I have tried so many different ways to give my feet a break once I get to camp.  I have bought some hospital booties, ordered some what they call “ultralight” shoes from XeroShoes.  I have taken the booties and have cut up a foam sit pad to put padding in the bottom.  I have even purchased some of the super ultralight shoes from Johnny Mayfly.  I was not seeking out the most comfortable, yet I needed a little comfortability in order to satisfy the whole reason for carrying them miles upon miles.  I not only needed to give me feet some air and a break from my hiking shoes (Altra Trail Runners), but I needed to be comfortable and enjoy my evenings around camp.  It was not an easy road to go down.

I am always looking and researching.  Although there are some gear choices that I have nailed down that may seem to never change, I am still always looking around to see ways to improve.  I was in the middle of trying to figure out how to get more padding on the bottom of the awfully uncomfortable soles of the Johnny Mayfly camp shoes (pretty sure it’s the same material that yard signs are made from – something like corrugated plastic).  My feet are so tender.  If I had three wishes, I would change that, but until the genie appears, I have to deal with being Joe Tenderfoot.

I was flipping through social media one evening while watching Monday Night Football (I had taken a break from backpacking videos at the request of my amazing wife lol) and came across an advertisement from Zpacks.  They now offered some slippers that were posed to be ultralight camp shoes.  Interesting.  I mean, yes, I am interested.  If it means that I don’t have to try and invent the shoe and this one will work for me then I am in.  Many things are too expensive to “give it a try” but these at $34.95 were affordable enough, even at shoe prices, to check them out.  If they didn’t work, I could always see if they could work for one of my leather footed trail buddies.  I ordered them straight away.  You have to jump on some of these new items.  They could sell out faster than bread and milk before an ice storm.

They arrived a few days later (it’s crazy how fast they ship sometimes), and I took them out to see what I had gotten myself into.  Here is what I noticed first off.

• So light they could float on air. At 1.8 oz per pair, they hare the lightest backpacking camp slippers/shoes I have seen.  You have to be careful with shoes.  Like the XeroShoes, they advertise the ones I have (the Z-trail EV) as 5.4 oz.  But that is EACH.  Unless you are the amazing legendary one-legged hiker, you gonna be toting around 10.6 oz (almost a lb of shoes) just to wear for an hour or two around camp.
• The soles are very thin but flexible – at least they are not corrugated plastic.
• Very comfy – reminds me of my papaw’s house shoes back in the day.
• Pack flat – takes up zero room almost. I can slip these down anywhere in my pack.

I put them on a strutted around the house like a stud horse among ninnies.  They were comfy.  A little on the big side (I do not like how they do the sizing charts…more on that later), but they will work.

I need to know more…

Here is the deets they have out on their website (www.zpacks.com).

“Starting at only 1.8 oz (51.7g) per pair, the Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes are crafted with serious hikers and backpackers in mind. Made from durable Robic fabric and breathable lycra mesh, these shoes offer a lightweight yet protective layer that lets your feet breathe after a long day on the trail.”

I was not surprised that Zpacks was intelligent enough to take some of the same materials they use for their ultralight backpacks and put into these camp shoes.  It only makes sense.  They are definitely crafted for the “serious hikers and backpackers in mind” because if you are not serious, you don’t give 2 craps about being ultralight and will take crocs.  “lets your feet breathe” is a definite.  That was one of my “must haves” and this material that surrounds the front portion of my foot is perfect.  The little string that keeps my foot in place around the backside of my ankle works well (as long as you get the right size).

“The thin yet resilient 4mm foam sole is designed to keep rocks, roots, and rugged terrain from disturbing your downtime, so you can enjoy those campfires and late-night privy visits without the weight of traditional camp shoes or waterlogged trail runners.”

“resilient” is a strong word, but I have no doubt they will last.  They won’t keep me from noticing the rocks, roots and rugged terrain that are under my tender feet, but then again, I am not taking off running down the trail trying to make an FKT to the privy at 2 a.m. either.  Easy to slip on and off and so nice for when you are drying out the trail runners.

“Compact and collapsible, these shoes are as packable as they are practical, fitting snugly in even the smallest corners of your backpack. Whether you’re a dedicated thru-hiker or a weekend warrior, the days of big, clunky footwear dangling off your pack are over.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  I have taken these on multiple trips so far and so far, they have been nothing short of spectacular.

“These shoes are meant to be worn for short distances around camp. Not intended for hiking.”

Again, I could not have said it better myself. These are lounge shoes, not hiking shoes.  We made it to camp one evening pretty early and wanted to watch the sun set on the south rim of the Chisos Basin in South Texas.  I gingerly walked about 100 yards in these, but was so happy when we reached our destination that I was able to sit there on the bluff and let my feet air out.  Then we gingerly walked back, being ever so careful not to stone bruise the bottoms of my feet before the long hike the next day.

Sizing

The sizing chart reads in size and half increments.  For instance, I wear a size 8-1/2 or 9.  The sizes are Medium (7 to 8-1/2) and Large (9 to 10-1/2).  I did not want to make the mistake of getting a shoe that was too small so I went with the larger size (Large).  They are definitely a size too big for me.  I should have gotten the mediums.  I am guessing if you are on the fence, go with the smaller size.

With that said, It would be very easy to take a sharp knife and cut down the heel of the shoe in order to make it fit better, if you want to take that chance.

Colors

When I ordered mine, I had no idea they offered different colors.  I just got the plain Jane black.  But now that I know what size I am, I am very tempted to take some Coke money and grab me some orange ones (they offer blue, black, orange and grey with fancy names attached).

Final Thoughts

If you are on the fence about size, er to the smaller size.

• Even if you get a size too big, they will work and can be altered to work.
• They fit your foot even if too big, so don’t worry about it too much.

Packability

• Extremely lightweight and pack small.
• This is not something you will have to look for a place to put in your pack, and you definitely won’t have to attach them to the outside and let them drive you insane by bounding against your butt for miles and miles til you get to camp.

Comfort

• Again, I wish they had a thicker sole, but I am perfectly fine with the design and can live with it.
• They breathability is exactly what I need to wear around and let shoes dry out and let feet get some air.
• Perfect for campfires, but don’t get them too close. They can and will melt (Mine only started smoking and smelling before I pulled them away just to be clear).

I love these shoes

• Yes, I wish they had a thicker sole, but that would take adding more weight.
• Yes, I wish I had gotten a smaller size and a different color, but I am definitely not sending these back.
• Yes, I have added these to my backpacking checklist. I don’t have to worry about size or weight so they will make every single trip.
• You can’t go wrong for $35 if you want to give them a try.
• Get them fast as they sell out quick.