Okay, so I found these new shoes. Actually, my girlfriend found them. and i fell in love (with the shoes). They're almost like being barefoot, except without the painful stepping on sharp rocks part.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com and then find a store near you to go in and try them on.
I played in mine today on extremely rocky desert terrain sharp rocks to go around, with plenty to spare. After four hours of playing hard (including sliding and tearing my pants AGAIN) I'm rather impressed.
The keen points (Pros)
Vibrams are super light weight. It's practically like wearing heavy socks as far as weight. Aside from the protection they offer from the terrain, i'd have thought i wasn't wearing shoes.
They also flex very well with your foot, allowing extremely good grip on even loose terrain. I even ran on loose sand (volleyball court) and was able to suddenly change direction with ease.
They are very comfortable and feel as if you've got a sock that hugs your foot.
They're even machine washable (air dry, don't put in the dryer). After I finished playing i just hosed them off and they looked like new again.
The downsides:
after four hours of play, my feet are a little sore, which i attribute to both the extreme terrain and the fact that these shoes are new, and not yet "broken in" also, using muscles in my feet that i haven't exercised regularly since my ballet days. I expect that the soreness will abate as i wear the shoes more, but only time will tell this tale. The other downside is heat conduction. It's bloody hot here, and the ground heats up quite quickly. The soles are thin and don't block the heat out very well. Again, more of a regional problem, and not something that would really be a problem at fields like Sherwood or HSI. Cost is the other downside at almost $90 a pair.
Overview:
The style i got (KSO: Keep Stuff/Shit Out) is second most expensive in the line, MSRP $85.00. The next model up is more for cold water applications and is $90. Allison (girlfriend) has the model below mine, the Sprint, and it suits her caving purposes nicely. The Sprint MSRP is $80. The entry levels would not work for paintball, but are very comfortable, and a little more affordable at $75.
They're available in a variety of colors (check the website and stores for availability) For those in the Ann Arbor area, Bivouac does carry them.
In my opinion, the added grip and comfort outweigh the downsides, especially since most of the downsides are a result of my specific playing terrain and region.
I'll be likely picking up at least another pair of Sprints and probably a second pair of KSO so that i can keep my paintball shoes my paintball shoes.
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