I have a pair of Merrell's barefoot shoes, the Pace Glove. They are fully enclosed like sneakers, but very thin fabric and the sole is designed to be like walking barefoot while still providing some protection from the ground. I love them. I have done some light hiking in them, but haven't tried them carrying any serious weight or anything. The barefoot thing can take some getting used to if you are a person who wears shoes all the time. I am not sure how they would work for actually backpacking, but I might try it out.