A tale of camp footwear...or footwear for camp!
Wearing your tramping boots/shoes 24/7 while tramping can lead to many foot problems. The damp, warm conditions are ideal for blisters, chaffing and a number of fungal foot conditions. Once you arrive at your destination you need to remove that wet footwear, but what should it be replaced with? Your choice is simple: either nothing, socks or some other kind of footwear.
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| Jon sans boots in Nina Hut, 2017 |
Personally I love getting into a hut or camp and slipping off my boots to let my feet breath au natural. Not the nicest thing for other hut mates though, and your feet will get dirty and cold. Socks...much the same so the main solution is another kind of shoe.
Camp shoes for evening attire
I find it hard to quantify exactly what I am looking for in a camp shoe... always I have been unable to balance weight, utility and comfort.. I have experimented with a number of different types: shoes, sandals, jandals...
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| From classic Kiwi jandals... |
I've even tried Crocs (knock off's, not the real ones, real Croc's cost $70+ in New Zealand...). None were 'quite right'.
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| ...to knock off Croc's |
I think that may have changed, introducing my new camp sandal: the Bedrock Gabbro Lite:
Bedrock Grabbo Lite
The Bedrock Gabbro Lite is super light (just 116gm) and has a quality Vibram sole. I first saw these on an American hiking site I visit, and thought they looked like a good solution. You are able to buy both replacement soles and straps for these sandals which is a great innovation.If it is cold or the bugs are biting you need to team these with toe socks.
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| Bedrock Gabbro Lite |
I brought a pair off Amazon and had them shipped to New Zealand for a very reasonable price. I took them with me on my last trip to Hawdon Hut and they performed well: they are hard wearing, stiff enough and light to carry.
Obviously, these type of sandals offer no protection to your feet at all, so wear your boots/shoes when cutting wood etc. Many is the tale of the chopped up foot clothed in a flip flop...just don't do it!
You can of course forget about camp footwear but then you are liable to get cold, dirty feet and the ground is often rocky or hard. Not great when they are your only means of transportation.
Obviously, these type of sandals offer no protection to your feet at all, so wear your boots/shoes when cutting wood etc. Many is the tale of the chopped up foot clothed in a flip flop...just don't do it!
You can of course forget about camp footwear but then you are liable to get cold, dirty feet and the ground is often rocky or hard. Not great when they are your only means of transportation.
You should check out the website for Bedrock gear
