Ultralight Booties: What’s Out There?

What do you consider super cheap? I cant think of any under $50. Goosefeet probably makes the lightest and cheapest of down booties. If you want really cheap then I think cheap thick fleece would be best.

RBH VaprThrm® – Hi-Rise Insulated Socks, $42. Can do double duty as you can also use them to hike in when it's really cold.

Check out Enlightened Equipment's Sleeping Booty. They come in 3 different temp ratings with cost from $50-$60 +shipping. I have a pair of the 4oz Apex (15*-30* rating) and have used them only 5 nights so far but have found them to be quite comfortable. My shoe size is 10 1/2 and I got the size XL and they are a good fit. They pack down really small and weigh in at 65 grams for the pair.

Any U.S. Manufacturers making anything simple like the Rab Hot Socks?

Rab Hot socks are really Integral Designs hot socks (Rab parent company purchased ID)

"Any U.S. Manufacturers making anything simple like the Rab Hot Socks?"

Max, are you going to go ahead and buy something like this, or did you get cold feet?

–B.G.–

"Any U.S. Manufacturers making anything simple like the Rab Hot Socks?"

FWIW, the VaprThrm socks are made in the U.S. by a cottage company.

Doug, no knock to your socks, just not going for Vapor barrier socks, as I may use these with other sleep systems above zero, too.

The Enlightened Equipment booties are winning. Very cool.

Glad to have a bit more understanding of the market, too. I like to know my options.

Careful Bob, if Ian catches you making puns this thread is done for.

i have a pair of these and they are great. when i dont pack these, i also have a cheap pair of fleece socks that i like to use over my normal hiking socks

http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Holders-Thermal-Socks-Original/dp/B005KQAZRM

added: also, when it gets really cold, i just take two feet warmers per night for more insurance as well.

You could also try an old BPL favorite – Possumdown socks.

You all know you want my booty!

-Tim

Not the best visual Tim! If they are as good as the hood then they rock!

I just couldn't leave that one alone. You should all feel free to pursue any and all booties which make you happy. Half the fun of the booty is chasing the booty! Doug?;)? Sorry I'm still 12.

-Tim

"Sorry I'm still 12. "

Me too Tim, that's why we get along so well…. :-)

Just for sleeping? Check out Heat Locker socks. They are a super warm, highish loft relatively light sock that you can sometimes get for around 10 dollars for two pairs.

However, they are not very durable. Sleep only and infrequent, gentle washing/hang dry they could last awhile, not good for hiking, walking around in, etc etc.

That's the crux of the problem. What's SUL and covers your feet inside your quilt or bag, will get sopped, not to mention slip around, if you step out of the tent in them. And what you step out of the tent in, will sop your quilt or bag if left on when you return.

If anyone knows how to avoid carrying two separate pairs of sox/booties to avoid this, other than P-bottles, please post.

"If anyone knows how to avoid carrying two separate pairs of sox/booties to avoid this, other than P-bottles, please post."

Not sure what you mean by two separate pairs, but Goosefeet, among others, makes a down bootie with a removable sil cover. I use something like this (a WM expedition bootie with a Feathered Friends down bootie cover).

I keep my boots right next to me when I camp. When I get out of my bivy, I change from booties to boots on my sit pad and then move about.

If socks were warm enough, i'd just wear those. I need a booster. Tim's boots seem most aligned to what I had in mind.

As to hot socks and possum down socks, I'm skeptical. After extensive testing, I personally found the claims behind "heat-trapping" fibers in sleeping bag liners to be utter crock.

Then, didn't someone compare the relative warmth of baselayer materials and they were all even? Right?

In my mind, if it has loft, it retains more heat. No loft, no heat. I could be proven wrong but I suspect placebo has a hand (foot?) here.

I recently stumbled upon the WM Flash booties. They look nice but don't seem popular here. Is that because they are heavier than the Goosefeet equivalent?

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=products&page=Down-Garments&cat=Booties

>…Goosefeet, among others, makes a down bootie with a removable sil cover…

I have 2 EE quilts and love them both so I am certain that their booties are very nice, but I went with the GooseFeetGear down booties because…well…Down! Couldn’t be happier. Except for the whole middle-of-the-night stumble to the bushes. For me the GFG sil covers are just overkill…I don’t want to wear the down socks around camp…just take a 3am pee.

This Tyvec shoe cover thread got me searching for something truly, reliably waterproof and UL, which lead me to these: ShuBee Waterproof shoe covers

Lots of home/appliance repair people raving about them in the comments, but has anyone evaluated them for UL? The per-pair price is pretty cheap, but it’s a fairly large investment on just the chance that they satisfy the requirements.

what about shower caps. I know a lot of hotel's have shower caps made of a very thin plastic I can't imagine they would weigh much of anything. Sure they wouldn't be the most durable thing in the world, but if they only get used for the occasional 3 am pee I imagine they would last several trips.

Seems like if you were going the myog route that a show cap design would be the easiest. Big circle of SilNylon, sew some elestic around the perimeter, call it a day.

Baffin booties? http://www.amazon.com/Baffin-Unisex-Insulated-Slipper-Booty/dp/B001E5CRK6

No personal experience, but they're cheapish if you don't care about color…

Just put your shoe on over the booty at 3am. Before bed listen your laces so you can just slip the shoe on over your booty when you talk your late night walk. Shoes are wet? Line them with your stuff sacks then go pee, in the woods not the shoes.

Most of us size our shoes on the bigger side to deal with swolen feet so there is room in my shoes at night for my booties.

-Tim