In a world where stress, anxiety and work-pressure, dominates our lives- Camping is one of the best ways to relax and rejuvenate ourselves.
It provides us with a scope to explore our natural surroundings and gives us an ideal opportunity to forget about our daily life and immerse ourselves into nature. It is one of the best ways to spend quality time outdoors– be it with friends or family.
However, there are certain things that one must keep in mind while packing for a camping trip. The most important thing that a lot of people ignore is carrying proper camp shoes.
Using the best camp shoes will keep you comfortable and allow your feet to breathe. These shoes also have several important functions
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Function of Best Camping Shoes To remember
- Camp Shoes are more Breathable:
Walking or hiking for long hours in hiking boots can cause excess production of sweat in your feet. This can make your feet feel steamy, sometimes causing blisters.
Camp shoes are more airy and breathable. Changing into camp shoes after a long hike, allows your feet to cool down and get some air before you slip it back into your socks or your sleeping bag.
- It helps to keep your feet clean:
Cleaning your feet after long hours of hiking is a must.
You need to clean your feet, removing any kind of grime, bug bites, mud stains or blisters with a good sanitizer, tea tree oil or a wet wipe. Wearing camp shoes after cleansing your feet, helps them to dry off more quickly.
- It provides more comfort:
After hiking for long hours in closed and guarded shoes, it always feels better to let them out.
Wearing camp shoes after a long hike is not only more relaxing and comforting for your feet but also a good opportunity for you to clean your hiking boots and prepare them for the next day’s hike.
Also Read: Sleeping Bags For Hammock Camping
- It allows you to dry your hiking shoes:
Sometimes during a hike, you might have to cross a small stream or a shallow lake causing your hiking boots to get wet.
While drying your hiking boots, you won’t have to stay barefooted if you carry a pair of camp shoes with you. Camp shoes are much airier and you can dry your feet and your hiking boots at the same time.
Things to look for while buying Camp Shoes:
Camp shoes have certain features that make them stand out compared to just regular hiking shoes.
If you want to buy the best camp shoes available in the market, then these are the features you should be looking for:
- It must be ‘Hike-able’:
Although you might have separate shoes for hiking, at times you will need to walk around in your camp shoes as well. If your hiking shoes are still wet and you need to get a refill from your water source, then you will have to do it wearing your camp shoes.
Therefore while buying the best camp shoes you need to make sure that they can be used for light hiking. Camp shoes with a strap around the heel are better as they help in stabilizing your foot-falls and prevent you from slipping or sliding.
- It must be Waterproof:
While buying the best camp shoes, you must make sure that they are water-resistant with little to no possibility of soaking water.
Camp shoes are not only used at the basecamps but at times it might be needed for crossing a river. Therefore, it’s always best if they are water-proof or employ some kind of quick-drying technology. Soggy shoes can be a terrible hassle sometimes as it might make your feet feel heavy and take a long time to dry.
- It must be Lightweight:
Since a person is more likely to carry camp shoes in their bags, they need to be light in weight.
If your camp shoes are too heavy then it might weigh you down and add more load to your backpack than necessary. Ideally, it should not weigh more than 6-12 ounces.
- It must be Easy to Slip-on and off:
While buying the best camp shoes available, make sure to go for a simpler design.
Try to avoid the ones with lace because they are difficult to slip on and off. Usually, the ones with a basic slip-on design or straps are better and more suitable. You can easily put them on, using a single hand and walk around comfortably.
Read more: What Should You Not Wear In Hawaii
Best Camp Shoes For Backpacking
Given below is a list of some of the best camp shoes available in the market:
- Troadlop Men’s Hiking Quick Drying Trail Running Shoes
- ALEADER Men’s Water Hiking Shoe, Breathable, Wet-Traction Grip
- Crocs Men’s and Women’s Classic Realtree Clog | Camo Crocs for Men and Women
- Northside Kids’ Rampart Mid Hiking Boot
- Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Gtx Hiking Boot
Troadlop Men’s Hiking Quick Drying Trail Running Shoes
Although these are hiking shoes, they are extremely comfortable and light. The knit fabric is soft, flexible on your feet and extremely breathable.
The sole is super soft and it will provide you with a comfortable walking experience. You can easily roll it up and pack it into your bag if you want to save space.
You don’t have to worry about wearing it in water, dirt or mud as it can be cleaned with ease. The unique front design allows a greater toe space and allows you to have a better foot-feeling at all times
Specifications:
| Price | $26.99 |
| Length | 7.87 x 4.72 x 4.72 inches |
| Weight | 14.11 Ounces |
| Colour | Available in a wide range of colours |
| Resistant to Water | Yes |
Pros:
- It has a great drainage, heat dissipation and dehumidification system
- These shoes are extremely soft, light and breathable
- It has a wide toe design that allows you to wiggle your toes in a certain spac
Cons:
- Some customers were not satisfied with the product because of the poor quality stitching that came off in no time
My Thoughts:
These shoes are great not just for hiking and camping but also for other outdoor-activities like walking, running, climbing etc.
The wide toe space allows you to move your toes to some extent while the unique front design also protects your toe from sharp objects while you are on the move. It is highly breathable and easy to clean making it a great choice for professionals
ALEADER Men’s Water Hiking Shoe, Breathable, Wet-Traction Grip
These shoes are extremely breathable and have a quick-drying upper textile. It also has a secure fit strap design that can be adjusted according to your comfort.
