View Full Version : Light weight camp shoes
The Will
03-03-2008, 22:41
The other day a saw a lady coming out of a pedicure spa and she had on these flip flops that, I guess, the spa issues so you don't mess up your newly polished toes.
It looks like it would work as a cheap and light form of camp footwear.
kayak karl
03-03-2008, 23:26
The other day a saw a lady coming out of a pedicure spa and she had on these flip flops that, I guess, the spa issues so you don't mess up your newly polished toes.
It looks like it would work as a cheap and light form of camp footwear.
i have water slippers from dick's sporting goods. use them for kayaking, but i am taking on thru for river crossings and camp. they a lite and roll up and $8
I've never found anything as effective and affordable as Crocs. Plus, they provide great traction when fording, while flip flops usually hurt more than help.
New Balance relesed a new model of sneaker that is just 8 Oz's. Pretty spiffy looking too.
Yes, just found them, they are the MR790 Trail Runner. 7.9ozs.
I need a pair of camp shoes that can double for fording rivers. The crocs are...well.... ahhhhh.... too girly? My wife wears them, she loves 'em. But I don't think I could wear them in camp while trekking across vast distances. :p
Suggestions?
The crocs are...well.... ahhhhh.... too girly? My wife wears them, she loves 'em. But I don't think I could wear them in camp while trekking across vast distances. :p
Suggestions?
It ain't a fashion show. Whatever works, works :D
It ain't a fashion show. Whatever works, works :D
Well said... hard to argue that point! ;)
mixinmaster
03-04-2008, 23:17
I've used Croc's, Teva's, Water Shoes, Flip Flops.... Nothing beats the Croc's for camp shoes... I was lucky to of not killed myself with the FFlops,will never do them again.......... the water shoes ( mine anyway) weighed 11 oz, as did my Teva's....... Croc Shock is what I had after realizing how comfy, light, durable, and protective they are..........
mikeinFHAZ
03-05-2008, 00:36
those pedicure sandals are junk. tried 'em. they lasted about 11 feet. PreachaMan's wife on Hammockforums sells some ccf and silnylon sandals for (I think) $5
Wise Old Owl
03-05-2008, 01:28
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:WB_jaDW0mS4W7M:http://www.capitalfootwear.com/templates/images/teva.jpg (http://www.capitalfootwear.com/templates/images/teva.jpg)My vote is for the slightly heavy teva - when your boots piss you off and cause your blisters .. You can Hike in these things and it isn't so bad... Did six days in these things. NO WORRIES.
I've used Croc's, Teva's, Water Shoes, Flip Flops.... Nothing beats the Croc's for camp shoes... I was lucky to of not killed myself with the FFlops,will never do them again.......... the water shoes ( mine anyway) weighed 11 oz, as did my Teva's....... Croc Shock is what I had after realizing how comfy, light, durable, and protective they are..........
After years of rejecting camp shoes, I will have to agree that Croc's are the answer for me!
I am semi-retired and only wear trailshoes to work each day, and when I go home, I have to change into Croc's to be comfortable....so they ARE my camp shoes.
Being a lightweight hiker...I just accept that @ 10.9 oz. for a men's size 11, is acceptable for me, and justified, in that they are a second choice, and option for hiking, if needed, serving two purposes, and in towns instead of stupid gram-weenie shoes, that just are not comfortable! :sun:D
Cut your weight in the big four, instead!
Yes, just found them, they are the MR790 Trail Runner. 7.9ozs.
Each? What size?
Thoughtful Owl
03-07-2008, 10:18
The first time I saw croc's were on someone else's feet at the waterfront of the scout reservation. My first thoughts were how gwad ugly & goofy looking they were. After voicing my opinion to the waterfront director who happened to be a good friend, he kicked them off and told me to try them. They felt great, but gawd ugly, hadn't sold me on them. Three months later my friend was still wearing the darn things, the very same pair he was wearing in June. He had worn them pretty much everday all summer long on the reservation, and let me tell you the reservation is no cake walk, they darn things held up really well. For Christmas and kind of as a joke my friend gave me a gift of a pair of croc's. They set in my closet until spring. I hadn't even put them on. Then when I was packing for a camporee I tossed them in my backpack, thinking they would be good to slip on when I had to get out of the bag to pee at 2 am. Hay no body would ever see them right. Well slowly I became more comfortable with being seen with them on my feet and now they have become my regular camp shoe.
