When Good Enough....Is Good Enough

Backpackers of any experience eventually learn not to add something to their pack unless it legitimately contributes to the performance of their gear, comfort on the trail, safety, or personal pleasure. This sentiment has not stopped gear manufacturers from doing their best to market new gear in such a way that it sure feels like it is a must-have product. Whether printed media, blog reviews, or trips to my local gear shop, it's not uncommon for me to stare longingly at a product that claims to be the answer to any problem I may have. In 90% of those cases, my money stays in my pocket.

Case in point is a product called a ZEM Bootie (http://www.zemgear.com/). It is the black shoe in the picture. The manufacturer is trying to take advantage of the lightweight shoe/shoeless market similar to the Vibram Five Fingers. As someone with absolutely terrible feet, going shoeless in most cases just isn't an option. So when it comes to a water crossing, I'd prefer to have a dedicated "water shoe" as going barefoot is just about as undesirable as sloshing around in my hiking shoes while evaluating the true test of drying efficiency.

I thought I'd give the ZEM Booties a shot both to serve as a water shoe and potentially as a lightweight slipper of sorts which I might be able to use in hotels while traveling. Oddly enough, a pair of size 14 slippers fills up a travel bag nearly instantly making bringing any kind of slipper not an option. Well, the ZEM Bootie arrived at my doorstep for a healthy $36.80 in a size XXL which is claimed to fit a size 13-14 foot. It is essentially a neoprene upper sewn directly to a very thin sole similar to the consistency of a flip-flop.

For backpacking and water crossings, the ZEM Bootie was intended to replace a product I've talked about before, my Sprint Aquatics Mesh shoe (www.sprintaquatics.com/prodinfo.asp?number=901). The only reason for the considered replacement was because I felt the ZEM Bootie would last longer and be more comfortable despite a considerable weight difference (54 g vs. 155 g). Both, very light. Truth be told, I actually love my Sprint Aquatics Mesh shoe. For $3.99 and 54 grams, it's really tough to hate that kind of investment. I've used it in several water crossing situations and they've been perfect, well, perfect on the bottom of my feet as otherwise there is no top support to protect from something like rolling rocks.

So will I make the switch? Actually, no. The ZEM Booties are constructed better and will last longer, but aside from comfort, there is no real great gain. The material on the bottom arguably isn't as robust and the fact that the upper is sewn around the sole makes it susceptible to debris and all kinds of abrasion at the seams. The cut of it is a little goofy too with the sole being too thin and the length of the toe box being way too long. I must admit though, overall they are more comfortable than the Sprint Aquatics both due to the materials and the fact that the Spring Aquatics has a very tight elastic cuff around the ankle and barely fits my foot. Being that my regular trail runners are plenty comfortable in camp, I really have no use for a water shoe that is anything more than the absolute minimum I need.

This is a great example of trying to upgrade gear for no real gain and a process of constant evaluation for me.

Lightweight Water Shoes and How to Cross a Stream

This spring, Virginia has received a significant amount of rain. Out west, snow at high altitude is melting. The result is our rivers and streams have an abundance of water. For drinking and bathing purposes, an abundance of water is great. When water crossing is necessary, an abundance of water is merely an opportunity to soak your gear and possibly get injured. So how can a lightweight backpacker effectively deal with water crossings without adding unnecessary ounces to his/her pack? Well, I have a couple of suggestions.

First, despite the fact that many lightweight resources claim it is completely unnecessary, I always bring an extra pair of footwear if I know there is potential for a water crossing during my trip. Personally, I don’t subscribe to the theory that lightweight and breathable footwear dries quickly enough to use on the trail and in water because I’ve found that any shoe I wear seems to retain enough water to give me blisters and otherwise irritate my feet. As a result, my goal is to bring the absolute minimum secondary footwear necessary to effectively and responsibility cross water.

Although I have made shoes in the past of Tyvek and foam, I simply can’t duplicate the fit, finish, utility, cost, weight, and lightweight nature of the Sprint Aquatics Mesh Shoe (http://www.sprintaquatics.com/prodinfo.asp?number=901). At $4.50 a pair, and on sale now for $3.50, you honestly can’t go wrong. I should also mention that the sizing on their webpage is incorrect as I wear a 14 and their large fits just fine even though they claim it is for 11-12 size feet. My large pair weighs 54 grams or 1.9 ounces. You won’t be able to participate in a track and field event with them, but for their intended use, they are excellent.

So now that you have the proper footwear, the next step is to understand how to cross a body of water. First, pack everything you want to stay dry inside your pack. It is recommended that you use a dry bag, although a simple trash bag pack liner generally works just fine as long as it is twisted down at the top and otherwise free of holes. Locate a shallow area which is a short distance to your destination. Next, unclip your belt strap to ensure you have better lateral hip movement and can free yourself more easily from your shoulder straps in the event that you slip. Face upstream (i.e. the water should be coming at you) as you will be able to gain better perception from the water and any pending obstacles. Next, get a stick or something to put in front of you to aid with your balance and lean slightly forward on it as you walk to effectively give yourself three points of balance (foot + foot + stick). Remember to avoid walking on logs and rocks with algae, seaweed, plant life, etc. as they will likely be quite slippery. Generally speaking, keep your eyes on solid objects beneath the water as the moving water could distract you. With that said though, be leery of things floating at you such as sticks, trees, brush, fishing line, and even snakes. Shuffle your feet from side-to-side leading to the other side of the bank.