I'm looking for the lightest possible shower shoe. I would never use a flip flop as an actual shoe, so I find most of them way too thick and heavy. I found this online.

http://www.wdrake.com/WalterDrake/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Apparel&SCID=Shoes,+Slippers+%26+Hosiery&CollectionID=DC0000095&SourceCode=20509000001&mr:trackingCode=ED21E407-C781-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

Anyone ever tried them and/or know what they actually weigh? They look like they would weigh a lot less than any flip flop I've seen.

Alternatively, anyone ever use an actual walkable sandal, like an amphibious nylon-strapped Keen as a shower shoe for any length of time? I know it would work theoretically, but I wonder about drying/soap issues.

Never used those but they are probably as light as it gets. Do you want them for the anti-yuck factor or for anti-slip reasons? For anti-yuck these are not doing much for me. Plus, afterwards you have to own up to your yuckie shower sandals. For anti-slip it might make sense.

Teva's, Chacos and the like take a while to dry. I have never used them as shower shoes but in the outdoors coming out of the water it takes a while for the strapping.

My wife and I used to take along shower shoes very much like the ones in your illustration. We never used them and finally put them in a dust bin along the sidewalk in Glasgow. I really don't think you need them unless you are afraid of catching something, and then you are more likely to do that by grabbing a doorknob. Even though they weigh just a few ounces they tqke up space and have to be handled multiple times in the packing and unpacking. A nasty job when wet.

It's not about yuck, it's about fungus and bacteria. You might not get sick from it, but you could end up with a mighty smelly, embarrassing problem that requires a regimen of putting toxic chemicals on your feet. Also, if you handle your bare feet enough, it can spread to your crotch.

It might not be a problem in most hotels or homes, but in hostels, you can pretty much assume you will be infected without protection.

Check out survivalstore.com

You can purchase 50 pairs of disposal water resistant shoes for $39.99

I havent used them myself but looks like they might work. (50 pairs

should last awhile.).

P.S.

Since these shoe covers are designed to wear over shoes;
I would probably order a size or two smaller if wearing them
bare- feet.

KLW, I don't think they will help against fungus and bacteria at all. It seems just not possible. The stuff is small and mobile. It is suspended in water and you keep adding water from above making the entire affair splash. You'd have to stand on 12" high wood sandals to really keep you out of the "contaminated" water. Moreover, even if the 2mm high soles of these shoes would protect you from fungus (which I am close to certain they won't) you would still have to treat the shoes themselves with spray to keep the fungus and bacteria from growing.

Your best bet is really to take extra special care to dry your feet very carefully after showering. You could also take some Canesten and spray that preventatively but I don't think it's necessary. I haven't caught a fungus ever since I dry my feet off really well and use the foot sprays in public baths.

As far as being in the shower, you could be right. However, I doubt whatever small amount of fungus is dissolved in massive amounts of splashing hot water full of soap during the shower is the problem. I think the problem is standing on it, and grinding the offending fungi or microbes into the sole of your feet - not necessarily during the shower but the rest of the time - bathroom floor especially - same for locker rooms, public pools, even nearby hallways, etc... if they are frequently damp or wet. You might be right that the soles are too thin on those things, also about the need to decontaminate the shoes.

I'll have to think about it some more. I am thinking of maybe combining these ideas - usually wearing sandals or shoes right up to the shower, then drying feet and getting right back in them when getting out. During the shower itself seems like the least worrisome time and also the part that causes the shoe-wetting problem. Then, maybe keeping a few of those plastic shoe covers handy for particularly nasty situations.

It may sound paranoid. I haven't had athlete's foot, but I got ringworm on my arm from a dog once, and it was a really bad deal. I had to pay for a doctor plus medications that didn't really work, or were going to take many weeks of twice-daily applications to work. I eventually gave up and used undiluted bleach - sizzled it over and over for a few hours. It hurt like hell and was raw and bleeding when I was done, but at least the fungus was gone.

I see where you're coming from but if you are that worried, I'd ask your general practitioner for his opinion during the next visit. Personally, I think cleaning your feet well, wearing fresh cotton socks and leather shoes, keeping everything dry should do just fine to prevent any unsavory stuff from creeping up on you. Probably less work, too, than messing with the shower shoes.

