water shoes with thick soles

[Mountain Dog]

I'm a hiker and am always looking for really light, thick sole, slippers to wear around camp at night and to cross streams.  I've been using Crocs but they take up a lot of space in my pack.  I bought a pair of ZINETIC pocket slippers, no longer made, but the size was too small and I can't find the corect size being sold.  But, while looking, I kept seeing water shoes and slippers that "looked" like they would be light, had a sole thick enough for my tendre feet to walk over seriously rocky surfaces, and laid flat or even rolled up when stored.  I'm hoping some of you might have recomendations for a light, small volume when stored, water shoe that had a sole serious enough to keep my tender feet from screeming if I neded to walk on a really rocky surface.  I ran a search on this forum for water shoes and had no hits.  I hope I am not repeating an inquiry.

[dogwood]

My daughter bought me a pair of the Vibram 5-Fingers for Christmas this year, and i've used them around camp.  They pack very light, have a fairly comfortable sole, but take some getting used to!  They are like having gloves on your feet...

[squidbilly]

My wife and son both have a pair of Five Fingers and they both love them. They say these are very comfortable. One pair is leather, so I wouldn't reccommend these for water crossings, but the other pair has a synthetic and mesh upper that would be ideal for this purpose. They pack small and are fairly light (11.7 oz- size 8)

[squidbilly]

The soles are not very thick, but they are thicker where it counts. I didn't realize they made so many different models! You should look into them.

Check them out here.

[Eliteoomph]

I have a pair of vibrams bikila ls's.  They are the best things I have EVER put on my feet.  I hiked 15 miles with them in the Sipsey Wilderness through rivers and streams and they were perfect!   If you have soft feet of would take some getting used to but not to much.  I recommend buying them a week or 2 prior to any long hike to allow your toes time to get used to them.  I had a slight rub on one pinky toe that lasted about a day after wearing them 12 hours straight the first day and that was it.  They are so comfortable I wear them all the time.  My only problem is I wear them so much they are starting to smell. ;-)

[squidbilly]

Yeah, they have the anti-microbial footbed but they still stink.

[wirerat123]

I intend to get a lesser expensive pair of them and get my feet started on surefoot striking, and get them stronger for hiking.  I already have fairly strong feet because I've spent a large portion of my life barefoot, but, I want to transition to more barefoot type hiking shoes and walking shoes.  Once I've worn out a pair I will upgrade to the more backpacking build 5 finger models.

Plus they make fantastic water shoes.

[Eliteoomph]

I highly recommend getting the socks as well as they prolong the odor problem a great deal.

Also, when they do start smelling get a box of venture cleaner tablets.  Or different tablets...  Soak the shoes in a large bowl of water and add in about 4 tablets... Wait 15 mins and waalaa...  It is only about 3 bud for 40 tablets so that's not to bad....  Takes away all the bateria smell when nothing else would...  There is still a slight  odor but nothing nearly as bad or different from any other normal wear shoes