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Backpacking Light

Pack less. Be more.

Suggestions for ultralight camp shoes under 4 ounces.

Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Suggestions for ultralight camp shoes under 4 ounces.

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  • Author
    Posts
  • Apr 25, 2011 at 3:42 pm #1272857
    Dan Momii
    Spectator

    @danmomii

    Locale: Santa Cruz County, CA

    Hi everybody,

    I have had a hard time finding good quality camp style shoes and or flip flops that are really light and compact. I have a pair of crocks that are really heavy and bulky for my style of camping. Any suggestions?

    Apr 25, 2011 at 3:47 pm #1729324
    Stephen Barber
    BPL Member

    @grampa

    Locale: SoCal

    You could just wear some light, comfortable trail runners, and ditch the camp shoes altogether. Anything you don't carry weighs nothing!

    Seriously, since dropping the heavy boots, I really haven't felt the need for camp shoes.

    (Sort of a quote from Mike Clelland!)

    Apr 25, 2011 at 3:52 pm #1729326
    jscott
    BPL Member

    @book

    Locale: Northern California

    try "pool shoes"…mine are about four ounces. They have a firm enough bottom to be serviceable for river crossings (which is why I carry them.)

    Apr 25, 2011 at 4:17 pm #1729338
    Kevin Cody
    Member

    @codycolor2

    Locale: Los Padres NF

    I can't vouch for the durability of them yet but Ikea has some night time slippers/sandal thing and they practically weigh nothing & for $2.49 for a pair I'll give them a try. According to the website they weigh 0.1kg converted to ounces its 3.52739 oz. I just picked them up yesterday and will try them at the ADZPCTKO this weekend and if I like them I will bring them on my 4.5 day backpacking trip the following weekend. I'll give you a report a.s.a.p.

    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10195629

    You might also try some flojo's

    Apr 25, 2011 at 4:29 pm #1729344
    Steven Paris
    BPL Member

    @saparisor

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I picked up a pair of these on impulse a few months ago:

    http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Trunk-Tent-Shoes/dp/B003C4MCAM

    They are taped nylon shoes covers that are supposed to go over your shoes when you go into a tent. My idea was to glue them (gorilla glue? fabric glue?) to some flip-flop soles, but the flip-foles I bought at Target were still 4 or 5 oz with the toe straps cut off. Together, that's basically the same as a pair of crocs. So now I'm thinking about glueing them to some insoles. The cover has elastic to hold them around your ankle, but I'm not sure I'd trust them to cross a river in.

    Basically, just one of those winter-doldrum projects that I don't really need to do. : )

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:03 pm #1729357
    Jim Colten
    BPL Member

    @jcolten

    Locale: MN

    Vincere Grip Socks … 3.4oz in size XL

    Looks like they now come in a few other colors.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:04 pm #1729361
    Chris Morgan
    BPL Member

    @chrismorgan

    Locale: Southern Oregon

    Breathable trail runners for river crossings.

    For camp?

    The walmart foamy option is fairly durable (about 20 nights of heavy use, but a pad will make about a dozen pairs), very stable, ridiculously cheap and ultra comfortable. About 1oz for the pair.

    Step 1: Buy $4 Walmart blue foamy sleeping pad

    Step 2: Trace your foot and add little less than a cm all around (you can trim to fit later, though I find a little extra is kind of nice and you don't trip over it), and add wings so that when folded up together it looks like an Adidas shower sandal

    Step 3: Cut foam

    Step 4: Apply 1 piece of duct tape across the top – you may have to shorten the wings after trying on to get a tight fit.

    Voila:

    a

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:06 pm #1729362
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "About 1oz for the pair."

    Check and see if they are really that light.

    –B.G.–

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:13 pm #1729367
    Chris Morgan
    BPL Member

    @chrismorgan

    Locale: Southern Oregon

    A

    QED

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:17 pm #1729370
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    Great. What is the thickness of the blue foam?

    –B.G.–

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:18 pm #1729371
    Chris Morgan
    BPL Member

    @chrismorgan

    Locale: Southern Oregon

    It's the standard walmart sleeping pad – I'd say about 5/8"

    Apr 25, 2011 at 5:35 pm #1729382
    David Wills
    Member

    @willspower3

    good shoes. The heel goes flat pretty quick on the blue foam though. Would heels from insoles make a good hybrid camp shoe?

