The Best Hiking Sandals Brands and Styles
Hiking sandals have been around for quite some time, but have recently been gaining popularity among hikers, backpackers, and casual wearers. People love their versatility and comfort. You can go for a hike, go to the beach, then go shopping all in the same pair of shoes. They are also one of the best footwear options to wear for water crossings and rainy day hikes! If you’re interested in snagging yourself a pair, look no further. Below we have a list of the best hiking sandals brands and styles.
Chaco
- What We Love: The strap system provides excellent adjustability and durability. If the sandal ever fails you, Chaco offers repairs for just about any part of the shoe so you can love them for years.
- What We Don’t Love: After years of wear, the straps become tough and difficult to adjust.
Chaco’s sandals are well-adored among hikers and casual wearers alike. You can find them on the feet of many both on trails and college campuses. These sandals have a reputation for being durable, repairable, comfortable, and trendy, making them stand out among the best hiking sandals brands.
The straps, or strap system, is what really sets these apart. It is one long strap in a continuous loop, though it may appear to be 4 separate straps. This design makes the shoe more durable and allows for complete adjustability. People also love Chaco for their superior arch support and contoured footbed that provides optimal comfort.
Our Favorite Pair:
Chaco Z1 Classic
The most popular style of Chacos has to be the Z1 Classic. We can certainly agree with the name that these sandals can be “zee one” for many hikers! They are a bit on the heavy end at 14.9 oz, but they are tough and durable so you don’t have to worry about them failing you on the trail.
Comfort wise, these are unmatched. A contoured and textured footbed helps your feet stay put, even without a toe loop! For hikers who want to be without a strap on their big toe, Chacos are a great match.
Find them here for men’s, find them here for women’s!
Teva
- What We Love: Super comfortable, earth friendly, and a variety of colors and designs to choose from.
- What We Don’t Love: Many styles utilize Velcro, which tends to wear and lose strength over the years, especially when not cared for properly.
Another popular option for people who love hiking in sandals are Tevas. This brand has a pair for just about everyone, with a wide variety of colors, styes, and soles to choose from. You’re bound to find a Teva shoe that works for you. Plus, you feel good buying them because they use recycled plastic and are 100% vegan!
Teva hiking sandals are beloved for their optimum comfort. They have a comfortable footbed and offer excellent arch support. The footbed is also anti-microbial, so they won’t get as stinky as some other sandals do. Teva’s design also makes them easy to get on and off by utilizing Velcro straps. You might find yourself throwing these on for errands as well as summertime hikes!
Our Favorite Pair:
Teva Original Universal Trail
While there are a variety of sandals to choose from with Teva, we recommend the Original Universal Trail for hikers and backpackers. These are made for hiking. They feature a tough rubber outsole to protect your feet, a sole with extra cushion for comfort, cushioned straps and buckles to prevent blisters, and a cupped heel to prevent your foot from slipping when you get wet.
When shopping for a pair, you may notice there aren’t any half sizes available. Don’t let this discourage you. We recommend buying a size down. This will give you the right amount of space needed on the footbed, then you can adjust the straps to get that perfect fit.
Find them here for men’s, find them here for women’s!
Keen
- What We Love: Offer a great variety of closed-toe sandals to keep your feet protected while giving them air to breathe.
- What We Don’t Love: Most designs are not as customizable as other sandals in terms of fit. You’ll need to be more accurate with your sizing, because field adjustments are minimal.
Many hikers have been familiar with Keen for years. They are a maker of some excellent hiking boots and shoes. You better believe they also make some of the best hiking sandals!
If you’re looking for a hiking sandal that offers more coverage, Keen might be the brand for you. They offer many closed toe options that keep your feet ventilated without leaving them over exposed. This is handy for rugged terrain, but the lack of air flow means they will stay wet longer.
In terms of style, it really depends on the person. Some love them, some hate them, but they certainly aren’t considered “trendy”….yet.
For comfort, these do have a great feel on the foot. Keen offers an “iconic” fit that provides extra space in the forefoot, allowing the toes to spread out. They also feature EVA insoles that offers comfortable arch support to keep you feeling good mile after mile.
