RTR - FootWear

[cynanne]

Does anyone have a rec for shoes/boots? This will be my first RTR and all I ever wear lately is birkenstocks. I have seen some videos where it says to bring boots which makes me think of lots of dirt/mud -but this is supposed to be like a very big dry parking lot? Any thoughts on this?

 

[rosiemartinez1211]

Good question

 

[lenny flank]

I wear my Birkies everywhere. Even with socks in winter.

It's sorta a requirement for vandwellers. Like Apple Macbook Pros.

 

[QinReno]

Boots.

Desert is about dust and dirt and rocks and pebbles, and little sticker things from cactus and bushes, and the occasional tarantula or snake, although those will be hibernating for the winter. Everything in the desert has little sharp pointy things to help guarantee its own survival. Bring a comb to comb the sticker thingies off your pants and your dog. Bring some tweezers in case the comb doesn't work. Bring some lotion to put on afterwards.

 

[MrNoodly]

As the RTR site stands now, it's mostly covered in what's called "desert pavement" which is tight packed stones running in size from walnuts to baseballs with an occasional football sized stone sticking up. The area is also flat (flatter than the former site). It's easy to walk and drive on, and in the rain it's like regular pavement. However, with a lot of traffic the desert pavement starts to break up and it can become dusty. And ruts can hold water or turn muddy. It the years I've been to RTR I've worn sneakers or Keen-type sandals, depending on the temperature.

 

[highdesertranger]

January is Quartzsite's rainiest month. every RTR I have been to it ha rained. everything in the desert bites, stings, or stabs you, no kidding everything. however it would be a rare occasion for the bugs and snakes to be out that time of year, it could happen but rare.

A parking lot it is not. but it is also not the Devils Playground(See Death Valley). Cholla Cactus has the nick name Jumping Cholla because of it's seemly magical ability to jump off the plant and stick to you. fortunately there are few Cholla's down on the flats where RTR is held. but close by there are forests of it.

I own one pair of Teva sandals and all the rest of my footwear is boots(7pair). with my large foot footwear is expensive and hard to find so I have no tennis shoes or luxury type footwear. me personally would wear boots except in camp. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

January is Quartzsite's rainiest month.  every RTR I have been to it ha rained...

A parking lot it is not....

Of the five years I've been there, only one was rainy and another one had a brief shower. So maybe we were at different RTR's.

The new location, off US-95 near La Paz Road, IS like a parking lot, long strips separated by shallow washes. It's rather obvious where the prickly vegetation is (hint: in the washes). However there are tiny dark reddish cacti about an inch tall, and there's another variety that are like small clumps of tiny hairs, so you'd probably want to avoid something like thin soled flip-flops. If you have boots and want to wear them, fine, but it's not necessary to get boots. I mean, if you're going to have an outdoor life, what type of shoes would you ordinarily wear? Those will be fine.

 

[tx2sturgis]

What the heck are birkenstocks?  :huh:

Yeah normal shoes like tennis shoes are fine for most of the flat areas, hiking boots would be the prefered footwear if you plan on hiking on rugged terrain.

You will see some videos of people out there wearing flip-flops and sandals...maybe around camp those are OK...but I would trade them for something sturdier if walking very far.

 

[B and C]

^^^X2

 

[highdesertranger]

oops I almost made a disparaging remark about Birkenstocks. highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

Where is that thanks button HDR?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B and C]

In the '70's we called them Jesus Creepers.

 

[Almost There]

I've never worn anything BUT my hiking shoes.

No need for high top hikers unless you have weak ankles. Boots might keep your feet warmer if you get cold feet or if you just plain like wearing boots.

No need to go out and buy special footwear unless you own nothing but fashion footwear, then I'd suggest getting yourself a pair of sneakers.

I avoid shoes like my Merrell water sandals because the little stones keep getting in between my feet and the shoes. I'd spend half the day digging out small annoying stones...  

Occasionally, if I'm going to just be hanging around my campsite I might switch to sandals but not if I'm going more than 10' away!

 

[bullfrog]

oops I almost made a disparaging remark about Birkenstocks.  highdesertranger

If you ever get or more like start to have problems with heal spurs that wearing good hiking boots can not solve in many cases their expensive shoes or their cheaper inserts will provide almost immediate relief.  On my doctor's advise I crawled into the shoe store and was able to walk out after buying a pair.  I have found that by buying a one size larger cheap walmart shoe and using their correct size insert I get the same results.  Now that everything has had a chance to heal my Danners that come with heel inserts allow me to walk distances just fine.  You can say what you want but they sure worked for me after giving myself problems by wearing some cheap insulating boots with no support through the winter fishing season.

 

[MrNoodly]

I avoid shoes like my Merrell water sandals because the little stones keep getting in between my feet and the shoes. 

I spend all my time in the western US and most of that in desert or desert-like places. The shoes I wear every day (except when it's very cold) are Keen Arroyo II's. It's sort of a semi-sandal with a closed heel. Love 'em. I only have pebble problems when the grit is loose and deep.

https://www.keenfootwear.com/p/M-ARROYO-III.html

<img src="https://image.ibb.co/fLw4FA/Screen-Shot-2018-11-11-at-7-40-35-PM.png" alt="Screen-Shot-2018-11-11-at-7-40-35-PM" border="0" />

 

[tx2sturgis]

Those Keens look ....keen! They look 'breathable' for when the weather is warmish.

Might have to try 'em out me-own-self.

 

[TexasWoman]

Everything in the desert has little sharp pointy things to help guarantee its own survival. 

Yes, and watch out for the little sharp pointy prickly humans with rocky rough edges, too.

 

[Mechelle]

What the heck are birkenstocks?  :huh:

Yeah normal shoes like tennis shoes are fine for most of the flat areas, hiking boots would be the prefered footwear if you plan on hiking on rugged terrain.

You will see some videos of people out there wearing flip-flops and sandals...maybe around camp those are OK...but I would trade them for something sturdier if walking very far.

Birks: the most comfortable shoes in the world, but think German Hobbit...  and sturdiest sandals... natural materials so for some they feel much much better than plastic.

I used to hike mountains in flip flops, I think the Sherpas hike mount Everest in flip flops...   

no two fingers are the same, as in no two people either

Question is do you need to empty out your boots in the morning to check for scorpions?

 

[Cammalu]

Mechelle, I saw no bugs while I was in Q and was there a few months. Too cold I assume.

Actually I didn’t see much wildlife at all. I heard the coyotes at night though and did see one come into camp hoping for scraps I guess.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Birks: the most comfortable shoes in the world, but think German Hobbit...  

What's a 'hobbit'?

:huh: