Post Market Foot Pegs (Sea Kayak)

[Paul Hewson]

Hi,
Does anyone have any advice about post market foot pegs for Sea Kayaks (fancy gadgets you can buy) OR homemade modifications.

My long list of minor but irritating medical ailments includes Ledderhosen’s disease, and it’s getting painful to use a foot peg. It’s probably time I upgraded shoes and I could look for a more rigid and padded sole, but I did wonder whether there were any common alterations people make (I’ve tried pipe insulation and gaffer tape and didn’t like the results). Or indeed whether there were any fancy post-market pegs that take all the load on your heel (this is more out of curiosity as to what works in kayak power transfer than a desire to spend money).

Thanks

[Adam Coulson]

I use both neoprene and Palm Descender boots (but not at the same time!) and sometimes get sore feet with either pair. Oversize boots with a thick and fairly rigid innersole might be worth looking at. A foot plate would allow you to spread the load. The bulkheads in HDPE kayaks are not up to supporting your feet and so you would need to fit a plate across using the footpeg/rail. Plywood and cable tidies but you don’t want it to let you down.

[Doug Sitch]

Hi Paul,
I have been very successful at blocking out the footwell with closed-cell foam and shaping the faces for a comfortable support for toe and heels on a number of kayaks. It take time & effort (cardboard templates etc) to get the right shapes of foam to match the boat, but they than can be wedged in. Closed cell foam is readily available on Amazon and AnyFoam.
Doug 🙂

[Paul Hewson]

Thanks both for the suggestions. I don’t think I can do the foam in the sea boat @Doug as I also need at times to stretch my legs out (asthma inhalers give me random cramps, when my calf goes I can’t ignore it).

A lot of people put rubber tubing round decklines. I mainly wanted to rule out the idea that there were similar common solutions to make footpegs feel nicer. My attempts feel bodgy and insecure. I’m going to look at boots with a bit more rigidity in the sole (my current neoprene boots are due to be replaced).

[Adam Coulson]

The Palm Descender boots are much improved on previous model which had a problem with the upper separating from the sole. They also have an innersole as standard that can be removed for use with a dry suit but put back in for just socks in the summer. Also cool colours!

[Doug Sitch]

Paul,

I have a rigid insole added inside my boots. Have had problems with ankle and achilles. I recommend Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx or Superfeet Green. Can loan you some to try if you like…?
Doug

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