The article is about my search for the perfect sandals for traveling by bicycle. Yep, sandals just because in the summer, when I go touring, I need my feet to "breathe"; so much has been written about cycling shoes, but not necessarily about sandals. I know, because I was looking more than once, not two .. (text update 2023 r.).
At the beginning of my cycling adventures, that is a long time ago, a long time ago I did not pay much attention to shoes, I would put it on my feet, whatever I had at my disposal at the moment – anyway, there was not much choice. This is probably why I had the opportunity to find out over the years, what bothered me the most and consequently which features should have the perfect sandal I'm cycling in . Not everyone can, however, be tempted to go the long way, I decided, therefore, to gather in one place Tips, that might be useful to someone and shorten its / its exploration.
I'll start with this, I can not ride in the indoor shoes, when it's warm or hot. My foot has to be well, my foot has to breathe – although catches dirt as you do not know what, but, but something for something.
READ HERE O:
- The perfect sandal for cycling tourism – necessary qualities
- The search for the perfect sandal
- Which sandal would I recommend for cycling?
Sandal for cycling tourism – necessary qualities
- 1. Number one is hard sole.
Sole in the shoe for cycling must be hard enough, because then the surface pressure on the pedal during driving is distributed to the entire shoe sole and not only the contact area of the foot pedal – the same pedal is effective, ride faster and your feet much less get tired. Too soft sole in the shoe while riding a bicycle is a tragedy. Foot feels pedal while driving, and when walking every stone on the ground. But, where we feel great walking along the sidewalk can be a curse traveling by bicycle. The result is our tired feet.
Not without reason, shoes typically cycling or SPD (that is equipped with an attachment to a special shoe pedals) they have a very hard sole. Knowing, however, the magnitude of the advantages of SPD shoes do not take them bicycle trip. Why?
shoes in (long) bicycle travel, they must be Universal. For me, it's a requirement. They're not just for driving, but also on a daily basis. Coming longer, ie. many weeks or months, we must reckon with the, it's a journey, not a bike trip. We want to come, visit and walk on SPDs (too long) no. You have to find a compromise, the shoe must be suitable for both riding and. several hours or several days exploring trekking.
And this is one of the reasons, which I do not choose shoes SPD. Maybe I'm just not good at these blocks.
- 2. Sandals should well stick to your feet and do not constrict.
clear evidence. But to make it happen, striped sandals should be sufficiently wide, preferably on a washer, so that they don't stick to your feet, have padding on the joints there, where are the buckles. Another important thing – stripes They should not be pasted. The strap as a whole should be led through the bottom of the sole - this prevents their frequent tearing out at the joints with the sole of the sandal. As a result, we are left with a sandal hanging on the foot in the middle of the route and do what you want.
Each used by me in recent years sandals (for last 10 years, "Marek," three models of sandals Jack Wolfskin, Karrimor one - model Aruba) ALWAYS appeared the problem – strap tore the soles of this or another place, after a few months or even a week. As the next to go as the legs do not hold? Being in Asia, or in the Middle East, fortunately, you have handyman street shoemakers at hand, who for the equivalent 2-3 PLN repair a torn strips sensational – puncturing the sole thin spikes in order to carry through it twine and sew a broken belt. I did it in China, Thailand and Oman and at my suggestion, that can use glue Chinese shoemaker looked at crazy. In the same way, moreover, as a shoemaker in Poland he looked like I asked, But that can prick but tried and sew strap. Sorry I do not have a photo that repaired during a trip to Asia sandals - I said goodbye to them as the sole wiped (sewing but do not let go).
- 3. Sandal must be water resistant and the material, it is made to be fast drying
For this reason, I disqualify leather shoes and shoes with a suede interior (for example,. most Ecco models).
- 4. Very well is, in order to toe was covered, as it protects fingers (as it is most of the models of sandals from Keen). Unfortunately at higher temperatures, above 25 degrees is too hot for me in these type of shoes.
- 5. Latest, but no less important.. would have been nice, that the shoe he didn't catch a bad smell, that is, it just didn't stink (despite washing:)
SEARCHING FOR IDEAL Sandal
Bullets so the above features (good quality of materials and workmanship, I think the obvious things) I started looking. It wasn't easy.
Before leaving for Asia, which fall 2013 I bought sandals Keen Whisper and I use them extensively today (*adnotacja to 2021 – because a friend's dog took care of the heel of the shoe, I decided to buy the same model, but second hand using Vinted #nowaste). I love these shoes pure love – are close to ideal. The sole is in the same time - hard enough, not too thick, shoes are light and airy and the transition after a stony creek and splash their feet are not afraid because they dry quickly. For this annoying faint smell, How often comes out of the shoe is not a problem here because it almost does not exist (in Karrimorach unfortunately it was not to launder). Strap on the back of the heel a little bit I rubbed, but the whole with intensive use remains exemplary.
