Packable Ultralight Sandals for Backpacking
This guide to the best ultralight sandals for backpacking surveys the lightest weight sandals from a variety of brands and sources. Our selection is intended to be used primarily for backcountry camping while relaxing, strolling to viewpoints, and doing chores like filtering water, pitching a tent, or stashing the bear bags. While weight and bulk savings-when-stowed are top priority, baseline functionality is still taken into account when it comes to backcountry performance. Each pair of featured ultralight sandals is far lighter and less bulky than Tevas or Crocs, and one quarter the weight of Chacos.
Read about more footwear in our guides to the best running sandals, trail runners for hiking, trail super shoes, booties, and the socks to pair with those trail runners.
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Quick Picks: Ultralight Sandals For Backpacking
- Best Ultralight (tie): Ultralight Mindset Adventure Sandals
- Best Ultralight (tie): Zpacks Deluxe Camp Shoes
- Best Lightweight: Shamma Elite Warriors
- Comfiest Foam Croc Alternative: Birkenstock Arizona EVA
- Lightweight & Comfy: Jimmies Foldable
- Notable Super Ultralight: Mayfly Nymph & Imago
Ultralight Backpacking Sandals Comparison Table
| Model | Price ($) | Weight per pair (oz) | Tread |
| Mayfly Nymph | 39 | 1.7 | None |
| Mayfly Imago | 39 | 1.8 | None |
| Zpacks UL Camp Shoe | 35 | 2.3 | Treaded Foam |
| Zpacks Deluxe Camp Shoe | 40 | 2.5 | Treaded Foam |
| Ultralight Mindset | 45 | 3.7 | Treaded Foam |
| Shamma Elite Warriors | 95 | 7.0 | Textured Rubber |
| Jimmies Foldable | 45 | 7.1 | Treaded Foam |
| Birkenstock Arizona EVA | 50 | 8.6 | Treaded Foam |
| Classic Tevas (for reference) | 55 | 13 | Treaded Rubber |
| Classic Crocs (for reference) | 50 | 13.5 | Treaded Foam |
| Classic Chacos (for reference) | 100 | 29.8 | Treaded Rubber |
The Best Ultralight Sandals For Backpacking
Ultralight Mindset Adventure Sandals
Ultralight Mindset Adventure Sandals are the best ultralight sandals for backpacking we’ve tested, offering a perfect blend of low weight and functionality in camp. They bridge the gap between the lightest rubber-soled full-strap walking sandals for trail, Shamma Warriors, and the super ultralight but-not-very-functional Mayfly Nymph camp sandals. The Ultralight Mindset sandals are incredibly simple, combining a 6mm EVA foam footbed with a molded traction outsole, and the type of cord-lineloc combo you would expect to see on a tent. While this arrangement is great for camp, while walking they’re not as comfortable, nor as secure as wider straps of a trail sandal (the cords concentrate pressure). But for meandering around camp they get the job done for less weight and less cost while being extremely compact when stowed.
- Price: $45
- Pair Weight: 3.7 oz
- Tread: Treaded EVA foam
- Sole Thickness: 6 mm
- Material: Foam
- Pros: Ultralight. Durable. Respectable traction. Conforms to foot. Low cost. Compact when packed.
- Cons: Lineloc slippage. 2-week lead time on orders. For trail use, cord laces are less comfortable than straps. Not as functional outside of camp.
Zpacks Deluxe Camp Shoes
Zpacks Deluxe Camp Shoes are an exciting addition to the super ultralight sandals genre, essentially in a league of their own alongside Mayfly in the sub three oz category. Their packability and weight is exceptional, and we can confirm that they’re also comfy, breathable, and secure. Good for walking around camp, not good for meandering down to the river. The pair very well with socks, and prevent damp grass from soaking your feet, while also blocking wind. We recommend the Deluxe version over the UL version, because it’s only 0.4 oz heavier, and the full coverage heel has less potential to rub. Our biggest concern with these, though we have yet to see it happen, is blowing out the front where the Lycra mesh top is connected by stitching to the rounded nylon front.
- Price: $40
- Pair Weight: 2.7
- Tread: Treaded Foam
- Sole Thickness: 5mm
- Material: Foam
- Pros: Super Ultralight. Good price. Quite comfy, airy, protects sides of feet from moisture. Surprisingly secure. Works well with socks in cooler temps.
