TheRealLurlock wrote:Following my first multi-day walk in the Highlands, it's obvious that one sensible piece of gear I was missing was a pair of camp or bothy shoes. Not only can feet swell up after a long day (particularly in stiff B-rated boots) making it uncomfortable to put your boots back on to leave the tent, if your boots get drenched then it'll be much nicer to put your dried off feet into something else. I also took off my damp walking socks at the end of each day and put on extremely thick tent socks, which are too big to be worn inside my boots anyway. I wore these thick socks in the bothy I stayed in but clearly I was still at risk of splinters from the old wooden floor, and I went barefoot between the tent and water sources which carried the risk of cutting myself on a rock or collecting ticks.
I've seen crocs, sliders, and Teva sandals recommended, but these are all fairly bulky and won't pack very flat. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend some sandals or other shoes (ideally not flip-flops, which can't be worn with thick socks, nor delicate down slippers) which pack down flat or close to it for ease of storage.
Obviously I could go out and buy a dirt-cheap pair of the thinnest sandals I can find, but I'd like a pair which are a little more robust and will last a long time, rather than something designed as a fashion/loungewear product.
Something else to beware and what happened to myself though this is a million to one shot what happened.
I had been camping for the night and went outside my tent during the night to do a pee in my socks, returned home and went for a bath and during the bathing my foot had swollen up so much so i could not put any weight on it and struggled big time to get out the bath.
Phoned doctors and he came out and diagnosed Cellulitis, gave me antibiotics, next day swelling had got worse and infection was travelling further up my leg.
Admitted to hospital for a week on drip, released from hospital with crutches to aid walking, in the end it took about 6 months to recover.
The only thing that i think caused the infection was going for a pee during the night in my socks as there was a very minute pin prick on my instep, so after this i always make sure i put something sturdy on my feet while walking about inside a bothy or outside.