Guide to the Best Camping Shoes
Updated on May 23, 2025
Shop the best shoes for camping
Whether you're a backpacker, hiker, or weekend adventurer, you’ve likely experienced the aches and fatigue that come with covering miles on rugged terrain. Without the right camp shoes, blisters, soreness, and discomfort can make it harder to relax and recharge.
That’s why choosing the right pair matters. The best camping shoes offer lightweight comfort, breathable materials, and enough support to help your feet recover while you enjoy your surroundings. From packability and durability to protection and ease of wear, camp shoes should work just as hard as you do—only more quietly.
In this guide, you’ll learn what to look for in quality camping shoes so you can rest easy, recover fully, and wake up ready for your next adventure.
What are Camping Shoes?
Camping shoes refer to footwear that you wear once you arrive at the camp after a hot, long day of hiking. They let your feet breathe and remain clean and healthy. In case your active shoes get wet, a dry, quality pair of shoes for camping will keep your feet protected.
The best camping shoes help you avoid rashes, blisters, fungus, and other types of foot pain. They’re also super comfy and give your feet enough time to recover. If you have achy joints or tired feet, then wearing camp shoes is more necessary and beneficial than you think.
How To Pair Your Camping Shoes and When To Wear Them
Camping shoes are all about comfort, so wear them with a plain shirt and shorts. While you can choose any color you like, make sure they’re moisture-wicking to absorb enough heat and moisture from your body. Lighter and pastel shades are also perfect for summer camping.
Whether you pair your camping shoes with shorts and pants, choose quick-drying ones for added convenience. Complete your cool and comfy camping look with a sun hat and sunglasses to freely explore the surroundings while staying protected under the sun.
Whether it’s a rainy day or not, bring a rain jacket when going camping. You can easily pair yellow, blue, red, and more with the same color of shoes for camping or classic ones like black. For the winter and fall seasons, you can wear your camp shoes with some layers, like thermal gear, shirts and fleece jackets, and waterproof pants. You can also wear a nice pair of gloves for added style and protection. You can just remove the layers when it gets too hot.
Camping Gear Checklist
Gear up for your camping adventure with the ultimate checklist created for you by our KURU gurus.
To help make your camping experience a success, we’ve prepared the following checklist for you. We’ve covered the basics and added some extras, but you can modify the list, depending on your plan and group:
- Shelter and Sleep: sleeping bags, tent, footprint, stakes, sleeping pads, camping pillows, camping blanket, camp chair, camp table, and flashlight, headlamp and extra batteries.
- Camp Kichen: stove and fuel, matches, cooler, food containers, biodegradable soap, spong, garbage bag, can or bottle opener, cookware and utensils, and pots, pans and other kitchen kits.
- Clothes and Shoes: Long- and short-sleeved shirts, quick-drying shorts or pants, underwear, good camping shoes, socks, gloves, rain pants, rain jacket, sleepwear, and towel.
- Miscellaneous: camera and batteries, sunscreen, books, candles, sunglasses, tissues, first aid kit, water filter, and saw or ax.
FAQs
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What shoes do you wear on a campsite?
You should wear camping shoes that are comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and durable. Whether you prefer camping boots or ultralight camp shoes, pick shoes that let your feet rest and recover from a long day of hiking like KURU.
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Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
While our shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain.
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How do I know which shoes to buy? Which is best for me?
The best shoe for you will depend on your unique foot type and the style you’re looking for.
The best shoes for men and women alike offer adequate arch support and cushion. Whether you’re looking for bright blue shoes, dark blue shoes, or white shoes with blue accents, KURUs line of pain-relieving footwear help alleviate foot pain symptoms for all-day comfort.
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How is the arch support of KURU shoes?
KURU shoes deliver excellent arch support without the need for thick inserts or expensive, custom orthotics.
Superior arch support starts with our patented KURUSOLE technology, which delivers natural cushioning and dynamically hugs your heel with every step. Every foot is unique, and our ULTIMATE INSOLES adapt to fit your needs by using your own body heat to custom-mold to the shape of your feet over time.
The corrective nature of our superior arch support is designed to neutralize your weight distribution and place your foot in the best anatomical position. This support can take some getting used to. We suggest slowly breaking in your new shoes over the course of 2–3 weeks.
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I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology. Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours per day around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
In our 2025 study on foot pain across America, we found that a significant proportion of individuals sought professional assistance from podiatrists due to various foot ailments. Among the 2,000 survey respondents experiencing foot pain, a notable 11% cited plantar fasciitis as their primary concern.
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Key Considerations Before Making Your Purchase
To pick camping shoes that fit well, don’t trust the given shoe size as each manufacturer has different standards. Get your feet measured at the end of the day too, as it's when they’re fully expanded. Also, there should be a finger-width space between the end of the camping shoe and your longest toe.
When choosing the best backpacking camping shoes, look for these factors for a more well-informed purchasing decision as well as safe and comfortable feet:
Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
...Show LessOur patented KURUSOLE technology feels like a gentle hug for your heels with its heel-cupping design. It also dynamically flexes with every step for natural cushioning and maximum foot protection. From reduced pain and impact to all-day comfort, you can rely on the best backpacking camp shoes with our KURUSOLE midsole.
Our patented KURUSOLE technology feels like a gentle hug for your heels with its heel-cupping design. It also dynamically flexes with every step for natural cushioning and maximum foot protection. From reduced pain and impact to all-day comfort, you can rely on the best backpacking camp shoes with our KURUSOLE midsole.
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KURUCLOUD
...Show LessThe feeling of walking on clouds is made possible with KURUCLOUD, the base layer of our exceptional three-part technology. Made of lightweight EVA foam, you can expect superior cushion and shock absorption while wearing our ultralight camp shoes.
The feeling of walking on clouds is made possible with KURUCLOUD, the base layer of our exceptional three-part technology. Made of lightweight EVA foam, you can expect superior cushion and shock absorption while wearing our ultralight camp shoes.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
...Show LessOur lightweight camp shoes at KURU come with ULTIMATE INSOLE, which offer dual-density foam for targeted support. These advanced foams utilize your own body heat to match the shape of your feet over time. With an ergonomic shape, you can expect better foot health and arch support.
Our lightweight camp shoes at KURU come with ULTIMATE INSOLE, which offer dual-density foam for targeted support. These advanced foams utilize your own body heat to match the shape of your feet over time. With an ergonomic shape, you can expect better foot health and arch support.
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE technology feels like a gentle hug for your heels with its heel-cupping design. It also dynamically flexes with every step for natural cushioning and maximum foot protection. From reduced pain and impact to all-day comfort, you can rely on the best backpacking camp shoes with our KURUSOLE midsole.
Our Secret
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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