Another good question we hear a lot is “What should we bring for our feet? Do we need canoe footwear for our trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?”

Wet Feet In a Canoe

Canoe footwear is one item that you do not want to mess up. Remember wilderness canoeing is a WET FOOT SPORT. Your feet will get wet. Very wet, even soggy when canoeing in the BWCA or Quetico Provincial Park.

You will be getting in and out of your canoe while still on the lake, You will then need to carry your gear across the BWCA portage to load your canoe while in the next lake. You will need some type of boot or shoe that can get wet and will support your feet and ankles on portages. 

Popular Canoe Footwear Recommended by Canoe Outfitters

One type of boot that you will commonly see among the veterans in this area is a LaCrosse boot which can viewed here on the LaCrosse Footwear website.  

Another popular boot is a Boundary Waters Boot made by NRS.   The NRS boot is a knee-high waterproof boot that offers great portage ankle support,

Some people prefer to wear a pair of sandals or running shoes with a pair of wool socks.  (Make sure the sandals are not open-toed or open-heeled.) Others prefer an old pair of hunting boots with a pair of socks.  Of course, everyone has their own idea of what footwear should be on their BWCA gear list.

Keep Children's Feet Dry

Children and cold wet feet do not go together.  I have found, especially if the water is a little cooler that children do not like cold wet feet. If you are bringing children along this might be the time to invest in some good boots for them. They can wear them during the day. Then, also include on your BWCA packing list a separate pair of warm, comfortable canoe camp shoes or camp slippers so you will have dry feet when in camp.

Protect Your Feet and Have Fun

The whole idea about a Boundary Waters Canoe trip is to enjoy the outdoors while having a fun adventure with your family or friends. To keep everyone happy, remember to think about your feet when doing your Boundary Waters trip planning. Remember your feet will get wet while getting in and out of your canoe, and some of the portages can be rocky or muddy. 

Talk to your Ely, Minnesota canoe trip outfitter about the right footwear for your canoe route. Canoe routes and time of year will influence your footwear decision. Plan appropriately so that everyone has a good time by including proper footwear on your Boundary Waters packing list.