Water crossings

[bmike-vt]

Bags over feet? Barefoot? Waterproof boots?

Had to get around high water this weekend. Was close to home so I just got wet. Not an option out on a trail. (although the feet stayed remarkably warm inside a gore tex trail tuner with wool socks)

[sean salach]

Bags will tear unless you protect the bottom. Neos overboots are bulky and I don't like pedaling in them. Wiggy's overboots are a popular option.

[Damnitman]

Can't say that I discovered them, but I found the Wiggy's overboots on his site and they made sense, especially out here in Southwestern AK where we get a lot ov overflow...A friend posted them on his fatbiking blog, a couple folks used them in the ultrasport, and now they are a popular option...I put a little shoegoo on the inside of the sole to protect it from my clipless cleat...

[Norb]

Bags over feet? Barefoot? Waterproof boots?

I've been using waterproof socks - Seal Skinz - and they work very well for warmth and keeping feet dry in 3 - 5 inches of water. 

[stumpbumper]

Ditto on the Seal Skinz socks for shallow water--great!  As you may know, that company also offers waterproof gloves made of the same material.

For crossing a bit deeper water I wear the long, slim plastic bag that our delivery guy places our newspaper in on rainy days prior to tossing it in the general direction of our house.  Over the bag I wear an old wool sock, its top and the top of the bag held in place with a rubber band.  The sock protects the bag from tearing and gives some traction to my feet when walking over slick rocks.  After crossing the stream I squeeze as much water from the socks as possible and then store them and the newspaper bags in a small Ziploc bag inside my pack.

During milder weather when I don't mind getting my feet wet, I forego the plastic bags and either cross the stream barefoot or I wear the wool socks for improved traction and for a bit of protection from gravel and rocks.
If the weather is really hot I simply leave on my cycling shoes when riding or wading across a stream.  Mesh openings in those I wear during summer drain water quickly.  If I decide to wade a stream that has a lot of slick rocks, I pull the wool socks over the shoes for traction (an old trout fisherman's trick).

I hasten to add that most of the streams I cross in my area are fairly shallow with somewhat lazy flow.  I have hunted and fished a number of times in Alaska and some of the streams there will rip anything lighter than good hip boots from the feet.