1-Year Luca Drift Camp Moc Review: Ultimate Dad Shoe Comfort?
After a year of wear testing, I’m diving into an in-depth LUCA Drift Camp Moc review, exploring whether these comfortable camp mocs live up to their nostalgic appeal and ‘dad shoe’ comfort.
Full disclosure: Huckberry sent me this jacket as a sample for review. However, all opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Huckberry did not review this content before publication and will be seeing it for the first time along with you.
LUCA’s Drift Camp Mocs: The Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick summary of what I like about these shoes and what could have been improved.
What I Like:
- Nostalgic appeal: Definitely brings back those ’80s and ’90s dad vibes.
- Slip-on convenience: Perfect for quick trips out or for wearing around the house.
- Impressive comfort: The crepe rubber outsole is very soft and provides excellent cushioning.
- Durable soles: Despite being soft, the crepe soles have held up well to a year of regular use.
- Quality leather: The Italian leather feels great and is aging well.
- Removable insole: Allows for customization if needed, though the stock leather-topped foam insole is quite comfortable.
- Zero drop: These aren’t barefoot shoes, but many guys prefer the flat sole of a shoe with ‘zero drop’ from heel to toe.
Boat shoe good looks with crepe sole comfort and a handsewn moccasin stitch that softens perfectly with wear.
Downsides (but not Deal Breakers):
- Soles get dirty easily: Crepe soles attract dirt and will show it quickly.
- Not wide: Wide footed guys or those who prefer more room will be disappointed.
- Color correction: The pictures on the site are darker than the shoes you get.
- Foam insole: It’s great for absorbing shock, but less breathable than all leather construction.
- Not resoleable: Once the crepe goes, the shoes are done.
How I’ve Been Wearing Them
“Dad shoe” is a term given to shoes that are old fashioned, but more geared toward comfort than style, and look: these are 100% a dad shoe. And I understand the appeal now: these shoes are so incredibly comfortable, especially because unlike my dad’s old mocs, these Lucas (I’m going to stop capitalizing the brand name) feature crepe soles — a detail I absolutely love.
I wear these Camp Mocs a lot. They, along with my Mules from Luca, are my go-to slide-on shoes.
For the past year, I’ve kept one pair of Luca shoes (the mules) at the front door and these Camp Mocs at the back door, so whichever door I’m heading out of, I can slip them on and go.
It’s funny how perspectives change as you get older. I’m in my mid-40s now, and I finally understand why my dad always had a pair of camp mocs lying around back in the ’80s and ’90s.
As a kid, I thought they were the most hideous shoes I had ever seen. But now? I totally get it. They’re comfy, convenient, and actually pretty versatile — you’ll always look like a dad in these, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress them up a bit to business casual.
you’ll always look like a dad in these, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress them up a bit to business casual.
My daily routine with the Camp Mocs usually involves coming home from work, kicking off my boots or sneakers, and then just pottering around the house. When it’s time to walk the dog, run some errands, or take my daughter, Hazel, to dance class, I slide these on.
So, these shoes have already seen a fair bit of use, but the soles are holding up impressively well and aren’t showing significant wear. They felt good right out of the box, largely thanks to those really nice crepe soles. Nothing on the inside caused any rubbing, and they’ve only become more comfortable with use.
Materials & Construction: LUCA Drift Camp Mocs
- Price: $138 USD (at time of review)
- Uppers: Italian full-grain leather
- Outsole: Natural crepe rubber
- Insole lining: Anti-slip Italian leather
- Origin: Portugal
My pair of Drift Camp Mocs is in the Cognac colorway. At the time of this review, they were also available in Ravine, which is a slightly darker brown. Both uppers are made from Italian leather with a natural crepe rubber outsole. The lining of the insole is an “anti-slip” Italian leather, and these shoes are made in Portugal. They are great.
Boat shoe good looks with crepe sole comfort and a handsewn moccasin stitch that softens perfectly with wear.
The removable insole is leather-topped with a squishy foam bottom, which adds to the overall comfort. Beneath it, you’ll find the regular footbed and then the sole. If you wanted to swap in a different insole — say, if you have a not-too-bulky orthotic that you need — you could do it.
Sole: LUCA Drift Camp Mocs
- High-quality sole: The crepe rubber sole is comfortable and soft.
Typically, softer soles mean more comfort but less durability. That doesn’t seem to be the case with these crepe soles, which are hardier than the crepe rubber you’ll see on flimsier footwear, like Clarks Desert Boots.
Yes, crepe soles get dirty-looking, but the right kind of crepe will endure. My mules from Luca appear to be made with the same sole. They’re even older than my Camp Mocs, but the grip is in the same state. These soles just don’t seem to wear down quickly.
Comfort: LUCA Drift Camp Mocs
Comfort-wise, these have been fantastic. They’re super soft and squishy, offering fantastic cushioning, especially when combined with the foam insole.
The only issue I encountered was the very first time I wore them with socks: the combination of new leather with a tighter fit gave me sore heels. But after a few wears, the Camp Mocs stretched out and became perfectly wearable with or without socks.
But, honestly, they feel great barefoot, so I don’t usually bother with socks.
Value: LUCA Drift Camp Mocs
Are they worth the $138 price tag? In my opinion, absolutely.
These shoes are genuinely great and, as I’ve mentioned, incredibly comfortable. Unless I’m heading to work or going for a run, these have become my grab-and-go shoes for almost everything else. I wear them for all sorts of errands and activities outside the house.
Boat shoe good looks with crepe sole comfort and a handsewn moccasin stitch that softens perfectly with wear.
I wear them with shorts and tees and they also work well with chinos and a button down if I had to dress smart casual. The dangly leather laces might keep them from looking suitable with a tie, but I think anything less dressy than that will suit these shoes.
Aside from the crepe soles inevitably picking up the color of the ground (which is standard for crepe soles) they are holding up exceptionally well. Even though they look dirty, there’s still a ton of tread and traction left.
Wrapping Up: My Final Thoughts
I’m definitely going to keep rocking these Camp Mocs, and between these shoes and the mules I own, I’m more than happy to test out anything else from the Luca line. I’ve been consistently satisfied with their stuff.
Overall, these are great shoes: well-made, very comfortable, and solid value. They might just bring back some of that ’90s nostalgia for you, too.
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