- Cons: In-camp use only. Durability concerns regarding lycra mesh front blowout.
Shamma Elite Warriors
Shamma Elite Warriors blend superb walking functionality with low weight to create a masterpiece of a backpacking sandal. Light enough for camp use, but funcional enough for walking on trail. That is, they will serve you well at camp, meandering to the lake to filter, fording a river, but also as a shoe replacement in the event of a total blowout. From Vibram rubber soles to a securely adjustable fit, these sandals have it all, and are the lightest sandals with rubber soles and straps. Generally speaking, we prefer them without the power straps, which add extra weight, and create extra fuss when taking them on/off.
- Price: $95
- Pair Weight: 7.0 oz
- Tread: Textured rubber
- Sole Thickness: 6 mm
- Material: Vibram Newflex Rubber
- Pros: Very light. Durable. Good rubber traction. Conforms to foot. Fully functional for walking or even running.
- Cons: Expensive. Light-not-ultralight. Noticeable lump under thong connection points. Not the lightest or the most compact option.
Birkenstock Arizona EVA
Brikenstock Arizona EVA is a far better backpacking sandal than Crocs, Tevas, and Chacos – there we said it! These 100% EVA foam Birks are lighter, airier, classier, and less bulky than Crocs, significantly lighter than Tevas, and orders of magnitude lighter than Chacos. If you want something comfy, affordable, easy to slip on, arch-supportive, and reasonably lightweight, let the Arizona EVA be your luxury item of choice. The funny thing is, they’re actually slightly lighter than most of the minimalist walking sandals featured in this guide, albeit not as good for walking. Dive deep into a head-to-head comparison in our guide to Birkenstocks vs Crocs.
- Price: $50
- Pair Weight: 8.6 oz (avg)
- Tread: Treaded foam
- Thickness: 10mm+
- Material: EVA Foam
- Pros: Comfy. Lightweight. Easy on/off. Lighter than Crocs/Tevas/Chacos. Affordable.
- Cons: Middling traction. Light-not-ultralight. No heel strap. Not suitable for long distance walking.
Jimmies™ The Original Folding Sandals
Foldable Jimmies™ were originally designed for locker room showers, but it turns out they’re lightweight and functional enough for backpacking camp footwear too. They feature a soft and cushy foam sole with front, middle, and back straps to secure the foot. They’re a particularly good option if you dislike the sensation of a thong-style strap between your toes. Drawbacks are that the front strap is slightly too far forward, and the fact that their signature folding mechanism doesn’t actually reduce total volume, it just reshapes it. If you subscribe to Tetris logic, their default long/skinny shape fits into backpacks better than the wider, box-like folded shape (for a similar comparison, refer to the packability of Smartwater vs Nalgene).
- Pair Weight: 7.1 oz
- Tread: Textured
- Sole Thickness: unlisted
- Material: EVA Foam
- Pros: Lightweight. Soft and comfy foam footbed. Appeals to those who dislike thong straps. Foldable. Updated with back strap.
- Cons: Light-not-ultralight. Front strap slightly too far forward. Foldability doesn’t actually reduce total volume. Unstable on uneven/sloped surfaces.
Mayfly Imago Super Ultralight Sandals
Mayfly Nymphs are the lightest possible ultralight camp sandals, weighing an astounding 1.7 oz. But as you’d expect, they’re also the least functional, least grippy, and least enjoyable to wear; only compatible for shuffling around camp. But if you don’t intend to wear them outside of camp, no big deal right? Just put your trail runners back on as-needed. True super ultralight products are few and far between, compromise massively on functionality, but are a rare opportunity for massive weight savings. The best use case for these is fastpacking. And did we mention they’re surprisingly durable? We’ve seen a single pair last for years. If you prefer forefoot loops to toe thongs, go ahead and choose Mayfly Imagos over the aforementioned MayFly Nymphs.
- Price: $39
- Pair Weight: 1.8 oz
- Tread: none
- Sole Thickness: unlisted
- Material: Coroplast
- Pros: Super Ultralight. Good price. Fun colors. Absorbs zero water. Surprisingly durable.
- Cons: No traction. Only viable in camp, cannot be used on sloped terrain. Lineloc cinching comes undone. Foot slides forward and out.
Non Ultralight Sandals That You Should Avoid
This section highlights a few popular backpacking sandals that we strongly recommend against bringing. When referring to Chacos, Tevas, and Crocs, we’re referring to their flagship models though marginally lighter options do exist.
