camp/water shoes

[Dennis Park]

I remember coming across a thread a few years back about a 1oz shoe that I think was originally in the swimmning products industry. Does this ring a bell to anybody? Could it be used to cross creeks? Thanks

(I know I could do it in my trailrunners but I don't like the wet feel afterwards.)

[John S.]

http://www.sprintaquatics.com/prodinfo.asp?number=900

[McDowell Crook]

I used a pair of these last winter on the Eagle Creek trail in the Smokies, involving about 17 crossings through waist-high water. They performed well, but by the end of the day some of the stitching was fraying and there was a tear in the mesh. You have to be very, very gentle when putting on/taking off.

[Billy Ray]

What do they actually weigh? Certainly more than 1 oz, no?

b

[Alex H]

my larges weight 1.9 oz. (pair)

I can't imagine using them for the Eagle creek trail, I am not sure how they held together and your feet didn't also scream in pain. We just waded through with trail shoes.

[jscott]

Actually my pair of Sprint Aquatics have been going good for years. For the money and the lack of weight, I've been happy.

[two pints]

I did eagle creek years ago with a pair of standard Teva's. They worked fantastically, but they were also well over a pound for the pair.

Since then, I have been using crocs for water crossings, but I have never been quite happy with their stability and fit… they just dont work all that great for my feet.

I just bought a pair of Teva Mush Universal sandals which pair a cushy flip flop style footbed with Teva's original sport sandal straps. So far, I have liked them, but I haven't put them to trail use yet. (just got them this week)

In size 13, they come in around 2oz lighter than my crocs. Sweet!

http://www.teva.com/mens-mush-universal-sport-sandal/1004754,default,pd.html

[Sam Farrington]

Mike,
Could you post the actual weight? Thanks.

BTW, Went to the site with your link and found there was an unanswered question about the weight. Went to their 'ask a question' and asked for weight in men's 10. Instead of an answer, got a note that they would post another weight question after the unanswered one. Who are these people? Maybe they are just artificial intelligences without any awareness. Teva minus 1.

[Daniel Collins]

teva mush size 9 = 10.5 oz

[Jennifer Mitol]

Can I just give a huge plug for fellow BPLer Ryan French and his Exodus sandals, which he developed here in the MYOG forums. I was lucky enough to get in on his first beta test, used them as camp shoes on the JMT and frankly, don't ever want to take them off. They have turned into my dog walking shoes, run to the grocery store shoes, and honestly, make me take camp shoes again. They are brilliant, light, fit great (I hated trying to walk up a slope in crocs) and are just a pleasure to wear. I'm pretty sure he's making them for purchase now – I cannot recommend them enough.

Here's a pic of my filthy feet resting in a pair:

Here is the thread…

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=77878

[John S.]

Does Ryan make a pair that can be worn with regular socks on (not toe socks) so I don't have to expose my dirty feets before I wash them in the evening before bed?

Or, can those be worn with regular socks and feel comfy enough without using the great toe strap?

[Stephen Murphy]

I have been very happy with these as a substitute to crocs. Mesh top, EVA sole, Velcro closures on instep and heel. They weigh less (8.6oz for the pair in size 10), drain well and are secure on my feet when crossing streams. The can be found on Ebay – I paid $35 for mine. Only drawback is they tend to be rather colorful. I only have a couple of "luxury items" in my pack. This is one of them.

[Sam Farrington]

Thanks, Dan.
Teva has replied:

"Q:
'Please advise weight per pair in men's size 10.'

"A:
Teva Product Specialist from Teva said:
'Our sample size that we base weight off of is a 9. Each pair weighs 10.4 oz. We would estimate a size 10 being about 10.6 oz per pair.'"

That's pretty good for something that looks like it could handle some serious fording, and improve safety with the thick sole and secure and comfy foot harness.
It's pointy rocks and insecure harnesses that have created the biggest problem for me.
Next biggest is freezing cold water during runoff that numbs the feet so much that I cannot feel where I'm treading. That can be fixed with a light neoprene sock, but that adds 3-4 more oz. So maybe 14 oz or so overall. Maybe worth it to be able to do crossings with ease, keeping other gear dry.

Would be interested in how others feel about this, especially in comparison to experiences with the several varieties of crocs ('croc-offs') of around the same weight. Thanks.

[Billy Ray]

I have and old non-Teva brand that looks exactly like these Tevas under discussion. They weigh about 8oz for size 8.

They were comfortable and can wear socks in camp. BUT… they tend to slip off the feet in river crossings… and slip on rounded cobbles… they also don't do well on steep dry ground slopes…

Now I have not tried the Tevas, but what I have looks exactly like them.

zemgear.com makes some neoprene like low cut booties with tough pads on the bottom that are about 6oz for size 8. These work great for river crossings… no way they come off your feet as they are snug… yet the stretch enough to wear boot socks inside when in camp…

Bill D.

[Jesse D.]

I've tried two setups in the past. I used some neoprene booties that were sturdy both in and out of the water, but were a little heavy and bulky. I still have them after about 3 years of use, and use them for wet-wading when flyfishing. They've held up great and are cheap!

