Many backpackers carry camp shoes to help their feet recover after a hot day of hiking or to change into for water crossings to keep their socks and hiking footwear dry. Sandals, water shoes, slides, plastic clogs, and minimalist footwear are all popular choices because they are ultralight-weight. They’re also indispensable for showering in hostels and at campgrounds to avoid contracting athlete’s foot from others. Check out our Camp Shoe and Water Shoe Selection Guide below for a full discussion of the factors you should consider.
| Make / Model | Weight (Pair) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Birkenstock Arizona EVA Sandals | 8 oz | $50 |
| Xero Z-Trail EV Sandals | 11 oz | $80 |
| Crocs Classic Clogs | 12 oz | $50 |
| Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes | 2.3 oz | $35 |
| Merrell Hydro (Next Gen) Mocs | 11 oz | $100 |
| Classic Fitkicks | 9 oz | $30 |
| PolyFab Air Puff One | 4.6 oz | $100 |
| Shamma Elite Warrior Sandals | 7 oz | $95 |
| OOFOS OOahh Sport Slides Sandals | 12 oz | $60 |
| Crocs Crocband Flip Flops | 8 oz | $30 |
1. Birkenstock Arizona EVA Foam Sandals
2. Xero Z-Trail Sandals
3. Crocs Classic Clogs
4. Zpacks Ultralight Camp Shoes
5. Merrell Hydro (Next Gen) Mocs
6. Classic Fitkicks
7. PolyFab AirPuff One 3D Printed Shoes
8. Shamma Elite Warrior Sandals
9. OOFOS OOahh Sport Slide Sandals
10. Crocs Crocband Flip Flops
Camp and Water Crossing Shoes: Selection Guide
A wide range of factors make good camp shoes or water shoes for stream crossings. While almost all water crossing shoes make acceptable camp shoes, many camp shoes lack the protection or traction needed for more challenging stream crossings, where you can’t see your feet or the bottom. Packability, weight, warmth, and insect protection are also essential factors to consider when choosing a camp shoe or one that can double-duty for water crossings.
If you hike in well-drained hiking boots, shoes, or trail runners, it’s worth asking yourself if you even need camp shoes or stream-crossing shoes, or whether you’d rather not carry them and use your existing shoes as camp shoes and stream-crossing shoes instead. There’s no right or wrong answer; it all depends on your priorities. There are times when it’s nice to slip on a warm, dry pair of camp shoes while cooking dinner at camp.
Packability
If you plan on backpacking, it’s best to get a camp shoe or water shoe that’s easily packable with an upper that folds flat against the sole. Shoes with folding uppers are easily packed in pockets, and if they’re wet, in the front stretch mesh pocket of many backpacks. While you can hang bulky camp shoes on the outside of a pack, they can get torn off by passing vegetation or simply fall off because you didn’t secure them well.
Protection While Crossing Streams
Shallow streams are usually easy to cross because you can see your feet and the streambed bottom. But you’ll want camp shoes or water shoes that provide more foot protection if you have to cross deeper streams and rivers where you can’t see the streambed or sunken obstructions like sticks and logs. Water shoes that provide more protection around the toes and sides of your feet, have a firmer sole, and better ankle support, are advantageous in such circumstances. We never recommend crossing barefoot.
Athlete’s Foot Prevention
There’s nothing worse than picking up a case of Athlete’s Foot in public showers in hiker hostels, bunkhouses, or public campgrounds. Protect yourself by wearing camp shoes in the shower and letting your feet dry thoroughly after hiking all day in hot, sweaty hiking boots or trail runners. It takes forever to get rid of, especially if your day-to-day footwear doesn’t have a chance to dry out at night.
Weight
Many backpackers are obsessed with the weight of their gear and leave comfort items behind because they’re not strictly necessary, or they carry lighter-weight alternatives. In general, shoes that are only for camp tend to be lighter-weight than those designed as water shoes.
Warmth
If you’re camping or crossing streams in cold weather, you may want to opt for camp shoes or water shoes that encase your foot and your ankle more like a wetsuit bootie rather than sandals or slides. Don’t underestimate how cold mountain streams can get, even in summer, especially if you have to ford wide streams. The same holds for standing around camp in colder weather. Camp shoes/water shoes with fewer ventilation ports will be warmer.
