Crocs as Camp Shoes

[corvus]

Just found the cheapest most comfortable clone of Crocs sold by Rivers $14.00 at their clearance shops weigh in at around 270 gm and I think they would be good for around camp,hut use and water crossing if you dont want to wear your boots and socks, may need an additional lace around your ankle for security in case you go AOT in the water

[Kainas]

I have a personal hatred of crocs...no sure why...they are the ugliest shoe ever posing as something trendy...I have some water shoes that weigh in at 540g

[Son of a Beach]

I believe crocs are supposed to be terribly comfy, etc, but I just can't bring myself to wear shoes made entirely out of plastic. It's a psychological barrier for me.

[corvus]

Nik you know me as a conservative type person and Crocs would have been the last thing Mrs corvus expected me to purchase (mine are chocholate brown) she is looking forward to my Daughter seeing me in them this weekend when she visits
Never the less they weigh and cost nothing and believe me they are the most comfortable albeit ugly looking quick drying camp/ hut/river crossing footwear I have found.
So be bound by vanity or fashion or shed the weight by using them ,I am getting closer to reducing my overall pack weight whist still wearing Full Grain Leather Boots by just that

[Son of a Beach]

Yeah, daugher-in-law of a beach keeps trying to convince me to get some, and Mr Beach himself (who is my dag mentor) loves his. I can see that they ought to be very good camp shoes (and river crossing shoes, which I hadn't thought of before). I just have a psychological aversion to all things plastic... not sure why, really. I may have to swallow my pride and try 'em out some day.

Even 2 year old grand-daughter of a beach has cheap copies called 'dolphins', which she already wears as camp shoes when bushwalking:



(Can hardly see 'em in that photo, I just thought is was a good excuse to post that shot. )

[corvus]

Any excuse to see the tottie soab next to covus even if it was only my avatar is a bonus ,it was her wee crocs that made me think about them for me and I think big soab should consider I am saving 610 gm by replacing my previous hut sand shoes.
P.S tottie is dialectic regional Scottish for a bonnie wee wean

[corvus]

OOPs that is the other wake up caller at the Lodge in the photo , our persistant and most welcome Currawong.

[Son of a Beach]

(thought I'd better split these 'crocs' posts as I'd derailed that other topic a bit)

Any excuse to see the tottie soab next to covus even if it was only my avatar is a bonus ,it was her wee crocs that made me think about them for me and I think big soab should consider I am saving 610 gm by replacing my previous hut sand shoes.
P.S tottie is dialectic regional Scottish for a bonnie wee wean

ah, um... So what is 'bonnie wee wean' Scottish for?

[corvus]

In certain dialects it means "a wee smasher"

[scockburn]

Yep , I wear them . Do not like the look but the weight, waterproof and comfort factor are a real bonus. The other unexpected bonus occurred approx 12 months ago when I was on an overnight through walk and I had a mishap with my old boots, Lost a sole or near enough. The boots were really US and I was not able to repair all that well. I was 16km away on track and one of the others on the walk suggested I try my crocs with the back strap on with socks. Well I felt like a right royal pommie tourist but I was amazed that I got out and was really quite good. Ever since then I've taken them each time and they are part of my always pack items.
Once again I do not like the look but recently a friend told me a story about CROCs the company who have done some really great recycling of theirs and others plastics, made up 1000s of pairs without the Crocs label and then free of charge , distributed the 10s of thousands of their "seconds"to international aid groups for free distribution to African areas.Sounded really practical. SC

[Kainas]

You almost have me convinced..but of course you have to include the weight of all those pretty decorations that so cool.


NB...5yo in crocs..now of course that looks cute.

[Penguin]

Another Crocs/Holes fan. Good around camp as the soles are deep enough to keep the feet dry in poddles. Rally good for deep creeks, had good grip and you can keep your boots dry. They are light weight. They dry very quickly. I find them comfortable to walk in - max for me was about 3km through the bush.

And best of all, when I wear them around elsewhere I can embarrass my 20 y/o daughter and 23 y/o son even more than usual with my dagginess. Mine are purple.

[johnw]

I also confess . I have the el cheapo rip offs for about $10. I don't know why I bought the fluoro red ones though ! I made the mistake of wearing them to pick up a takeaway pizza one night and received some funny looks and comments. Agree with others about lightness, good for river crossings, camp/emergency shoes. The main thing I don't like (apart from the looks) is that they seem to accumulate sand inside if doing any sandy river crossings/walking.

I've since found some specific river/water shoes that are just as versatile. They are almost as light, more compact and look/feel a bit like running shoes. Quick drying stretch uppers with drainage holes in the sole and inner sole.

