diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 9fbe49451c..6e833854e0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -445,12 +445,11 @@ namespace MWClass
     {
         const MWWorld::LiveCellRef<ESM::NPC>* ref = ptr.get<ESM::NPC>();
 
-        const std::string& model = Settings::models().mBaseanim;
         const ESM::Race* race = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::Race>().find(ref->mBase->mRace);
         if (race->mData.mFlags & ESM::Race::Beast)
-            return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna;
+            return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna.get().value();
 
-        return model;
+        return Settings::models().mBaseanim.get().value();
     }
 
     void Npc::getModelsToPreload(const MWWorld::ConstPtr& ptr, std::vector<std::string_view>& models) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actorutil.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actorutil.cpp
index 7739d5a6f6..3cb8adb8aa 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actorutil.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actorutil.cpp
@@ -10,24 +10,24 @@ namespace MWRender
         if (!firstPerson)
         {
             if (isWerewolf)
-                return Settings::models().mWolfskin;
+                return Settings::models().mWolfskin.get().value();
             else if (isBeast)
-                return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna;
+                return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna.get().value();
             else if (isFemale)
-                return Settings::models().mBaseanimfemale;
+                return Settings::models().mBaseanimfemale.get().value();
             else
-                return Settings::models().mBaseanim;
+                return Settings::models().mBaseanim.get().value();
         }
         else
         {
             if (isWerewolf)
-                return Settings::models().mWolfskin1st;
+                return Settings::models().mWolfskin1st.get().value();
             else if (isBeast)
-                return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna1st;
+                return Settings::models().mBaseanimkna1st.get().value();
             else if (isFemale)
-                return Settings::models().mBaseanimfemale1st;
+                return Settings::models().mBaseanimfemale1st.get().value();
             else
-                return Settings::models().mXbaseanim1st;
+                return Settings::models().mXbaseanim1st.get().value();
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 32d775a9bd..89adc26d08 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -1590,7 +1590,7 @@ namespace MWRender
                 MWWorld::LiveCellRef<ESM::Creature>* ref = mPtr.get<ESM::Creature>();
                 if (ref->mBase->mFlags & ESM::Creature::Bipedal)
                 {
-                    defaultSkeleton = Settings::models().mXbaseanim;
+                    defaultSkeleton = Settings::models().mXbaseanim.get().value();
                     inject = true;
                 }
             }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 9e9d69c399..8e8f10a362 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         if (!is1stPerson)
         {
-            const std::string& base = Settings::models().mXbaseanim;
+            const std::string& base = Settings::models().mXbaseanim.get().value();
             if (!isWerewolf)
                 addAnimSource(base, smodel);
 
@@ -521,9 +521,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         }
         else
         {
-            const std::string& base = Settings::models().mXbaseanim1st;
             if (!isWerewolf)
-                addAnimSource(base, smodel);
+                addAnimSource(Settings::models().mXbaseanim1st.get().value(), smodel);
 
             if (!isBase)
                 addAnimSource(smodel, smodel);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 7048f7c933..09f9003162 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -283,12 +283,12 @@ namespace MWRender
         {
             try
             {
-                for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it = mModels.begin(); it != mModels.end(); ++it)
-                    mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getTemplate(*it);
-                for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it = mTextures.begin(); it != mTextures.end(); ++it)
-                    mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(*it);
-                for (std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it = mKeyframes.begin(); it != mKeyframes.end(); ++it)
-                    mResourceSystem->getKeyframeManager()->get(*it);
+                for (const VFS::Path::Normalized& v : mModels)
+                    mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getTemplate(v);
+                for (const VFS::Path::Normalized& v : mTextures)
+                    mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(v);
+                for (const VFS::Path::Normalized& v : mKeyframes)
+                    mResourceSystem->getKeyframeManager()->get(v);
             }
             catch (const std::exception& e)
             {
@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ namespace MWRender
             }
         }
 
