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Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs > Test Report by Brett Haydin

OOFOS OOcloog Clogs

Initial Report - September 9, 2016
Field Report - November 28, 2016
Long Term Report - February 10, 2017

TESTER INFORMATION

TesterNAME:            Brett Haydin
EMAIL:            bhaydin AT hotmail DOT com
AGE:                43
LOCATION:     Madison, Wisconsin, USA
GENDER:         M
HEIGHT:          5' 11" (1.80 m)
WEIGHT:         200 lb (90.70 kg)
SHOE SIZE:      10.5 US
WAIST:           36 in (91 cm)

I started backpacking in Wisconsin as a youth, being involved in the Boy Scouts programs. As a young adult, I worked at a summer camp leading backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking trips. I now generally take short weekend or day trips. I plan several longer trips each year in different parts of the US, where I typically carry about 40 lb (18 kg). I prefer to be prepared and comfortable, but I have taken lightweight trips as well.

Initial Report

Product Information & Specifications

OOcloog
Photo: From OOFOS's website
Manufacturer: OOFOS, LLC
Year of Manufacture:  2016
Manufacturer's Website: www.OOFOS.com
MSRP: $54.95 US
Listed Weight: n/a
Measured Weight: 15.4 oz (437 g)
Color Tested: Black (only available color)
Size Tested: 10 US
Sizes available: 4 - 12 in whole sizes only
Material: OOfoam
Warranty: 6 months from date of purchase. After 6 months, they will evaluate case-by-case

Other Details provided by Manufacturer

  • OOfoam: Absorbs 37% more shock than other materials
  • Reduces stress on sore feet, knees and lower back
  • Cradles your arches
  • Biomechanically designed footbed allows natural motion
  • Soft, conforming toe post eliminates toe chafing
  • Shower/beach-ready; moisture resistant; doesn’t retain smell
  • Durable OOfoam holds its cushion
  • Machine washable
  • So light they float

Product Description

The OOFOS OOcloog clog is a traditional style clog. Like a sandal, they are made to slip on and off with relative ease - no pesky shoelaces! The OOcloogs are constructed of one piece of the OOFOS' OOfoam. The manufacturer says that their proprietary foam is lighter and has greater (37%) impact absorption than standard EVA foam. The construction of the OOcloog is fairly simple. The toe box is nice and wide which is great for my wide feet. The OOcloogs are shaped so that my heel is held in place by a small ridge.

While the footbed looks rather traditional, after I put them on I could tell there was something special. First, the arch support is noticeable (and not in a bad way). Looking down into the toe box, I can see that the interior curves up slightly as well. The material is stamped with a sort of wavy-checkered pattern as well. There are also three small openings on the interior side of the shoe to let water out. Stepping into the OOcloog, the foam is noticeably softer than other sandals I own.

The bottom of the OOcloogs are flat, with fairly simple crisscrossed design. There is also a groove that runs down the length of the shoe as well as one that crosses it. The manufacturer's name appears on the interior side of the clogs in raised letters, while the logo is printed on the outside near the heel. The OOcloogs appear to be expertly crafted with no signs of any defects.

Initial Impressions

OOcloog
Trying on the OOcloogs
I was immediately impressed with how light these are! I had heard of the company before so I was eager to try them on. There is a profound difference for sure. I wear a 10.5, but the manufacturer states to round down for men. I find it interesting that the website says women should round up. When I tried them on, they fit snug with bare feet. With socks, it was initially a little hard to get the OOcloogs on. Since the clogs aren't uncomfortable in any way, I'm keeping the size as is. I know other shoes loosen up and that may be the case here.

My fashion-conscious teenage daughter gave me quite the frown when she saw me wearing these around the house. I told her "you gotta try these on, though!" She did and was immediately impressed. "OK, you got a point dad. I approve."  With her stamp of approval, I will gladly take these into the backcountry for some R & R after a long day of hiking.

Reading the Instructions

The website has a lot of great information about the company and the OOfoam technology. I was mostly interested in why the manufacturer says they are machine washable however. I found that (and other interesting tidbits) under their FAQ. Apparently I can toss them in the wash with mild detergent. Huh, who knew?! While it seemed obvious to me, it was made very clear to never, ever put them in the drier.





Field Report

Field Conditions

OOcloog
Relaxing at camp with the OOcloogs
Since receiving the OOcloogs, I have been on two backpacking trips. My first trip was an overnight along a section of the Ice Age Trail backpacking 23 mi (37 km) in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The terrain was fairly hilly with elevation gain on some hills over 300 ft (90 m). That isn't a lot compared to the mountains, but western Wisconsin is not flat! Temperatures were a little more moderate between 58 and 72 F (14 and 22 C). It rained most of the afternoon and into the evening on my first day.

