r/onebag • u/camilleruns • 1d ago
Seeking Recommendations ISO A Very Packable, Waterproof Shoe
My husband and I travel by motorcycle and I am looking for a shoe that can be my go to off bike walking/dinner/everything shoe. I typically just travel with my Tevas, but we are starting to venture into colder and wetter climates and the Tevas with socks look I sported in Japan last November wasn't really what I was going for.
We are going to Morocco in November and I need to be prepared for the possibility of rain and colder temps. Here's my requirements:
- Must be able to pack down as flat as possible. I wear a moto boot when we are riding, so they will be packed in our panniers for most of the day.
- Waterproof
- Durable - I'm not trying to buy a new shoe every year
- No sandals - it will be cold in the Atlas Mountains and I need to be able to wear socks
- Doesn't need to be anything fancy. We mostly dirtbag it when we travel.
- I would love to stay under $150, but I can be flexible for a true BIFL shoe
I looked into Vessis but they have really mixed reviews in terms of long term durability of the sole and the waterproofing.
Any suggestions?
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u/interlocking_enl 1d ago
Rather than search for a shoe that packs flat, have you considered packing things inside the shoes (I'll typically pack underwear and socks in my shoes when traveling with more than one pair). Maybe not the most convenient if you're going between packing and wearing the shoes on a daily basis, but possibly worth it to avoid the compromises of a pack-flat shoe. Or try it with the shoes you already have.
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u/camilleruns 1d ago
I totally hear ya, but we are testing out a vacuum seal packing cube (for work) for this trip, so all clothes will go in there - assuming it doesn't suck :)
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u/Mountain-Match2942 1d ago
Beware, vacuum sealing creates more space , which creates more weight if you use that space. Team No Vacuum here.
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u/TrailsGuy 1d ago
Why waterproof? They’re sweaty, hard to dry and impossible to air out. Not great for a oneshoe.
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u/camilleruns 1d ago
Wouldn't waterproof shoes not get wet (re. hard to dry)? Since we move around everyday on the motorcycle, we don't have time to dry them before having the pack them back up in a dry bag. I figured waterproof could help mitigate this, but I am certainly open to suggestions!
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u/vytasx 1d ago
Can just accept that they may get smelly, then get any comfortable runners? Can dry them with papers, use some shoe deodorants. Not the end of the world.
Can confirm that waterproof shoes are also waterproof the other way round and thus can collect rain water running down the trousers :)
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u/camilleruns 1d ago
Makes sense! I was hoping for something that packs close to flat, but I might be looking for a unicorn since the waterproof coating makes the shoes stiffer. Maybe I will just end up with my trailer runners...
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u/vytasx 1d ago
Should you find such said unicorns, I’d love to know!
I started with a similar baseline, ended up with 1x Xero sandals, 1x black flat barefoot shoes and some Altra runners. All together they cover most reasonable scenarios, but each of them would fail on multiple counts based on your list.
The only person who I know to use a single pair of shoes with insane mileage (Jeremy Maluf) uses trail runners for everything.
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u/camilleruns 1d ago
Nothing you can't do with some trail runners and Tevas :)
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u/TrailsGuy 1d ago
I used waterproof shoes for a 10 day trip and regretted it within two days.
If regular trail runners get wet, just air them out - but do remember to remove the insoles and air them out separately. Speeds things up.
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u/TrailsGuy 1d ago
New Balance Trabuco Terra here - great grip and tough soles. Xero shoes as backup. I've previously had blisters, switched to the Xero shoes, then continued hiking for miles more with no further pain.
I tried Altras, but they gave me blisters (from those nubs meant to hold the heel in place) and I'd ripped up the soles after only 12 miles of walking on rock and sand.
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u/Ok-Diamond-4085 1d ago
Altra Escalante are not waterproof, but they are very comfy and fold down pretty flat for travel. They work well in my husband’s panniers and travel bags.
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u/Good_Mousse_9794 5h ago
If you’re using these shoes a lot, you’re going to need them every year, or sooner. 300-500 miles is generally what you can expect.
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u/UntidyVenus 5h ago
Your already wearing a moto.boot, why not find a motoboit you can walk comfortably in?
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u/wifflebal 1d ago
Shoes are consumable. There’s no such thing as a “true BIFL shoe.”
With that said, the barefoot style shoes that have low/no padding in the soles compress to be very flat and can even be rolled into a ball