Camp shoe find disappointment

Posted by: hikerduane

Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/18/08 07:08 PM

I have been drooling over getting some ultralight camp shoes the last few years, reading every thread about the latest and greatest. I bought some Crocs, size large a couple years ago and wish they were lighter. Anyway, what I really wanted and had read about were Nike Mayfly running shoes, made of Tyvek. I had read a few years ago that a pair weighted around 4 oz. Man, I had to get some! Last weekend, surfing on the internet, I found mention that size 9 weighted around 5 oz. not exactly what I wanted to hear, so I thought a size 10 or 11 ought to weigh maybe 7-8 oz. at the most. Disappointed. I got home tonight and after finally making it inside, the first thing I did was open my box from Running Warehouse. I tried the Mayflies on and they fit, just barely, as it was suggested to buy 1/2 size up. I took them off and onto the scale they went. Big time disappointment, they weighted 11.1 oz., .2 oz. less than my large Crocs. Wah, wah! The good part, Running Warehouse has free return shipping. By the way, they cost $45.00 plus CA sales tax for us Kalifornians.
Posted by: phat

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/19/08 09:03 AM


I've tried everyting. and in the end my favorite camp shoe is either bare feet (hobbit feet!)or my hiking boots/shoes undone and clumped around in. I just can't justify the extra
weight.

In winter I take booties however.. nice warm primaloft booties
Posted by: brownwetdog

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/19/08 09:10 AM

Hi Hikerduane, Thanks for posting the real beta on the Nike Mayflys. It sounds like when they advertised the weight on these running shoes, it was the weight for one shoe, so the total weight of 11 oz (5/1/2 oz per shoe) sounds about right. But oh so tempting to read 5 ounces! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure if these would be any lighter than your Crocs, but Waldies advertises their shoes at 8 ounces/pair. Specifically they have a page called Trauma Trip 2006 Information with Justin Lichter. Under his gear list, he shows his Waldies weighing in at 8 ounces, but does not give his foot size. I do have the Aruba model of the Waldies with an added strap and the total weight is 8 ounces (and I wear the equivalent of about a size 9 1/2 mens) They've held up well for me as a camp shoe. For what it is worth.... Carol
Posted by: hikerduane

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/19/08 07:51 PM

Hi Carol, I have seen where even Crocs were supposed to weigh 8 oz. or so, usually for a smaller size than I can wear. I'm getting used to the appearance of my Crocs, kakhi color. Water shoes from Sprint Aquatics are supposed to weigh next to nothing, but those are way worse than Crocs, they look but ugly. I am thinking of trying a dry pair of lighter weight socks to wear with my trail runner/bping shoes while in camp, which I bring anyway to use with my Crocs. Wearing the Crocs sockless seems to pick up more dirt and debris. I can live with the weight of the Crocs, but I am now in the process of off setting the weight of my Slinglight chair I picked up last Spring. It weights around 20-21oz. with headrest. Then there is the extra weight of having to use a heavier bear resistant canister where a canister is required. It will be tough to get to 30 lbs. again for a eight day trip. I have read here about make shift things, but I need something I can hike around some with, such as fishing and exploring after selecting a campsite. I usually camp where there are needles/pitch and/or rocks all about here in the Sierra.
Posted by: 300winmag

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/20/08 01:12 PM

Hi All,

Do NOT buy "water shoes" from Sprint Aquatics. I have 2 pair & their wafer thin soles offer almost no protection while the mesh tops wear out after one week-long trip.

The all foam Waldies look like the best bet. I wonder if they are available in men's sizes.

Eric
Posted by: sunshine

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/20/08 03:14 PM

My $5.00 imitation Crocs from Dollar General weigh 7.6 oz for size 10-11.
Posted by: xcandrew

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/20/08 03:59 PM

Quote:
I had read a few years ago that a pair weighted around 4 oz.


Just FYI, the standard that has always been used for men's running shoes in catalogs and among runners talking about shoes is for weight of a single shoe in US 9. Inov-8's naming scheme for their shoes even follows this - they use the average weight of a single shoe in UK 8 = US9
Posted by: brownwetdog

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/20/08 04:30 PM

Hi Sunshine, wow - $5 at a Dollar General and weighing in at under 8 ounces?! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am going to the "big city" next week (Twin Falls) where they have a Family Dollar store and a Dollar Tree Store (at least the online yellow pages directory shows those stores). I'll have to put my digital scale in my purse to weigh Croc knockoffs should I find any. How have yours held up? Do you use Croc knock offs for only around camp, or do you also use them for crossing streams, etc? Carol
Posted by: Ender

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/22/08 05:27 AM

Quote:
Hi All,

Do NOT buy "water shoes" from Sprint Aquatics. I have 2 pair & their wafer thin soles offer almost no protection while the mesh tops wear out after one week-long trip.


I have to offer an opposing opinion. I had a single pair of these last for 1200 miles on the PCT, and they offered enough protection for river crossings, and as a camp shoe every night. And they weigh in at 2 ounces for the pair. They were the perfect camp shoe for me.

Everyone is different though, so what works for me may not work for you. Still, for me, these worked perfectly.
Posted by: hikerduane

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/22/08 06:53 PM

Those Sprint Aquatics water shoes, if I could just adjust the color or decorate them some. Some twigs, small branches to "camo" them a little? 2 oz. is very enticing.
Posted by: Ender

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/23/08 08:16 AM

Yeah, they are certainly about the ugliest thing you can put onto your feet. I always felt a little like my grandfather whenever I put them on.

Still, they worked great for me. And I'm pretty sure the weight is actually a bit under 2 ounces for the pair, though it's been a log time since I've weighed them so I don't remember.
Posted by: OldScout

Re: Camp shoe find disappointment - 01/23/08 09:19 AM

I don't like the water shoes because the mesh let in dust and dirt and the darn things kept slipping around on my foot. Also, the soles are so thin that I didn't feel comfortable wandering too far from camp (as in pumping water, etc.) I had to walk up a short steep hill (about 20 feet) to get to the outhouse at one camp and I could hardly get up or down the hill in the water shoes because they kept slipping off my foot. Absolutley no lateral support.