The Best Camp Shoes of 2023

Most people are familiar with Crocs. Since 2002, Crocs has been making variations of its injection-molded EVA clogs. Though the brand’s classic model ($50) was originally developed as a boating shoe, it has since amassed a large following with backpackers and other outdoor recreation groups as the ultimate camp shoe.

On any thru-hiking trail, a pair of Crocs dangling off of the outside of someone’s pack is a common sight. The Classic Clog is lightweight, durable, and fully waterproof. If the Crocs get wet, simply wipe the water off with a rag or towel. Boom — instantly dry.

Crocs come with a heel strap that’s easily tucked out of the way when not in use. With the heel strap engaged, Crocs can easily handle short hikes without falling off. Without the heel strap in place, Crocs become a convenient source of slide-in foot protection.

Though Croc wearers often become the target of fashion-related jokes, we think they look pretty cool — especially when worn with pride. Crocs come in tons of different colors, and they are also available with an insulated liner.

Though many brands have developed high-tech camp shoes with all sorts of flashy features, the truth is that a classic pair of Crocs remains hard to beat. And at just $50 per pair, they’re an excellent value.

Designed for watersports but adopted by the thru-hiking community, the Vivobarefoot Ultra 3 ($120) is the ultimate shoe for overnight backpacking.

These unique-looking shoes are everything that lightweight backpackers need in a camp shoe. The shoes are easily compressible, so you can stuff them in your pack if you want to. The Ultra 3s have an upper that is made entirely of EVA, an elastic polymer very similar to rubber.

Fully waterproof and breathable, this honeycomb-patterned upper makes the Ultra 3s a true barefoot shoe. The EVA fully conforms to the shape and movements of your feet. When you’re wearing these, you’ll hardly feel them on your feet.

Elastic bungee-style laces allow the Ultra 3s to tighten and loosen with ease. Also, the laces don’t absorb much water and dry quickly. Speaking of moisture, you’ll never have to worry about these shoes becoming saturated. With a quick wipe-down to remove surface water, they’ll be fully dry.

The Vivobarefoot Ultra 3 is built on a zero-drop platform and doesn’t have a cushioned outsole. For people who are accustomed to well-cushioned shoes, the Ultra 3 will take some getting used to. Because the midsole and the outsole are the same things on this shoe, you’ll notice increased proprioception and ground feel.

Beneath the outsole, a clever tread pattern keeps up the hexagonal theme of the entire shoe. A strategic mixture of varied tread depths provides ample grip on a wide variety of surfaces. On gravel trails, paved streets, and even wet rock, the Ultra 3 offers reliable traction — an impressive trait for a “camp shoe.”

At $120, these camp shoes are more expensive than some other options on this list. However, at 8 ounces per shoe, the Ultra 3s are worth the investment, especially for lightweight backpackers. After a long day of crushing miles on the trail, these will feel like heaven on your feet.

The Vivobarefoot Ultra 3s are currently only available in a few sizes, so snag a pair while you can. Men’s and women’s styles are available.

At the end of a strenuous day of activity, it’s wise to give your feet the gift of recovery footwear. With a super-soft footbed that cushions your foot and leg joints, these sandals from OOFOS ($60) help relieve soreness and prepare you for your next hike or run.

Though at first glance these sandals look simple and unassuming, OOFOS are not your average poolside flip-flops. The brand’s proprietary foam, called OOfoam, is designed to absorb shock. In the company’s own words, “OOFOS absorbs 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear.” A unique arch support system claims to “reduce exertion by 47%.” These figures were taken from a 2018 University of Virginia study, which assessed the effectiveness of OOFOS sandals.

Traction is not the primary focus of these sandals. Though there’s decent tread on the outsole, the OOFOS OOriginal Sandals aren’t great for walking around on slick and loose terrain. The sandals hold up well, but the foam does become flat and deflated after a few months of frequent use.

For those seeking an ultra-comfortable camp shoe, the OOFOS is at the top of its class. The demands of long backpacking or trail running days can be hard on the feet, and these sandals can help lessen recovery time. We especially recommend the OOFOS OOriginal Sandals to anyone intent on taking good care of their feet.

For cold-weather adventures, a plush pair of down booties can be the key to keeping your toes warm all through the night. Think of down booties as sleeping bags for your feet — insulation is their only job.

