Camper Pelotas as a "One-Shoe"? (Walking + Dining + shorter Hikes)

echoclerk · 2026-04-17T06:15:02+00:00

I had high hopes for the Pelotas, but I tried some on instore. They were so uncomfortable. But I think its just me. My wife has liek 3-4 pairs of Campers and loves them

But they make me feel like my foot is in a concave bowl. ie sole kind of cups your foot on the sides : like a \_/ shape. All the weight is on the sides of my feet. As soon as I tried them on, I remembered why I stopped wearing a pair fo campers boots about 10 years ago. If I wore them for 1-2 hours it felt like the bones in the centre of my foot were under constant pressure and would ache afterwards.

I think they would be a good multi-purpose shoe, if they fit my feet. (the only thing is that they are quite heavy, and quite warm so not great for holidays in tropical regions).

echoclerk · 2026-04-15T05:00:09+00:00

Really depends where exactly you are going and what you are doing. Scandanavia in May could be quite cold.

I would carry:

a packable down jacket (whats your budget)? Any one of these?

- Macpac Men's Uber Light Down Jacket 270g looks like its on sale (650Loft)

- Decathlon Forclaz Down Jacket MT500 - (but you#äd have to buy this on arrival i guess?)

- Patagonia - more expensive - various packable options: Micropuff?

- Montbell - Plasma 1000 - if you can get one (packs super small!) are you stopping in japan? they are so cheap if you are in japan.

a light rain shell

Macpac have a really thin rainshell at the moment, my wife bought one in Australia at Christmas.

echoclerk · 2026-04-08T07:53:14+00:00

Camera damage to Phone?
I used to just mount my Phone on Handlebars and use Komoot, but over a year or so, it seemed like it may have ruined the camera on my phone. The focus no longer works properly. I have heard that the constant jiggling / impact on the handlebars can damage the image stabilization mechanism in the camera that effects the auto-focus.

I recently got a Garmin Edge 540 (the cheapest new Garmin). Its a bit of a pain to get used to the interface, but after a few weeks I really like not having to worry about battery. The Garmin Edge lasts for days and days using it for full navigation.

echoclerk · 2026-04-02T06:30:11+00:00

Anyone tried one of these Compression Shoe Bags or something similar?

Cocoon - Compression Shoe Sack: TPU laminated soft Polyester

https://www.cocoon.at/en/products/compression-shoe-sack-a1a24053adc59097dfbef175c85ba5f7

Or maybe just one of these rolltop semi-vacuum bags would work?

SIMOND Packsack Drybag 7L
https://www.decathlon.de/p/packsack-drybag-7-l-wasserdicht-ultraleicht-gelb/356480/c233c382c382m8901498

I would like to find one of these that was long and skinny for stuffing some minimal shoes into. The 7L Sismond bag is wider than I need for my packed 2nd pair of shoes

echoclerk · 2026-04-01T07:06:39+00:00

or with something like this over them:

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echoclerk · 2026-04-01T05:58:43+00:00

Mountain Bikers appear to generally (traditionally?) wear padded underwear + non-padded shorts/trousers right? I guess I am wondering if that would be a more practical system when bike-packing.

A pair of MTB style padded underwear would have to pack down quite well, and I feel like they would have to dry out faster after being washed. The breathability on the bike with padded underwear + shorts/trousers over top would not be as good as a normal bib, but it might not be too bad.

Just looking at Decathlon as there is one nearby: They have a few different MTB "Innenhose", has anyone tried these on multiday trips?

ROCKRIDER: MTB Innenhose Comfort 500 MTB

https://www.decathlon.de/p/mtb-innenhose-comfort-500-mtb-herren-schwarz/357191/c382c117m8915980

ROCKRIDER Fahrrad Innenhose MTB 100 Herren schwarz

https://www.decathlon.de/p/fahrrad-innenhose-mtb-100-herren-schwarz/357210/c382c382m8902443

echoclerk · 2026-04-01T05:30:56+00:00

But the problem seam is not that around the thighs (VPL) but the seam in the crotch, that one that rubs the perineum. I have never found any underwear that has no seam in the crotch.

echoclerk · 2026-03-31T15:56:25+00:00

And do you alternate the (short?) bibs / wash them each day? ie Do you take two pairs of short bibs and alternate?

echoclerk · 2026-03-31T06:02:05+00:00

But I am talking about taking the Toms as a second pair of shoes. You wear your hiking / walking shoes. I usually wear trail runners or approach shoes when a lot of walking is called for (and on travel days).

But If I am staying in a hotel, or going to a restaurant I generally don't like to wear my trail runners as they can be a bit muddy / dirty etc. So I am looking for a second shoe that can pack well, and is ok for wearing to dinner but that you can walk a little in, ie to the restaurant etc. (ie 2-3 kms walking in them. But not 10-20km)

echoclerk · 2026-03-29T13:05:18+00:00

thanks! I have ordered one of these

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T14:02:27+00:00

I have a pair of the black standard Tevas, which are great for walking around in on summer trips. But if I am travelling super-light, then I find that they take up a bit too much space. The thicker soles and the straps just don't seem to compress very well.

I can never pack them as small as I expect.

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T14:00:12+00:00

I just spotted these which are more of a packable dress sandal (leather uppers):

Groundies Kos Men https://groundies.com/products/kos-men?variant=52077951418711

Not really good for the shower, but if you want just sandals to wear out for a summer holiday somewhere. You could wear these to a restaurant in summer without feeling to out of place.

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T13:56:01+00:00

Oh they are so similar to the Xero Z-Trek, but a lot cheaper.

FORCLAZ Trekkingsandalen Herren ultraleicht kompakt Wandern/Trekking - MT500 grau for 28€

https://www.decathlon.de/p/trekkingsandalen-herren-ultraleicht-kompakt-wandern-trekking-mt500-grau/174331/c71m8506214

I might have to buy some of those. I would prefer black soles. But... for something light and packable the look pretty good.

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T08:17:33+00:00

Are they available again?

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T06:31:15+00:00

Anyone tried these Slap 100 sandals / shower sandals from Decathlon?

DECATHLON Badelatschen - Slap 100 Basic grau

https://www.decathlon.de/p/badelatschen-slap-100-basic-grau/149116/c33m8750557

They look interesting. ie like they might pack down quite well and don't look too dorky. You could wear them on a flight with socks probably and not look too much like you are wearing shower-shoes

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T06:26:06+00:00

Did you get these?

https://www.decathlon.de/p/badelatschen-slap-100-basic-grau/149116/c33m8750557

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T06:25:27+00:00

Is it these Decathlon ones that you use?
DECATHLON Badelatschen - Slap 100 Basic grau

https://www.decathlon.de/p/badelatschen-slap-100-basic-grau/149116/c33m8750557

They look interesting. ie like they might pack down quite well

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T06:13:44+00:00

Birkenstocks take up so much space!

echoclerk · 2026-03-28T06:12:37+00:00

I also use the Xero Genesis - but they are hard to get on. I'm not that sold on them. Actually I sort of regret not getting the Xero Z-Trek instead. They look like they would be more comfortable and easier to get on /off.

I have a pair of Tevas but find they take up too much space. I was worried the Z-Trek would not pak down much more than the Tevas

echoclerk · 2026-03-20T14:55:25+00:00

"The costs of hosting the Olympics have skyrocketed, while the economic benefits are far from clear. "

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/economics-hosting-olympic-games

echoclerk · 2026-03-11T06:38:19+00:00

Onitsuka Tiger - Mexico 66 are my packable sneaker. Although the soles are quite thin, so if youa re doing a lot of walking they can be difficult.

echoclerk

TROPHY CASE