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10 Best Camp Shoes of 2023

10 Best Camp Shoes and Stream Crossing Shoes

Many hikers and backpackers carry camp shoes to help their feet recover after a hot day of hiking or to change into for stream crossings to keep their socks and hiking footwear dry. Sandals, water shoes, slides, clogs, and minimalist footwear are all popular choices but it’s worth giving some thought to their strength and weaknesses in different environments and climate conditions. They’re also indispensable for showering in hostels and at campgrounds to avoid contracting athlete’s foot from others. Check out our Camp Shoe Selection Guide below for a full discussion of the factors you should consider.

Here are the 10 Best Camp Shoes that we recommend.

Make / ModelGenderAvg Weight (Pair)
Merrell Hydro MocsMens | Womens11 oz
Crocs Classic ClogsUnisex12 oz
Xero Shoes Aqua X SportMens | Womens12.4 oz
Hoka One One Ora Recovery SlidesMens | Womens12.8 oz
OOFOS OOahh Sport Slides SandalsUnisex12 oz
The North Face Base Camp Slides IIIMens | Womens8.7 oz
Shamma Sandals CruzersUnisex8 oz
Crocs Crocband FlipsUnisex8 oz
Mayfly Ultralight Imago Camp ShoesUnisex1.8 oz
Classic FitkicksMens | Womens9 oz

1. Merrell Hydro Mocs

Merrell HydroMoc Camp Shoes

Merrell’s Hydro Mocs are cool and comfy shoes to wear in camp, for water sports, or down at the watering hole on a hot summer night. These slip-on waterproof shoes are made with single density injected EVA with a 2mm lug depth for secure traction on wet surfaces. They have an articulated heel with a strap for a secure fit and a contoured arch for support. The sizing is generous, so you normally wear a half size in footwear, we suggest you size down in this product, rather than ordering the ½ size larger. These are great for water crossings and trails that have lots of stream/land transitions. Avg weight per pair: 15 oz.

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2. Crocs Classic Clogs

Crocs Classic Clogs
Crocs Classic Clogs have been a hiker favorite for decades. They make great camp shoes to help your feet recover and provide enough protection and support for easy stream crossings. Easy to clean and quick to dry, they have built-in ventilation ports for breathability and drainage. They’re best attached to the outside of your backpack since they’re on the bulky side. You’ll also want to wear them with socks when the insects are out. Cros also comes in lots of fun colors if you want to let your hair hang out. Avg weight per pair: 12 oz.

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3. Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport

Xero Shoes Aqua X
While Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport shoes look like beefy trail shoes, they’re actually astonishingly lightweight and packable. It has a breathable mesh upper with a quick-dry lining, non-absorbent tongue, toe guard drain holes that help you quickly shed water, and a perforated self-draining insole, so it’s barely any heavier wet than dry. Weighing just 14.4 oz/pair, they are lightweight and cool for lounging around in camp but provide enough stability and protection for stream crossings and town use. Avg weight per pair: 12.4 oz.

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4. Hoka One One ORA Recovery Slides

Hoka One One Recovery Slides
Hoka One One’s ORA Recovery Slides will help cool and dry aching feet and put a little spring back into your step after a hard day of hiking.  Their dual-layer construction, cushioned, oversize midsoles, and soft EVA top layers provide step-in comfort and durability. These are best used in camp but don’t have the protection or stability you’d want for stream crossings where you can’t see your feet or underwater obstacles. While they’re not insect-proof without socks, they make great shower shoes at campgrounds and in hiking hostels. Avg weight per pair: 12.8 oz.

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5. OOFOS OOahh Sport Slide Sandals

OOFOS OOahh Spport Slide Sandals
OOFOS OOriginal Sandals are waterproof recovery sandals made with a super comfortable foam that helps your feet recover after high mileage hiking days or trail runs. They have a non-slip footbed and sole that provides excellent arch support and relief from plantar fasciitis. They even float! These sandals are best used for camp and for easy stream crossings but don’t provide the protection you’d want for deeper streams. Avg weight per pair: 12 oz.

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6. The North Face Base Camp Slide III

TNF Base Camp Sandals
The North Face Base Camp III Slides are great recovery shoes for tired and swollen feet after a hard day of hiking. They don’t really have enough heel support or toe protection for serious water crossings, but they’ll also serve you well in the shower house to keep your feet fungus-free. They have textured rubber outsoles to prevent slipping on wet surfaces, they fold flat for can be easily carried outside a backpack, and won’t absorb water when they get wet. Available for men and women, they only weigh 8.7 oz/pair.

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7. Shamma Sandals Cruzers

Shamma Sandals Cruzers
Shamma Cruzers are designed to be durable, versatile, and responsive with a lightweight minimal design that makes them ideal for walking, hiking, and running. Their UltraGrip footbed is comfortable and designed to keep you on the sandals with buckles and straps that won’t slip once locked in place. This is actually a big deal because heel strap slippage is one of the chief complaints about barefoot minimalist running sandals. Avg weight per pair: 8 oz.

