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Hi there,  One of the best products I've used in these situations is a vinyl plank system - It's specifically made for high trafiic and areas where dampness can be an issue. Not only is it pretty easy to install (much easier than laminate or tile), it comes in tons of finishes; everything from an antique-look barnboard to bamboo. You can find it at Home Depot, both in-store and online under the name Trafficmaster by Allure.

 Arren

Thanks for the recommendation, Arren.  I've been looking for a flooring for my basement that isn't as cold on the feet as lino or tile over the concrete.  I can't have carpet, due to my allergies, and my two dogs would tear up a cork flooring.  I looked that product up online, and it says:

Easy GripStrip™ installation Lays directly over your old floor; no floor prep or messy glue needed! Looks and feels like real wood - feel the knots! Completely waterproof. Perfect in high moisture areas - basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Warm comfort and quiet under foot. Install an entire floor cleanly, easily in just a few hours. 25 year residential warranty

When they say warm comfort, can you tell me if they're referring to the warm "look" or if this flooring really does block out the cold from the concrete?

No problem. I think it would slightly warm up a concrete basement floor, but only just. The best bet for warmth would be to put in a subfloor - There are plastic dimpled back wood tiles that click together to create a subfloor and raise the floor off the damp and cold concrete available from most big box reno stores. Otherwise you could always put a nice rug down over the Allure floor!

Cheers,  Arren 

Fixedwings:

Thanks for the recommendation, Arren.  I've been looking for a flooring for my basement that isn't as cold on the feet as lino or tile over the concrete.  I can't have carpet, due to my allergies, and my two dogs would tear up a cork flooring. ...

I have to ask, why do you think dogs would tear up cork? If it helps, I have cork in my kitchen, and a dog, and no issue, not one scratch (which I can not say is true for my wood floor). If you look around at the various brands you will see some don't scratch at all compared to others that scratch if you just look at it sideways. You can check the store samples with your nails to see.

I've had my kitchen down for just over a year now and have to say of any flooring I've used, it's just the best. It's soft and warm and quiet. I've had water spilled (dog dish and me), no issue. Fridge dragged a dent into it when it was put back in place but it popped back in a week or so. Even a steak knife dropped pointy end down succeeded in stabbing the cork, but no problem, I have no idea where that cut is as it just self healed. I love this flooring and it was really easy to lay (click and lock like laminate), way way easier to cut than laminate, and about the same price.
 
When I was shopping around for it I noticed some big differences in quality and prices so it really pays to shop around. The stuff I managed to find was in a specialty lumber store that imported direct and it was the same quality as in the high end stores for the price you'd find the cheap stuff in HD.

I'd think cork is a perfect floor for a basement because it is warm and quiet and soft. My dog loves my kitchen floor for some reason and will usually sleep there over her cushy bed. Go figure.

As a side note, there is a huge thread on the Allure flooring that has been running a while on the House & HOme forums http://forums.houseandhome.com/showthread.php?t=18503&highlight=allure&f=10  If you are interested in this flooring you might want to take a look as some people have had some issues with it and found they had to take some extra steps to make it work.
 

That's good to know.  Thank you!  I'd always understood that cork, although beautiful, didn't stand up well to abuse.  I guess I'll have to look into it some more.

I'll check out that link... thanks again.