packable shoe covers for crossing streams??

[skweezal]

I know this may be an odd question, but I am trying to find something flexible and foldable and packable that is sort of a waterproof covering for your shoes/hiking boots. I hike and have a few creeks to cross where there are no stones to hop on...you must wade! I think if I could find something I could carry with me that was very portable and could be a waterproof protector was I crossed the creeks, that would be great. Is there anything like that out on the market?? Something you could use as a shoe cover while crossing the stream (maybe calf high) and then remove on the other side and go on your merry way till the next creek crossing!

Any thoughts?
sk

[AlmostThere]

Fisherman have those. They can be expensive and/or heavy sometimes.

And then there are contractor bags - if you're not crossing on sharp rocks and don't run them into sticks, they're pretty durable for trash bags. Make good ground cloths too.

Or you can take off your socks, wade in shoes, drain well, put on socks, and go.

[dan]

What I often do is take my socks off and cross the stream in my boots sans socks. Lightweight boots dry pretty quickly. My wife uses those lightweight Crocs. For women, they also make models with attractive styling that have the side benefit of less weight (not so clunky looking).

Also, it often pays to take your pack off and spend just a few minutes going a few hundred feet up and down the stream and find a log or rock crossing.

[Wickett]

I use my Five Finger Vibrams. They are light, flexible and I normally bring them with me on my trips. They are great for climbing on the granite too. Way stickier than normal shoes or boots.

[balzaccom]

It's not a quick as you suggest, but we use Crocs. They are very lightweight, and we keep them strapped to the outside of our packs. When we hit a stream, we take of our boots AND socks, slip on the Crocs, and cross. The put everthing back on again.

And the Crocs make great camp shoes, as well--easy on the feet after a long day in boots. We've even hiked a few hundred yards in them, when we faced multiple stream crossing on a short section of trail.

[SteveH]

Just gotta make sure they fit semi snug and heel strap will hold em on your feet when wading. Great camp shoes at end of day and I've worn em fishing at some lakes so can wade out into water enough to back cast with fly rod.

[AlmostThere]

Also, there are stream crossings, and then there are early season adventures in sticking your feet into the unknown because the water is flowing high and fast. If you can't see where you are walking it's best to leave your shoes on - take out the socks and put them back on. You won't run as much risk of cutting your trip really short and limping back to the car that way.

Sometimes the best stream crossing shoes are boots, or shoes. Some trips it's easier to justify the weight of a pair of old sneakers.

[orion]

have you considered gaiters?

if you have waterproof boots, these or something like them can help keep the water out for a stream crossing, but maybe not for a waist-deep long crossing:
http://www.rei.com/product/778002

also good for gravelly scree or glissading on snow.

otherwise, any sports sandal will do, but you have to stop to take boots off and on.

[Kpeter]

Crocs work for me, chiefly because they double as my camp shoes.

[hotrod4x5]

Lots of crocs, anyone using sandals like Teva? I've a couple pairs of those, but no crocs.

[AlmostThere]

I have Tevas... I like the croc knockoffs better for some crossings, they protect the top of the foot a little better and make better camp shoes, since they don't hold water and won't be damp by evening. A friend's Tevas froze solid overnight after a late afternoon creek crossing.

[hotrod4x5]

I have Tevas... I like the croc knockoffs better for some crossings, they protect the top of the foot a little better and make better camp shoes, since they don't hold water and won't be damp by evening. A friend's Tevas froze solid overnight after a late afternoon creek crossing.

Ahh good point about Tevas and water retention.

[orion]

i found these crocs to work the best:

http://www.kittyhell.com/wp-content/upl ... s-pink.jpg

[AlmostThere]

i found these crocs to work the best:

http://www.kittyhell.com/wp-content/upl ... s-pink.jpg

Whatever floats your boat, man. Mine cost five bucks and don't show up on satellite images.

[KC]

Invested in a cheap pair of knockoff crocs after using Tevas for a good while. The crocs are definitely lighter, dry more quickly, and work great as camp shoes. Only bad thing about them is they are not quite as good for climbing and hiking as Tevas.

Five Finger Vibrams sound interesting since they appear to have a bit more utility than the crocs and seem to be an ounce or two lighter.