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8. Crocs Crocband Flips

Crocs Crocband Flips
Crocs Crocband Flips are waterproof and durable flip flops that have massage-pod footbeds to help improve foot circulation and recovery after a hard day of hiking. Lugs on the bottom provide excellent traction and plenty of protection so rocks and pebbles don’t poke up through the footbed. They’re easy to clean, quick to dry, and pack flat. They also come in a wide variety of colors. Avg weight per pair: 8 oz.

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9. Mayfly Ultralight Equipment Imago Camp Shoes

Mayfly Imago Camp Shoes
Mayfly’s Super-duper-hyper-nano-ultralight Imago sandals are mainly designed to be camp shoes (to be worn in camp and not for hiking or stream crossing or saving damsels in distress) to help your feet recover from a long hiking day. Weighing 1.8 oz, they are made of fluted polypropylene which is the indestructible stuff used to make political yard signs together with nylon cord, silicone tubing, and thermoplastic buckles. They’re easy to adjust and a simple dunk is enough to clean them off. They pack flat and are an ultralight purpose-made option worth considering to keep your feet healthy and take off your gross trail shoes. Avg weight per pair: 1.8 oz.

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10. Classic Fitkicks

 Classic Fitkicks
Fitkicks are lightweight water-friendly footwear with spandex/synthetic uppers with a cushioned neoprene insole and non-marking rubber outsole. They’re great for swimming at the water hole, stream crossings, the beach, kayaking, paddleboarding or camping. They have a supportive grip strap that molds around the top of your foot and a reinforced toe guard up front. The flexible outsole makes them easy to pack and they’re machine washable. Avg weight per pair is 9 oz.

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Camp Shoes 101: Selection Guide

There are a wide range of factors that make good camp shoes or water shoes for stream crossings. While almost all stream 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, stream crossing protection, weight, warmth, and insect protection are also important factors to consider when choosing a camp shoe or one that can serve double duty for stream 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 what your priorities are. There are times when it’s really nice to slip on a warm and dry pair of camp shoes while cooking dinner in 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 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 allowing your feet to dry thoroughly after hiking all day in hot and sweaty hiking boots or trail runners. It takes forever to get rid of, especially if you’re day-to-day footwear doesn’t have a chance to dry out at night.

Weight

Many backpackers are obsessed with the weight of their backpacking gear and leave comfort items behind because they’re not strictly necessary or carry lighter-weight alternatives. In general, shoes that can only be used in camp tend to be lighter weight than those that are designed to be 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.

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9 comments

  1. Any idea if the Merrell Hydro Mocs are any more packable than the Crocs Classics? Like you said the best way to carry Crocs is on the outside, but I find myself still trying to pack them in the stretches where I am only using them at the end of the day while camping.

  2. Ok disappointed where are Teva’s on the list?? Best camp/ water crossing shoe there is and you can hike in them, weight yeah they are a little heavier but you can’t beat them! They are on the outside of my pack for my AT 2023 through hike

  3. Glad you covered the Mayfly sandals, which are impressively lightweight. It’s also possible to make your own huarache style camp sandals similar to Mayflies if you want to save a few bucks (and get some odd looks from other hikers at camp).

  4. On the Barnaby Alternate (GDT Sec A) I used Skinners. So easy to slip on and good ‘socks’ for sleeping. But they are so ugly, I couldn’t stand it ha ha. Since then I’ve been packing Xero Shoe sandals.

  5. I’ve been using fitkicks fpr a couple of years now and have been quite happy with them. I really like the relatively low weight, decent sole and comfortable slipper like fit as well as the fact that they fold flat and are easy to carry in the mesh outer back pocket of my pack for easy access when taking a break, siesta or lunch.

  6. lots of nice choices. My choice is Salomon Crossphibians. I can pull the quick laces snug for water crossings or stay loose for camp. Lightweight and store on small carabiners on the outside of my pack. Works for me and we have so many wonderfun choices

  7. I did a lot of hunting a few years ago – I wanted something kinda like the Crocs Clogs, but with a less of the clown-shoes look. The RedHead Ragin’ Water Shoe is what I determined is the best option for me. I like that it covers the back of the heel, rather than having a just the Crocs strap, plus it has a strap (with velcro closure) for the upper part of the front of the foot, giving it a more secure fit than a slip-on style shoe. There is a line for for men and a line for kids, but none for women. (Boo!) Fortunately for me the largest kid size (6), is equivalent to a women’s size 8.

  8. I bought my first pair of camp shoes this year. I live in the UK and we have a French camping chain of stores here called Decathlon. My camp shoes from them look like the Fitkicks, they are slip-on surfing shoes and only cost me £8. A great bargain.

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