Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions

Camp Footwear

more_vert
So i have arrived at camp, and swapped out my trousers for my kilt and am enjoying the air up there. I have taken my boots off to air and dry out. What am I putting on my feet? Usually it is eother a pair of Keen sandals or nothing. I suppose I could go with some drugstore flip-flops, but would love to know what you all do. When nature calls in the middle of the night, are you lacing up your boots? Or do you have a better solution?
7
44
remove_red_eye
1.6K
G-Deuce
308

search
close
Eatmydust
80
Nov 10, 2017
Once I take off my boots I thouroughly clean them then if it's cold wool socks and if it's wet I slip on goretex socks overtop followed by Zero sandles. It's the best combination for hot to wet weather. In winter there is nothing better than a pair of hut booties (feathered friends makes the best). I've never liked hiking or running in goretex socks as my feet get almost as wet with sweat but I've finally found a good use for them at camp.
danielleoh37
22
Oct 11, 2017
first, start with the kilt. Seriously, its the best hiking clothes in the history of ever! Leave your pants and any ‘spare’ clothes at home. You can lighten up even more by getting Mountain Hardwear’s ElKommando (yes, thats what they call it) Weighs ~15oz. Wear the kilt every day, it’ll dry overnight. For real, i cant say this emphatically enough - the ”ElKommando“ is friggin amazing. Ive thru hiked the AT, S2S, and done 10 Tough Mudders in my EK kilt!
then leave the boots at home. Seriously. For most trails in most places for most of the year you could wear sandals (thru hiked the Smokies and Shawnee SF in Xero Shoes z Trail sandals ~6oz for the pair).
Sometimes boots really do help (its rare, as in just the summit shoulder of Mt Washington- its a boulder field). on those occasions pick the lightest ones that have a stiff sole and are NOT waterproof. Merrill Moab Ventilators have done well for me in places like that (1.71 lbs for the pair). Get “Yanks” elastic shoe laces. The boots will be plenty tight enough on the boulder fields and will slip on/off super easy for those midnight walks (wink). No more lacing/unlacing. Keep ‘em on or not for stream crossings. They’ll walk dry in a couple miles.
I know, this is some heretical stuff... but if youre feeling bold, give it a try on a short local hike and go from there
G-Deuce
308
Oct 12, 2017
danielleoh37I tend to wear a standard SportKilt (with belt loops and pockets) from my Hash House Harriers days. SportKilt makes a hiking kilt that comes in at 300 grams before any add-ons. I would need the pockets. I tried to check out the Mountain Hardwear ElKommando. No options in large at the usual suspects, (MH website, Amazon, REI) Would love to pick one up if you know where to find.
danielleoh37
22
Oct 12, 2017
G-Deucei went looking at all the places i got mine from. Looks like MH has quit making them... Just our luck - find something that works great and then they quit making them. Backcountry (dot com) and backcountrygear(dot com) were the two cheapest, or direct from mountain hardwear(dot com) but theyre sold out everywhere I looked. MH quit making them once before and then brought them back so maybe theres hope?
Leonidas13
19
Sep 9, 2017
I use the UL Dawgs, very lightweight, closed toe, can be worn with socks if cold. The sub$10 price doesn't hurt either. https://www.usadawgs.com/collections/men/products/mens-ultralite-shoes-bkbk
G-Deuce
308
Sep 9, 2017
Leonidas13Thanks! I'll give em a try.
Cromulent
298
Jul 4, 2017
Usually wear my boots as slippers as described in other comments. However, the feet remain overheated and do not allow breathing. Considering packing sandals, which is mind boggling considering my UL attitude.
DownEaster
16
May 10, 2017
L.L. Bean rocky shore shoes. They're really fast drying (drain holes in the soles) and of course they're great for stream crossings. They're reasonable backups for hiking as well, since I've put hundreds of miles of city walking on my first pair and they're still going strong.
Minnehik
19
Nov 9, 2017
DownEasterSounds excellent. How much do they weigh?
A community member
Feb 4, 2017
Man! I have been all over the place on this. I hiked the AT in sections and tried a bunch of stuff. I didn't want to carry Crocs because of their weight. The first thing I packed was the VivoBarefoot Ultas w/o inserts. 8 ozs for my size 10/43. Hell, flip flops weight that much. They weren't cheap, and it looks like they don't make them anymore, but I've seen a few places where they still have some in inventory. Ebay has some ... http://www.laughingdog.com/2012/02/camp-shoes.html
After my first section I was willing to try anything to drop weight, so I went without. Probably not the best choice for AT Sobo from Katahdin with all the fording ... But I'd take off my shoes, pull the footbeds out put em back on, ford, wipe out the insides with my pack towl, put the inserts back in and hike on. Then I got to a hostel with a shared shower and had nothing ...
So, on my next section I got a pair of XeroShoes DIY sandals. Mine worked out to 7.25 ozs, packed crazy easy, helped me get over shared shower heebie jeebies, but weren't so nice in dirty/muddy campsites. http://www.laughingdog.com/2013/02/rethinking-my-pack-camp-shoes_24.html
In the end, I went back to the Vivobarefoots. They're what I'll take on my upcoming LT E2E.
Rogue391
1
Feb 2, 2017
Crocs in warmer weather and Wiggy's boot liners in cold weather.
Rogue391
1
Feb 2, 2017
Crocs in warmer weather and Wiggy's boot liners in winter
tsturzl
157
Jan 28, 2017
I go barefoot. Your feet eventually callus. Even if it's night out, I just grab my headlamp and look where I'm stepping. Even if I'm in a rocky area(quite often) I go barefoot, and even if its pretty cold. If its too cold, like below freezing, I'll just keep my boots on and loosen the laces because then my body heat can help them dry and I don't have to worry about any of the water in the boot freezing, and then at night I put the insoles in my sleeping bag. I realize this might not be for everyone, but I've been walking around barefoot since I was really young, something I picked up from my mom. Give it a try sometime, and if you don't like it there are plenty of other suggestions that might be better for you.
Card
7
Jan 21, 2017
Im in canada and my camp footwear are a pair of mec booties with neos overshoes if theres heavy rain.
Showing 15 of 44
keyboard_arrow_up
Newest
44 OF 44 POSTS
keyboard_arrow_down
Oldest
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in More Community Picks