Hiking/Scrambling Shoes
Five Ten Camp Four
$150, 1 lb. 13 oz. (US men’s 9)
Sizes: men’s 4-13, women’s 5-11
backcountry.com
Five Ten Camp Four Mid
$170, 2 lbs. (US men’s 9)
Sizes: men’s 4-13
backcountry.com
Whether on rugged, rocky trails or off-trail, some hikes demand more from footwear. On a 13.5-hour, roughly 18-mile, mostly off-trail dayhike with about 7,000 feet of vertical gain and loss in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains in July, I needed shoes with sticky soles for scrambling steep rock, but also good traction on every possible mountain surface from sand and scree to snow. Plus, I wanted solid protection for my feet and comfort for walking many hours. The Camp Four Mid delivered on all counts that day, as did the low-cut version on similar terrain when hiking to climbing routes in Idaho’s Castle Rocks State Park.
That big day in the Sawtooths was my first hike in the Camp Four Mid, and they were comfortable right out of the box, with the leather uppers conforming nicely to my feet. Unlike some approach shoes, the Camp Four has plenty of toe space for comfortably walking long miles. That toe comfort compromises sensitivity for standing on smaller edges; so these shoes are great for scrambling and smearing on slabs, but are a little too bulky in the toes for anything but very easy rock climbing (for most people).
True to their pedigree with a climbing-shoe company, these updated versions of the classic Camp Four—both the low-cut and the mid-cut—have super sticky, Stealth S1 rubber outsoles that gripped well when I smeared up or down steep slabs, rock-hopped big talus, and scrambled exposed third-class terrain like the short, final pitch to the summit of 10,751-foot Thompson Peak, the highest in the Sawtooths. But the deep outsole lugs and in-cut heel also gave good traction hiking up and down thousands of feet of loose scree. The hard, rubber toe rand protected my feet from endless bashing on rocks and helped me kick steps in firm snow.
Although there’s no waterproof-breathable membrane, the leather uppers kept my feet dry when I walked across wet snowfields and slopped through some mud and marshy areas; but I would expect the seams to leak when immersed in water or in sustained rain or a lot of wet vegetation. The leather also enhances durability, but makes them warmer than all-mesh, synthetic shoes. My one complaint about the Camp Four Mid is that the collar isn’t very soft and doesn’t close cleanly around my ankles, so it yawns open when I walk, allowing small stones and other trail debris inside; oddly enough, it was less of a problem with the low-cut version. Although it’s not a backpacking boot, just to experiment, I wore the Mids on a three-day, 41-mile backpacking trip on the Timberline Trail around Oregon’s Mount Hood; and sure enough, the midsole doesn’t have the support for hiking 12 to 17 miles a day carrying 25 to 30 pounds—my feet got sore. Whether you’re taking huge dayhikes or walking moderate distances, the Camp Four low and mid excel in rugged terrain while remaining impressively lightweight.
BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog by clicking any of these links to purchase the men’s Five Ten Camp Four low-cuts at backcountry.com, the women’s Camp Four low-cuts at moosejaw.com, the men’s Five Ten Camp Four Mid at backcountry.com, or the men’s Camp Four Mid GTX at backcountry.com.
Tell me what you think.
I spent a lot of time writing this story, so if you enjoyed it, please consider giving it a share using one of the buttons below, and leave a comment or question. I’d really appreciate it.
See all of my reviews of hiking shoes and backpacking boots that I like, my reviews of hiking gear and backpacking gear, and my “Pro Tips For Buying the Right Boots.”
See also my stories:
“Tent Flap With a View: 25 Favorite Backcountry Campsites”
“My Top 10 Favorite Backpacking Trips”
“10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit”
“10 Tricks For Making Hiking and Backpacking Easier”
“7 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters”
NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See categorized menus of all of my gear reviews at The Big Outside.
—Michael Lanza
Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, the creator of The Big Outside, recognized as a top outdoors blog by USA Today and others. I invite you to get email updates about new stories and gear giveaways by entering your email address in the box in the left sidebar, at the bottom of this post, or on my About page, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
♦
This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.
♦
The Big Outside is proud to partner with sponsors Backcountry.com and Visit North Carolina, who support the stories you read at this blog. Find out more about them and how to sponsor my blog at my sponsors page at The Big Outside. Click on the backcountry.com ad below for the best prices on great gear.
Camp Four is a fantastic hiking shoe for New England. Very comfortable, supportive enough and sticks to rocks like nobodies business. Use a gaiter to keep debris out and I personally use a Sole Blue insole for added support and due to the fact the Camp Four is pretty high volume which makes for very comfy feet while also allowing you to use an aftermarket insole of your choice with no fit issues.
I agree about the Camp Four on New England trails, Jeff, for the great traction on all those rocks. Plus, the mid-cut Camp Four protects your ankles from bashing against rocks.