Midway Sam
03-07-2008, 10:50
Each? What size?
According to this site (http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/33449/)they are 8.0oz for size 9.5. One would assume that was for the pair, but it is VERY hard to believe.
Critterman
03-07-2008, 11:25
According to this site (http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/33449/)they are 8.0oz for size 9.5. One would assume that was for the pair, but it is VERY hard to believe.
We have a New Balance store in a local mall and after reading about these 8 oz shoes I went over there. I believe they are 8oz. They are very light and seem reasonable sturdy. I almost bought some but they just didn't fit my flat feet too well.
It ain't a fashion show. Whatever works, works :D
What, like Tyvek and duct tape? :D
According to this site (http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/33449/)they are 8.0oz for size 9.5. One would assume that was for the pair, but it is VERY hard to believe.
As I posted earlier, Men's size 11 are 10.9 oz for a pair, on my digital scale!:sun
tlbj6142
03-07-2008, 14:40
As I posted earlier, Men's size 11 are 10.9 oz for a pairAt that weight, bring 2 sets along. One for hiking the other for camp.
I'm not a croc fan, I always feel like they are falling off. I like my footware secure. As such, I just take the inserts out of my shoes (makes them feel roomier) and wear comfy socks and call the whole setup "camp shoes".
whitefoot_hp
03-07-2008, 16:01
The lightest camp shoes are the shoes you hiked in. Dual use, or get out of the UL forum.
If you like Crocks, try Dollar General's $6.00 Crock Want-a-be. Cheaper, lighter and, I think, more comfortable. Very durable.
Jail Break
03-07-2008, 16:33
I need a pair of camp shoes that can double for fording rivers. The crocs are...well.... ahhhhh.... too girly? My wife wears them, she loves 'em. But I don't think I could wear them in camp while trekking across vast distances. :p
Suggestions?
Someone you're trying to impress? Crocs rule. They're light (1 oz a piece?), rediculously comfortable, relatively cheap, odorless, durable, secure on your feet, they float, and they don't absorb any water. If they had one drawback, it's their bulk. Some people say their straps kept breaking, but those were the cheap ripoff Waldies, not Crocs. If the strap DOES break, (mine never have in two years) a small piece of string makes an easy replacement. If you're concerned about fashion, just get black ones, not some Elton John color. If anyone is staring at them, it's because they wish they had them instead of their stinky, filthy, rotting, soggy "lightweight" trail shoes.
Just for camp - try Crocs, reefwalkers, or old insoles/orthotics held on with rubber bands at the forefoot and ankle.
GlazeDog
03-15-2008, 12:16
Someone you're trying to impress? Crocs rule. They're light (1 oz a piece?),
I just pulled my size 12 Crocs off and tossed them on the scale next to me---15 oz. I'm sure the smaller sizes weigh less, but not 1 oz.
I have size 10 imitation Crocs from Dollar General.
Just weighed them at a bit less than 8 OZ. I have removed the nonfunctional strap from the top.
I love them. Wear them every day as slippers.
Tom
warraghiyagey
03-15-2008, 17:41
I need a pair of camp shoes that can double for fording rivers. The crocs are...well.... ahhhhh.... too girly? My wife wears them, she loves 'em. But I don't think I could wear them in camp while trekking across vast distances. :p
Suggestions?
If there even is such a thing as trail fashion, Crocs are definitely at the top of the list. If you have them, you'll blend (except in town but everybody will know you're a hiker anyway and likely wonder why you're not wearing Crocs).
Flip-flops??? ARE NOT A CAMP SHOE!
Trust me on that one.
I swore I would never wear crocs when I first saw those monstrocities on the trail in '06. Three weeks later I had my own, flourescent lime green, they'll be on the trail again this year.
