We’ve been getting great response from coaches, boatmen, and rowers about the new Pocock racing sandals. They’re more comfortable for a wide range of foot sizes than traditional shoes, and the rowers are reporting that they can get a nice, tight fit. We’ve had requests for more pictures, so here are some close-ups of the racing shell sandals.
Features include:
- Quick-lace system that draws the side of the shoe tight for a snug fit on almost any foot size.
- Adjustable instep strap that wraps around the heel and over the top of the foot, allowing you to tighten the foot opening around your ankle so heels don’t slide out of the shoe.
- Side and heel cut-outs that improve airflow, keeping rowers’ feet cooler and shoes less smelly.
- Leather strap heel tie that bolts to the footboard – means you’ll never deal with missing or broken shoelaces as heel ties again.
- Neoprene inner shell and leather footbed dries fast and reduces odor.
- Two sizes – small (fits up to a men’s 10) and large (over a men’s 10) allows you to provide well-fitting shoes for your entire squad without having to stock multiple shoe sizes and constantly switch shoes.
- Sturdy construction, with easily replaceable shoe lace. There are only 2 very small metal parts – small D rings that support the instep strap – so salt water crews don’t need to worry much about corrosion.
- Compatible with existing Pocock racing shell footboards and are easy to install – just unscrew the old shoes and screw in the new sandals.
Ready to try out a new pair of shoes? A pair costs $80, and can be found in our online store.
Have you seen or used the new Racing Sandals yet, or do you have any other questions? If so, leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!
I have a complaint. I want to replace my shoes but come on a men’s size 10. WTF, do you have womens sizes? Please let me know cuz I’m a little tick off just because you haven’t included the largest group of the world population. Jeeze.. maybe if you sent me a free t shirt I would forgive you my size is small and my address is:
Helen Carlson
11715 Bealsy Rd
Longmont, CO 80504
ph. 303.485.6503
Best Regards,
Helen
Hi Hellen, I wear a women’s size 7.5 and I have to say that the small sandal works for me. Since you can cinch it tight around the sides and back, your foot really does fit in there pretty well. We also have regular shoes starting in a size 8, not sure if that would be better for you or not. If that’s still too big, try H2Row – they stock all sorts of smaller women’s sizes. We’ll be at most of the big fall regattas and will have samples of the sandals that you can try on if you like.
I’m a novice rower with men’s size 12-1/2 or 13 D or E width feet. The relatively small sneakers fastened to the footboards that are provided by the center where I row fit the women in my class but are too small for me.
Is it possible to purchase a footboard with men’s size sandals attached that will attach to any of the shells available at the center? I’m sure there is some advantage to rowing with my feet attached to the floor board. I would like to experience it.
Cheers,
Jeff Harris
Hi Jeff, Thanks for your comment. Each shoe setup has three parts – the shoes, the footboard, and the foot plate. The shoes screw into a metal plate (the footplate) than then bolts onto the actual footboard. You should be able to purchase shoes on a footplate and move them from boat to boat with you without too much trouble. Not all the boat manufacturers use the same size footplates though, so you’d have to try it on all the boats you’d be rowing in to be sure.
The shoes and footplate is probably a better option than a complete footboard setup. If you’re rowing in a few different brands of boat, you definitely won’t be able to move a whole footboard around. If you are exclusively in Pococks, then you could use the same footboard for most of our boats (anything but a single, they have smaller footboards). But the footplate solution should be just as easy to move from boat to boat, plus not purchasing the extra footboard will save you about $100. Drop me an email or give us a ring if you have any questions!
Cheers,
amy