Shoes for SOS

SOS vets,

Shoe suggestions? My thought is to go sockless and just stuff the shoes in my shorts for the swims. No bags or funny business. My current flats require lube to keep from chafing and I’m pretty sure that will wash off. I’m thinking they Saucony Type-A, but I just ordered them and the inside isn’t as smooth as I’d hoped.

Asics are out. If the Nike Free has the same narrow last as the nikes of the last decade, they’re out (i had to switch away when they narrowed it in the mid 90s). Adidas, Saucony, Brooks, Mizuno all have shoes that work for me.

Thanks.

I do fine barefoot and even wet in the type-As with no issues. They have those nice dranage holes on the bottom and top is so minimal/mesh I haven’t had any issues and I’m somewhat prone to blistering. Would be a good choice for a race like SOS

I came in pretty close to last, so take my advice with a grain of salt. But I ran and swam in my regular running sneakers with wright socks to prevent blistering. Though, as I said, I came in close to last, at least I did not get blisters and my feet were comfortable and I had fun. I just swam with my shoes on, and it did not bother me.

Short version - what works for YOU this summer.

Long version - Donald, you smart enough to understand that physiological differences between athletes insure that “perfect” shoe for one is unacceptable torture device for another. Do not obssess about SOS gear, your training is the most important component, and any adequate gear will do. There were many prior threads on this topic but, again, simplicity and comfort are the keys. I rate SOS shoes (from most important to less so characteristic for ME) for: comfort for barefoot running with wet feet, drainage/drying speed, ease of putting them on (due to typical leg and feet cramps after the first swim), flotation (if you drop them on a swim, or if wearing them swimming), rock protection, cushioning and support, price, and style. So you will need to test couple of pairs - first review available in the local NYC stores shoes by barehand and barefoot (if allowed) test to see if any surfaces or seams are aggressive enough to shafe you. If no success yet, talk to the store manager/owner and let them sweat out the proper shoe for you (Jerry Macari in Urban Athletics can be helpful for such industry knowledge). Once you splurge for 1-2 pairs specific for SOS (and which you can also use as your fast trainer or racing lightweight pair), start testing - barefoot, wet barefoot, swim to run, etc. Eventually, I assume, you will test in New Paltz on actual course.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, but I’m looking for specific recommendations.

With models changing so rapidly these days, I can’t simply go back and get what’s worked in the past for me. And with so many available models, it’s nice to have a place to start. I know which lasts from which brands are best for me, so hearing a recommendation of something that’s worked which I can cross reference back to those lasts will target the search a lot faster than browsing urban athletics. As I said above, I have the Type-As and I’m looking around to see what else might work if they don’t.

Also, I moved out of the city, so selection is more limited. I don’t want to drive around just to see what’s out there. Again, it’s nice to have a starting point to work from.

I am following the posts here with great interest. This will be my first SOS, and my regular Adidas running shoes are pretty bulky to stuff in the shorts and swim with - which I just discovered yesterday when I jumped into Lake Minnewaska with them - so I need to find a more waterproof shoe, perhaps a racing flat. I know running shoes are a very personal foot-specific choice, but I’m curious what shoe you decided on.

My thinking was that going sockless was asking for trouble. I wore some bike socks that had a tight top. My shoes were Asics 2XXX (whatever it was in 2004). I used a carabiner to connect my shoes and used them like a pull bouy. I thought I was brilliant, about half the people there do some variation on that so it may be brilliant but not original.
I got cramps putting on my shoes after the 2nd swim so I kept them on and swam in them for the last swim. It turns out shoes float so they don’t hold you back that much. If I was to do it again I would wear my shoes straight through and wear socks. I would not put them in my top or anywhere where I might lose them.

This will be my 4th SOS and I am wearing lead weights for shoes. Helps keep the bugs away.

I only did this race once, and did it in my normal running shoes. Asics Kayanos, but I put them in a dry sack and clipped the dry sack to my waist using a running number belt to attach. I also put socks on/off everytime. My feet and shoes/socks were pretty dry the whole time, but I did have some foot cramping issues trying to put on the socks/shoes in all transitions other than the first swim to run.

I know this hurt my T times, but my feet were very happy.

I decided to stick with the Type-As. I’ve found them to be easy to slip into my shorts and they aren’t much of a bother if I swim with them still on my feet either. Plus, they’re light even when wet. I also decided to use a set of really tight socks. In the end, I found too much slippage and was worried about blistering.

There may be a perfect shoe for me out there, but socks and Type-As seems to work well. I’m not in contention for anything, so I just went with what worked.