And here I could end my search, but unfortunately my problem is, that I have a very low tolerance for temperature changes and I have to adjust my clothes accordingly. Keen sandals are very breathable, but at temperatures above ca. 25 degrees covering your finger does, and I'm already in those shoes too hot.. Hot South - East Asia is not suitable. I remember, that when I flew to hot Bangkok from the cold November South Korea, I decided to leave some things in Bangkok and leave myself only one pair of shoes – I just chose Keena. How many times did I then stops in Laos or China, so for a while, remove your foot from the shoe and give them a break? Therefore, well - I need I also typical open sandal. Yep, wożę two pairs. Let me add, that now, i.e.. in 2020 Keen already makes models of sandals, which are completely exposed.
I was looking for sandals with open fingers in the spring 2016 roku. Having reworked three Jack Wolfskin sandals and one Karrimor Aruba in previous years I decided not to come back to them. Execution of shoes very deteriorated looks like a typical MADE IN CHINA which unfortunately can be seen at first glance - eg. get dirty glue, stink. In each of the previously used model I had problems with pulling the strips which made, that narrowed the search for shoes with a strap carried by the sole, not sewn / pasted on.
On the battlefield were sandals Company Teva and Source. This proven companies that produce high-quality footwear. High quality requires a high price, but the fact, that the price of more than 400 PLN sandals Source Gobi was for me not to swallow. They also felt a bit too heavy to me. Teva sandals are a bit cheaper, but courtesy of got them to the test.
Model sandals Teva Terra Fi 4 I chose, I met all the above criteria. Simple, holding up well not only legs, but also the base model sandal with a thick, respectively hard and additionally profiled sole and heel makes for an increase, that the leg fits in perfectly shoe, but although planning on foot about two weeks. Fact, It does not look like it can super sexy, but no not this, after all we want - in terms of comfort and durability. Belts as provided by the manufacturer are not pasted, and the materials are fast drying what I had the opportunity to test. also important, with they can be adjusted in three places.
Disadvantages? Sandals are quite heavy.
With the other stuff - I do not like, that turnips are in light blue - very easy to get dirty. May have to be black.
I am thus ended my search for the perfect sandal? for now, but I hope, that once created a model which is a combination of the above – Keen would sole-bars and a Teva.
**July 2018 update
I update the text after two years of use Teva sandals Fi 4. Szacuję, with during that time I had them on my feet for a minimum of 400 days. I drove them in Athens route - in Poland 2016 r. (3 months) and almost the entire Silk Road from China until now, i.e. Armenia, that is 11 months, because most of the weather I had no shoes and sandals covered. It's a lot.
How is my shoes? Generally very well. Sole put together to the foot, bars not broke. Velcro hold. Shoes not caught odor.
However, the, especially in one shoe, the sole of the midfoot has worn out and started to crack. It looks like:
Especially shoes got into the bone at the base with a sharp stone in Oman and Iran. There is, moreover, also used up very quickly and made my tire life cycle otherwise very good quality, so probably in another area pożyłyby much longer.
Because I fear, that through this crack the sandals will not last until the end of the summer season that has just begun, I decided to look around for others. And again I came to my rescue distributor Teva giving to the test and use the new model, ie. W'S Teva Terra-Float 2 Universal. Novelty.
A little difficult to order shoes without being able to try them, but fortunately, assuming the new legs, a similar but slightly different model breathed a sigh of relief - the shoes fit!
What is the difference between these two models? In fact, mainly soles. As mentioned model Teva Terra Fi 4 (now there is the Fi5 model) It has a thick, tread, stable, but also quite heavy sole insert antishock, Teva model Float 2 Universal is quite flat, It treads lightly but significantly lighter and fortunately rigid. Minus – maybe they are a bit too urban.
New sandals are basically the same, simple and proven system that strips, and Teva Float 2 Universal behind the heel are not regulated. In fact, it started to disturb me a little, when sprained foot bandaged and I had to push in the sandal – otherwise I not see the difference. Buckles connecting strips are rebasing, What is also important, because they do not digging into his leg. No i model Float 2 is a lot lighter.
*Update year 2023 – I used the sandals intensively and did not catch the unpleasant smell. They are doing well, they did not fall apart. I did not have a transitional period, sandal when it adjusts to the foot and often it obciera- I put them on foot and was immediately comfortable. I prefer Teva Fi though.
Which sandal would I recommend for cycling?
Hard to say, brands are introducing new models and there is plenty to choose from – na pewno jednak zawsze szukałabym wśród dobrych marek Keen, Teva, Source. No i są też sandały Shimano (widziałam tylko modele męskie, duże rozmiary). Definitely worth investing in a good but not so, which fails us somewhere on the road. Who likes what, important, to feel as comfortable as possible.
Want more reviews? Here discussion podrózerowerowe.info.)
And what are your experiences?
successful years, successful expeditions, and hopefully the weather favored sandals!
Napisałam ten tekst myślą o innych. How about buying a coffe?