[tas-man]

Me Too I bought a pair of cheap Chickenfeed $7 imitations to take as light weight camp shoes on my SW/South Coast walk last Easter. I too found them great for short walks around camp with my explorer socks, and excellent for creek and river crossings with quite good grip on wet rocks. Great also at the end of the trip when the wet boots and socks came off for the last time

[Robbo]

Me as well...

I have been using them for the past 2 years and found them to be very good around campsites and the like. They do get some grit in them when walking across sandy creek crossings, but that is a minor thing compared to weight, comfort and 'looks'

Tony Robinson

[dee_legg]

I must say i'm a fan, except i'll admit i try to avoid carrying them on the outside of my pack because i'm a little bit ashamed.

[norts]

I carry Kmart cheapo versions of them, but only on summer walks. Winter it is just wet boots and seal skinz socks.

Roger

[corvus]

Oh how nice to have so many closet crockers on the forum

[rabbit]

Another fan of the crocs here too.
Who cares what you wear on your feet in the middle of nowhere, it's not like your gonna get booked by the fashion police.
The only things I don't like about them is that the grip wears out fairly quickly and sand and sticks always find their way into them.

Ryan

[Franco]

I had no idea that the look of shoes was important in a Tasmanian bush-walking forum….
I too have some “non genuine” Crocs but because of volume if I take “camp shoes” I take a pair of water socks, branded M (?) $19.95 at Mitchell’s, grippy rubber soles with stretch material on top. 400g, size 8. I would not like to walk over slippery rocks in a river wearing Crocs.
Franco

[Nuts]

I saw a guy coming down from a successful summit trip to cradle. Wouldn't recommend it but they certainly are tough little beggar's. The difference between the genuine thing and the knock off's is probably weight and 'toughness'. I have a pair- they are available now in Oz, but I got the closed toe version- great with socks on a cold night.Oh yeah... and I wear the same to town (though see far dorkier things in d'port)

[Chris]

Mr Beach himself (who is my dag mentor) loves his.

(Can hardly see 'em in that photo, I just thought is was a good excuse to post that shot. )

It's delightful, glad you took the opportunity again Nik.

[lexharris]

I bought a pair of genuine Crocs as camp shoes and they were the worse shoes I've ever had the displeasure to have worn. They rubbed the skin off various parts of my feet within minutes on the first day in camp. Sheer agony. They are for sale if anyone wants them. Worn only once.

After the Crocs disaster I went back to the el-cheapo sandals I bought years ago at KMart for about $5. They weigh only 350g for the pair. Used them as camp shoes for years and I'm still using them. Best camp shoes ever.

[corvus]

lexharris that is strange as my elcheapo rivers brand ones are so good that I went back and bought another pair which cost me all of $3.00.
Still all feet are not created equal

[lexharris]

lexharris that is strange as my elcheapo rivers brand ones are so good that I went back and bought another pair which cost me all of $3.00.
Still all feet are not created equal

Yeah, I guess I must have weird feet. Most people seem to find these shoes quite comfortable and that's why I thought I'd give them a go. They seemed pretty comfortable in the shop but I found later that they rubbed badly at certain points on my feet especially when wet as that seemed to increase the friction. They literally ripped the skin off.

[Lady McGuyver]

Hi, I just thought I'd give my two bobs' worth while on the Crocs topic.. I bought a pair of the cheap Rivers ones to use on the Cannibal Run recently and found they were great. Unlike the original crocs, which are made from a heavier, grippier rubber compound, these cheapies are more 'foamy' and weigh next to nothing. (always a bonus)
You can also squish them into those awkward spaces you find in your pack after you've packed everything ..
They were good for wading across rivers and great for bombing round camp, with or without socks. As for fashion, well, who gives a #?$*!...gives everyone something to laugh at when they see the trip photos!!
Cheers

[corvus]

lexharris,splash out and go to your nearest Rivers clearance store spend up big between $3.00 and $14.00 and get yourself a really comfy pair

[lexharris]

lexharris,splash out and go to your nearest Rivers clearance store spend up big between $3.00 and $14.00 and get yourself a really comfy pair

Yeah, I'm thinking of saving up and doing just that

[tas-man]

lexharris,splash out and go to your nearest Rivers clearance store spend up big between $3.00 and $14.00 and get yourself a really comfy pair

Yeah, I'm thinking of saving up and doing just that

This is one situation where the cheaper "knock offs" are actually better value. They are lighter and made from a self skinning plastic that is very comfortable to wear. I have several pairs and embarrass my family by wearing them nearly everywhere, only giving in to proper dress sandals when out-voted

[Jai Maluga]

I used to give my girlfriends mother heaps of grief about her ugly looking rubber croc things and I swore that I would never ever wear them. So she went and brought me some for Xmas I must admit that I love them now great for around camp, fishing and boating. And now just so she can rub it in I get one of those funny little accessory things every birthday and Xmas just to add to the uncoolness