Editors Note: This is the second time that these shoes have been reviewed. The first can be read in a Mountain Standards Post from August, 2008. This Panelist could not help but share her positive impressions.
MSRP: $100
These are a new-ish, beefy approach shoe from 5.10. I saw them quite a bit in the Tetons this summer and expect to see a lot more of them in the future. Why?
These shoes rule! They are the cream of the crop, the nail hit on the head, the absolute best shoe for a Grand Teton guide. In the past, I would hike the approach in one pair of shoes that were comfortable and durable, then switch to sticky rubber shoes for the technical ascent.
The Camp 4, on the other hand, works for everything. They hike well, they climb well, and they fit well. I just stuck my Superfeet insoles in there and away I went–all summer long. This is outrageous. Typically I would wear out a pair of shoes in a season or find myself switching from pair to pair because no shoe quite fit the bill. The Camp 4, however, made me forget about shoes. My feet were fooled all summer long, thinking that I had become a guide for beach walking in Baja or perhaps a writer of guide books for the foot spas of the world.
This is the perfect shoe to wear when there is a hike and easy climb involved. It is also perfect for boulder hopping, gnarly approaches on rock and dirt, and easy rock scrambles.
Miraculously, I will probably be wearing the same pair again next year. The tread is not even worn out yet, and the shoe has maintained it structure. This is indeed remarkable.
Please keep in mind: it is only an approach shoe. It will not fly you to the moon or make you rich–though it might help 5.10 out a bit. Difficult climbing still requires the use of technical climbing shoes.
Cheers to 5.10! In celebration, I helped drag a hula-hoop to the summit of the Grand Teton to get the perfect “hula-hooping in 5-tennies” shot.
Our Mountain Standards panelist hula-hooping the Grand Teton in her Five Ten Camp 4 approach shoes. [Photo] Courtesty of Julia Niles
Pros: They hike well, they climb well, and they fit well; the tread stands up to abuse; overall shoe maintains its structure.
Cons: Heavy.