Why not Chacos?
Chacos are the number one offender of this genre. Yes, they’re comfortable, durable, good looking, and popular with the outdoorsy crowd. But they weigh nearly two pounds, which is simply unacceptable from a backpacking perspective. My entire two person tent including stakes and footprint weighs less than a pair of Chacos! For that same weight, I could carry a complete 30 degree sleep system, including quilt and pad. Or a 60L ultralight backpack. Stop. Bringing. Chacos!
Why not Crocs?
Aside from being twice the average weight of ultralight sandals in this guide, Crocs are incredibly bulky. One Croc Clog by itself takes up as much space as four minimalist ultralight sandals, and my pair of size 12 clogs are more voluminous than my tent. Yes, they’re cheap, yes they’re comfy. Yes, they’re popular. But they’re also not very breathable, and when it comes to allowing your skin recovery time outside of shoes, we recommend airier footwear.
Why not Tevas?
While they don’t make the cut, Tevas are at least a step in the right direction compared to the other two. The Classic Universal is lighter than Crocs, and closer to 2x, rather than 3-4x the bulk of minimalist sandals. While they are also nearly 2x the weight of the average minimalist ultralight sandals in this guide, they’re only a bit heavier than the heaviest lightweight models. But ask yourself, what are Tevas giving you that more minimalist sandals aren’t? There’s just not a great reason to add the bulk and weight when you could carry less for equal performance. Are they horrible backpacking sandals no. But are there better? Definitely!
Lastly, Tevas Hurricane Series are one of my favorites for walking around casually in summer, but they’re even heavier and bulkier than the Universals thanks to the enhanced tread, thus worse for backpacking because it’s not needed for use around camp, and just adds extra weight.
What about flip flops?
Okay, so you can bring flip flops, and they’re better than Crocs, Chacos, or Tevas. When and if we’re bringing sandals for backpacking, we want them to be functional enough to safely handle tasks like climbing down a river bank to fill up water, or ascending the hillock above camp for sunset. If you really search around, you will probably be able to find a pair of flip flops that are ounce-for-ounce similar to minimalist ultralight sandals, like this pair from Helly Hansen. In most ways, the cheaper the better, as it usually implies a thinner sole, and lighter weight end product. However, flip flops are far less secure, due to the lack of heel attachment. And functionally, that just makes them a lot worse than the barefoot style walking sandals we tend to prefer. If you want something like a flip flops, only better, choose Birkenstock Arizona EVA.
Ultralight Mindset Adventure Sandals
Conclusion to ultralight sandals for backpacking
Thank you for reading our guide to ultralight sandals for backpacking. This assortment reflects minimalism, low weight, and high functionality. Happy hiking, happy camping, and be sure to ditch those crocs, tevas, or chacos!
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Have you tried Jimmie’s? I saw add for them on Facebook and they look pretty cool. 200g for size medium (9-10.5 mens), which equates to just over 7oz. And they fold in half. But no vibram rubber. I want a sandal just for camp and for crossing streams.
Hi! So I actually bought a pair a few months back because of their IG ads. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan. They don’t stay on your feet very well, and the lackluster hold also allows your forefoot to come past the front of the sandal. Wouldn’t work for navigating downhill to filter water on a rocky shore, and definitely not good for fording. Would wash away in a strong current. Also feels like the straps would likely break after moderate use. I’ll stick with my Shammas or Zpacks.
Which, if any, of these are reasonable for most stream fording? Unless a crossing is at the sketchy edge of safety, I generally prefer to use my camp shoes without socks at infrequent fords.
If fording is added to criteria, what other footwear are “next up”?
Great question, Alan! For easy, infrequent fords, it’s nice to bust out the sandals and any of these should be good, except for the Mayfly models which I haven’t tested but seem too flimsy for handling the torque of microslips as feet move around on underwater rocks. However, I did not test, analyze, or optimize the assortment from that perspective; and it’s unclear which would have the best traction or performance. Check back at the end of this coming summer ;) Perhaps my only other consideration would be not choosing the XeroSheos Ztrail EV, because the forefoot loop does not have a connection point to the front center of thesandal, which causes it open up and bend downward and catch a drag as you walk slightly upstream. It also has the beefiest (and thus most water absorbent straps).