Gear Review: Oboz Campster Sandal

I’m surprised no one had ramped up the outdoors cred of the omnipresent foam clogs until now, but I’m glad Oboz jumped on it. This Montana-based company has crushed it with the Oboz Campster Sandal, an elevated version of everyone’s favorite camp shoe. These tough little shoes weigh in at 13 ounces for the pair. The webbing is durable, the shoes fit securely, clip to your pack, and the outsole is grippy and offers plenty of protection. These are my new go-to backpacking camp shoe, water shoe, and crag shoe—plus I’ve worn them comfortably for impromptu light hikes.

Oboz Campster Sandal

MSRP: $90
Materials: Polyester webbing upper, dual-density EVA midsole, rubber/EVA outsole
Weight: 13.4 ounces
Best Use: Everything. Mostly camp shoe.

Overview

I’m a camp shoe person. I hate wrestling with hiking shoes for midnight bathroom breaks, and the joy of taking off nasty trail runners at the end of a long day and sliding into a pair of sexy foam clogs is worth the extra 12-14 ounces. I went from carrying crappy flip-flops to heavy Chacos, then settled on knockoff Crocs that lasted many months on trail. After I wore through the soles, my camp-shoe-clog inventory has been at a sad zero. This season, Oboz came out with a beefed-up version of the go-to foam clogs, and I jumped on it. The Oboz Campster Sandal is the shoe for crags, car camping, and backpacking trips. They have a sturdy outsole, dual-density EVA midsole, and strong webbing.The toe protection and comfort is phenomenal, and the padded heel strap fits over your ankle for added security.

Features

Insole / Midsole: The arch is molded to fit your foot, which makes them more ergonomic than cheaper options. It’s also essentially the same molding used for Oboz’s hiking shoes. The top layer is textured, which helps prevent your feet from sliding around, and it also includes antimicrobial technology to keep the stink at bay.

Webbing: Super durable, dries quickly. There is no irritation or hot spots thanks to a tight, flat weave both in the material and in the strap configuration.

Outsole: The rubber comes up and over the top of the toe, meaning even hikers prone to bashing their toes against rocks (hi) are safe from lost toenails and hideously stubbed toes. The outsole combines EVA and non-marking rubber with patterned molding for increased traction.

Heel strap: The strap pivots behind your heel or tucks over the top of the sandal. It features minor padding and doesn’t rub or irritate at all. The snug fit means you can’t just slide it on, you actually have to pull it over your heel.

Attaching loop: Not sure what this is called? It’s a reinforced piece of webbing stitched to the upper. I sometimes used it to clip the shoes to my pack with a small carabiner when I wasn’t lazy and hooking my pack webbing through the heel strap.

Circumstances of Use

I carried these on many overnights and longer hikes over the past few months. They clip to my pack and slide on and off with ease. They are comfortable to wear over rocky and slippery trails, and perfect for water crossings. I ended up wearing them for a three-mile section of the trail pictured above, where we had frequent creek crossings.

Pros

Everything I loved about my fake Crocs, amplified by an amazing outdoors company with an emphasis on durability and functionality. They are lightweight, extremely comfortable, and do exactly the job they’re supposed to.

Cons

They can get a little sweaty, and the price point is higher than Crocs, and definitely higher than off-brand foam clogs.

Overall

The cost of the Oboz Campster Sandal is higher than other options, but a durable, multi-use shoe from a reputable outdoor footwear company is worth the initial investment. I know I could get away with lighter camp shoes, but I also love having the option of toe protection. The comfort, longevity, and lightweight features of this shoe make it a constant in my backpacking and camping setup.

Shop the Oboz Women’s Campster Here Shop the Oboz Men’s Campster Here

This product was donated for purpose of review

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Comments 3

  • TBR : Aug 14th

    Nice camp shoes.

    I hate wearing boots in camp after a day on the trail, and I want a pair of these.

    I just can’t go $90, though.

    That’s well beyond my camp-shoes budget.

    Reply
    • Maggie Slepian : Aug 14th

      Yes! These shoes are great, but the MSRP is definitely on the high side.

      Reply
  • Bruce : Aug 14th

    “The arch is molded to fit your foot…”. How can it be molded to my foot? Oboz has never seen my foot. I’m glad they work for you but it’s sad how shoe companies insist on building this unnecessary structure into their products. Especially after a long day hiking or whatever, your feet need time to relax and be themselves, not forced into some predetermined correct shape. Cheers…

    Reply

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