To be or Not To Be... In Camp Shoes

[bkristynicole]

I have everything I need... My base weight is ~13lbs. Now I am thinking about camp shoes... I wasn't planning on bringing any (I am wearing trail runners), but thinking about blisters, talking about blisters, having great fears of blisters (I have a dark past with blisters) has got me thinking about camp shoes...

Are you bringing camp shoes? Why or why not? What kinds? What that kind or brand. Discussion commence. My start date is April 3rd.

[TTT]

Your feet need to be aired out often. Living in damp shoes for the best part of 6 months brings a host of potential problems. Flip flops are cheap, protective, easy to clean and light. On hot days you will love them. On cold days maybe not. You can use them in public showers.

[hyperhiker]

So far I've decided to skip them. Might add cheap flip flops in hot weather and may add something more substantial up north with the large river crossings. Crocs seem to be the go to but are heavy. I'll use these if I decide I need them: https://www.usadawgs.com/collections...rit-shoes-bksp

[illabelle]

So far I've decided to skip them. Might add cheap flip flops in hot weather and may add something more substantial up north with the large river crossings. Crocs seem to be the go to but are heavy. I'll use these if I decide I need them: https://www.usadawgs.com/collections...rit-shoes-bksp

I have a pair of those. Got 'em at Walgreens. Very lightweight. Adequate for stream crossings and walking around camp. Inexpensive.

[Ethesis]

I have a pair of those. Got 'em at Walgreens. Very lightweight. Adequate for stream crossings and walking around camp. Inexpensive.

Walmart sells something similar. Extremely lightweight.

[The Kisco Kid]

I use Teva Mush flip-flops for camp shoes. Best combination of lightweight/durability that I've found.

RE: camp shoes Stream crossings. This is non-issue except for a few fords in Northern Maine. (And if you're wearing trail runners, you can ford in those. Take off socks, take out insoles.)

[Drum Man]

I like those Tevas.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

[soumodeler]

I used to be against camp shoes as unnecessary since I was already wearing trail runners that were easy to slip on and off in camp. That opinion changed when I discovered that walking all day through mud on the trail makes you NOT want to put said trail runners back on when you get up in the middle of the night. I bought a pair of crocs at the next town and eventually got a pair of 6oz (total) flip flops from walmart to use as camp shoes.

[Christoph]

I'm taking some dollar store flip flops. Nice and light and something to wear for that midnight stroll to the privy, but mainly for hostel showers and motels.

[soumodeler]

mainly for hostel showers and motels.

That is not a bad thought either, especially for hostels. The one's I've been in were not going to receive any awards for cleanliness...

[lumberjaime]

Crocs. Many people are haters (I myself used to be one), but that's just cause they haven't tried them. As TTT says, your feet need airflow, and damp trail runners don't cut it.

I tried a pair of toe shoes all the way through Maine (mostly I thought they would be better for stream crossings), then ditched them for Crocs. It's what all the other hikers were doing, so I figured I might as well jump off the bridge, too! Very glad I did. Plus, one pair will hold up significantly longer than the Walgreens flip-flops.

[rafe]

I gave up on camp shoes after switching to trail runners. Before that I'd carried moccasins, Crocs, or boat shoes.

Nice to have but not that hard to live without.

[bigcranky]

I tried going without camp shoes after switching to trail runners, but went back to using them. Light flip flops in the summer, my original Waldies rubber clogs the other three seasons. I like to be able to let my feet and my shoes air out, and when my hiking shoes are soaking wet and I have nice dry socks on, I'd rather slip them into dry clogs than my soaking wet trail runners to go use the facilities.

[Kookork]

There are some items that are controversial for carrying in a thru hike. Camp shoes is one of them. I hiked the same trail once with crocks and once without.
Pros and cons have been equally arguable. You can go without it and if you find you need one then buy it when you pass a town or carry it and if you find it unnecessary then ditch it when you find a proper place to get rid of it.

[gracebowen]

Im leaning toward taking an extra pair if shoes. I will be starting in sandals but in case of hot spots or blisters I think I want a pair of shoes that fit diffetently.

In Oct I went out of town for the weekend with only one pair of shoes. I got a hot spot and bandaids wiyldnt stay put. Fortunately i was able to limit walking.

[frontovik193]

I use wal-Mart brand knockoff crocs. They are extremely light compared to crocs and cost 7 dollars.

[Ethesis]

I use wal-Mart brand knockoff crocs. They are extremely light compared to crocs and cost 7 dollars.

I bought a set myself. Very light. Hope Walmart doesn't improve them.

[Dogwood]

I bought a set myself. Very light. Hope Walmart doesn't improve them.

Interesting you quote $7 at Wally World. In Hawaii and in some places in Florida and California Wally Worlds vend $6-9 REEF Walkers that I've weighed in the upper 2 to low 3 oz range. They are like slippers with an all fabric ultra breathable upper and nothing but a soled bologna skinned sole with some minor tread(think slippers).


While it's nice to have camp shoes if you're a camper type hiker to air out feet something different to change into I'm going to say they are no solution to blisters.

[Yukon Ron]

My camp shoes are Nike Zoom Streak LT running shoes that are very light at about 7.4 ounces. The shoe is basically a nylon mesh so that it can dry quickly. They compress well and could be a temporary replacement for hiking boots or shoes. On the trail I've also worn them as shower shoes at Fontana Dam. During my summer kayaking trips I use them as my water shoe as they hold no water and dry quickly. Here's a link to ones that I've just purchased, but I am still using my older pair. http://www.footlocker.com/product/mo...reak-lt-3-mens

[Ethesis]

Interesting you quote $7 at Wally World. In Hawaii and in some places in Florida and California Wally Worlds vend $6-9 REEF Walkers that I've weighed in the upper 2 to low 3 oz range. They are like slippers with an all fabric ultra breathable upper and nothing but a soled bologna skinned sole with some minor tread(think slippers).


While it's nice to have camp shoes if you're a camper type hiker to air out feet something different to change into I'm going to say they are no solution to blisters.

The ones I have are like extra light crocs.