I like my flip flops. Awful spensive tho.
If this 290 lb. 6' 2" tall beast who looks like a Grizzly Bear can wear a pair of baby blue coloured Crocs, anyone can.
Well, I've had my Wally World "Croc" knock-offs for a couple of weeks now and have grown to really like them. So far they have mostly been used as the most ugly, heavy, but comfortable slippers I've ever worn. Can't beat the 6 buck price tag either.
Definately will be my water fording/camp shoes on the hike this year! Almost bought the bright pink ones just for the heck of it, but stayed with the black ones instead (no use giving FD a photo shop opportunity :D)
Recommendation out of Backpacker's magazine was to stick a spare pair of insoles into your socks, and use that for camp shoes.
I carry modified Chaco's (I trim excess width off the straps, knot the central tie so I can lose the buckle, and a few other things). They're a bit heavy, but are actually comfortable enough to hike a fair distance in. The extra weight is worth it when I have blisters and can switch shoes.
Kerosene
03-16-2008, 14:40
Almost bought the bright pink ones just for the heck of it)Hikerhead (aka, Hokey Pokey) still gives me grief for wearing the bright red ones to an AYCE in Daleville 5 years ago. I got a lot of weird looks from the non-hikers. My size 10's (before they added a heel strap) weigh in at 11 ounces, so the knock-offs look like they save some weight without really impacting functionality.
I definitely prefer the fit and comfort of Crocs to flip-flops, but in the ongoing quest to save weight I fell back on 8-ounce slip-on sandals -- a decision which I will revisit.
i'd like to go on record to the guy who said crocs look gay - that you're not alone.
i won't wear em
LIVESTRONG
03-18-2008, 22:53
I wore my chacos for 900 miles in 2005 on my thru, didnt carry camp shoes cause my chacos are too freaking comfortable. You have to break your feet into them just like boots, best thing was not having to change your boots to cross rivers in Maine. I Did all of maine in them and had no problems with Mahousic notch or Katahdin, very very comfortable
Cindy from Indy
03-19-2008, 08:55
I caved and got Crocs. All my friends raved about them and there is a significant amount of hiker folk that love them. I did get the 'beefy-er' off-road style. They are F-ugly, but, they do seem to fit and wear nicely.
I caved and got Crocs. All my friends raved about them and there is a significant amount of hiker folk that love them. I did get the 'beefy-er' off-road style. They are F-ugly, but, they do seem to fit and wear nicely.Pictures......we want pictures. :eek:
Cindy from Indy
03-19-2008, 09:02
Pictures......we want pictures. :eek:
I'll see what I can do about that......;)
I'll see what I can do about that......;)Yeah, I'll bet you jump right on that one. :rolleyes:
whitefoot_hp
03-21-2008, 12:55
my camp shoes weigh zero lbs. because they are the ones i hiked in.
I think the best answer is trail shoes that don't absorb too much water.
socalhiker
03-21-2008, 14:30
The Crocs (knockoffs from Walmart) are comfortable but are more bulk than I want to fit inside my pack or have bouncing back and forth on the pack exterior. These Sanuks seem lightweight and appear to compress to a slim profile for reasonable packability inside the pack. Has anyone attempted these for camp shoes? Except for the price they seem to be a good solution.
paulbrown137
03-21-2008, 19:42
Homebuilt seems to work great. I usually seem to take my crocs athens (flip flops) because they are really comfy.
I did find these gems a while back and got a pair www.sandskins.com (http://www.sandskins.com)
the fit good and would be perfect for a trip with multiple stream crossings where you want a good grip (my return trip to the kalalau trail that has not yet happened) I can put my insoles inside for walking around camp.
sadly, i've not yet used them. really light though.
if its a cold weather trip, i like the sierra designs down muts. there is no padding on the sole so I cut out some CCF to fit. the down booties have the sole but are heavier
i agree that the lightest option is the shoes you hiked in on
scrivner
03-22-2008, 00:34
Great all around shoe, for me that is. I use them for all walking. Loosen laces in evening got slippers.
Critical thing about them, for me, is LOW heel. High heels throw me forward messes up my balance.