-        std::vector<std::string> mModels;
-        std::vector<std::string> mTextures;
-        std::vector<std::string> mKeyframes;
+        std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized> mModels;
+        std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized> mTextures;
+        std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized> mKeyframes;
 
     private:
         Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
index c75849d532..c45fadc74f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
@@ -934,7 +934,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         mUnderwaterSwitch->setWaterLevel(height);
     }
 
-    void SkyManager::listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<std::string>& models, std::vector<std::string>& textures)
+    void SkyManager::listAssetsToPreload(
+        std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& models, std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& textures)
     {
         models.push_back(Settings::models().mSkyatmosphere);
         if (mSceneManager->getVFS()->exists(Settings::models().mSkynight02.get()))
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
index e0cd26f98a..716f49a4c7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #include <osg/Vec4f>
 #include <osg/ref_ptr>
 
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
+
 #include "precipitationocclusion.hpp"
 #include "skyutil.hpp"
 
@@ -100,7 +102,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         /// Set height of water plane (used to remove underwater weather particles)
         void setWaterHeight(float height);
 
-        void listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<std::string>& models, std::vector<std::string>& textures);
+        void listAssetsToPreload(
+            std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& models, std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& textures);
 
         float getBaseWindSpeed() const;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
index c14f031fd1..1b8b307d21 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         }
     }
 
-    void Water::listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<std::string>& textures)
+    void Water::listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& textures)
     {
         const int frameCount = std::clamp(Fallback::Map::getInt("Water_SurfaceFrameCount"), 0, 320);
         std::string_view texture = Fallback::Map::getString("Water_SurfaceTexture");
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         {
             std::ostringstream texname;
             texname << "textures/water/" << texture << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << i << ".dds";
-            textures.push_back(texname.str());
+            textures.emplace_back(texname.str());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
index 3572f28420..92299309f0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <osg/ref_ptr>
 
 #include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 namespace osg
 {
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         void setCullCallback(osg::Callback* callback);
 
-        void listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<std::string>& textures);
+        void listAssetsToPreload(std::vector<VFS::Path::Normalized>& textures);
 
         void setEnabled(bool enabled);
 
diff --git a/components/settings/categories/models.hpp b/components/settings/categories/models.hpp
index 0d26eeba5f..5cadca8be7 100644
--- a/components/settings/categories/models.hpp
+++ b/components/settings/categories/models.hpp
@@ -2,14 +2,7 @@
 #define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_SETTINGS_CATEGORIES_MODELS_H
 
 #include <components/settings/settingvalue.hpp>
-
-#include <osg/Math>
-#include <osg/Vec2f>
-#include <osg/Vec3f>
-
-#include <cstdint>
-#include <string>
-#include <string_view>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 namespace Settings
 {
@@ -18,29 +11,29 @@ namespace Settings
         using WithIndex::WithIndex;
 
