Best Camp Shoes of 2025

Product Comparison Table

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oSort	Product	CleverHiker Rating	Price	Weight (Pair)	Comfort	Versatility	Support	Durability
0	HOKA ORA Recovery 3 Slides View at REI See at Backcountry:	4.9/5.0	$60	15.6 oz.	4.6	4.8	5.0	5.0
1	KEEN Hyperport H2 See Men's: See Women's:	4.8/5.0	$120	1 lb. 2 oz.	4.6	4.6	5.0	5.0
2	Bedrock Mountain Clog See at REI See at Bedrock	4.7/5.0	$160	1 lb. 8 oz.	5.0	4.6	4.6	4.6
3	Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV View Men's View Women's	4.6/5.0	$80	8.6 oz.	5.0	4.8	3.8	4.6
4	Thermoball Traction Mule V See Men's: See Women's:	4.6/5.0	$59	14.2oz	5.0	4.6	4.0	4.6
5	KEEN Whisper View at REI View at Amazon	4.5/5.0	$120	1 lb. 4 oz.	4.4	4.6	4.6	4.2
6	Crocs Classic Clogs View at Amazon View at Clogs	4.2/5.0	$50	11.2 oz.	3.8	4.2	5.0	3.8
7	Merrell Hydro Moc See Women's: See Men's:	4.2/5.0	$60	12.3oz	3.8	3.8	5.0	4.2
8	Feathered Friends Down Booties View at Feathered Friends	3.8/5.0	$119	9.2 oz.	4.0	4.0	3.6	3.6

How We Test & Methodology

We tested these diverse camp shoes side by side to evaluate each model’s comfort, versatility, support, and durability.

COMFORT

We tested comfort by three elements: fit, break-in period, and ease of wear. 

To evaluate fit, we tested if each shoe fit their foot both in length and width of the shoe. Each shoe should allow for the toes to wiggle. We evaluated fit while sitting, standing, and walking on a variety of surfaces and pitches. When walking around, we noted if they slid around or stayed put. 

While walking we noted if and where the shoes rubbed or needed any break-in period. Back at the office, we felt the inside of the shoes to check for tags, seams, or other material that might irritate your foot. Breaking in shouldn’t be a thing that you have to do for camp shoes. We believe that each shoe should have an immediate comfort and fit. You shouldn’t be wearing camp shoes for long distances – just to provide an extra little comfort at the end of the night. 

Finally, we evaluated each shoe on its ease to get in and out of, keeping in mind that camp shoes should be easy to throw on in the dark when you have to leave your tent to pee.

VERSATILITY

To test the versatility of each shoe, we took them on long walks through different terrains and elevations. We believe that camp shoes should be able to go outside of camp. They should be able to take you on mini explorations just as easily as they provide comfort to set up camp. 

We rated versatility on how well the shoe performs its speciality – whether as a water shoe that actually travels through water well or as a down bootie that actually keeps you warm). We also noted how grippy the sole is, how the shoe resists water or dries well, and how dependable they are for hiking 1 to 2 miles. Our tests also considered if each model was cushioned enough to protect feet from various terrains and packability enough for backcountry excursions. 

SUPPORT

Even though support might not be the first thing on your mind for a casual camp shoe, support can make your day at camp much better. We expect these shoes will be used for setting up camp, standing, light walking, and maybe light day hiking. They might even help your body recover from more intense adventures. For support, we tested how the shoe accommodated our foot, helped our muscles and ligaments relax, and allowed for a pain-free way to get around. 

To judge this metric, we made sure shoes held up to a simple test of bending, twisting, and squeezing to help us understand how supportive it will be when taking steps. 

• When bending, we placed the toe of the shoe on the floor so that the shoe stood vertically and pressed down on the heel. A supportive shoe should only flex at the toe while the midsole or arch keeps its structure –– even with great pressure. 
• Twisting the shoe (with the heel and toe rotating in opposite directions) should provide a similar result. The shoe shouldn’t wring out like a towel. A shoe that twists easily can lead to instability and injury in the ankle. 
• Finally, we took the heel of the shoe between our fingers and squeezed to ensure that the heel doesn’t collapse. Good resistance means the back of the shoe keeps its shape, ensuring that your heel is firm and will stay in place. 

This test shows us how the shoe will support the structure of the foot and ankle when walking. To enhance our empirical findings, we took each camp shoe on at least a mile walk to see how supportive they felt in action. 

