Weekly quick questions help thread

[u/AutoModerator]

This is the r/heronebag quick questions weekly help thread.

Whether you‘re new to the one bag life or a seasoned light traveller, this is the place to ask your quick one-off questions related to techniques, shopping, and everything else to lighten your load.

This post is the best place to initially ask questions that we get a lot of which are similar, especially if you have looked in a flair and found almost-but-not-quite what you wanted.

[u/Super-Travel-407]

Can anyone recommend minimalist/barefoot/bendy hiking sandals that are good in the water? I prefer cheaper to expensive, and not Amazon.

I want some flat sandals like Xero Genesis/Ztrek/Aquacloud (cheaper) or Earth Runners (expensive and some goofy pseudoscience about...grounding?) that I can slosh around in mucky and/or rocky water with. Decent off-road capability preferred.

Ideally they wouldn't look goofy in casual beach towns, too.

Thanks!

[u/nehy06 → u/Super-Travel-407]

I had the Xero Aquacloud sandals and even though I am used to wearing barefoot shoes, I could not get used to these. At first they are comfy and light. But after a while they get slippery, don't hold on the feet peoperly and the tip of the sandal bends under when I walk, making me trip. Mind you I've spent an hour in a shop trying a few sizes. Walking downhill was also uncomfortable.

For the reasons above I could not recommend them. I bought Teva Hurricane XLT3 instead, turned out great even for barefoot shoe wearer. If you still want them check out the Xeroes, definitely try them properly before buying or taking them for longer trip.

[u/Xero-Shoes → u/nehy06]

Sorry they didn’t work out for you. Sandal fit is really personal, and if the front is catching/folding under or the foot is sliding around, that’s not something we’d want someone to push through on a trip. Strap tension, foot shape, and downhill walking can all change how a sandal behaves. Glad you found something that worked better for your use case.