In terms of the yuck factor, though, I can fully understand why one would want them. But in terms of fungus and company I just don't think they are very useful.

Although they are fugly and bulky, crocs or their clones are very lightweight and blissfully comfortable. They make great multipurpose shower/pool/slipper shoes - and if you can bear to appear in public in them work for wearing on the plane - or sightseeing when your more fashionable shoes give you blisters...

A $3 pair in lolly pink saved my bacon, and are still going strong three years later.

I have feeling Crocs are too soft for me to wear as shoes for any length of time, but I'll try on a pair. I think I am now convinced not to use any shoe as double-duty for wearing and shower, though. I always used flip flops before, but now I am more concerned about luggage bulk and weight. I think I am going to do as I said and wear shoes right up to the shower and dry the feet and put them back on right there, plus a few of those hospital booty things for any unexpectedly filthy situation.

As for cotton socks, I can't disagree more. I have not worn a cotton sock for many years. Wool is much better because it doesn't get soggy and lose it's insulation properties nearly as bad when damp, and is far more smell resistant. Maybe it is less important for those who don't sweat as much. In general however, the sole of the foot is the sweatiest part of the body and cotton among the worst performing materials when high activity and water/sweat is involved. I have to change my socks and/or shoes twice per day or more, wool or no, pretty much regardless of weather.

On packinglight.net web site, they are selling
Ida's Ultra Soles for $7.95. They are specifically made for showers/gyms, poolside, etc.
They help in prevention of athlethe's foot and are used in hospitals.

This might be what you are looking for. When you get to the website
type in Ida's Ultra Soles in the search section and it will bring up the product.

I cannot barefoot for any length of time without my feet killing me so I always travel with a pair of Chaco nylon webbing sandals. I use them as slippers and shower shoes. They have good arch support and the nylon webbing dries fairly quickly. The H2O line of Keen sandals - nylon webbing rather than nubuck - also dry relatively quickly.

KLW, you are right that wool is the superior material for socks, especially when you have sweaty feet. I am very lucky in that my feet don't sweat I can wear light cotton socks for two full days in a row without them getting smelly at all. I could probably go a third day but then just wash them.

One thing you can try is to use a Pedag inlay sole.
http://www.pedagusa.com/

I use what I think is their Viva model. A sculpted, fine leather sole with great arch support and a little shock damping. But the real trick is the active carbon part. That keeps your feet super fresh. I use that in mocassins that I wear without socks.

The Vitality model has silver infused material to keep bacteria at bay. Have never tried it but the silver thing usually works well in underwear etc.

At around $30 per pair they are not cheap but I've had mine for more than six years before they started to look too crummy to use. Excellent German quality and engineering.

Amazon carries them.

I was revisiting this post for ideas about shower shoes for an upcoming trip where I will be in a dorm style situation for a couple of weeks and sharing a bathroom.

The packing list suggested shower shoes but after re-reading this string I've decided to fore-go shower shoes. Instead, I'll use the remedy that has finally rid my hubby of his lifelong problem of smelly feet due to excessive sweating. He's been successfully using tea tree oil pads that are actually used for facial cleansing (he uses Desert Essence brand).

Tree tree oil has natural anti-bacterial properties. From what I've read, I believe it is killing the bacteria that cause the smell. I'm not sure it will work on fungi but I'll take a risk as I don't think the conditions I'll be in are going to be unsanitary.

For urban travel where one has a room with an "en suite" bathroom, shower shoes or flip flops are not necessary, unless there's a pool at the hotel one can use. In Hawaii, flip flops and variants are almost universal. When we next go back, probably I'll take one pair of walking sandals, and one pair of flip flops, but NO shoes.

Last fall we carried around pairs of those foam soled, mesh and elastic top shower shoes and didn't use them once. They went into a dustbin on the sidewalk on Renfrew Stree in Glosgow. We stayed in a B&B on Islay where four bedrooms shared one bath (interesting way to get to know your neighbors) and didn't feel the need for slippers. We didn't contract any evil germs either.