Best Camp Shoes – Backpacking and Campground Picks

Camp shoes run the gamut—from clogs and insulated booties to sandals and recovery slides. Over the past five years, I've personally tested a range of camp shoes while backpacking and testing outdoor gear for various websites. My list of the best camp shoes includes picks for both the backcountry and frontcountry campgrounds.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on these links and buy something, the retailer may share a small percentage of the sale with Hiking Feet—at no cost to you. You can support this site's free and independent content by purchasing your pair through these links. 

Best Camp Shoes

BERT - The Pre and Post Activity Shoe

Best Minimalist Camp Shoe 

Popular with cyclists, the BERT shoe should appeal to backpackers who prefer more of a barefoot experience at camp. Bert's thin and flexible soles provide a smidge of tread and underfoot protection—just enough to wander a campsite with less risk of a painful step on a sharp rock, pine needle, or shard of glass. Plus, these outdoor slippers weigh next to nothing and cram into the smallest crannies of my backpack. If you want to carry less weight and tread lightly at camp, the Bert shoe is my favorite minimalist camp shoe for backpackers. 

The Bert Neoprene is best for cooler, wetter weather. The Bert Knit wears cooler in spring and summer. 

THE NORTH FACE THERMOBALL TRACTION MULE V BOOTIE

Affordable Camp Shoe for Cool Weather

When I'm backpacking in shoulder season cold, you'll see me wearing The North Face Thermoball Traction Mule at camp. Made with the same synthetic insulation as North Face's most popular puffy jacket, these insulated camp slippers have kept my feet warm in freezing temperatures from Wisconsin to the Gila Wilderness. Their soles aren't thick and supportive. However, there's plenty of rubber and tread underfoot to hobble around the campsite at night. You probably want something warmer for zero degrees, but the Thermoball Traction Mule is plenty warm enough for the typical cold weather backpacker. 

ROLL RECOVERY SOLACE SLIDE 

Softest Recovery Slides for Camp 

If you're looking for the softest, most luxurious recovery shoes to wear after a hard day on the trail, I recommend the ROLL Recovery Solace Slide. My pair feels as soft as my OOFOS Ooahh Slide but has a surprising feature that take its comfort to the next level: suide uppers. That soft suede caresses the tops of my feet while the soft recovery foam pampers the bottom of them. This is the softest recovery shoe I've tested and reviewed. If you prefer a soft recovery slide to a supportive one, the Roll Recovery Solace Slide is an especially comfortable camp shoe.  

HOKA ORA RECOVERY SLIDE 3

Supportive Recovery Slide for Camp 

The HOKA Ora Recovery Slide 3 takes "camp shoe" up a notch with recovery shoe technology to help your feet recoup after a long day of backpacking. It's squishy foam reduces pressure on your feet as you transition from running  backpacking to lounging at camp. I personally prefer the HOKA Ora to other recovery slides because it also has a subtle bump of arch support that gives my flat feet a boost. Over the past four years, I've found it light to pack and more than comfortable at camp. When I'm not testing camp shoes for everyone else, I usually pack the HOKA Ora Recovery Slide for my backpacking trips.  

CROCS CLASSIC CLOG 

Time-tested Camp Shoe for Backpacking

Whether you love or hate their look, Crocs are a staple camp shoe for many backpackers. The Classic Clog is cozy, water-resistant, light, and easy to clip to a pack. This means these Crocs can provide comfort at camp and do double-duty as a water crossing shoe, too. I'm not a Croc guy myself. Still, I appreciate how the Classic Clog's heel strap and drainage holes make it so useful for several camping and backpacking situations. 

BEDROCK MOUNTAIN CLOG 

Premium Clog for the Campground

Camp Shoes: Sandals

BEDROCK CAIRN EVO C PRO

Premium Sandal for Camp & the Trail 

The Bedrock Cairn Evo C PRO combines the best features of my favorite Bedrock sandals—the comfort-oriented Cairn Evo C and performance-oriented Cairn Evo PRO. The thick soles (by Bedrock standards) provide enough cushion for casual times at camp, and the premium tread and straps let hikers tackle trails and water crossings better than most camp shoes. In spite of its high performance and premium features, the Cairn Evo C PRO weighs less than most sandals I own. This means its packable enough for backpackers looking for a sandal that's both comfortable and athletic. 

BEDROCK ROCKHOUND SANDAL

Premium Flip Flop for Camp

Thanks to the Bedrock Rockhound, "performance flip flop" is not an oxymoron. It's not your typical flip flop with its grippy Vibram soles and adjustable straps that let the Rockhound fit similar to a sandal. I've worn mine at camp for both comfort and traction. If you want something lighter than a sandal to air out your feet after backpacking, I recommend the new Bedrock Rockhound flip flops. 

LEMS SWITCHBACK SANDAL

Lightweight Sandal for Backpackers 

While testing 5 sandals in 2026, I've surprisingly worn the Lems Switchback more than any sandal in my gear closet. For camping and backpacking, I prefer the Switchback sandal to oldschool Tevas. It's plenty comfortable at camp, and I've also hiked moderate trails and crossed easy streams in mine. As long as you're not a minimalist or a gram counter, the Switchback may be light enough to pack for a backpacking trip, too.  

Choose your Best Camp Shoe

If this list of the best camp shoes has led you to your next pair, please consider purchasing them through the red buttons above. Some (but not all) of the buttons are affiliate links, which fund this website. If you click on those links and buy something, the retailer may share a small percentage of the sale with Hiking Feet at no cost to you. That's an easy way for you to support this site's free and independent reviews. Thanks!