Camper shoes enjoy a warm reputation for comfort, style, and quality — but with a significant caveat: longtime fans consistently report that quality has declined since roughly 2010, when production shifted away from Morocco toward Vietnam and China. Older pairs are frequently cited as genuinely durable and BIFL-worthy, while newer purchases have disappointed with sole separation, inconsistent sizing, and poor customer service.
Camper earns cautious recommendation for comfort and style, but the documented post-2010 quality decline and poor warranty support mean buyers should set expectations accordingly rather than treating new purchases as truly buy-it-for-life.
Community members praise Camper for distinctive design, genuine comfort, and wide toe boxes, with older models in particular earning strong loyalty.
Multiple long-term customers report a clear quality decline after outsourcing production, with sole failures, inconsistent sizing, and dismissive warranty handling all cited as recurring problems.
One long-time buyer noted they'd worn Camper Pelotas since 1998, but quality has been sliding — newer pairs last only 2-3 years and the later ones split rather than wear down, with the most recent versions faring worst.
A commenter who investigated the brand's manufacturing history pointed out that Camper hasn't been made in Spain for a very long time, and after moving from Morocco to Vietnam around 2010, quality dropped noticeably — their early 2000s pair is still going strong while newer ones are a gamble.
Someone who bought the Walden loafers found the soles separated after about 20 wears and was told by Camper's customer service that this didn't qualify as a warranty issue — no mention of any lifetime warranty was offered.
A fan of the brand's aesthetic acknowledged Camper sits in the 'massive/mediocre quality' tier now, recommending shoppers looking for genuine quality consider Carmina or Meermin instead.