Climbing shoes are notoriously uncomfortable. The tight fit and aggressive shape help performance, but after a few hours of sport climbing in Illinois, my feet, toes, and heels are usually barking.
Between climbs, when I was up to belay, I put on Teva’s ReEmber Camp Slipper. The wide toe box let my feet relax, and the plush cushion added support. It also performed when it counted. The tread helped me stay steady as I belayed my partner on uneven, rocky terrain.
Later, when I got back to camp, I put on some thick wool socks and slipped into the Tevas. My feet stayed toasty when the temps dropped below freezing. I was grateful for the insulated slippers.
Teva has been making camp shoes for years, and the ReEmber has been one of its most popular models. This new version has a more customizable fit, enhanced weather resistance, and improved grip. I wore the ReEmber on many camping and climbing trips during the fall in both muddy and wet conditions.
In short: The ReEmber Camp Slip-On ($90) is a well-constructed and supportive camp shoe. The puffy quilted upper adds warmth, and a high-rise rubber outsole and water-resistant finish help keep the feet dry. The new version is an upgrade from past models in every way, except for the collapsible heel. While too heavy for backpacking, this is an ideal shoe for kicking around camp, at home, or even out on short errands.
Check out other camp shoes and slippers in GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Camp Shoes and the Best Slippers.
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Some might find slipper mode uncomfortable
Teva ReEmber Camp Slipper Review
The ReEmber Camp Slip-On retails for $90. The men’s version is available in sizes 4 to 14, and the women’s comes in sizes 5 to 14. The men’s version weighs 1 pound, 13.4 ounces, and the women’s version weighs 1 pound, 5.2 ounces. These are heavy slippers that are better suited for car camping adventures than backpacking.
Teva prioritized sustainable materials in the ReEmber Slipper design. The upper is made with 100% recycled ripstop fabric, the midsole is made from 30% recycled EVA, and the outsole includes 50% recycled rubber.
The Teva ReEmber Terrain is our Best Overall in our guide to the Best Camp Shoes. The Slipper is almost identical to the Terrain, but uses a different water-resistant fabric and has an elastic heel that folds down.
In the Field
Fit
I wear a size 9.5/40 in women’s street shoes, but in Tevas I am a 41. I sized up to accommodate thick wool socks and to make extra toe room, letting my feet relax after long days.
I think sizing up was the right choice. A 40 would have fit, but would have been quite snug. If you can, try on the ReEmber Slip-On shoe at your local outdoor store for an ideal fit.
The ReEmber does have an adjustable strap across the top of the foot. As someone with narrow feet, I appreciated being able to cinch it down a bit to get a more articulated fit.
Traction
Of all the Teva camp shoes I’ve seen, the ReEmber is definitely the beefiest. The rubber outsole extends about an inch up the sides of the shoes, providing mild protection against puddles and mud.
Of course, the lug pattern on the bottom isn’t as grippy as a hiking boot’s or trail runners’, but it’s enough for some grip. I wore the ReEmber Slippers during autumn, and slippery fallen leaves abounded at camp. Even if I lost my balance on an unseen tree root, the traction of the ReEmbers was enough to help keep me planted.
Warmth & Weather Protection
Teva says the ReEmbers are water-resistant, which I put to the test during the after-party of a climbing festival. As the bonfire for the party got going, so did the rain, and I wore the ReEmbers in light precipitation for about an hour. While the exterior of the shoe was, of course, a little damp, my feet inside were nice and dry.
The ReEmbers also have a puffy quilted upper with extra insulation for warmth, along with a soft, fleece-like lining. I wore these slippers to walk my dogs in about 20-degree weather, and with a light pair of merino socks, my feet stayed toasty warm.
Style
I appreciated the bold color combo of the version I tested. The teal, pink, brown, and black make the shoe pop. The wavy-stitched pattern of the upper, combined with the patterned tread on the sides, also adds some visual interest. I wore these to the gym as belay shoes and got several compliments.
The other available colors of the new ReEmber Slipper, however, are pretty tame. The “Cloud Cream” color is a little perplexing, as it seems impossible to keep clean at a campsite. The other colors — olive, brown, and black — are pretty standard.
Slipper vs. Shoe Mode
The ReEmber Slipper has a collapsible heel made of a softer, elastic fabric. It allows you to choose between slipper and shoe modes. While this multi-functionality is a nice idea, I found the slipper mode to be uncomfortable. The quilted upper extends quite far onto the foot, close to the ankle. This produced pressure points on each side of my foot.
Other people’s feet might experience that differently. Again, try these on if you can.
Drawbacks
While the upper of the shoe proved quite durable, thanks to reinforced fabric near the toes, the heel quickly showed signs of wear, despite my rarely wearing the shoe in “slipper” mode. The soft fabric began to pill almost immediately, and it proved to be a magnet for dog hair and dirt.
With a pair weighing well over a pound, I would not bring these shoes backpacking. Instead, I’ll stick to my lightweight combo of merino socks and Teva Original Sandals (which weigh just 10 ounces per pair).
Teva ReEmber: New vs. Original
This model of Teva is a vastly revamped version of the brand’s original, the ReEmber Slipper. I’ve had a pair of the old version for years, and wish I could combine the best features of the two.
The new version has significantly better grip, but the old version was far more comfortable to wear in slipper mode. The fabric near the ankle used to be softer and didn’t put any pressure on the foot when I wore it with the heel down.
After a few years of wearing the old model, the bottom tread started to peel away from the shoe. The higher rise of the rubber tread on the new slipper should help prevent that.
The old version was finished with a peppermint-based anti-odor treatment, which the new one lacks. While I expect my camp shoes to eventually get stinky, this was a useful touch, and it’s too bad that Teva nixed it.
Teva ReEmber Slipper: Conclusions
If you’re a regular car camper looking for a shoe that has enough traction and insulation to stand up to wet and muddy conditions, the new ReEmber Camp Slipper is a solid choice. Even when I took my dogs out in a foot of snow, my feet stayed dry.
Besides the heel attracting dog hair, it showed no major signs of wear and tear over months of use. My old Teva slippers lasted me years, and I expect these will too.
The slipper hybrid function could use a redesign to make it even more versatile. I wouldn’t want to wear it in slipper mode for more than five minutes.
The ReEmber is also just plain useful: It’s a handy slipper to wear around the house and about town. I found myself reaching for it if I had to take the dogs for a short walk or run out for a coffee.
Ultimately, the warmth, durability, and style of the ReEmber have made it my go-to camp, post-climbing, and running errands shoe.
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