I can't seem to find any, but I can just be an idiot (which I suspect). Does any Ultralight or Lightweight brand or cottage company make real lightweight shoes/sandals for a camp shoe? I know that this kinda goes against the ultralite philosophy, but I think there is major money to be made here.

I like Crocs and their knock offs (I think they are ugly as hell though), but there has to be a company out there that makes something. Some swim and medical companies make ultralight slippers and such, but I was just surprised I couldn't find a backpacking gear company that made something along those lines.

Anyone know of one?

Thanks

I was playing around with a flip flop sandal design I made some out of 1000d cordura bottoms sandwiched between 1/4" bevalite foam and 1.9 oz nylon top skin for the sandal. with nylon 3/8" or 1/2" webbing between the toes and the side and paracord straps.I made the bottoms sandal with out the straps and wore them inside socks like slippers with out the para cord straps and the white bevalight broke down so fast and flattened to paper thin in one day so it was useless.

Now if I could get of hold of some crosslinked foam they use use in bodyboards skins. Heat laminated
2 layers of 1/8th inch together I think we could have sandal that would roll up with a paracord straps 1000 d cordura sole that would not flatten out so fast. My old sources quit giving out samples of crosslinked foam .

So I am think of maybe the colored foam sheets available at Michael's craft store for foam cutouts for scrap booking might work.

Edited by socal-nomad on 02/18/2011 08:13:32 MST.

This probably isn't what you had in mind but I bought some pretty light moccasin style slippers at Kmart. They weigh 8 1/2 oz per pair on my scale and cost about $14 if I remember correctly. I've been buying these for 3-4 years now and I get 1 or 2 winters out of a pair. I use them indoor/outdoor - I've even used them shoveling snow. I plan on using them this summer as backpacking camp shoes. Here is a link:

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_035B372669110001P?mv=rr

Mine have "Fireside" printed on the bottom.

I know nothing about these shoes other than what was presented in the BPL Winter Outdoor Reatailer show coverage but these look like they could fit the bill for you:

www.zemgear.com

look at their new 2011 line. they've got at least one style of "shoe" that is in the ~2oz range apparently.

http://www.sprintaquatics.com/prodinfo.asp?number=901

These mesh shoes from Sprint Aquatics are super light, and surprisingly durable. I use them as camp shoes and for stream crossing. They run small. Total weight of a pair (large size) is 2 ounces!

I wish they made a lightweight Chaco. That would be the perfect sandal..

My Sprint Aquatics made it 3-4 overnight trips before wearing a hole near the big toe. Still not ready to throw them out. Don't expect your feet to stay clean in light dirt environments (I'm thinking early shelters on the AT in GA)...Certainly better than nothing and comfortable...

"My Sprint Aquatics made it 3-4 overnight trips before wearing a hole near the big toe."

You can probably stitch them up with some Dyneema cord.

--B.G.--

The Zem's look pretty cool the Split toe reminds me of the wet suit booties the fisherman and some of my Okinawan surfing buddies wore in Okinawa, Japan when I was station there in USAF.

You could try the whole huarache thing.
There's lots of info and videos out there about the process.
I made a pair out of a piece of 1/8 ThinLight pad doubled over with paracord for laces.
I forget the weight, but that is probably as light as you could go unless you made some kind of cuben moccasins

I bought a pair of the Zemgear split toe ninja shoes. They are comfortable, although I have not tried them out on a trip yet. Fairly decent sole- might be good for stream crossings if you wanted to keep your shoes dry, as well as camp shoes. I am not sure why I bought split toe- because I don't like sandals that wear that way. If I was doing it again I would buy the regular ones.
Edit: Forgot to mention that a pair of size medium weighs in at 5.3 ounces

Edited by JennyMcFarlane on 02/20/2011 21:46:32 MST.

I owned 2 pair of SprintAquatics pool shoes. One pair blew out in one week's camp use on the Paria River in Utah. I still have the other (unused) pair. I'll never again take 'em backpacking. Absolutely NO protection from anything and they fall apart quickly. Suitable only for around the pool, as advertised.

