# Rubber soled shoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141 "2007-07-17T15:12:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/1 "2007-07-17T15:12:51Z")
So I’m going on this Maine schooner vacation, like, _tomorrow_, and like an idiot I only took a second look at the “what to bring” sheet last night. Do I _have_ rubber soled shoes? How would I know? I have a pair of deck shoes, which ought to be okay, right? But I wear those without socks generally, and I’m sure they couldn’t accommodate thick socks like if it gets cold _at night on the water in Maine_. How do I know what shoes are okay? Are my Converses? My Borns? My Keens? Eek! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/2 "2007-07-17T15:14:46Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] So I’m going on this Maine schooner vacation, like, _tomorrow_, and like an idiot I only took a second look at the “what to bring” sheet last night. Do I _have_ rubber soled shoes? How would I know? I have a pair of deck shoes, which ought to be okay, right? But I wear those without socks generally, and I’m sure they couldn’t accommodate thick socks like if it gets cold _at night on the water in Maine_. How do I know what shoes are okay? Are my Converses? My Borns? My Keens? Eek! [/QUOTE] I would think that you want tennis shoes. I’m assuming that they need to be rubber soled so that you don’t slip on the deck if it gets wet. So nothing plastic or vinyl like some sandles. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/3 "2007-07-17T15:16:47Z")
I assumed they needed to be non-marking also. Of course, I don’t know which of my shoes are nonmarking because it’s not like I play basketball or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/4 "2007-07-17T16:45:25Z")
Deck shoes are ostensibly made to wear on board ship, and should have good traction on wet decks. Even thin socks would be helpful. Gym shoes (e.g. Converse) have great traction on gym floors, but often not on wet surfaces. Hiking boots generally have good wet traction, but are not always non-marking. Any “rubber” soled shoe should be tested for wet traction, as the particular compound used may or may not have it. I have found Crocs to be good river shoes, even giving reasonable traction on mossy river rock. I would assume they’d work well. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/5 "2007-07-17T17:29:16Z")
So I should dump some water on my kitchen floor and try out my other shoes on it? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/6 "2007-07-17T17:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] So I should dump some water on my kitchen floor and try out my other shoes on it? [/QUOTE] That actually may be a good plan. If you have access to a wooden deck, test them there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/7 "2007-07-17T18:20:00Z")
[QUOTE=Gary T] That actually may be a good plan. If you have access to a wooden deck, test them there as well. [/QUOTE] I’ve posted this before, and I don’t know if there’s enough time to help you this time, but check out: [www.shoesforcrews.com](http://www.shoesforcrews.com) . They have a pretty sweet variety, and the best non-slip surface I’ve ever worn. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubber-soled-shoes/412141/8 "2007-07-17T18:58:03Z")
[QUOTE=Pygmy Rugger] I’ve posted this before, and I don’t know if there’s enough time to help you this time, but check out: [www.shoesforcrews.com](http://www.shoesforcrews.com) . They have a pretty sweet variety, and the best non-slip surface I’ve ever worn. [/QUOTE] Not enough time, but thanks for the suggestion. I believe I will dump some water in the kitchen and on the deck. I know without a shadow of a doubt that somebody will catch me doing it, though, and just shake their head.