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Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs > Test Report by Kathleen Waters

OOFOOS OOCLOOG CLOGS
TEST SERIES BY KATHLEEN WATERS
LONG-TERM REPORT

INITIAL REPORT - August 28, 2016
FIELD REPORT - October 31, 2016
LONG TERM REPORT - December 12, 2016

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Kathleen Waters
EMAIL: kathy at backpackgeartest dot com
AGE: 65
LOCATION: Canon City, Colorado, USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 4" (1.60 m)
WEIGHT: 125 lb (56.70 kg)
WAIST: 28 " (71 cm)

Living in Colorado and being self-employed, I have ample opportunities to backpack. There are over 700,000 acres/280,000 hectares of public land bordering my 71-acre/29-hectare "backyard" in addition to all the other gorgeous locations which abound in Colorado. Over the past 15 years, my husband John and I have also had the good fortune to hike/snowshoe glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in exotic locations, including New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley. My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. I use a tent (rainfly if needed). Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) excluding food and water.


INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: OOFOS, LLC
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.oofos.com
MSRP: US $64.95
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 13.8 oz (391 g)
Colors Available: Black, Mocha, Satin Graphite, Satin Latte & Satin Teal
Color Tested: Black
Sizes Available: Women's 6-11
Size Tested: Women's 8

Other details:

" Made with OOfoam - according to the OOFOS' website - "to absorb 37% more shock than other materials."
* Made in Korea
" Biomechanically designed footbed
" Moisture and bacteria resistant; doesn't retain smell
" Machine washable
" So light they float
OOfps OOCloog Clpgs
Photo copyright OOfos

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

OOfos OOcloog Clogs Shiny
OO! Shiny!
Since I had seen the OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs before, there weren't any big surprises as to their appearance when they finally arrived on my doorstep. Even if I hadn't, the OOFOS website quite accurately portrays the basic look of the clogs and I was pretty clear on what color "Black" would be as opposed to "mossy oak" or "butterfly" - seriously those are colors of another brand. However, the website had the color listed simply as "Black", not "Shiny Black" as my new clogs are designated on the box. And "shiny" they definitely are!

These look pretty much like a classic clog (except for the shiny - think patent leather shiny part). The toe box is nice and wide with an open heel. Standard clog.

The footbed of the OOcloogs is where the shoes differ from other clogs. Just as with my OOlala sandals, there is a very noticeable contouring pattern to the footbed with the heel having a distinct "cup". There is a prominent arch cushion as well. And looking inside the clogs, I can see that the toe box dips from the mid-foot and curves upward. The whole footbed construction of the clogs is very thick and supportive in the mid-foot. And similarly to the OOlalas, the soles sport a moderate tread with a "channel" in a "T" shape to shed water.

Because I already have a pair of the OOFOS OOlala Sandals, I knew exactly how comfortable, right from the get-go, the clogs would be as well. I had reasoned they would be at least as cushiony as the flip-flop style OOlalas and I'm happy to report, I was right!

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

No instructions were enclosed with the shoes, but I kinda figured out how to put the on all by myself!

I did a bit of sleuthing on the OOFOS' website though and found a section on "Care". Pretty simple really:

According to OOFOS, the clogs can either be tossed into the washing machine with a mild detergent and cold water or I can scrub them in the sink with a brush and mild soap. To dry them, I should wipe the clogs with a towel. Then they should be ready to wear immediately. Alternately (and in the field) I can put them out to dry in the shade. There is a final instruction, a stern warning actually, to NEVER put the OOFOS in a electric or gas dryer.

Another interesting bit of "instructions" from OOFOS regarding sizing. Purchasers are advised to order the same size if they wear a "whole" size, i.e. 7,9, etc. But if a half size is needed, women are to order a size "up" (size 8 for a 7.5) and men are to order a size "down" (size 10 for a 10.5). Very interesting!

TRYING IT OUT

The OOFOS OOcloogs Luxe Clogs fit me perfectly. The women's size 8 is very true to size. When I tried the shoes on for the first time, I had on a pair of relatively thin casual socks. With these socks, the clogs are a tad loose, but that's the same fit as I have with all my other sport footwear. I actually wear a 7.5 women's shoe in a dress shoe which I wear when forced to, occasionally, for weddings, funerals, etc. Most of my socks, however, are thicker and when I tried the clogs on with one of my favorite mid-weight wool socks, the clogs fit perfectly!

