Camp shoes for a thru hiker
Vložit
- čas přidán 10. 02. 2024
- For our upcoming 2024 AT Thru Hike, we take a look at some different camp shoe options and also weigh the shoes and consider which ones to take. We also rule out one expensive pair as a total fail.
When doing this video, I forgot why I had earlier decided the gray Crocs were a bad idea. I could not easily use a carabiner with them so they are a bad option!
Also.... if I wait until I know everything (lol)...I would never make a video. So I keep investigating. I am looking into two different new options to try. One is the Rugged Shark which is similar to a Croc but supposed to be lighter. I am also hearing good things about Jiyaru shoes, but they are not available (and do not have toe protection). Stay tuned....
Rugged Shark is 10.3 ounces. If you order, they are a little large so I went one size down and that was perfect. 10.3 ounces is a little lighter than Crocs, but not a lot. But...if I was going to go with a Croc style shoe, the Rugged Shark is the option I would choose. Slip on. Toe protection. They are the same bulk of the Croc of course.
Comment below on your choice or your experience! Love the comments so we all learn
I cross rivers with my trail runners... I prefer to have some dry shoes option available later at camp .... and trail runners dry super fast. But that's me :) "Ps. Crocs are great but way too bulky!"
Thank you for this video; Camp shoes is one thing that I’m still not sure about bringing. It’s nice to see the comparisons of the different weights and pros and cons about each.
Fit kicks work fine.
Sunday, February 11th: I like Crocs; for me, tested and proven. There's better, there’s cheaper, but I prefer old friends. Thank-you for your video. Happy Trails! Ross08
i got water socks without rubber bottoms on temu that weigh 1.4oz
You and I are climbing up the same tree. I have crocs, crocs with straps, zero shoes, water shoes, and then of course Tevas which I love to just wear all summer, some Merrill version of crocs, flip flops and even some version of hiking crocs that I’ve never worn and didn’t return and need to sell. It is hard to find a camp shoe that checks all of the boxes: easy to slip on/off, good for water crossings, good with socks if you need, good grip for getting to water or walking around camp, dries easily, and of course light weight. Don’t even get me started on backpacking pillows. 😀
PILLOWS!!! My other obsession. I have 8 different ones now.
In the video, I neglected to mention one more reason to have camp shoes. I did a hike today and towards the end, I was developing a hot spot on one foot. I realized that I wanted to get out of tne Altras and also thought, if you had a blister, you would want to get out of your shoes and into camp shoes
A controversial subject that I am still out on. After hiking all day, you need something dry and will let your feet air out. From years of kayaking, we learned sometimes the hard way is you need something to walk around in the water or in hiking's case, stream crossing that will protect the toes. But I can't find anything I like that will protect the toes that are very light in weight and that will dry out well enough for dry feet at camp. The search continues! Thanks for sharing.
Another vote for toe protection! An absolute must and a starting point for me.
I must admit to not having thought much about toe protection. I also note the comment from @amerphoto1 here. Thanks
Great info. I wished I had seen it earlier. I ordered a pair of those water socks without knowing the weight. They're comfortable but in my size they're an even one pound. I only use them at home now. For camp I now use Fit Kicks knockoffs which are around 7oz.
Oh wow! I didn’t realize normal cheap flip flops were pretty light. I hadn’t even considered them because I thought they’d be too heavy. I’m just gonna take that. Simple, cheap, and I already have them.
Amoji Garden Clogs are about 4 oz each, 8 per pair but they don't have the heel strap.
Based on a comment on CZcams, I ordered a pair of Rugged Shark croc knock-offs. They look good. They are lighter than Crocs. They are still 10.3 ounces, so better, but still less than great. If I was taking Croc style shoes, these would be the choice as they provide full foot protection, they cover the toes, they are easy slip on, provide water drainage. They still seem almost as bulky as Crocs and again, they do weight 10.3 ounces in size 8.
I don't (currently) take camp shows on my regular weekend treks. I did take some water socks when I went to Philmont and they were...pretty much useless. They would have been good for water crossings, but we never did that. And while they were ok for airing out my feet at camp the ground there is very rocky, so walking around camp in something with super thin soles was pretty awful. I would have been better off with flip flops, but I wanted to also have some toe protection. Though the water socks didn't provide much of that either, tbh. Lots of my crew members had crocs and were very comfortable in them.
personally I would take the z-trail sandals since they are very secure. I tried wearing flip flops and they slip around a lot when I'm walking around camp. my friend also was wearing a pair of slides and he ended up slipping on a rock and split his big toe open pretty good.
My present thinking is indeed taking the Z-Trails.
Luna sandals are a good choice. Weights vary between models. They check all the blocks you mentioned for me. You will want to use a split toe sleep/camp sock ideally with them except maybe in the warmest months in the East anyway.
I recall I did take a look at those and they looked great but were a bit spendy. If I had not already spent so much on the options (like those $95 Warriors) I would have given those a try. Maybe I still will. Thanks for the suggestion.
My Fitkicks worked for one river crossing- blew the side out of one. On day one. Garbage
This was a good video about camps shoes. I am sorry to hear that the Shamma warriors sandals did not work out for you. I have a pair of Shamma Cruisers sandals & i love wearing them. They are very good sandals to wear for kayaking. I do a lot of kayaking , kayak camping trip they're great sandals for that. I am a huge huge huge fan of flip flops 🩴. I am a flip flops 🩴 guy & that is all i wear all year around even in the winter time in 20° & 30° Degrees weather outside I am wearing my flip-flops 🩴& My cruiser Shamma sandal. I hate shoes & socks because I have big very very Extremely wide feet 🦶 with very chubby fat wide toes that are Evenly straight across making my foot very very Extremely wide at 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe. I have a question? Since you don't like your Shamma warriors sandals do you want to sale them? What size are your sandals? Good video buddy thanks you for sharing this.
Thanks! Always happy to sell all the stuff I buy to try out. Why does one need 4 different Crocs? :) But... my shoe size is an 8.
Just take old running shoes. Light, durable, and free. Plus you can do creek/river crossings or wet hiking in them with better stability and grip than dime store flip flops or $50 Crocs.
Nufoot yoga socks , xl, 2.3 oz,$12.00
My dilemma with camp shoes is, can they double for water crossings? Or do you just slog thru water crossings in your hiking shoes? I question it b/c if just for camp, I wouldn’t worry about a back on a croc….whatever’s easiest for getting up at night to go pee in…..but then then I think about those crazy water crossings in Maine and know that a backless shoe might get swept off my feet. How do you weigh in on this?
Oh, good point. Now we have comments on toe protection and on how secure the shoe is from water currents. Most of the streams/creeks I have crossed, this has not been an issue so I had not considered it. But your point is correct about possible rushing water, especially in Maine. Some of the options like the Fitkicks would work well, as would the Croc with the adjustable heel strap. I still get a bit bothered with the idea of anything over 10 ounces though.
Exactly!!! I want a sturdy shoe for crossing currents that doesn’t weigh 10 oz….i.e., a unicorn! LOL
never had a pair of crocs where the straps don't break...regardless of type of strap.
Crocks mens swift water mesh deck sandals. Not the style nc traditional croc. It's my go to water shoe.
Any idea on the weight of these? Thanks!
Found the information. These look great, they are 14.4 ounces.