My other trip was a 9.2 mi (14.8 km) loop in the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California. The temperatures were between 60 and 80 F (16 and 27 C) with no precipitation. The terrain was rocky, mountainous and breathtaking! I used the OOcloogs as a camp shoe on both trips. In addition to the backpacking trips, I took them on two additional overnight camping trips in central Wisconsin (High Cliff State Park and Devil's Lake State Park). On these two occasions, they served as my primary footwear around camp while I donned traditional shoes for hiking the trails.

Observations

The OOFOS OOcloogs have been a handy companion to bring along on my trips so far. I have used them primarily as a recover shoe in camp after hiking. However, I have found them to be quite useful around our lake house and for just loafing around in general. I love that they are so lightweight. I have no qualms about stuffing them into my backpack. But to be honest, I am not particularly focused on packing as light as I can; I would rather be tired and comfortable than uncomfortable in the backcountry!  They do take up a fair amount of space compared to the sandals I normally take, which is probably the biggest drawback.

The soles of the OOcloogs are what really impress me. After a long hike, it was nice to put on some camp shoes that protected me from sticks and stones. Not only that, but my feet really appreciated the rest. The springy action of the soles helped propel my tired legs through the afternoon chores of setting up camp.

When wet, the OOcloogs can be a little squeaky. On the Ice Age Trail, when I was getting out in the middle of the night to relieve myself I could swear the whole forest could hear me walking out to find a nice spot. I didn't have socks on, which may have contributed to the noise. I've noticed the same thing out on our boat. The OOcloogs dry reasonably quickly - there is no absorbent material after all. So really this is just an aesthetics issue for my friends than anything else!

My only concern is that the shoes are really snug when I wear socks. This makes them almost feel too small with socks. Barefoot, they are a perfect fit! I think I can make this work since most times I take my socks off to air out anyway when I arrive at camp.

Long Term Report

Field Conditions

Over the final two months of the test I was able to take another two backpacking trips with the OOcloogs. The first was an overnight trip in Southern Wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine State Forest along the Ice Age Tail to Whitewater Lake. We had some unseasonably warm weather so I took advantage of the break in the cold to take the 8.9 mi (14.3 km) hike and soak in the views. The temperatures were between 45 and 65 F (7 and 18 C) with no precipitation. The trail was hilly and dirt-packed.

My final trip with the OOcloogs was an overnight in the Joshua Tree National Park in California. I hiked 8 mi (13 km) along the Boy Scout Trail which was rocky, dirt-packed desert hike among the iconic trees. There was a moderate amount of elevation gain, about 1,000 ft (300 m), since I did just a shuttle hike. Typical of Southern California, I saw no rain with temperatures between 60-70 F (16-21 C) and an overnight low at about 40 F (4 C).

I have also worn the OOcloogs on countless trips to the mailbox and around the house. Additionally, I have worn them to the beach on a few work-related trips.

resting
After a long hike, the OOcloogs are a nice break

Observations

I don't have much more to add since my last report. The OOcloogs are still cozy on my toesies. I could never really get the OOcloogs to work with socks and so in colder temperatures these seem to be a little impractical as a camp shoe for me. On my trip to the Joshua tree, these were a welcome treat for my feet. Living in the Midwestern US, I tend to forget how hard the rocky terrain of the west can be on my feet and after a day of hiking my feet were a little sore. When I put the OOcloogs on, the spongy softness felt amazing.

The OOcloogs are showing very little signs of wear and tear. Not that there is an incredible amount of tread on the bottom, they aren't worn down. I can find no cracks, tears or other warning signs that they may fail in the near future. Aside from a few scratches, which are masked by the matte black finish, they are excellent condition.

The only other notable observation that I have is that they float when (and if) they slip off in water.

Summary

Overall I am pleased with the OOFOS OOcloogs. While bulky, I am willing to make extra room in my pack for these in the spring, summer and fall. The extra comfort is worth it! These will be my go-to slip ons this summer!

Pros
: Comfortable, lightweight, good support.
Cons: A little bulky for backpacking and fit is a little snug.

This concludes this test series. I would like to thank OOFOS and
BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to be a part of this test series.




Read more reviews of OOFOS, LLC gear
Read more gear reviews by Brett Haydin

Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs > Test Report by Brett Haydin



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