rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 30, 2015 9:07:50 GMT -8
This is a favorite one to argue about, from those who love to hate Crocs to those who just go barefoot in camp. I can't wear Crocs, and for years (like 8 or more) have been using some cheap knock-offs from Payless Shoes sent to me by a Forum member in Idaho (he got them on closeout after they were no longer available here). I've lost that email and can't even remember now who it was, being old and senile these days. But a huge thanks! Here they are hanging on my pack in 2007: Alas, I was heartbroken to realize on our trip into Sequoia a few weeks ago that the soles were down to about the thickness of a piece of airmail paper. I had to have something new. But Crocs still don't come with those nice heel counters and adjustable strap over the instep, so I still walk out of them and leave them to find their own way home. So I dropped in to Payless. No Croc imitations. But then I saw something. I don't even know what these shoes are meant to be. They look like running shoes, but are totally flimsy and unsuited for much of anything. Except...they weigh 10 oz for a pair in my size, and cost $20 on sale (the really garish colors were on sale. Thus the uncharacteristic pink shoes). And while laces are a bit more of a hassle than slip-ons, they stay on my feet! And I can put my orthotics in them and actually walk a little ways around camp in comfort. They aren't optimal for water shoes, as there is some padding around the ankle that takes an hour or two to dry. But even wet they aren't that heavy, and I did use them for a stream crossing--and was happy with the security they provided. I think they are made by Champion. So there's my latest find. And they match the wildflowers! (Okay, actually I'm looking for some serious mud puddles to tone them down a bit).
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Post by llamero on Jul 30, 2015 9:44:08 GMT -8
Those are seriously pink, but if they work I won't knock them.
I used a pair of converse knockoffs for camp shoes, but they developed bad odor so now I use my Tevas that double as water crossing shoes. Slip ons are better for me than laceups as I sometimes have to get up in a hurry at night and check on the llamas.
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panatomicx
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Camp shoes
Jul 30, 2015 10:34:29 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by panatomicx on Jul 30, 2015 10:34:29 GMT -8
Just googled a pair of Vivobarefoot Ultra Pure for $20, they are much more expensive list. Must be a close out tho, only size available is women's 5. Great lightweight camp/water crossing shoe, if it fits!
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Post by trinity on Jul 30, 2015 13:08:56 GMT -8
I recently picked up a pair of xeroshoes xeroshoes.com/shop/amuri/ztrek-men/ . VERY thin sole, but they're actually pretty comfortable. I wouldn't take them on a hike, you'd feel every rock. I haven't had a chance to take them along on a backpacking trip yet. I recently tried on a pair of Croc Swiftwaters: www.zappos.com/crocs-swiftwater-sandal . They are quite comfortable, very lightweight, and more substantial than the xeroshoes. I will likely pick up a pair eventually, I think they would suit my needs well, lightweight, good for wearing around camp at the end of the day, and suitable for wading non-technical waters when flyfishing in the backcountry. Quite a bit pricier than the knockoffs, though.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 31, 2015 8:07:43 GMT -8
I used a pair of converse knockoffs for camp shoes, but they developed bad odor so now I use my Tevas that double as water crossing shoes. Slip ons are better for me than laceups as I sometimes have to get up in a hurry at night and check on the llamas. Those are both pretty heavy options! I recently tried on a pair of Croc Swiftwaters: www.zappos.com/crocs-swiftwater-sandal . They are quite comfortable, very lightweight, and more substantial than the xeroshoes. I will likely pick up a pair eventually, I think they would suit my needs well, lightweight, good for wearing around camp at the end of the day, and suitable for wading non-technical waters Those look great! I wonder why no one around here seems to carry them? Maybe I should try a fishing shop?? The Xeroshoes are sandals, which don't really fill the need--not warm enough, mostly. I get cheep slip-on aquashoes (y'all remember I'm cheep, right?) from wally world or a dollar store. Crossing/camp/swimming/fishing shoes. I found those surprisingly heavy. I do have a pair I picked up last year to take to Peru for wading/bathing. But I wasn't carrying them myself Those also look very good, and again--why doesn't anyone actually carry them?
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Jul 31, 2015 10:09:13 GMT -8
I had the same experience---using some knock-off Crocs. But then I broke the heel strap. Now I have a pair of weird shoes that I bought at the Burlington Coat Factory in Manhattan for $12. I bought them because they were the cheapest shoes I could find that would work to ride an exercycle at the hotel....and once I got them home, I realized that they were quite lightweight---and work pretty well for campshoes/water shoes.
But the real question is: Why doesn't ANYONE actually make something for this purpose? There's clearly a market for it!
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Jul 31, 2015 10:25:23 GMT -8
Those gaudy pinks ones are what I commonly refer to as a "gym shoe," used for general-purpose low-impact gym things like weight training, elliptical, bike, etc. I either pack one of my pairs of old school FiveFingers (KSO or Spyridon) or my Cushe slippers.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 31, 2015 18:10:38 GMT -8
That makes sense, TDale.
I don't fish. I do swim, cross creeks, and lounge around camp. And I need something pretty easy to put on for those midnight excursions.
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Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2015 6:50:36 GMT -8
Best camp shoes I've ever had are a pair of rubber "fisherman's sandals" from Walmart. They are somewhat Croc-like, but with a more sturdy fit and the coverage of a traditional shoe. I clip them onto my pack. They drain really well which is nice for stream crossings.
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Aug 1, 2015 8:19:27 GMT -8
Trinity, those Xeroshoes look great. I may pick up a pair of those. Thanks for the post!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 1, 2015 9:46:58 GMT -8
Best camp shoes I've ever had are a pair of rubber "fisherman's sandals" from Walmart. They are somewhat Croc-like, but with a more sturdy fit and the coverage of a traditional shoe. I clip them onto my pack. They drain really well which is nice for stream crossings. That sounds more like what I had from Payless! I don't patronize MallWart, so I haven't seen these.
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Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2015 11:11:54 GMT -8
That sounds more like what I had from Payless! I don't patronize MallWart, so I haven't seen these. Yeah, I took a closer look at your pic in the original post of this thread--they look very similar to mine.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Aug 1, 2015 11:47:54 GMT -8
Look at CVS and Dollar General. Dawgs or something like it. Amazon has them for about $20 for some styles and colors.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 1, 2015 21:08:18 GMT -8
Look at CVS and Dollar General. Dawgs or something like it. Amazon has them for about $20 for some styles and colors. Those look great! I might have to get some of them, too. I'll hunt up a CVS and see if I can try some on--I wouldn't want to buy mail-order. But those look like they'd stay on, but still be all plastic so they would work better when I need to get in the water.
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Post by tipiwalter on Aug 2, 2015 4:31:00 GMT -8
Rebeccad---So why can't you wear crocs? I live in my crocs in camp and they make excellent fording shoes and even backpacking shoes on creek trails between crossings. Here's some examples: Here's Little Mitten in the winter crossing a cold Upper Bald River. Here I am in crocs crossing Slickrock Creek in NC. My friend Kurt crossing Brookshire Creek TN.
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