UKC

Following the helpful advice about lightweight rucksacs I received on this thread http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=470178&v=1#x6506126 I'd be interested in people's suggestions for footwear to be carried on long routes in places like The Dolomites, Verdon, and Scotland.

The main criteria is lightness: my approach shoes weigh about 700gm and I'd like to do markedly better than this. Cheap is also good!
They would need to handle a few km of rocky paths but nothing very rough. I don't expect them to keep out water or cope with scree running.

In reply to flaneur:

la sportiva crosslites.

or something from innov8.

In reply to flaneur: Walsh's bought a pair for a trip to squamish and they are brilliant, hard wearing, cheap(ish), light, grippy once they are semi worn down they are perfect all-rounders on rock and mud.

DC

In reply to flaneur: la sportiva wildcats - cheaper than cross lites. i normally climb with these clipped to the haul loop on my harness

In reply to everyone:

Thanks for the contributions so far. The La Sportivas and Walshes are good mountain footwear but similar in style and not markedly lighter than my current shoes. I'm looking for something that comfortably beats 700g (for a pair).

The innov8 range look to have some possibilities, at a price.

I was hoping for some more left-field suggestions. Anyone used crocs fro this kind of thing? Other lightweight beach-shoes? I'm happy to justify my choice to a mountain rescue team if necessary!

In reply to flaneur: Inov8's normally do, the weights given. i.e talon 190, is 190g per size 8 shoe.

But the lighter ones like the 190's offer very little lateral support. I've worn them in a few fell races which traverse steep tussocky ground and I felt like I was going to break my metatarsel..

300-350g per shoe, terrocs etc, is probably around the lightest you'll gt from fell shoes unless you went for a 5finger type option, I think they belighter..

In reply to flaneur:

do like the australians and stomp down barefoot.

In reply to flaneur:

AKU is good for lightweight approach, bit more substantial than inov8

In reply to flaneur:

How about: http://www.instructables.com/id/Duct-Tape-Shoes/

If it's a few km then Guide Tennie's (Size-9) 14.4oz/408.96g

or Walsh PB Elite Racer Weight: 252g

In reply to IainRUK:

Iain, I seem to have given the wrong impression in my initial post, probably with the 'few kms' and Scotland parts. I am not intending to do anything remotely stressful to my metatarsals! Something like Walshes/Innov8s are probably necessary for hiking up to Carn Dearg but I'm mainly thinking of strolling to the base of the Cima Grande or splashing through the tunnels to the falaise de L'Escalès.

I was hoping there might be a middle-ground between barefoot and £85 of specialist shoe for less demanding terrains. Anyone use something like this? http://www.cressi.it/Catalogue/Details.asp?id=626
No weight given but they look light and cost ~£12.

In reply to mit: I love the duct tape shoes! I might even try something like that with closed-cell foam instead of the cardboard. Black and silver would look cool (perhaps...).

In reply to flaneur:

I assume you mean 700g for the pair, to get much lighter you are looking at something like the Inov8 x-talon range at around 400g for a pair, but as Iain says, you may find these a little short on support.

In reply to The New NickB:

I have got a pair of Inov8 Roclite 295. Used this summer on the Aiguilles Rouges and for a recent backpack around the Carnedds. Not waterproof, but very comfortable. Fine for walking up and down rocky paths. Grip fine in mud and OK on wet rock. However, they are about £80, but well worth it IMHO. Some people have problems with Inov8 stuff wearing out very quickly. I haven't had mine long enough to assess how long they will last.

In reply to flaneur: I'v used Inov8 x-talon 212 in the Dolomites, Paklenica, Norway etc. For approach, running, hiking in various terrain. Like them alot, haven't worn them out yet. But they are quite narrow fitted.

In reply to flaneur:

Merrell Trail Gloves. I bought a pair for use as approach shoes, for which they are excellent, and am wearing them for lots of other things too because they are about the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. They make my Inov-8 Flyrocs look & feel like big clunky walking boots. 220 grams per shoe for size 45.

In reply to andersl:

The 295's have a broader fit. Also I though I would mention that the number is the weight of the shoes in grammes, for those that don't know.

In reply to AlanLittle:

Looked at a pair of these today, I wouldn't want to run in them, but they did look comfy for walking.

In reply to flaneur: I bought the Inov 195 gram trail running shoes. To be used on short approaches to long multipitch routes - I like to not wear a backpack when leading, and tie my shoes to the harness.

Very lightweight, no ankle support whatsoever of course. Unfortunately they seem to wear pretty fast too. Other than that I love them.

This brand also manufactures paragliding shoes which from what I remember are around 400grams and have full ankle support.

In reply to flaneur: Just back from 2 weeks in the Dolomites - I had a pair of waterproof Haglofs trainers which got utterly trashed scrambling on the first two days, and then I changed to using some Inov8 Terroc 330s.

Definitely wouldn't use the Inov8s if it was raining or damp as they are basically mesh uppers and would soak straight through. Got them for under £50 in the sale last autumn so you might be able to find a similar bargain for this years model.

We mostly did route with easy path approaches, the longest was probably about an hour of walking and then two hours of dead easy VF to reach a bivi spot before climbing and walking out the next day. Complete with the weight of bivi gear, and two days food and water. It was roasting hot and I for one was pleased to have light shoes, especially compared to some of the other European walkers who had boots as heavy as Nepals on.

In reply to flaneur:

A bit more expensive than your other suggestions, but how about vibram fivefingers? Extremely light and grippy. No cushioning whatsoever. Incredible fun. Had a blast run/walking down Snowdon in a pair of Classics.

In reply to flaneur: Teva sandals?

In reply to flaneur:
I last got some Innov8s for just the type of use you describre (in the Dolomites). They were ideal for that. Later used them for walking/scrambling mainly in N Wales. Apart from the sponge-like behaviour of th euppers, the soles were extremely slippery on wet rock. For such a light shoe I thought they lasted reasonably well. Have just got a new pair but will save them for when weight is critical.