Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Camp moccasins are part of the iconic, American handsewn style, with elements from many different types of moccasins folded into one. They feature horizontal lacing around the throat (a.k.a. the ankle opening) of the moccasin, much like boat shoes. However, unlike boat shoes, they don’t feature quarters for lacing, which gives them elements of from various types of loafers or even slippers. The result is a simple, moccasin style shoe that is greater than the sum of its parts. Whether or not you have room left in your summer footwear rotation we hope you enjoy this list comprise of some of the best camp mocs available.
1) Yuketen: Canoe Moc
While I firmly believe that Yuketen’s Canoe Moc is still a camp moc, the lack of an additional layer of leather wrapped around the throat of the shoe certainly gives these pairs a significantly different look. Sure, camp mocs already look about as comfortable and inviting as possible, but this design decision by Yuketen does nothing but highlight their inherent comfort. Available in three different colorways, these canoe mocs all feature blind eyelets, a speckled Vibram camp sole, and a multi-colored dust bag.
Available for $290 at Unionmade.
2) L.L. Bean: Signature Handsewn Jackman Camp Mocs
Given that camp mocs are such a classic style, it should come as no surprise that L.L. Bean has their own, fantastic take on it, and that it’s as affordable as ever. Constructed from smooth, full-grain leather, all four colors of the Jackman Camp Mocs would make a great choice this Spring. While they aren’t made in the USA, the quality is still spot on and allows for a much more palatable price point. Whether you wear these with or without socks, they’ll surely become one of your most comfortable pairs.
Available from $80 at L.L. Bean.
3) Maine Moccasin: Camp Moccasin
Maine Moccasin does a fantastic job of finding a fantastic leather and pairing it with the perfect style, sole, and hardware combination. This version of their Camp Moccasin features a heavily oiled pull-up leather in a rich brown color with antique eyelets around the throat that give an extra depth of color, and a bright red camp sole to tie everything together. To ensure these mocs are as comfortable as possible they are left unlined to give them as much flexibility as possible.
Like this? Read these:
Available for $275 at Maine Moccasin.
4) Quoddy: Canoe Shoe
For many of us, myself included, Quoddy is the go-to brand when beginning our search for a new pair of moccasins. Not only do they offer many customizable styles, as is the case with their Canoe Shoe, but they also have stock options for when it’s too hard to wait. While they custom options are too complex to list, their Pebbled Brown Camp Moc is a great, classic option that, quite frankly, is very similar to what I’d make if I wanted to go full custom. I don’t know what it is, but grainy leathers just look right when it comes to handsewns.
Available from $275 at Quoddy.
5) Oak Street Bootmakers: Camp Moc
If there is one thing I love about Oak Street Bootmakers it is their embrace of colorful leathers, especially navy and loden, which look fantastic with the moccasin style. Their Camp Mocs are available in these colors and more, and are made in the USA to ensure the highest quality construction available. Completed with waxed stitching and the iconic camp sole, these mocs aren’t going anywhere—well, at least durability-wise; they’ll certainly be able to go wherever your feet take them.
Available from $225 at Oak Street Bootmakers in Brown, Natural, Navy, Natural Roughout, and Loden.
Plus One — Rancourt: Westbrook Driving Moc in Bison
Combining camp mocs with driving mocs is hardly a new idea, but somehow Rancourt’s interpretation in their Westbrook Driving Moc just looks better than the rest. Maybe it’s the proper, studded driving outsole, the heavily textured bison leather, or just the matching leather laces and thread color, but these mocs are just perfect. Each pair is fully lined, which gives rigidity to the other buttery soft bison leather, leaving you with the perfect combination of comfort and support. While I can’t in good consciousness suggest anything but the Chocolate colorway, I should mention they’re available in three other colors if that one isn’t doing it for you.
Available for $295 at Rancourt.
