Many hikers and backpackers carry camp shoes to help their feet recover after a hot day of hiking or to change into for water crossings to keep their socks and hiking footwear dry. Sandals, water shoes, slides, clogs, and minimalist footwear are all popular choices. They’re also indispensable for showering in hostels and at campgrounds to avoid contracting athlete’s foot from others. Check out our Camp and Water Crossing Shoe Selection Guide below for a full discussion of the factors you should consider.

Here are the Best Camp and Water Crossing Shoes that we recommend.

1. Merrell Hydro Mocs

Merrell’s Hydro Mocs are cool and comfy shoes to wear in camp, for water sports, or down at the watering hole on a hot summer night. These slip-on water shoes are made with single-density injected EVA with a 2mm lug depth for secure traction on wet surfaces. They have an articulated heel with a strap for a secure fit and a contoured arch for support. The sizing is generous, so if you usually wear a half size in footwear, we suggest you size down in this product, rather than ordering the ½ size larger. These are great for water crossings and trails that have lots of stream/land transitions. Available for men and women, the weight per pair is 11-15 oz.

2. Birkenstock Arizona EVA Foam Sandals

Don’t let the brown color of these Birkenstock Arizona EVA Foam Sandals fool you: they are not leather but EVA foam, making them very light and waterproof. Their anatomically shaped EVA footbeds cradle your feet and feature Birkenstock’s original contoured footbed for true Birkenstock comfort. With adjustable straps, these 1-piece EVA sandals are waterproof, washable, and ultra-lightweight. Available for men and women, they only weigh 8 oz/pair.

3. Crocs Classic Clogs

Crocs Classic Clogs have been a hiker favorite for decades. They make great camp shoes to help your feet recover and provide enough protection and support for easy stream crossings. Easy to clean and quick to dry, they have built-in ventilation ports for breathability and drainage. They’re best attached to the outside of your backpack since they’re on the bulky side. You’ll also want to wear them with socks when the insects are out. Cros also comes in lots of fun colors if you want to let your hair hang out. Average weight per pair: 12 oz.

4. Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport

While Xero Shoes Aqua X Sport shoes look like beefy trail shoes, they’re astonishingly lightweight and packable. It has a breathable mesh upper with a quick-dry lining, non-absorbent tongue, toe guard drain holes that help you quickly shed water, and a perforated self-draining insole, so it’s barely any heavier wet than dry. Weighing just 12.4 oz/pair, they are lightweight and cool for lounging around in camp but provide enough stability and protection for stream crossings and town use. Available for men and women.

5. Hoka ORA Recovery 3 Slides

Hoka ORA Recovery 3 Slides help cool and dry aching feet and put a little spring back into your step after a hard day of hiking.  Their dual-layer construction, cushioned, oversized midsoles, and soft EVA top layers provide step-in comfort and durability. These are best used in camp but don’t have the protection or stability you’d want for stream crossings where you can’t see your feet or underwater obstacles. While they’re not insect-proof without socks, they make great shower shoes at campgrounds and in hiking hostels. The average weight per pair is 12.8 oz.

6. OOFOS OOahh Sport Slide Sandals

OOFOS OOriginal Sandals are waterproof recovery sandals made with a super comfortable foam that helps your feet recover after high-mileage hiking days or trail runs. They have a non-slip footbed and sole that provides excellent arch support and relief from plantar fasciitis. They even float! These sandals are best used for camp and easy water crossings, but don’t provide the protection you’d want for deeper streams. The average weight per pair is 12 oz.

7. Shamma Sandals Cruzers

Shamma Cruzers are designed to be durable, versatile, and responsive with a lightweight, minimal design that makes them ideal for walking, hiking, and running. Their UltraGrip footbed is comfortable and designed to keep you on the sandals with buckles and straps that won’t slip once locked in place. This is a big deal because heel strap slippage is one of the chief complaints about barefoot minimalist running sandals. The average weight per pair is 8 oz.

8. Crocs Crocband Flips

Crocs Crocband Flips are waterproof and durable flip flops that have massage-pod footbeds to help improve foot circulation and recovery after a hard day of hiking. Lugs on the bottom provide excellent traction and plenty of protection so rocks and pebbles don’t poke up through the footbed. They’re easy to clean, quick to dry, and pack flat. They also come in a wide variety of colors. Average weight per pair: 8 oz.

