Touring - Chacos?

Anybody ride in Chacos? Touring and non-touring? I am mostly thinking for my pleasure rides (30-50 miles). Maybe even century ride if I ever get fit enough. Long term possibly touring for next summer along the West coast.

I have been riding with Vans, tennis shoes, hiking boots, but I have seriously been thinking about something Chacos. In SoCal you could use them year round (socks for a couple of months).

forgive my ignorance on this, but why would you put those cholate taco iceream things on your feet? those are the only chaco i know of...

but if Grant Petersen rides in Tevas I'm sure you can ride in Chacos just fine! For what it's worth the Chaco hiking shoes are my favorite shoes to ride platform pedals.

My favorite warm-weather riding shoes are Prospector Trail sandals, a leather hiking sandal similar to Keens or Chacos in design -- cool and well ventilated like a regular sandal, but with decent toe and heel protection and a good, sturdy sole. Louis Garneau makes a cycling-specific version along the same lines.

I wear my Chaco sandals on the touring bike. I've got MKS touring pedals with power grips, and it's a pretty good setup. The soles are reasonably stiff, and they are thick as well.

I used to use toe clips, and I've worn Chacos with them, but it's not ideal.

I've ridden with other sandals and toured with flexible water shoes on large BMX pedals. There is no generic reason it wouldn't work, but you have to validate it for yourself since everyone's feet are different.

My Chacos are so wide (compared to my other shoes—I’m AA width) that I don’t like to ride in them; they feel funny. People with normal width feet might not have that problem, though.

My Chacos are so wide (compared to my other shoes—I’m AA width) that I don’t like to ride in them; they feel funny. People with normal width feet might not have that problem, though.

Ha, that's why I like mine! The wide sole means I can tighten the power grips to get a very good clipped-in feeling without any stress points on my foot.

I ride in my Chacos all the time and I've never had a problem other than they really stink after wearing them for days....I'd recommend keeping them out of the tent.

I went with a lighter sandal. I ordered a pair of Ecco Yucatans and a pair of Tevas from REI. I'll keep which one fits best. Seems the Rivendell Bike guy likes Tevas, so I will test sandals out. I already don't wear padded biking shorts or jerseys, might as well complete the Fred look. :)

I know you already pulled the trigger on some other sandals, but I ride in my Chacos all the time. Sandal weather year-round here. I have big ol' platform pedals on my touring bike and I really like how the deep, rubbery tread on my Chacos grips—my girlfriend reports the same with her pair on her platform pedals. The thick sole is also super stiff. I got the version with the big toe strap, which helps alleviate my fear of the front section hitting the road and folding under while my toes get mutilated (why I try not to ride in flip-flops.... but its hard not to sometimes!).

Personally, I bought them because the infinitely adjusting, one-piece webbing system is just so elegant and clever... not to mention that you can always get the webbing and/or soles replaced. $100 seems like a small price for sandals that will theoretically last forever. The cycling-related bonuses were unexpected but most welcome—I was not looking forward to putting on socks and sneakers every time I wanted to bike somewhere, especially since I'm carfree since moving to Hawaii.

As an aside, I'm less satisfied with my Chacos than I thought I'd be. Not only do they feel awkwardly wide, but kneeling with them puts all the pressure on the buckle, which presses into my foot. It's not like I can wear them out then buy some other kind, because I've had them about 5 years, used them heavily, and they look almost new. Oh well, at least they're comfortable.

I personally find that the texture on the top of the sandal makes riding with chacos less than comfortable for long distances. That said, they are my wet weather commuting shoe down to 50-55 degrees F.

I have some Chacos they are not great on my pedals. Vibram (?) soles are the problem maybe? I also have a pair of Bite sandals and they have soft rubber soles that really CHOMPS onto sawtoothed pedals or the pins on bmx style platforms.