Zinetic Pocket Slippers :: September 21, 2007

Zinetic Pocket Slippers—“unisex pocket slippers for the outdoors”—weigh about a half-pound per pair and roll up tight and small for stuffing away in the bottom of a pack. Or, as the name portends, shove them in a parka pocket.

These slippers, which come in six sizes (XS to XXL) and cost $24.99 a pair, were invented to be worn in lieu of the heavy and clunky footwear often accompanying outdoorsy types.

Say you’re skiing Jackson Hole and want to take a long lunch in the Teton Village chalet complex at the base of the (former) tram. Simply remove the Zinetic Pocket Slippers from your, well, pocket, and switch out your creaky, 8-pound alpine boots for these lithe ballet pads.

Same goes for hostels during travel; backcountry campsites on the PCT or AT; Nordic ski lodges; and yurts deep in the San Juans. That kind of thing.

I tried out a pair of Olive XXL’s, and the slippers were way big on my size 12.5 feet. The company charts men’s size 11 and 12 as deserving of the XXL, but this is wrong. They’re literally falling off my feet as I walk around.

They weigh about 8 ounces a pair, depending on size. This is on the heavy side for ultra-light backpackers, though for most other pursuits it’d be an acceptable—if unnoticeable—addition in a backpack.

The slippers have a meshy top and a hard rubber sole that rolls up small and tight. They’re waterproof on the sole, though your feet get wet tromping in snow, puddles or mud. Comfort-wise, they provide essentially no support, just a thin sheen of rubber with some minimal tread between your toes and the earth.

Price: $24.99

Contact: Zinetic Inc., www.pocketslippers.com