Happily, the clogs stay on my feet when I walk without "clomping" and slipping up and down with each step. I actually walk more "quietly".

I spent the rest of the afternoon working in my office, walking around and doing some jogs up and down stairs in the OOcloogs. They felt great and I continued to wear them into the evening while I was frantically packing for my upcoming base camping/backpacking trip to Montana and Banff, Canada next week. They will be one of the last things to get packed away and I certainly won't forget them and leave them behind since they will be on my feet right up to the time I walk out the door!

SUMMARY

As I indicated above, I already have a pair of well-worn OOFOS OOlala Sandals. I have been wearing them almost daily this summer as a recovery shoe at home after walking/hiking on dirt roads/trails and as a camp shoe when backpacking. Now that the weather is going to be getting colder (it IS going to get colder, isn't it?), I am thrilled to be able to continue wearing OOFOS in a clog style which should work well with warm socks.

I had my OOlalas packed up and ready to go on my extended base camp/backpacking trip starting September 1, but when these OOcloogs arrived, I quickly swapped them out. Now I hope to be comfy and warm for the next 3 weeks and beyond while wearing the OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs.


FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Over the last couple of months, it seems I have been away from home almost constantly for both fun and for work.

Fun, outdoor, out-of-state locations have included: the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Banff and Jasper National Parks (Alberta, Canada), Glacier National Park and Custer-Gallatin National Forest (Montana), and Monongahela National Forest and Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia.

Location and condition details are as follows:

Custer-Gallatin National Forest - Moose Creek Flat
Terrain: we base-camped in a valley besides the Gallatin River, but day-hiked to mountain lakes for fishing as well
Elevation range: 5700' (1700 m) to 7500' (2300 m)
Temperature range: 35 F (2 C) to 65 F (18 C)
Other weather-related conditions: rain every day for varying periods of time from just a periodic drizzle to a downright downpour for hours (mostly at night). Very little sunshine

Banff/Jasper National Parks
Terrain: ah, mountains. Rocky, heavily treed mountains
Elevation range: 4500' (1400 m) to 10,000' (3000 m)
Temperature range: 22 F (-6 C) to 70 F (21 C)
Other weather-related conditions: rain every day for varying periods of time from just a periodic drizzle to a downright downpour for hours (mostly at night). Very little sunshine. (Yup, same as the previous week in Gallatin!)

Glacier National Park
Terrain: high, rocky mountain trails
Elevation range: 4600' (1400 m) to 6600' (2000 m)
Temperature range: 45 F (7 C) to 65 F (18 C)
Other weather-related conditions: Sunshine!

Monongahela National Forest and Blackwater Falls State Park
Terrain: Rocky, heavily treed mountains
Elevation range: 2900' (880 m) to 4800' (1500 m)
Temperature range: 40 F (4 C) to 60 F (15 C)
Other weather-related conditions: rain every day for varying periods of time from just a periodic drizzle to a downright downpour.

As can be seen, I spent a lot of time in the rain in the mountains. Different states/countries, but pretty much the same conditions!

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Using the OOcloogs as a recovery shoe, I found them to be extremely comfortable even while stretching out my sometimes tight and sore calf muscles, especially after hard uphill climbs. The clogs create somewhat of a rocking motion when I walk in them which soothe my feet and calves.

Base camp Fashion
Base Camp Latest Fashion
Thick soles throughout the whole shoe adds much appreciated cushioning which results almost in a bouncy gait which (I think) further lengthens those tight muscles.

Those thick soles also help to keep my feet warm by providing extra insulation and distance from cold ground. And the fact that these shoes are clogs means most all of my foot is covered and protected - except the heel. I was also able to wear my thickest hiking socks with the clogs without the socks bunching up or slipping downward. In Montana and Canada in early September, warm feet were definitely a priority. It was cold!

That protection includes protection from precipitation as well as cold. No water in the form of rain or dew penetrated these shoes during my very wet trip to Montana and Alberta, Canada. I wore the clogs almost exclusively anytime I was at base camp.

I particularly liked the ease of donning the clogs whenever I wanted without having to tie laces or deal with hook-n-loop fasteners. I could always just jam my feet in the clogs quickly without even having to use my hands. Great when I didn't want to remove my mittens or gloves in the middle of the night. (Yes, I wore mittens to sleep in a couple of nights in Banff National Park!).