Link: Neosport Booties

Then I picked a pair of these up at Marshalls for $25. They are comfy enough and sturdy enough that I have worn them for some like hiking(on a bikepacking trip, when my other option was my cycling shoes that I'd been wearing for days straight) and around camp, as well as slipped them on for some water activities(fishing). They stack fairly flat, and fit easily in the side mesh/stretch pocket of most packs. I bought them a half size larger than normal, so I could wear some thicker socks around camp, but even without socks they have some velcro straps that allow for a slight bit of adjustment to snug them up.
My size 11's are 10.24 ounces…

Link: Saucony Hattori AW

[Daniel Collins]

Could you post which model you are speaking of ?
Zem makes numerous neoprene low and high cut shoes.
There is even one listed at 2.5 oz although most don't list the weights.
Thanks.

[Billy Ray]

I believe these are the ones I own:

360 NINJA & ROUND Toe
http://www.zemgear.com/collections/360-runners-series/

I got the round toe instead of the 'ninja' toe as boot socks work better in them..

I don't think the listed weights are correct as my size 8 mens are about 6 oz for the pair…

Buy them a size large if you want to wear thick socks in them as they are cut tight.

I don't know about the MANY other models… just these…
Some could be lighter, dunno…

Bill D.

[Billy Ray]

opps, I guess those are the 'ninja' round toes so forget what I said about not getting the 'ninja'… but do get the round toes if you want to wear regular boot socks inside…

bill D

[Max Dilthey]

I dig on Vibram's EL-X shoes. 4.23oz.

[Daniel Collins]

Thanks Bill, and more questions for Steven M : While at Saucony site I saw some really minimalist looking water shoes, no weights listed, but they look very well designed from the photos. Any knowledge of these ?

I just got finished returning my size 9 Crocs because they were ridiculously wide and long for my feet. Traded them for size 8 which are still too wide. The crocs heel width looks to be made for a sasquatch or at least nothing human, way too wide.

Looking for water shoes or sandals I can wear socks with in camp.
I'm really liking the info so far in this post, thanks folks.

[Sam Farrington]

Tried the Zems for a while. The stiffer soles were good for protecting the feet around the tent at night.

But for crossing streams, especially freezing cold, raging ones? Never in a million years. No traction, and they would get sucked off in real muck. Straps, front and back, are a must. Ditto for the 5-toed thingies.

There are a lot of good neoprene water shoes with heavier treaded soles, but the weights are prohibitive for BPL.

I think the answer lies in a sandal with the lightest possible EVA sole with a good tread on the bottom, and the lightest possible harness that is strong and well designed enough to keep them locked on, and does not go between the toes, so you can wear the lightest possible neoprene sock to keep the feet from going totally numb in cold water conditions. Have found that losing feeling in the feet during crossings is not just unpleasant, but extremely dangerous with boulders underneath.

Would have made something by now, but don't know how to attach loops or other harness keepers to the sole. Can't stick them in from the bottom, because don't want anything on the bottom but the tread. And EVA is on the fragile side, so it is hard to figure a good top attachment.

Bought the lightest EVA-soled thing on the shelves at W-Mart. It has a canvas top that would just get wet and heavy, so it will be cut away except where strap attachments are needed. But will do it only if the weight will be well under that of the TEVA Mushers. If not, well – as some of you know, the BPL threads on this topic are legion, and attempts to invent the wheel occur several times a year. Eventually, the wheel will come.

[Mark Andrews]

I've been using Vivobarefoot Ultra/Pures for the last year or so:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivobarefoot-Mens-Ultra-Running-Shoe/dp/B005NN4PIM/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_2

I generally carry them without the inner booties…weight is ~8oz in sz. 11.

They are also comfortable enough to walk in for awhile, if need be.

-Mark in St. Louis

[Daniel Collins]

Mark how was the traction for stream crossings?
I have a pair in my Amazon wish list (linerless ultra pures).
The saucony AW 's – can't find my size yet but they look good too.

EDIT: The "Ultras" for men have been discontinued, but the Ultra Pure's are still made.
Only difference is you don't get the liner bootie with the Pures.
The Saucony Hattori AW's for men are also discontinued as far as I can tell.
Old stock, mostly tiny or huge sizes- can still be found.

EDIT: Just ordered a pair of the Vivobarefoot Ultra Pure from Zappos.
I think I can make these work with Sealskinz WP socks for the streams.
Thanks for the info.

[Daniel Collins]

I just got the Vivobarefoot Ultra Pure's in the mail and they are 8 oz /pair, pretty nice. The sole bottoms look like they may be quite slippery in streams.
I also got the ones from Walmart for less than 10 bucks and wow they are light – 8.2 oz /pair in size 9. I cut off the "fake" elastic laces and lace lugs to try to lower the weight, but the weight difference did not register on my scale.
The Wally World shoes fit so much better than the crocs and feel secure on my feet.
I will get a couple more pairs before they are discontinued.

I don't know how either pair will do on slippery stream bottoms but if I can find a glue that will work with EVA I think I can make them slip proof.

[Logan Bowling]

Ive never used them personally but checkout bedrock sandals. I saw someone using them and he couldnt speak more highly of them. They weigh in at around 3.5 ounces.

[Author]

Posts