BUT I used a pair of Walgreen's Chinese made very light, soft plastic sandals with an additional REI short 1/2" webbing & Q-R buckle for another, longer Utah "wading trip" down and back up Coyote Gulch.

They held up very well after 40 miles of creek and dry land walking W/a 30 lb. pack. Still got 'em. They weigh 10.8 oz. per pair with the REI nylon webbing buckle ankle strap.

OK,OK,OK, 10.8 oz. ain't real light but light enuf fer a constant use on a long wading trip whilst I carried my Merrill Moab boots on my pack most of the time except side hikes on layover days.

Edited by Danepacker on 02/18/2011 21:24:59 MST.

I am glad to see some comments from Zem owners. I have been looking at them.

I grew up in Hawaii and there were these shoes that were used a lot for reef walking. Reef shoes (Tabi) like a sock with a rubberized bottom portion.

Check out Nike Auqua Sox. They are like the Zem but look more durable than the currant versions.

http://www.konasports.com/nike-aqua-sock-classic-mens-water-shoes-in-dark-shadow-black-urban-haze.aspx

Edited by ctracyverizon on 02/18/2011 22:35:06 MST.

i use kuusa from feelmax

http://www.feelmax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=45&Itemid=107&lang=en&limitstart=8


211g /7,4oz the pair in 43 / 9 1/2 they size big i bought one size down.

you can reduce the weight by removing the inner sole

Edited by Fre49 on 02/19/2011 00:36:10 MST.

Mark,

Check these out, they're relatively light @ 4.6 oz., lightly cushioned, durable rubber outsole, 100% synthetic- would probably make a good camp shoe as well as town stop/ resupply shoe, as well as be something you wouldn't mind being caught in public wearing. Crocs are hideous IMO.

Patagonia Advocate slip on

Edited by Eugeneius on 02/19/2011 00:54:24 MST.

How do the nike aqua sock and zen do for water crossing?

is that 130/pair or ? for the advocates.

How much do the Zem's weigh? I was looking at ROUND TOE Lo size 11. Also what's the bottom like?

4.6 oz for pair of Zem Playa Low size Medium. This size will accommodate ( a snug fit) a Superfeet green size D.

5.0 oz for pair of Playa Low size Large.

Obviously, if you want warmth (i.e. socks) don't get the split toe model)

We just returned from six weeks hiking in Turkey using these as camp shoes. As it turns out we rarely used them. We tend to use camp shoes only when our hiking shoes are saturated and we want to retreat to dry shoes at lunch and in camp, and our trip was pretty dry. However, we did use them once for river crossing and a few times in the evening, and they worked out just fine.

The neoprene gives a pretty tight fit, I'd size up if you're unsure. Also, if you like support underfoot, by sizing up you can transfer your insole from your hiking shoes.

Advantage: they are thin neoprene, so they are quite warm - nice for cool nights. Also, the neoprene keeps the dirt out effectively.
Disadvantage: because they are neoprene, they don't breathe. When I've been in soggy shoes all day, I prefer to let my feet thoroughly air out.

I've also been happy with Crocs Cleo (7.4 oz in size Womens 9)
http://www.crocs.com/crocs-cleo/10043,default,pd.html?cid=240&q=cleo
The strap is hinged, so they are reasonably compact - MUCH more compact (and lighter) than the standard big ugly Crocs. Unlike the Zem Playa, the dirt gets in but wet feet can air out. Not usable for river crossings. More comfortable (IMHO) for walking than Zems. Certainly longer lasting than the Zems, but also heavier.

late joining - i've been thinking of teh ZEMs since they were featured in teh soring new products article. problem is, teh new 360 (running) and O2 (all sports0 - both have a more durable sole- won't be avialbe now until mid-july - but that represents a dely from april 2011.

so i'm wondering about the durability of teh orignial series models , ie, playa or ninja. i've seen some reviews that state that teh outsole shreds pretty quickly inoutdoor environments.

Any thoughts by current users? or a recommendation for a UL camp shoe besides those already mentioned?