Enough cushioning for my excessive hibernation weight of 215. Also, have had broken metatarsel (sp?) No problems. Buying another pair
Payless has a cheap knockoff that has a strap across the back. I,m looking for a pair of size 14 in bright orange. I'm 6'1 290 lbs. and I wear what feels comfortable.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
03-22-2008, 11:03
WalMart has a women's shoe this year that is made of the Croc material - it looks like a regular shoe and is held on by two grosgrain ribbon straps. I'm going to try those as camp shoes this year.
whitefoot_hp
03-28-2008, 14:13
Ultralight camp shoes: soles cut out of a flattened empty 2L soda bottle with dental floss as the thong part.
(Note: do not use for stream crossings.) ;)
ouch!!! that makes my toes cringe...
mikeinFHAZ
04-02-2008, 02:12
The lightest camp shoes are the shoes you hiked in. Dual use, or get out of the UL forum.
haha! right on brother. once I get to camp, hang the hammock and light a fire, my ass aint movin. dont need shoes for that!
musicwoman
04-05-2008, 18:12
Just got the dollar general croc knock-offs. What can I say, I'm cheap. Couldn't see spending more for the "Croc" trademark. Anyhow, I don't overnight for more then a day or 2 anyway, and these feel great after wearing my trail runners all day.
With the Croc Knock off's. Make sure you DO NOT put them in a clothes drier.
My wife did this with one of my daughters by accident. She had ran the pair through the wash and somehow missed retrieving one of the pair before the load went in the drier.
It came out about 1/3 smaller than its mate. Really funny stuff !!!!
whitefoot_hp
04-09-2008, 15:58
haha! right on brother. once I get to camp, hang the hammock and light a fire, my ass aint movin. dont need shoes for that!
yeah i definitely find shoes more useful out of camp rather than in!
take-a-knee
04-09-2008, 16:16
If you just loosen your laces, your feet will feel better, so will your wallet and your back.
whitefoot_hp
04-09-2008, 16:24
or loosen the straps on your chacos, the ultimate three season hiking footwear.
Camping Dave
04-11-2008, 16:50
Crocs or Croc knockoffs. We require close-toed shoes for Boy Scouts. And (speaking as someone who's stubbed his toes in the woods, got sticks jammed between my toes, etc. ) I think that's a really good safety idea.
I broke down a while back and got a pair of Crocs as well. They're light, comfortable and easy to see since mine are orange. I tried Crocs last year at work and didn't like them for that purpose, but for camp shoes I'm pretty happy with them.
hopefulhiker
04-11-2008, 17:24
I used a pair of four dollar Walmart flip flop style sandels, lighter than Crocs..
River Runner
04-13-2008, 02:01
haha! right on brother. once I get to camp, hang the hammock and light a fire, my ass aint movin. dont need shoes for that!
No bathroom trips? You must have a heck of a bladder.
Like Camping Dave, I like the toe protection of Crocs around camp. For me, a flip flop would not be at all suitable in the wooded areas I typically camp, where there are a lot of sticks or green brier around.
I sometimes just use my hiking shoes around camp, but if I'm doing a lot of stream crossings I love the Crocs. I just don't like hiking all day & sitting around camp in wet shoes, and in the humid areas I backpack a pair of shoes usually won't dry in a day. I've even hiked comfortably for up to 6 miles in a pair of Crocs. So they are multi-use for me - stream crossing, camp shoe, spare hiking shoe.
I agree that crocs are the best. It's good to have a comfortable pair of shoes to put on in camp. I've also tried mocassins, and though light in weight they have a lot less cushion than crocs.
Blissful
04-13-2008, 21:04
I found the cheapie ones didn't support my aching feet and ankles very good and sent them home. I bought the regular crocs in Franklin and used them the entire hike. Money well spent, IMO. In fact I am still wearing them now.
I found the cheapie ones didn't support my aching feet and ankles very good and sent them home. I bought the regular crocs in Franklin and used them the entire hike. Money well spent, IMO. In fact I am still wearing them now.
One pair from Frankilin on?!!