9. Zhaunglin Aqua Water Shoes

Zhaunglin Aqua Water Shoes are breathable, fast-drying water shoes that are lightweight and easy to pack. They offer excellent traction on wet and slippery surfaces and drain very quickly because there are drainage holes in the sole as well as the uppers. The shoes have a thin, removable insole that prevents sand and gravel from entering your footbed from the holes at the bottom of the shoe; this is important if you have to walk in them for any distance because it protects your feet and prevents rapid deterioration of your socks due to abrasion. These shoes run true-to-size and weigh just 11 oz per pair. They’re sold under a variety of brand names on Amazon and are quite inexpensive. The sizing is unisex. 

10. Classic Fitkicks

 

Fitkicks are lightweight water-friendly footwear with spandex/synthetic uppers with a cushioned neoprene insole and non-marking rubber outsole. They’re great for swimming at the water hole, stream crossings, the beach, kayaking, paddleboarding, or camping. They have a supportive grip strap that molds around the top of your foot and a reinforced toe guard up front. The flexible outsole makes them easy to pack, and they’re machine washable. Available for men and women, the average weight per pair is 9 oz.

Camp and Water Crossing Shoes 101: Selection Guide

A wide range of factors make good camp shoes or water shoes for stream crossings. While almost all water crossing shoes make acceptable camp shoes, many camp shoes lack the protection or traction needed for more challenging stream crossings, where you can’t see your feet or the bottom. Packability, weight, warmth, and insect protection are also essential factors to consider when choosing a camp shoe or one that can serve double duty for water crossings.

If you hike in well-drained hiking boots, shoes, or trail runners, it’s worth asking yourself if you even need camp shoes or stream-crossing shoes, or whether you’d rather not carry them and use your existing shoes as camp shoes and stream-crossing shoes instead. There’s no right or wrong answer; it all depends on what your priorities are. There are times when it’s nice to slip on a warm and dry pair of camp shoes while cooking dinner in camp.

Packability

If you plan on backpacking, it’s best to get a camp shoe or water shoe that’s easily packable with an upper that folds flat against the sole. Shoes with folding uppers are easily packed in pockets, and if they’re wet, in the front stretch mesh pocket of many backpacks. While you can hang bulky camp shoes on the outside of a pack, they can get torn off by passing vegetation or simply fall off because you didn’t secure them well.

Protection While Crossing Streams

Shallow streams are usually easy to cross because you can see your feet and the streambed bottom. But you’ll want camp shoes or water shoes that provide more foot protection if you have to cross deeper streams and rivers where you can’t see the streambed or sunken obstructions like sticks and logs. Water shoes that provide more protection around the toes and sides of your feet, have a firmer sole, and better ankle support, are advantageous in such circumstances. We never recommend crossing barefoot.

Athlete’s Foot Prevention

There’s nothing worse than picking up a case of Athlete’s Foot in public showers in hiker hostels, bunkhouses, or public campgrounds. Protect yourself by wearing camp shoes in the shower and allowing your feet to dry thoroughly after hiking all day in hot and sweaty hiking boots or trail runners. It takes forever to get rid of, especially if you’re day-to-day footwear doesn’t have a chance to dry out at night.

Weight

Many backpackers are obsessed with the weight of their backpacking gear and leave comfort items behind because they’re not strictly necessary or carry lighter-weight alternatives. In general, shoes that can only be used in camp tend to be lighter weight than those that are designed to be water shoes.

Warmth

If you’re camping or crossing streams in cold weather, you may want to opt for camp shoes or water shoes that encase your foot and your ankle more like a wetsuit bootie rather than sandals or slides. Don’t underestimate how cold mountain streams can get, even in summer, especially if you have to ford wide streams. The same holds for standing around camp in colder weather. Camp shoes/water shoes with fewer ventilation ports will be warmer.

Insect Protection

If you’ve ever gotten a mosquito bite on your foot, you know how itchy and unpleasant they can be. Unfortunately, insects become more prevalent in the evening, just as you’re cooking dinner in camp. Water shoes with neoprene or lycra uppers are generally more insect-proof than sandals, slides, and clogs. Wearing a sock with a relatively open shoe may still not provide enough insect protection for your needs, something to consider.

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