One Ounce Camp Sandals And Modified Socks

I have just found the answer to light weight camp shoes. Check this link out to see how you can make your own shoes for camp use.

One Ounce Camp Sandals And Modified Socks:

"Instructions For One Ounce Camp Sandals
And Modified Socks"

The Sandals:

These ultralight camp sandals are made from shoe / boot inserts and nylon cord. They take only a few minutes to construct and no special tools or skills are needed. Brawny's pair in women's size 7 - 8 weigh about an ounce. My pair in men's size 12 weigh about 1 1/2 ounces. This represents a weight savings of 2 - 3 ounces over a pair of flip-flops, and about 8 ounces (a half pound!) over "lightweight" Wal-Mart or K-Mart sandals.

In our opinion, these sandals are definitely not sturdy enough to be used for hiking or water crossings. However, they seem durable enough to wear around camp and perhaps even in town.

Brawny used a pair from Fontana Dam, NC to Mt. Katahdin, ME (about 4 months) for camp and town use on her 2002 AT thru-hike. She had to re-tie them once. However, when she finished her hike, they were in usable condition.

If you want a thicker sandal that provides more protection from rocks, roots and wet ground, use your shoe / boot insert as a pattern and cut the material from a closed cell sleeping pad. Most Wal-Mart stores have these sleeping pads in the sporting goods department for $5 - $6.

The following items are needed to make the sandals:


One pair of shoe or boot inserts (new or used)
About 2 feet of nylon cord.
Knife or scissors for cutting cord.
Matches or lighter for sealing cord ends.
Sharp pointed object to force cord through insert holes (knife or scissors tip works; knitting needle might do nicely).
Marking pen (optional).
Pair of sandals to use as a guide (optional).