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.
I've worn The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mules as my winter camp shoes since 2020
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Best Camp Shoes
BERT - The Pre and Post Activity Shoe
Best Minimalist Camp Shoe
Main Benefits:
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
Main Benefits:
- More performance-oriented than other clogs
- Leather protects shrugs off sharp vegetation
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
Main Benefits:
- More performance-oriented than other clogs
- Leather protects shrugs off sharp vegetation
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
Main Benefits:
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
Main Benefits:
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
Main Benefits:
For a premium clog, I recommend the Bedrock Mountain Clog for the campground. This puppy is a little heavy for backpacking, but it packs in plenty of performance features for a simple clog, including Vibram outsoles, premium leather, and an adjustable strap. At the Gila National Monument, I wore mine to hike to cliff dwellings and trudge around the campsite. The Mountain Clog also has a great look.
Camp Shoes: Sandals
BEDROCK CAIRN EVO C PRO
Premium Sandal for Camp & the Trail
Main Benefits:
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
Main Benefits:
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
Main Benefits:
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
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