other deck shoes exist. We can find :

• Theboat shoes: classic of the kind presented above, they offer comfort, elegance and grip. They will be favored in boating and will fit both men and women and will match most of your clothes. Find all our collection of chaussures bateau .

• Thedeck shoes: we are here on more sporty and dynamic shoes. They will have a better foot hold and a good cushioning. They will be very useful for sport sailing. The Sailing shoe Race Trainer Gill are an excellent product of the genre, for men and women for an affordable price, or the comfortable Race Trainer Gill Sailing Shoes .

• Boat boots: Boat boots are very useful when sailing in heavy weather or in the middle of winter.

Maintenance of your deck shoes

Like your other clothes, deck shoes require special care because of their high exposure to sea water and sun. For your sneakers, nothing could be simpler: rinse them with clear water to remove salt residues that attack the fabric. Wash them regularly with soap and water. Some sneakers are also machine washable.

For leather boat shoes, a more thorough maintenance is necessary. Before use, it will be important to waterproof them with a suitable product, such as Spray Impermeabilisant Cuir Sentz . After use, clean them with clean water and let them dry naturally in the open air, lined with newspaper or paper towels, to neutralize the humidity.As soon as signs of wear appear, use a colorless shoe polish or leather cream to restore their shine and hide wrinkle marks. The Dubarry Leather Cream } is an excellent product of its kind. Simply apply the cream to a cloth and wipe over the worn areas, focusing on the crease marks and most damaged areas. Don't forget to waterproof your shoes again after this application.

The deck shoes at Nautisports

We strive to offer you the widest possible choice of shoes, boots for men and women on our site. You can consult the product sheet of each shoe to find all the details such as the size of the shoes, the composition of the sole, the price, the color, etc. Free delivery in collection point is available from 150€ of purchase and applies to all the brands, Dubarry, Musto, Helly hansen, Sebago, etc. You will find on our website many clothes and accessories for men and women. Do not hesitate to leave us a review once you have received and tested your product, any comment is useful to us.

Have a nice surfing !