The synthetic ribbon present along the sides provides it with extra support and stability. The rubber outsole has a multi-directional lug-like pattern along with a razor siping .
This allows the shoe to have the right traction over dry and wet surfaces. It has a metatomical foot-bed that conforms to the shape of your feet, keeping it comfortable.
It also has a quick lacing system that ensures both secure and customized fit. The shock-absorbing midsoles provides you with a superior shock absorption while the non-marking rubber outsole provides you with an excellent grip and all-round protection.
Specifications:
| Price | $49.99 |
| Length | 10.24 x 9.45 x 4.72 inches |
| Weight | 1.1 Pounds |
| Colour | Available in 3 different colour variations |
| Resistant to Water | Yes |
Pros:
- It has a water-resistant upper mesh and a breathable mesh lining
- It comes with a Cleansport NXT feature that helps to control feet odor
- It has a removable metatomical EVA footbed that stabilizes your footfall.
Cons:
- Some customers were not satisfied with the quality of the product after use
My Thoughts:
This shoe is an excellent choice for both professional as well as amateur hikers. It can be used in any type of terrain because of its excellent shock-absorbing midsoles.
It provides a superi ALEADER Men’s Water Hiking Shoe, Breathable, Wet-Traction Gripor quality grip that allows you to hike comfortably both on wet and dry surfaces.
Crocs Men’s and Women’s Classic Realtree Clog | Camo Crocs for Men and Women
These Classic Realtree Crocs have a synthetic sole and offer a rugged style because of the authentic camouflage print. It is wildly comfortable footwear that you can enjoy both indoors as well as outdoors.
The mule clogs present on its surface are flexible and made up of crosslite material making it breathable, easy to clean and does not allow water to stick on it. The foot-bed is wide and roomy, allowing easy ventilation of the feet.
Specifications:
| Price | $34.79 – $46.99 |
| Length | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Weight | 7 Ounces |
| Colour | Khaki |
| Resistant to Water | Yes |
Pros:
- These are one of the best shoes for boot camp because it keeps you comfortable, allowing your feet to breathe.
- It is extremely light is weight making it easy for you to carry it around
- It doesn’t have any straps or frills – one can easily slip it on and off in no time.
Cons:
- Some customers have complained about the strap that comes off easily just after a few uses
My Thoughts:
If you want a shoe that does not require much maintenance then crocs are the best option for you. These are comfortable, easy to use and extremely flexible. You can use it in any type of situation or weather condition- it will work perfectly.
Northside Kids’ Rampart Mid Hiking Boot
These are one of the best camp shoes available for kids. These imported quality shoes have a rubber sole and a suede and ripstop nylon uppers.
The dual coloured TPR traction outsoles ensure a steady footing while the cushioned EVA insole with extra padding on the sides ensures comfort all day long. The rugged ankle-high shaft provides a better support to your child’s feet and makes it extremely breathable and water resistant.
It also comes with an abrasion resistant toe-guard and a heel stabilizer. It has a gusseted tongue that helps to keep the debris out and a water-proof lining that keeps the feet dry.
Specifications:
| Price | $38.21 – $50.00 |
| Length | 7 x 3 x 6 inches |
| Weight | 14.4 Ounces |
| Colour | Medium Brown |
| Resistant to Water | yes |
Pros:
- This is an excellent choice for little hikers mainly because of its light weight, supportive cushioning and a removable contoured EVA insole
- It has a speed lacing system, making it easy to pull it on and off at any time.
- It also comes with a heel stabilizer and pvc mud-guard for extra protection
Cons:
- Some customers were not satisfied with the water-proof feature and claimed that their shoes got wet after coming in contact with water and did not dry away quickly.
My Thoughts:
If you are looking for the best backpacking camp shoes for your little ones then the Rampart Mid is a great option for you.
It is water-proof, extremely lightweight and built for cushioning, support and protection. It features easy on/off elastic laces, making it extremely easy to wear and adjustable hook straps for extra security.
Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Mid Gtx Hiking Boot
These are one of the best camp shoes available online. These imported, premium quality boots are made from 100% synthetic leather.
The upper portion also has meshwork, making these boots more breathable. It also has a synthetic Vibram TC5+ sole that doesn’t allow sweat to stick on it for a long time.
It has a GORE-TEX waterproof membrane that makes it exceptionally breathable and prevents it from soaking up water. It has a closed-cell foam tongue that helps to keep debris and moisture out. It also has a protective toe-cap made of rubber that supports your toe and stabilizes your feet during a hike.
Specifications:
| Price | $74.95 – $166.96 |
| Length | 14 x 9 x 4.7 inches |
| Weight | 1.1 Pounds |
| Colour | Available in a wide range of colours |
| Resistant to Water | Yes |
Pros:
- These shoes are extremely comfortable and durable
- It has a supportive footbed that stabilizes your footfalls even in rough terrains
- It is water-resistant and does not soak up water or become heavy
Conss:
- Some customers have complained about the loosely stuck soles that come off within a few months of use.
My Thoughts:
These are one of the best boot camp shoes available in the market and it has been an ideal choice for hikers all over the world, for more than a decade.
These shoes are extremely comfortable and last for a long period of time. Indeed it is a Moab i.e. Mother of All Boots for all the right reasons.
Wrapping Up
If you want to make your camping experience more memorable than these are some of the best shoes for boot camp workout available online.
These shoes are flexible, easy to carry around and resistant to water. If you want to enjoy your camping trip, without having to worry about your hiking boots, these are the best options to choose from.