Our Favorite Pair:
Keen Newport H2
Being the love child of a hiking sandal and a water shoe, the Newport H2 is dubbed the “original hybrid sandal”. It is truly ideal for those hikes where you know you’re going to get wet. Pack them in with your other rain gear!
These sandals have a high traction rubber outsole with a multi-directional lug pattern to keep you feeling secure and stable on even the slickest of rocks. Perfect for those tricky water crossings. Despite the shoes being more enclosed than other sandals, the quick-dry lining and webbing helps your feet get drier faster so you can feel more comfortable.
Find them here for men’s, find them here for women’s!
Xero
- What We Love: These sandals have a minimalist, ultralight design that are easy to stash in your pack when you’re not wearing them.
- What We Don’t Love: They aren’t the most durable pair of hiking sandals out there. These are best suited for hikers who explore mild terrain.
Xero sandals have arguably the most sleek and minimalist design of the sandals on our list of the best hiking sandals. This style makes them versatile, allowing you to take them from the trail, to the town, to the beach, and beyond without feeling out of place.
Outdoor lovers appreciate that this brand is earth friendly as well. The straps are made of nylon made from recycled water bottles. So you feel good about wearing them!
For hikers concerned about weight, Xeros are a great option. They have thin soles and light straps, so you don’t feel bogged down by your footwear. This is perfect for backpackers who only wear their sandals for portions of the trail – they wont add much weight to their bag by carrying these!
Unfortunately, the thin sole and minimalist design means that these sandals are less durable and less protective. Some wearers complain about their straps breaking and soles splitting after a few wears. While we didn’t have this issue, it is something to be aware of before purchasing.
Our Favorite Pair:
Xero Z Trail
If we’re buying a Xero sandal, we are going with the Z Trail. These sandals are perfect for casual hiking or walks in beachy areas. For steep and rocky trails, however, you might want to wear your hiking boots instead.
We’re a big fan of the Z strap pattern that these have. They allow you to adjust the straps throughout the entire foot, allowing for a comfortable yet secure fit. The simple design also makes them timeless in terms of style. You can wear these for years and still feel good about having them on your feet.
Be aware that these sandals do sport a slicker footbed which may allow for more movement of the foot. Walk with caution the first time you wear these when wet. They might pair well with some trekking poles for added stability!
Find them here for men’s, find them here for women’s!
Bedrock
- What We Love: The Bedrock brand is excellent about repairs and customer service. They offer a comprehensive warranty and repair service, so for a small fee you can resurrect your broken shoes!
- What We Don’t Love: No option to go toeless. If you don’t like the feeling of a strap between your toes or if you like wearing socks with your sandals, these are not for you.
Flip flop lovers rejoice! Bedrocks are one of the best brands for functional flip flops. These shoes use a strap around the ankle that connects to a toe strap to secure the sole to the foot. The Velcro on the ankle strap provides plenty of adjustment options to keep the fit just right.
When you think of flip flops, you probably don’t think of the most protective footwear. Bedrocks do their best to keep you on your feet and to keep your feet feeling good. The soles have a good degree of traction to keep you from slipping on slick surfaces. Bedrock soles are also thin to keep the shoes light, yet tough enough to keep rocks and sticks from piercing through the material.
Much like any other pair of flip flop or sandal, damage and breaks are a concern with Bedrocks. However, they do offer a repairs program so you can feel better about paying a premium price on a pair of sandals. For a small fee, you can get your shoes resoled or get your old straps moved to a new footbed!
Our Favorite Pair:
Bedrock Cairn Adventure
With this brand, there is not a whole lot of variety to choose from. Their styles are limited, but perfected. Out of their offerings, we prefer the Cairn Adventure for trail use. They feature 3 adjustment zones and “sole-hugger wings” to offer a fit that feels secure and comfortable. For a comprehensive guide to adjusting these sandals, check out this piece on their website!
Find them here for men’s, find them here for women’s!
Cover photo by David Solce on Unsplash