DURABILITY

To test durability, we took into account several factors including the material, user reviews to gauge the longevity, and how the shoes held up to our field tests. We also took into account the warranty and repairs policies of each company when rating this shoe.

Why Trust CleverHiker

You can trust our evaluation of the best camp shoes because we’ve hiked the miles in them and depended on them for protection from the elements. Having previously completed the John Muir Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail, Gear Analyst Helena Guglielmino understands the true value of a quality camp shoe as she has been forced to hike her 40-pound pack 20 miles while wearing her camp shoes. For this gear guide, she spent approximately 55 nights under the stars in February, April, June, July, August, September, October, and December. 

Analysis & Results

VALUE

Two camp shoes that rated high for value were the HOKA ORA Recovery 3 Slide and The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mule V. Our gear analyst found that these were the ones she reached for the most, whether she was going to the grocery store or going camping. They are light, easy to pack, slide on easily, and can be worn barefoot or with socks.

COMFORT

 The shoes with the highest comfort rating were the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV, OOfos OOriginals, Bedrock Mountain Clog, and The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mules V. These rated perfect scores across fit and ease of wear and did not need any break-in time. However, we had to size up one size for the North Face Mules to fit correctly.

VERSATILITY

This is a tough section to evaluate because insulted booties like the Feathered Friends down bootie and the minimalist Xero shoe are made for very different uses. Overall, however, we rated the Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV high for versatility because it can go through water, hike, pack well, etc. It’s a shoe you can take backpacking or car camping or hanging out at the lake or on a boat, etc.

We also found ourselves wearing the HOKA ORA Recovery 3 Slide for a wide range of uses. It tied with the Xero Z-Trail EV for our top spot in this category:

SUPPORT

Again, support may or may not matter to you depending on what your intended use for the shoe is. However, our gear analyst Helena had to depend on her camp shoes to hike over 20 miles of John Muir Trail because she could not bear the blisters from her hiking boots. Based on her side by side testing of the best camp shoes, the most supportive options were the HOKA ORA recovery slide, KEEN Hyperport H2 sandal, Classic Crocs, and Merrell Hydro Moc.

It is important to note that zero drop shoes, such as the Xero Z-Trail EV, are not made to support your feet. Rather, they’re made to make your feet move and flex without your shoe or sandal adding much support.

DURABILITY

The most durable shoes we tested and reviewed for this gear guide were the HOKA ORA Recovery 3 Slides and Keen Hyperport H2 Sandal. These not only withstood our field testing but are made with quality materials and had little to no user reviews of poor durability. That being said, most of the shoes we tested held up to our field testing.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CAMP SHOE

What you need out of a camp shoe is highly subjective. For example, our gear analyst, Helena, once had to repurpose her camp shoes because her hiking boots gave her terrible blisters. She had to pack out 20 miles with a fully-loaded pack, so she was happy to have slightly heavier camp shoes to support and cushion her feet. For this purpose, durability, support, and versatility were the most important categories. Something like the Bedrock Mountain Clog or KEEN Hyperport H2 Sandal would be good choices for this purpose. 

But a camp shoe could simply be a shoe that you slip on exclusively for car camping and only wear while setting up your tent and cooking dinner. For this purpose, comfort is the most important metric. We love the North Face ThermoBall Traction Mules V for this type of camp shoe. It feels like a slipper with a soft, fleece lining but has a sole with traction. It packs wells, feels comfortable (we suggest sizing up, though), and walks comfortably over rough terrain. 

For someone who lives in a wet area or frequently bundles watersports into their camping, a shoe like the Keen Hyperport H2 Sandal is a great choice. It is comfortable to walk in –– even more than a couple of miles –– has great traction to climb over rocks, works well to walk in creeks and rivers, and has great support. It was not the easiest shoe to slip on for our midnight bathroom run test, but for someone looking for greater adventure ability, that might not matter so much.

Conclusion

Camp shoes are a necessary part of the outdoor experience. They are the shoes we look forward to after rigorous adventures, the shoes we rely on to travel to and from the trailhead, and –– possibly –– the shoes we use around town. Through countless nights at camp and vigorous testing, our gear analysts have provided the most comprehensive guide to camp shoes to help you find the shoe, slide, sandal, or bootie that will work best for you.