Lightest Camp shoes

My 15 yo, 10.5 oz Crocs… still going strong.

Soon they’ll require a layer of shoe-goo on the bottoms for optimal performance :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071XSGW7B/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We’ll see…

So these arrived today… my 9.5 pair 6.7 oz’s and fantastic!

Look great. Too heavy.

Whatever happened to the BPL I love, where you carved the sawed off portion of a toothbrush handle into a spork and that was that?

Look great. Too heavy.

6.7 oz’s for a pair too heavy? Good grief…

Yep, too heavy. In camp I either wear my joggers, or go barefoot.
That is 0 g/oz.

Cheers

“6.7 oz’s for a pair too heavy? Good grief…”

“Yep, too heavy. In camp I either wear my joggers, or go barefoot.”

When I began mu UL journey I was willing to do anything to reduce my pack weight. When I reached my weight goal, I just kept going and going until I approached SUL.  While hiking I was loving it, but I was uncomfortable in camp.  I had lost sight of the real goal, to be more comfortable (and safe) both on the trail and in camp.  100% of the time.

So I added some weight back in the form of small luxuries. I discovered that a 10-11 lb base weight works well for me, and sometimes that increases by a few ounces to include camp shoes.

If someone’s opinions and decisions differ from mine, great!

Yep, too heavy.

Roger, as I said previously:

Here in Montana I find some sort of shoe to cross creeks and rivers a necessity, especially when the weather is marginal (snow/sleet). Tromping around in wet, cold boots isn’t fun in potentially hypothermic conditions. If you get a rubber shoe of some sort they dry out VERY quickly.

Crossing streams and rivers with boulders and rocks barefoot is a fools errand. Cut your foot open and you’ll find 6 oz’s little burden at all. While I’ve often hiked elsewhere without camp/stream crossing shoes, there are some places where it’s downright idiotic.

I had lost sight of the real goal, to be more comfortable (and safe) both on the trail and in camp.  100% of the time.

So I added some weight back in the form of small luxuries. I discovered that a 10-11 lb base weight works well for me, and sometimes that increases by a few ounces to include camp shoes.

Well said.

I came of age in the era of 40-60lb pack weights (mid 1970’s), so going UL has been a blessing as I’ve aged. However, comfort and safety are an important part of my experience in the mountains. I keep myself fit, eat a plant based, low inflammation diet, and find my time in the mountains a joy even with the “burden” of carrying a few extras.

Some seem to find their joy in gear and a “race to the bottom of the scale,” yet these same people eat a diet that is far more a hindrance to their performance on-trail than an extra pound or two.

HYOH…

…”yet these same people eat a diet that is far more a hindrance to their performance on-trail than an extra pound or two.”

Yes, it’s obvious from his picture that Roger needs to lose some serious pounds…

I agree about the hazards of crossing creeks.
In nearby mountians the creeks have a sandy bottom, so barefoot is OK.
In other places there are rocks. With UL mesh joggers, we stop, remove socks and replace joggers, and cross. The jogger do not hold much water and drain very quickly.
In the snow we do the same: remove all socks, cross in ski boots, walk a short distance to pump the water out, then replace socks. Then travel fast!

Cheers

Brad-

‘My 15 yo, 10.5 oz Crocs… still going strong.

Soon they’ll require a layer of shoe-goo on the bottoms for optimal performance :)’

Especially if you keep baking them by the fire Brad you sausage.

Where’s the laughing emoji?

Per pair or each?

Per pair or each?

Per pair.

I bought these at the Dollar Tree store today.

They are Women’s slides, but they do come in an XL, which is 42-43.

I bought the Large size (40-41), and the pair weighs 4.7 ounces/131 grams.

I also Googled the name “Juncture Women’s slides” and found them on sale on ebay and other sites. Of course they cost more than $1 on those sites. 😉

Brad, I had a pair of those closed toe cloc clogs. I wore them for several years when I waited tables. Super comfy, was sad the day I wore holes in the soles.
My current camp shoes (when I feel the need to take them) are not SUL, but get the job done.

I usually go barefoot in camp but when camping in the cold the soil can really suck the heat out of your feet. I use a pair of Huarache sandals made with old foam workout mat. I think less than 3 ounces for the pair and that’s effectively size 13 wide for me. Insulates my feet from the ground in camp and can be hiked in with the only limitation being how sturdy (and heavy) the sole material is.

There are tons of Huarache how to videos online and most people probably have everything they need on hand to do it for free

A tip about the Spring aquatics mesh shoes. If you use hard inserts (like Superfeet) then you can put them into your aquatics, and dramatically reduce the chance that a thorn will poke your feet. The bad news I can’t seem to find them anymore (e. g.). I ordered a pair that looked similar (and paid way more than before) only to find that size “large” is way too small.

I bought these at the Dollar Tree store today.

They are Women’s slides, but they do come in an XL, which is 42-43.

I bought the Large size (40-41), and the pair weighs 4.7 ounces/131 grams.

I also Googled the name “Juncture Women’s slides” and found them on sale on ebay and other sites. Of course they cost more than $1 on those sites.

@Terri S thanks for the excellent recommendation! I found these as you suggested on eBay and ordered them. They arrived yesterday. The size XL fits my size 10 feet perfectly. I could see these accommodating up to a men’s size 11. 4.62 oz’s for the pair!

I’m glad that you found them in your size. My only question is why do your Extra Large weigh less than my Large size? Maybe because black is more slimming than gray? 😄

My only question is why do your Extra Large weigh less than my Large size? Maybe because black is more slimming than gray? 😄

These sort of eternal questions will never be answered, but it’s fun to speculate. “Slimming Black” is as good as I can come up with! :D

Plus one to Ross’ post about Spring aquatic pool shoes. They are, or were, the best, but were liable to prickles poking through. So inserts make them near perfect for the weight.

I was waiting to try these out for a few water crossings before posting. 1.2 oz for the pair. Mesh shower slippers, available from various sources on the internet for about $10 USD (yes, expensive for what they are). Not super sturdy or protective, but good enough for occasional use in a pinch, which is what I wanted.

Terri S said

Dollar Tree

Dagnabit (stronger terms actually) … and here I am paying up the wazoo more for something double the weight.  Think the “dollar stores” would look at me funny if I showed up with a fishing scale?

Re. Superfeet in swim shoes – how well do the Superfeet dry out?  I have three solutions for camp shoes/crossing shoes: 1) crocs, 2) UL swim shoes, 3) nothing.  My hiking shoes are gore-tex boots (take it easy, after a rolled ankle they work & I’m going to run them for a while).  I’ve found the swim shoes entirely too flimsy & inadequate.  The crocs are great but a bit heavy (haven’t actually taken them yet but plan to on low mileage trips).

No judgement on boots if that is what works for you but my experience is that non-goretex meshy shoes with super feet inserts and darn tough merino socks dry out very, very quickly. I don’t hesitate to walk right through creeks. My feet dry very quickly. It might be worth trying a meshy boot.

YMMV