With ethically sourced 800-fill down and a soft inner liner, these booties ($119) ensure warm feet even when the temperature drops well below freezing. Mostly, these booties aren’t designed to be worn while strolling around, but they come with a fairly hardy shell that holds up to short walks through camp.

Wear these booties to bed, and you won’t have to take them off when you get up to walk outside and pee. But remember, they aren’t made to handle repeated abrasion. As Feathered Friends says, “They’re built for warmth, not a marathon.”

Removable foam insoles provide a little extra support when you want it but also add some extra weight that many backpackers will want to leave behind. The booties are highly compressible and easy to pack away, though they don’t come with a stuff sack upon purchase.

For $109, these booties are certainly a bit pricey. But for those willing to pay the price for warm toes, these booties won’t let you down. For winter camping, they’re beyond worth their 9.3-ounce weight.

If you find your joints to be especially tired and achy after long running or hiking sessions, slipping into these recovery slides from HOKA may offer significant relief. Though they’re semi-bulky and perhaps not ideal for lightweight backpacking, they’ll surely be worth their weight to those who need a little extra recovery boost.

This is one of the most supportive options on this list, which is quite an impressive statement for a pair of slides. A soft UVA top layer soothes the feet, while stiffer rockered midsoles and outsoles offer structural support.

An open-toe design allows your feet to stretch out and breathe, and the slides can be worn with or without socks.

For such comfort-forward footwear, the Ora Recovery Slides are impressively durable. Semi-deep tread offers reasonable traction for hanging out at home or wandering around the campsite. At a price point of $55, these slides are an affordable remedy for sore feet.

This excellent camp shoe is one of the more traditional-looking footwear options on this list. Because it’s a full shoe rather than a flip-flop or sandal, it offers enough foot protection to roam around in.

Drain holes and a thin mesh upper material ensure that the Aleader Mesh Slip-Ons ($28) dry quickly after a thorough soaking. Though the dry time of these shoes is impressively short, they still take quite a bit longer to dry than some of the other options on this list — like Crocs, for example.

These shoes really thrive as water shoes. They’re a handy tool to deploy during water crossings, as their water grain outsole ensures exceptional traction on wet surfaces.

Though they’re not fully compressible, these shoes can fold decently well to take up less space inside a pack. A Solyte midsole is soft enough to feel soothing at the end of the long day but firm enough to hold up well in the long term.

The Aleaders are a top choice for those in need of a camp shoe capable of exploration and activity. While we don’t necessarily recommend running or backpacking while wearing these, they can handle a lot more active use than many of the camp shoe options on this list. At just $28, they’re affordable too.

These boot-slipper hybrids ($155) hit all the marks. They’re comfortable, durable, warm, and breathable. The felted wool is naturally fast-drying and odor-resistant. And the natural rubber sole offers up plenty of traction while remaining bulk-free and still feeling like a slipper.

We’ve been primarily wearing our Glerups indoors, though the rubber sole is hardy enough for the occasional car camping trip. The dense wool felt kept our feet warm during a brisk night around the campfire while light snow fell.

We really like how the wool molds to your foot over time. These slippers quickly become a custom pair. And while they’re indeed an investment, they’ll last for years. So they’re actually a great value. They’re also available in a slip-on clog style.

The Ramble Puff ($85) from Chaco is the perfect shoe for cold-weather camping in the dry season. We primarily used this shoe while car camping near high-elevation climbing areas in Wyoming, and it offered the ideal combination of insulation and practical wearability.

The Ramble Puff is available in both men’s and women’s styles. The most eye-catching feature is the quilted and insulated upper. In chilly temps all the way down to about 30 degrees F, these shoes kept our toes warm and happy — especially when paired with a thick pair of wool socks. Thanks to the addition of a plush fleece lining, the Ramble Puff is a bonafide sleeping bag for your foot.

Water-resistant ripstop nylon helps to keep moisture out, but these shoes are definitely not fully waterproof. Chaco has outfitted the women’s with their signature LUVSEAT contoured footbed, which provides ample arch support. The rubber outsole, while not grippy or supportive enough for sustained hiking, is plenty capable on short walks around camp.

Overall, the Ramble Puff is an impressive addition to Chaco’s increasingly diverse lineup. For the shoulder season car camping enthusiast, we highly recommend these warm and practical shoes.