Lastly - for now - the clogs are easy to clean off when they do get dirty. I just used a damp rag to wipe of the dirt and the tread on the soles is so shallow, mud doesn't get embedded there. Shockingly, to me, that super-shiny surface of the OOcloog clogs hasn't dulled at all. Yet.

SUMMARY

I have gotten a lot of use out of the OOFOS OOcloog Clogs. While most of that has been as a recovery shoe at home after hiking or backpacking, I did wear them extensively during my two weeks of base camping in Montana and Canada. I love the feeling of these shoes and how they relax my legs. I will definitely continue to wear them a lot after outdoor activities. However, they are just too bulky to take along on backpacking trips. Alas!


LONG-TERM REPORT

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

As busy and well-traveled as I was in the first two months of this field evaluation of the OOFOS OOcloog Clogs, that's how close to home I was in the last two months! I did have a couple of working vacation weeks in the mountains of Beaver Creek/Avon, Colorado and Breckenridge, Colorado in late October and early November respectively, however my only forays involving the out-of-doors were several day hikes.

In both locations, the weather was quite nice and unseasonably warm. Both Avon and Breckenridge are high altitude cities above the 9000 ft (2700 m) mark.

I did not carry/backpack the clogs during this time period but used them daily for leisure purposes, especially after a good hard hike up the mountains. I continued to switch from my trail shoes to the clogs after my normal daily walks as well. Even on inactive days, I often wore the clogs around my house and office.

I have to say that these shoes are among the most comfortable footwear I own and that includes my favorite bedroom slippers. I feel like I'm walking on pillows and since my entire house is ceramic-tiled, that's saying a lot. I've found I suffer a lot less leg and back fatigue when I wear the clogs than with any of my normal moccasins, tennis shoes, etc. The clogs have been my go-to shoe immediately after my daily 4-mile (5.4 km) dirt-road walks and the first thing I slip into when yanking off my hiking boots after a good climb. I can practically hear my tootsies sighing with delight once they are released from stiff boots and eased into the comfy footbed of the clogs!
Campfire
Relaxing at Campfire
Breakfast
Base Camp Breakfast

And I can easily slip them off and on without even having to "touch" them, no matter what socks I have on - lightweight, medium, heavyweight, silk, and wool, whatever. I do not, however, ever wear them without socks. I don't care for the feel of the surface against my bare skin. It's sort of "sticky". Since they are so easy to slip on, they are great for that middle-of-the-night "visit" to the "facilities" (tree...)

Thanks to the thickly-cushioned soles, I have a bit more protection from wet grass and such, too. With the clog closed-toe and waterproof surface, I never had wet socks from walking across dewy vegetation or a dusting of snow either.

After many, many hours of wear in all sorts of weather and on all sorts of surfaces, I'm happy to report the clogs are in great conditions, only marginally worn-looking and that's without any care at all - I didn't even wash them to see if they float as advertised! (I washed my OOlalas before, so I know how the floating thing works!)

I would have to say the OOcloog Clogs are great, but they are not really a good camp shoe, unfortunately. They simply take up way too much space in a backpack and try as I might, I couldn't come up with any way to transport them otherwise. They don't bend, so they can't be scrunched or wedged into a corner or pocket and there is any way to "attach" them to a pack by way of a carabiner or something. So, the clogs will see limited action on the trail. Car camping/base camping, yes. Wilderness overnights, no!

STARRING ATTRACTIONS

1.) Refreshes my leg and foot muscles after a hike
2.) Comfortable to wear for long hours
3.) Easy to slip off and on
4.) Very durable and easy to care for

MINOR DISTRACTIONS

1.) Make my feet look HUGE
2.) Very, very shiny surface attracts attention (see 1.)
3.) Take up too much room to consider packing in my backpack

SUMMARY

After this field evaluation, I will probably never pack the OOFOS OOcloog Luxe Clogs into my overnight backpack for upcoming trips into the wilds, nor will I ever carry them in my day hike packs. I will definitely continue to wear them after a strenuous trek and at night at home. They are just sooo comfortable to wear and I honestly think they help keep my calf muscles more "relaxed". And despite the fact that my grandkids say they look like "clown shoes", comfort trumps fashion, I always say! I truly like them a lot - almost as much as I like my OOFOS OOlala Sandals! Good job, OOFOS!

Thank you to OOFOS and BackpackGearTest.org for the chance to try out these neat shoes.

Kathleen (Kathy) Waters

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

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