Previously posted in July, 2010. That’s right, I’m on vacation!
Tennis shoes, flip-flops, water shoes: what’s a kid to wear on a camping trip?
My parents recently took my kiddos camping for three nights. (Yes, I know how incredibly lucky we are.) My step-mom reported back to me that the two pairs of shoes each child brought with them were just right for the great outdoors.
Pair #1 are Crocs. My shorties both have this style of Crocs that I think look like cousins to Converse. They are appropriate for traipsing through creeks and swinging in hammocks. They are called Crocbands, and we are fans of playing Rock Band, so I think this shoe was meant-to-be in my household. Find them on Amazon.
Pair #2 are Ugg boot knock offs. Intended for the colder hours of the day, they look most fashionable when paired with red and black moose-themed pajamas. Find them on Amazon.
And that, my friends, is the sum total of the kid camping shoe packing list.
More camping wisdom: The one thing I wish I had on prior camping trips is a small potty chair. Even after Scarlett had been potty trained for a long time, she was — and still is — particular about the toilets she’ll use. She’d rather pee in the bushes than use a toilet that flushes too loudly. When it comes to #2, we’ve learned she’d rather hold it for days than use a scary loo. In the future, I’ll borrow a portable potty seat to take along.
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Related stuff you might like: Camp Grandma; A list of crazy potty seats; Activity #152: Go camping
BOTH are perfect suggestions! We went with water shoes and slip on shoes (that were almost too small) and ended up letting M walk around the campground in his footie pj’s most of the time anyway.
potty chair. THAT is what i forgot for our 4th of july camping trip.
uggs look good too. easy of taking off and putting on is a big thing.
I like your recommendations but, for some reason, we’re anti-Croc and pro-Keen water shoes in my house. I like the Keens for being closed-toe and sporty for active little ones.
Where can I find those red moose jammies?!
Are you anti-Croc, Heather, or just pro-Keens? Crocs are not as safe for athletic activities, I concede, but they are closed toed and extremely easy to put on and to clean.
The moose jammies are Hatley (I’m not sure if you are kidding about liking them). If you REALLY like them, here they are for women: http://www.sleepyheads.com/Hatley_Moose_On_Red_Long-Sleeve_Lounge_Set
OMG Whit – I cracked up when I finally saw your email and clicked the link. I’m all over the Uggs (and fake ones are just smart)….but….sigh. The crocs. I think my favorite part was this one: “new style of Crocs that I think look like cousins to Converse”
I will concede, however, that these are better than the originals. But I’m still with Heather, though – R loves his Keens. 🙂
Wow the boots rocks. I got one for my kid and it is really fitting for camping. Awesome site, I’m very glad I wandered onto it I am going to share it with my friends.
I guess bringing kids when camping is a cool idea. But we must see to it that they’re wearing comfortable outfit just like these ones.
C’mon. Are you joking? Crocs with no support whatsoever that will melt in front of the campfire and fake Uggs? What is this, the spend money needlessly post? It’s camping, not a fashion show. Pair 1: Kids’ normal canvas tennis shoes. Keds, Converse, Target-brand, whatever. Washable when dirty. Keeps burrs out from between your toes. An extra pair of socks when it gets cold. Pair 2: Barefoot. You know, so you can feel the grass between your feet. And the rocks as you wade the stream. Uggs? Huge waste of money. Fake Uggs? Smaller, Chinese-made waste of money. Bulky and laughable. I’ll save my money to buy my son a harmonica for those campouts instead of Crocs and (fake) Uggs. I camped for years as a child and never needed any of this stuff. I think the priorities are wrong in this post, clashing completely with the values of simplicity and nature that camping is meant to teach, no?