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:02 pm #1729392
    Patrick S
    Member

    @xpatrickxad

    Locale: Upper East TN

    I don't usually do camp shoes, but I wear some insoles that I've turned into huaraches with some extra cord. Under 3 oz (~2.75 oz on what I assume is an inaccurate kitchen scale). I wear them on short day hikes and around town all the time. I used heavy paracord that I had around and thats the bulk of the weight. You could go lighter.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:05 pm #1729393
    Vince Contreras
    BPL Member

    @pillowthread

    Locale: like, in my head???

    I've got an old, beat-up foamy in the closet right now just waiting for this project…

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:17 pm #1729400
    Dan Momii
    Spectator

    @danmomii

    Locale: Santa Cruz County, CA

    Hi everybody,

    Thanks for all your feedback. Chris's use of a Walmart sleeping pad for sandals is a really good idea. I like doing MYOG projects so I probably will try that out. Anyway anymore suggestions for ultralight camp shoes. Thanks.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:18 pm #1729402
    Chris Morgan
    BPL Member

    @chrismorgan

    Locale: Southern Oregon

    I've found that the insole option works too, as does using a Z-lite with some cord, but the cord can be a hassle and they end up being a bit heavier. The foamies do need replacing after some use, but they are so cheap, and ultimately I think they're much more comfortable and secure (I found with the cord variety, I was walking carefully to ensure they stayed on).

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:21 pm #1729406
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    Another reason for the blue foam shoes (not blue suede shoes)…
    When you purchase a rolled-up blue foam pad at the store, it is generally longer and wider than what a true BPL member would want, so it needs to be trimmed down anyway. Just plan it so that you end up with shoe-size pieces.

    –B.G.–

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:27 pm #1729410
    todd
    BPL Member

    @funnymo

    Locale: SE USA

    Not sure how minimalist you want, but taking the insoles out of my trailrunners works great in camp (with a little limitation).

    I just wrap spare cord around in a "Jesus-sandals" kind of thingy around the insole and forefoot, then around my ankle. You don't want to hike in them or explore too much – but around the campsite they're perfect.

    Weight: a few grams of cord.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:29 pm #1729411
    todd
    BPL Member

    @funnymo

    Locale: SE USA

    Oh – and I really like the blue foam flipflops. I recommend sizing them to fit over socks for warmth in camp. Still fit well enough when drying the socks out, too.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:33 pm #1729416
    Dan Momii
    Spectator

    @danmomii

    Locale: Santa Cruz County, CA

    Hi Todd,

    Good idea with little or no weight penalty. Though I am looking for camp shoes with some padding, I like Chris's MYOG pair. Anyway thanks.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:34 pm #1729418
    Mark Ryan
    Member

    @sixguns01

    Locale: Somewhere. Probably lost.

    I picked up a pair of Acorn Travel Slippers from REI. Little of 4oz and comfortable.

    http://www.rei.com/product/797595/acorn-tech-travel-moc-ii-slippers-mens

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:37 pm #1729424
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    I don't bring camp shoes, but I've been thinking of taking a pair of booties to slip on over my socks when I wake up for night-time relief. Obviously they would only protect against moisture and not stubbing toes. Normally I'd just slip on my trail runners, but if they're wet, they can get my sleep socks damp. I'm also going to try hiking in some KSO Treks, and those are not the easiest to put on in the dark in the middle of the night.

    . ,

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:37 pm #1729425
    Dan Momii
    Spectator

    @danmomii

    Locale: Santa Cruz County, CA

    Thanks Mark, I will check those out on the REI website.

    Apr 25, 2011 at 6:47 pm #1729430
    todd
    BPL Member

    @funnymo

    Locale: SE USA

    More discussion and pics of my ugly feet in this thread:

    http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=34505

    Apr 26, 2011 at 7:29 am #1729581
    Justin McMinn
    Member

    @akajut

    Locale: Central Oklahoma

    Worth considering – http://www.zemgear.com/

    I wish they would come out with their new models.

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