Insect Protection
If you’ve ever gotten a mosquito bite on your foot, you know how itchy and unpleasant they can be. Unfortunately, insects become more prevalent in the evening, just as you’re cooking dinner in camp. Water shoes with neoprene or lycra uppers are generally more insect-proof than sandals, slides, and clogs. Wearing a sock with a relatively open shoe may still not provide enough insect protection for your needs, something to consider.
Bread Bags
If you’re an extreme ultralighter looking to shave every ounce from your gear list, bring bread bags or more durable turkey basting bags for camp use so you can wear wet shoes without getting dry socks wet.
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I’ve found the Xero Sandals lacking. They’re tough to get on, especially in a hurry during the middle of the night. Also, they don’t provide any protection beyond the sole. Plus they kick up a lot of sand and dirt when you walk. I just got the deluxe camp shoes from Zpacks that I’m looking forward to trying.
I find sandals lacking myself, but a lot of people like them. I seem to have an inexhaustible supply of black toenails myself, so I prefer closed and well-protected toes!
Chaco Chillo Clogs are my go to. Can wear them like clog with heel strap under heel or use heel strap and cinch it tight for more secure attachment. Works on camp, water and short trail sections.
Weight?
These hit a real sweet spot. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006683386004.html
$6.
They hold no water unlike water shoes or most sandals.
Durable enough for camp use on reasonable rocks unlike the superlight versions
Won’t restrict airflow so let feet dry better than plastic wraps like the polyfab
Adding a small shock cord heel strap, I ford rivers in them unlike the zpacks and super light versions
With shock cord they still come in at 6oz in size 14. Crocs that big are 16oz. So figure 4-5 oz in more normal sizes
My dad misplaced his bedroom slippers, who would be 102 if he were alive. Thanks for finding them!
LOL, you should listen to your elders, they have much to teach us :)
Hi Dave, those look interesting. Probably better than my drugstore flip flops that get stuck to the camp shower floor and snap off the thong thing. But how would you attach the shock cord for the heel strap? Thanks
Hey Jef, like here (if Phil allows it) https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/lightest-camp-shoes/page/4/#post-3821581
except I used 3mm shock cord instead of paracord and then a toggle on one end. Set the heel strap shock cord tension with the toggle: loose for camp, crank it down for water crossings.
Hi Jef, just punch a small hole through the upper where it meets the sole (do this on each side) and run the 3mm shock cord through from the inner side. Knot up one end on the outer side, and on the other end put a small toggle to make it adjustable.
What! No Mayfly Nymph there? 1.7ozs…..
And easy enough to make at home, too. Mine are slightly heavier than the Mayfly sandals, but I used shock cord instead of Zing-it. Every election cycle you can pick up enough yard signs once the election is over to make sandals enough to last a lifetime.
Thank you for tackling this sticky subject.
To date I’ve found no camp shoe that’s super light weight , ultra compressible, protects your toes going down to the water hole and yet strong enough to cross those overflowing all slippery streams. I think this is a great opportunity for a cottage manuf. to step in and put us out of our collective misery. Honestly I’m an Engineer and to date have no image in my mind to solve this seemingly simple problem.
Every single shoe you mentioned has at least one of those key features missing. Maybe a Super Ultra light limited edition Crocs made out of Plastic cardboard?? Heck they make Kayaks out of that stuff why not a shoe??
A few years back I made my own sandals out of those foam pads that go on the floor in your workshop. I cut out a suitable outline with straps of foam that went over your forefoot. They were super light and somewhat compressible but zero protection for your toes and very sketchy footing was not to be tackled .
Hope this helps.
Some years ago, in the comment section of an article on Camp shoes in this newsletter. someone suggested using waterproof socks with their hiking shoes in Camp. I have embraced the idea and personalized it.
I hike in trail runners, and don’t change a thing when I cross streams or hike in the rain. In camp a strip off the wet socks, and use a bit of hand sanitizer to clean my toes, drying them with a camp towel. Then I don thin liner socks, which I will sleep in, and a pair of Showers Pass waterproof socks. After removing the insoles to create space, and loosening the laces, I slip back into the trail runners till bed time. The system works perfectly for me, and the only extra weight is the waterproof socks.