Ultralight shoes for river crossing and camp

Thanks for that. My thought process has moved on. I saw somewhere that the weight quoted for sports shoes is 1/2 pair size 8. When I look at the size I would buy, size 11 they are at least half as much again. Which makes an old pair of (very comfortable0 road running shoes, Mizuno Wave 11s, weigh about 40g more each than these. I think I'm going to take my old road shoes for river crossing and around camp as its abetter use of the worlds resources to finish them off in a Scottish burn that chuck them out because I've got a better pair for Parkrun.

Great idea.

My Aliexpress shoe cover/over shoes arrived. 45grams for the pair and fitted well over thick socks. Snug enough not to slip and not too restrictive. I think for wearing at camp and maybe occasionally crossing a river they would be OK but more ideal as camp shoes.

Also fit very well over my Montane insulated slipper socks.

Certainly very light weight.

The reason I belly aching about this is for next year's TGO. I've watched every available video that I can find on the route I have planned and I have some days that are probably going to be very wet and have multiple river crossings. Inverie to Glen Dessary on day one is just one example. I also have some significant climbs and technical descents. From experience I know that for that type of thing I'm better in boots as my ankles need the support, I won't go into why but age and joint wear and tear come into it. I guess that I'm searching for the perfect solution and there just isn't one.

My thought when O started this thread was this. If I could find some shoes that were light weight and that I could walk in on the really wet (under foot days) then I could have the luxury of also taking my boots. Another option might be to go with good long distance trail shoes, waterproof socks and maybe ankle strapping. Leave my boots at home.

If it was me I’d wear boots and carry some additional foot wear options like those discussed previously. I don’t get on with trail shoes and also wear boots for most of my walking. Those socks are great to pull over socks and go for a call of nature or adjust the guy lines but for river crossings I’d prefer boots off or light’ish sandals or shoes that could be worn for short stretches of walking.

That section is wet; and boggy.
Down the Allt Carnach and multiple crossings of the Finiskaig River.
Changing footwear possibly frequently if it's wet...so, alternative footwear might work.
I wore trail shoes.

I have some of these also: https://www.feetz.co.uk/black-pocket-festival-wellies-15-c.asp

they weigh 318g and are a below knee but mid calf height. Mine are a size large and fit snugly over 8.5 hiking boots.

These won’t be as good as the Wiggy’s. I reckon an XL would fit easily over my 8.5 boots and be around 350g. They are inexpensive and worth a try before the TGO to see how they are.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. All very useful. I agree with you Robin, I'm going to have to try a few options before and then plump for one before I get on the train to Glasgow.

Those pocket wellies look worth a go.

I've a pair of wiggys... Not used them in seven years... I'd certainly pack them for treks with plenty of crossings...
Don't know who this bubbastellacan character is

I'm mean.
I wanted you to fall in

They seem light; what's the sole made of?

I am coming round to the idea of wearing trail shoes and finding another way to support ankles but here's an idea I've seen on another forum.

http://www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk/shop/en/boots/205-nbc-protective-over-boots.html

These wouldn't be any good for a proper river crossing unless you found a way to extend them. Others suggested Yeti gaiters. I read somewhere that someone found that the way they had set up their over trousers with shock cord under the instep worked. I guess that the water pressure pressed the material against the boot and formed a seal. If you kept going I guess it might work. I'm not talking about anything as deep as @Chiseller s river though.

About half a mile from where I live we have three old fords on bridle tracks across a river, one goes up the river for about 50m so I can easily try a few solutions.

and after that entry you still got turned down for Last of the Summer Wine?

Maybe https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0818WGBK9/

I rekon on the TGO your getting wet feet whatever you wear boot/shoe wise, I carry river/camp shoes but tend to be loath to stick them on and just usually plough through at speed, but i do really like them at night when the boots/shoes are off. i don't think id be bothering with the extra faf/weight for over-thingies that might only get used for 2 minutes over two weeks, Skins waterproof...

I also tend to wear boots (Usually Bhutans) more than trainers in Scotland, just because i actually really like my boots, they don't stay dry long, but that never seems to bother me much, they tend to dry on the move if the weather is dry anyway

The trouble, I've found, with goretext lined boots is once your feet get wet they can go a bit "boil in the bag" and then get sore or blister.

I want to do whatever I can in preparation to avoid as much of that as possible. On previous multiday walks I've been fairly lucky with conditions, or I've only had a day to go after the day when I've got really wet but my route this time is guaranteed to have long wet sections and river crossings and the first day is guaranteed wet. Over worrying, probably.

Use it to make 'hot soak' and ditch the stove for weight savings. Multi-use and ultralight(er).

...I'll get me coat.

I just ordered a pair of these from Amazon for £19.47. I was interested in @Lempo s Bedrocks but don't think I'd get on with either toe socks or a toe thong. I'll report back on weight but I'm expecting about 225g a pair from info I can find online.

I most likely to go down the trail shoes and waterproof socks route but may take these as recovery footwear for camp and the pub.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Teva-Original-Universal-Sandals-SS19-10/dp/B07DR2RNFT?th=1&psc=1