Approach Sandals/Flip-flops

Shamma sandals

Franck Vee wrote: Actually you might be surprised how much you can do barefoot - most ground isn't that bad for barefoot. Before I started doing that on a regular basis, it seemed to be me that  one couldn't really do too much barefoot. Partly that's my feet adapting, but for the most part I would say it's simply down to underestimating our ability to be functional without shoes on...

The worst type of ground would be thin rocks (like gravel) over a hard surface. But generally higher up it seems to me you mostly see either bare rock (that's fine and you can go quite some ways on that) or some vegetated ledges (which tend to be soft surfaces, which is also fine, though pine cones & the likes can get annoying). 

I'd guess you haven't climbed at a number of well known areas in the US.

I like Luna Sandals for approaching, in particular the Oso Flaco model
https://lunasandals.com/products/oso-flaco

The rubber is OK (hiking shoes sticky, not really like an approach shoe) but the deep lugs work really well on steep loose dirt. I don't really need super sticky rubber because i'm not going to be climbing 5th class in sandals. But I definitely wouldn't call them supportive, especially not like Chacos.

Crocs. The only Crock's drawback is they don't sell Crocs with Vibram sole.

I’ll catch heat for this but Rainbows are THE sandal. Lasts for years and is the most comfortable. Downsides are poor traction on the outsole and the insole. Because of this one will learn to step gracefully and lightly like the deer. Your balance and quietness will greatly improve. That is all.

bedrock sandals foreverrrrr

Finally a thread I care about!!!
LASPO SWING!!!! Hands downs the best. Hard to find in the states. I got two pair on clearance and they’re amazing. Walk down steep slab just like appoarch shoes (up is a little harder). Led up to 5.7. Very durable. Too much arch for my taste. Totally ridiculous design.  Frixxxion outsole! I’m gonna send them to get resoled one day!
These are seriously the black totems of flops!

I used to have a pair of Chaco flip flops with 5.10 rubber on them. Those were awesome. Looks like the Evolv flip flop is similar. I'll be checking those out.

Marc801 C wrote: I'd guess you haven't climbed at a number of well known areas in the US.

Well, as  most people haven't, unless you set the standards to be "well-known" very high. Except you perhaps, but then one wouldn't dream of even approaching that all-encompassing breadth of experience.

Too bad such a breadth of experience doesn't get to benefit the OP and actually provide advice on the question at hand. But then I guess when one gets so knowledgeable after visiting so many locations, one doesn't feel like giving away all that wisdom so easily...

I dig my Bedrocks. I’ve done a lot in my Olukais, but the leather is a bit slippery. Bedrocks are comfy, have great grip, don’t slip around my foot, and are very small on my harness. If I have to do 4th/easy 5th I prefer La Sportiva TX2s, but Bed Rocks for standard scrambling approaches.

Not technically sandals but the Vibram 5 fingers shoes carry really nicely on a harness. I found putting sore toes in them to be a drag at the end of a long day in climbing shoes, though. 

In terms of approach shoes look at the La Sportiva tx2, tx3, and tx4.  I love the tx3 as they are a little heavier and more durable than the tx2 but still aren't as heavy as the tx4s which are indestructible. I wear them and my dad who has super wide feet has a pair and they fit his feet fine and he says they are the comfiest shoes.

Additional thoughts on light approach shoes for wide feet. The TX4s fit my wide feet great (but aren't really light). The TX3s seem to fit the same. The TX2 is a whole different animal - very low volume and narrow, just didn't work for me.

For a lightweight approach/descent shoe (leaning much more to the decent shoe side of things) for wide feet, I like the Adidas Terrex Swift Solo:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/IJP91.html
It is lighter than the TX2, more sticky (has genuine Stealth rubber), but is soft and flexible so doesn't edge well or work well for sharp rocks/boulders (kinda like a flip flop). I like it for short approaches and as a descent shoe. It has a super comfy sock-like liner so feels good without socks and breathes well. The sizing is weird - I went 1/2 size smaller than street shoe, use a custom orthotic footbed, and it is still a little roomy. Good price too, can usually find a pair on sale for around $60-70.

Franck Vee wrote:

Well, as  most people haven't, unless you set the standards to be "well-known" very high. Except you perhaps, but then one wouldn't dream of even approaching that all-encompassing breadth of experience.

Too bad such a breadth of experience doesn't get to benefit the OP and actually provide advice on the question at hand. But then I guess when one gets so knowledgeable after visiting so many locations, one doesn't feel like giving away all that wisdom so easily...

Hey! Settle down! It was a barroom dig, that's all. And you were the one who brought up barefoot and waxing poetically about it. And your blanket statements about vegetated ledges being soft dirt and up high it's mostly bare rock reflect experience in some locales but, for example, are rather incorrect about, say, Yosemite and Red Rock.

I've owned Tevas (in the 90s) and more recently Lunas and Bedrocks.  Tevas always sucked but they were the first of there kind.  When they get wet your feet slide through the front but I guess this is more of the fastening systems fault (nothing in between toes).  

I like the Lunas a lot until they got wet.  Insanely slippery foot bed;  it was better to be barefoot.  They look great and I got lots of compliments on them and regularly would wear them out to dinner without feeling like I was giving the hippy vibe. They lasted probably 2 years before the strap in between the toes ripped through the sole on a raft trip.  They were good but not great and honestly probably too thin but they made up for that by forgetting about them on your harness.
 
The Bedrocks are amazing.  I got the sticky rubber soled ones and honestly they are grippy-er than my Sportiva Tx2s.  I climb the flatirons in them without worry.  Also, their construction is vastly superior to the Lunas and I have no worry about the strap ever puling through the sole. They are kind mountain man-y though so going to a nicer restaurant in them feels out of place. 

Olukai Alohas.  I like the rubber a lot.  I bought them a little tight and they did stretch out into a snug fit for me.

+1 for Luna Sandals. Kinda pricey, but they go on sale. I have the leadville pacer. It is crazy light and stays on the foot better than flip flops. Perfect for walk offs in places like tuolumne or tahquitz. If the walk off is a bit rugged, I stuff some toe socks in my pocket and wear those as well. Get off pretty much anything comfortably that way.

Can't go wrong with Luna or Bedrock, both are awesome. Luna Oso's and Bedrock Cairn Pro's have Vibram Megagrip soles, great approach/descent shoes assuming not very technical terrain. For everything else I love the TX2s.

Salewa Lite Train shoes but I'm not sure if they'll be wide enough.

Wow my poor choice in footwear is finally relevant.

Rainbow flip flops are awesome. There is a break in period, but after than, they are provide good support for a sandal and are the most comfortable footwear around as far as I am concerned. Stiff enough to edge too - I've led 5.8 or so in them and bouldered many cracks including an inverted squeeze roof lol. Although this is probably more than anything a testament to the poor choice in footwear I mentioned. They are not cheap, but last damn near forever for a sandal. If you break it before you have worn through the sole, rainbow will replace it for free.