         SettingValue<bool> mLoadUnsupportedNifFiles{ mIndex, "Models", "load unsupported nif files" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanim{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mBaseanim{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanim" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanim1st{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim1st" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mBaseanimkna{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimkna" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mBaseanimkna1st{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimkna1st" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanimfemale{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimfemale" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mBaseanimfemale{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimfemale" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mBaseanimfemale1st{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimfemale1st" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWolfskin{ mIndex, "Models", "wolfskin" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWolfskin1st{ mIndex, "Models", "wolfskin1st" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXargonianswimkna{ mIndex, "Models", "xargonianswimkna" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanimkf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimkf" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanim1stkf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim1stkf" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXbaseanimfemalekf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimfemalekf" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mXargonianswimknakf{ mIndex, "Models", "xargonianswimknakf" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mSkyatmosphere{ mIndex, "Models", "skyatmosphere" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mSkyclouds{ mIndex, "Models", "skyclouds" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mSkynight01{ mIndex, "Models", "skynight01" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mSkynight02{ mIndex, "Models", "skynight02" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWeatherashcloud{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherashcloud" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWeatherblightcloud{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherblightcloud" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWeathersnow{ mIndex, "Models", "weathersnow" };
-        SettingValue<std::string> mWeatherblizzard{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherblizzard" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanim{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mBaseanim{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanim" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanim1st{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim1st" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mBaseanimkna{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimkna" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mBaseanimkna1st{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimkna1st" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanimfemale{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimfemale" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mBaseanimfemale{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimfemale" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mBaseanimfemale1st{ mIndex, "Models", "baseanimfemale1st" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWolfskin{ mIndex, "Models", "wolfskin" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWolfskin1st{ mIndex, "Models", "wolfskin1st" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXargonianswimkna{ mIndex, "Models", "xargonianswimkna" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanimkf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimkf" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanim1stkf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanim1stkf" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXbaseanimfemalekf{ mIndex, "Models", "xbaseanimfemalekf" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mXargonianswimknakf{ mIndex, "Models", "xargonianswimknakf" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mSkyatmosphere{ mIndex, "Models", "skyatmosphere" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mSkyclouds{ mIndex, "Models", "skyclouds" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mSkynight01{ mIndex, "Models", "skynight01" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mSkynight02{ mIndex, "Models", "skynight02" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWeatherashcloud{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherashcloud" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWeatherblightcloud{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherblightcloud" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWeathersnow{ mIndex, "Models", "weathersnow" };
+        SettingValue<VFS::Path::Normalized> mWeatherblizzard{ mIndex, "Models", "weatherblizzard" };
         SettingValue<bool> mWriteNifDebugLog{ mIndex, "Models", "write nif debug log" };
     };
 }
diff --git a/components/settings/settings.hpp b/components/settings/settings.hpp
index 5be2130259..d269b5cea3 100644
--- a/components/settings/settings.hpp
+++ b/components/settings/settings.hpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <components/detournavigator/collisionshapetype.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/lightingmethod.hpp>
 #include <components/sdlutil/vsyncmode.hpp>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <set>
@@ -263,6 +264,13 @@ namespace Settings
             return SDLUtil::VSyncMode::Disabled;
         return static_cast<SDLUtil::VSyncMode>(value);
     }
+
+    template <>
+    inline VFS::Path::Normalized Manager::getImpl<VFS::Path::Normalized>(
+        std::string_view setting, std::string_view category)
+    {
+        return VFS::Path::Normalized(getString(setting, category));
+    }
 }
 
 #endif // COMPONENTS_SETTINGS_H
diff --git a/components/settings/settingvalue.hpp b/components/settings/settingvalue.hpp
index b99de6eaa7..addc557138 100644
--- a/components/settings/settingvalue.hpp
+++ b/components/settings/settingvalue.hpp
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 #include "sanitizer.hpp"
 #include "settings.hpp"
 
-#include "components/debug/debuglog.hpp"
-#include "components/detournavigator/collisionshapetype.hpp"
+#include <components/debug/debuglog.hpp>
+#include <components/detournavigator/collisionshapetype.hpp>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 #include <osg/io_utils>
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ namespace Settings
         HrtfMode,
         WindowMode,
         VSyncMode,
+        NormalizedPath,
     };
 
     template <class T>
@@ -175,6 +177,12 @@ namespace Settings
         return SettingValueType::VSyncMode;
     }
 
+    template <>
+    inline constexpr SettingValueType getSettingValueType<VFS::Path::Normalized>()
+    {
+        return SettingValueType::NormalizedPath;
+    }
+
     inline constexpr std::string_view getSettingValueTypeName(SettingValueType type)
     {
         switch (type)
@@ -221,6 +229,8 @@ namespace Settings
                 return "window mode";
             case SettingValueType::VSyncMode:
                 return "vsync mode";
+            case SettingValueType::NormalizedPath:
+                return "normalized path";
         }
         return "unsupported";
     }