dunns river falls .....shoes???

[hannymom]

can we wear tennis shoes to climb the falls?  or do we need to rent water shoes?  thank you

[paul929207]

We wore our own several years ago

[John Bull]

Water shoes have seriously-good grip, tennis shoes etc are nowhere near as good and when wet some are downright slippy or eventually disintegrate.

 

You can buy water shoes in Ocho Rios from around $10 - $15, probably also at the Falls but at a higher price. Much better than wearing dubious water shoes that have been on a thousand other feet, yuck 

They weigh practically nothing & take up little space in your luggage.

A cheap pair will only be worth about a dozen wears, but come in very handy for swimming off shingle beaches or rocky outcrops.

Well worth the small outlay. 

 

JB 

 

Edited January 10, 2019 by John Bull

[Essiesmom]

WalMart always has watershoes on the rack.  Sporting goods stores also carry them, probably at a much higher price.  I have seen them recently at Dick's.  If you want really good ones, go to a dive shop.  EM

[George C]

We always wore aqua shoes .

[flamomo]

I made the mistake of wearing shoes that had rubber soles but did not tie, and because my foot slipped around in the shoe when I happened to step into an unseen hole between the underwater rocks, I ended up with a sprained ankle and a gouge on my shin that got infected. The infection was bad enough that I had to go to the ship's medical center to be treated. That water looks sparkly and nice, but it's NOT clean!! The ankle got hugely swollen and was very painful for several days, and my cabin mate had to push me around the ship in a wheelchair.

It's wise to wear a type of shoe that can't allow that  to happen! 

[Nebr.cruiser]

Wear a good water shoe with support.  If your foot slides around in the shoe, it isn't good enough.  I don't think tennis shoes would have worked for me.  It is slippery and also very unstable because of the shape of the

 rocks and crevices.

[Capt_BJ]

old pair of canvas top siders which I toss at the end of the day has worked many times since the 80's for me.

 

if I don't have an old set I usually wear my dive boots

[John Bull]

32 minutes ago, flamomo said:

I made the mistake of wearing shoes that had rubber soles but did not tie, and because my foot slipped around in the shoe when I happened to step into an unseen hole between the underwater rocks, I ended up with a sprained ankle and a gouge on my shin that got infected

It's wise to wear a type of shoe that can't allow that  to happen! 

 

Can't happen with water shoes  

They hug your feet, like having an extra layer of skin.

 

JB 

[jagsfan]

Just don’t do what we did our first time climbing the falls!

we did it barefoot and it was like walking on golf balls, marbles, Legos and razor blades. 

 

[Capt_BJ]

funny thing

 

the guides don't wear shoes, do they?

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH wore his aqua shoes.  After the falls, he changed back into his reboks so that he had something dry to walk around in.

[MicCanberra]

Whatever you call them, water shoes, aqua shoes or reef shoes would all have better grip than tennis shoes.

[snyniew]

I have a pair of Teva's that I wore. Work well and have used them often and they look just like sandals so can wear them for everyday use as well.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I used Tevas too--the old style, since I have had them since the 90's!  I mostly only use them on water excursions with rocks so they are in very good shape, even after all these years.

 

Now, after some severe sprains/breaks with my ankles, I probably would want to use a shoe that hugs my foot more closely for more support, especially for Dunn's Falls.

 

I have no idea how anyone can go up the falls without shoes.  I couldn't do it.  I realize the guides have toughened up their feet with years of doing the falls.

Edited January 11, 2019 by Nebr.cruiser

[ldubs]

Another vote for water shoes.  I picked up a pair for $9 at one of the shops we walked by on the way to the excursion meet point.  If you rent from the venue they have lockers to store you regular shoes & stuff.  

 

Dunn River Falls --  It is truly a blast but keep in mind it is a huge trip/fall hazard.  If that is an issue, don't go.   

[MicCanberra]

19 minutes ago, ldubs said:

Dunn River Falls --  It is truly a blast but keep in mind it is a huge trip/fall hazard.  If that is an issue, don't go.   

LOL, The clue was in the name.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Our guide told us that there are often 2-3 broken bones a day at the falls.  Back at our ship, we saw one lady with massive bruising and abrasions on her thigh, covering most of the leg and also a couple of people with cuts.

[MicCanberra]

I doubt I would get my wife even one step up.

[ldubs]

On 1/11/2019 at 5:42 PM, Nebr.cruiser said:

Our guide told us that there are often 2-3 broken bones a day at the falls.  Back at our ship, we saw one lady with massive bruising and abrasions on her thigh, covering most of the leg and also a couple of people with cuts.

 

I wouldn't doubt that at all.  As I mentioned before, the place really is a blast, but it is risky.  If someone feels the operator has a duty to provide a safe experience, this is not the place for them.   

Edited January 13, 2019 by ldubs
Oops

[2xhelix]

I picked up a pair of Baffin amazons that I love.  They're a water shoe, but more rugged like a low hiker.  They run around $100, but I was able to hunt around and find them on clearance for $29. (Sometimes it does pay to have weird sized feet)

[jagsfan]

On 1/10/2019 at 6:02 PM, Capt_BJ said:

funny thing

 

the guides don't wear shoes, do they?

Had I climbed the falls when I was a kid going barefoot all summer, I probably wouldn’t have felt the golf balls, marbles, Legis and razor blades 🤗

[Llamabear]

I used a cheap pair of water shoes I bought at Walmart, but once we got to the falls I decided the rocks were too slippery to try and climb them and went down to the beach instead.😎 No matter what sole your shoes have there is a level of risk on those falls, be cautious no matter what!

[NCbmwmom]

I did the falls on Chacos. Pretty much like Tevas.