What are the best shoes for walking a few miles in an arena? I’ve started teaching a handful of lessons and I prefer to really walk with the rider through the lesson. My fitbit dings off 10k steps over the course of an evening. I adore river boots but it is 95 degrees and paddock boots plus gym shorts looks a little silly to me. Is there a good high-ankle sneaker style shoe that can keep sand out? I have mega arches so good support is critical. Right now I stop after every lesson and dump out my mesh Asics but I usually tear up the back of my feet from the sand being so abrasive.
I would go for lightweight hiking boots designed for walking. If you won’t be getting on a horse.
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What @Scribbler said. Specifically, these:
Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boot
any Chelsea boot with the insole of your choice. Blundstones, Redbacks, whatever.
I also recommend a waterproof hiking boot.
I also use waterproof hiking boots for this use (for example when volunteering with therapeutic riding). My current ones are Lowa Renegades but I’ve also liked Vasque. They last me years and years. (Ideally a good item to buy on a coupon which comes around a couple times a year.) My feet are so happy in them. I’d shop your local REI-equivalent for a good selection of ones that happen to fit you.
https://www.rei.com/product/796065/lowa-renegade-gtx-mid-hiking-boots-womens
I have used both lightweight waterproof hiking boots or Merrill Jungle Mocs for my daily barn footwear for years (I put on my riding boots just before getting on and take them off right after I am done riding). Although the Mocs aren’t high tops, they do a good job of keeping sand and barn dirt out and are easy to slip on and off (see changing into/out of boots to ride).
I wore a pair of mesh shoes once. The sand goes through the mesh - not even over the top, so that was a hard no.
Hiking boots sound right to me too - but I find waterproof ones to be unbearably hot during the summer. I own both waterproof and not waterproof for that reason - if I had to pick just one, I’d go with non waterproof myself.
How about Ariat Terrain hiking boots? They come in both regular and waterproof.
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When I was teaching and walking, jogging with and after beginners, my go to shoes were Columbia hiking shoes. Not quite ankle length for summer wear, but waterproof kept the dew and sand out and I didn’t notice that I was dying of the heat. If you teach long days bring a fresh pair of socks to change into part way through - if you remember and can get the time:lol:. Good tread, slightly higher then running shoes, and as long as they fit with my insoles - good to go. Winter was hiking boots.
My choice was what ever was on clearance at the outlet store, but no non waterproof mesh. After about a year they cracked at the corners, sand started to come in and they were toast. I did put some serious miles on them, and my Merrill’s lasted less the 3 months. Real leather lasted longer, but if I could get a summer/fall season out of my outlet Columbia’s my feet were happy.
YMMV but I wear mine with wool socks year round in quite warm conditions and am pretty comfortable. Mine are Gore-tex though and IME other kinds of waterproofing don’t breathe nearly as well.
I’m a Merrell person as well. I have the moc that that is their work shoe. Love it. I am on my feet for hours at a time and these work for me.
I second the Ariat Terrains
Lace up footwear can provide more support than slip on footwear because you can get the ankle snugger and the arch/ sole stabilized. I find the major problem with arena walking is the footing is deep and uneven but that can vary obviously.
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