For nature and outdoor enthusiasts, there is probably no more satisfying sport than trekking. In this guide, we explain how to choose the best hiking sandals for your needs.
Are you looking for hiking sandals? You are in the right place! Although most people think that going trekking means carrying a huge backpack and heavy boots, it doesn’t always have to be that way.
If you do trekking during spring or summer, you have to go as light as you can. It is best to bring a light backpack, some shirts and a pair of trekking sandals. If you have doubts about the resistance to this type of sandals, do not worry! They are specifically designed for the mountain, being durable and resistant. Your feet will be protected, comfortable, and fresh at the same time. If you need to cross a stream, they are easy to remove, and if you want to cross the river wearing them, they dry in a few minutes.
Although they are designed for trekking and outdoor sports, they are also perfect for trips in hot countries. They are a popular choice among backpackers traveling to Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.
There are many options and it is difficult to make a decision. But do not worry! You don’t have to spend hours comparing models and prices. I have created a list of the best sandals so that you can find the ones that best suit your needs.
Discover other guides to find the best hiking glasses, pants, cameras and filtered bottles.
The top 8 best trekking sandals on the market
During the summer season, tackling a trekking path for several hours can be very tiring, especially if you are wearing unsuitable footwear, such as boots, which are absolutely too heavy for the season.
We recommend that you always use suitable shoes depending on the activity and the outside temperature. During the summer the use of quality sandals represents a solution for the well-being of the feet.
But what are the best trekking sandals for men and women? And based on what they choose? In this article, we answer these important questions by giving you our advice to buy the ideal mountain sandals for your needs. First, let’s see the best models on the market for both men and women.
KEEN Newport H2 Sandal
The Keen Newport H2 is one of the best sandals on the list. They are a popular choice among hikers and adventurers because they have great design and an affordable price. They stand out for the toe with protection, the elastic lacing system, and the resistant sole.
You will see that they are super comfortable, they provide great stability thanks to their firm sole and they have incredible traction. You can cross streams and wet them without problems. They are made of washable polyester, designed to dry quickly.
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Teva M Omnium 2 Sport Sandal
The Teva Omnium 2 features an elastic lacing system with a quick-release buckle, rubber sole, and adjustable ankle straps. They’re designed with a ShocPad heel to absorb shock and improve comfort.
They are ultralight and breathable like sandals, but they protect your feet like sneakers. You can use them for backpacking, hiking, and outdoor sports. Although they work in amphibian environments, they would not be your best option for prolonged use with water.
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KEEN Men’s Arroyo II Sandal
The Keen Arroyo II is probably the toughest option on the list. They feature sturdy construction with excellent toe protection, a closed heel, and an elastic lacing system.
They are almost like walking shoes, providing great support and stability with the advantage of being breathable. The main drawback is that they take longer to dry than other models. Its design is super resistant and with great durability.
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ECCO Women’s offroad hiking sandals
This is one of the best hiking sandals for women on the market. The Ecco Offroad is solid and robust, providing great support and stability. They’re not as light as other open-toe sandals, but they’re super comfortable and feature padded straps.
Ideal for hikers, adventurers, or casual users looking for the ultimate in all-day comfort and support in a sandal, the Yucatan stands out with its high-end design and dependable all-around performance. Please note that they do not protect the toes. Also, they are a little heavy.
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Teva Women’s W Hurricane Xlt2 Sport Sandal
The Teva Hurricane XLT is a popular choice for summer sports. They don’t provide the same protection as closed-toe sandals, but they are ultralight and compact. In addition, they have an excellent sole and traction.
Many backpackers choose these sandals because they can be used in many situations, such as going to the beach, hiking, or as everyday footwear in tropical countries. Note that they don’t offer much foot protection if you plan to take serious walks.
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Chaco Men’s Z2 Classic Sport Sandal
The Chaco Unaweep Z2 is specially designed for summer adventures. They are super light and versatile, with an ergonomic insole and sturdy straps with adjustable buckles.
They include a finger strap that improves stability. These hiking sandals have a good sole, providing good traction and excellent arch support, but they are probably not the best option for trekking on rough trails. However, they can be a good option for short walks along the coast or on paved trails.
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KEEN Women’s Whisper Hiking Sandals
This sandal for women, created with synthetic materials, has high foot protection, is washable and waterproof, and is equipped with a water-repellent lining for natural odor control.
The sole of this sandal is covered in soft microfiber and is designed to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot. They guarantee excellent support and, thanks to the well-built upper, protect the foot from brushwood and other obstacles.
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Teva Women’s Terra Fi Lite Leather Sandal
The Teva Terra-fi Lite is another great option for smooth walks. As you can see, they are quite similar to the Teva Hurricane, but with some differences.
This model also features three adjustable velcro closures, but the straps have more padding, providing more comfort and fit. They are one of the best open sandals on the market.
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Why trekking sandals and not boots?
The hiking boots provide great support, resistance, and comfort. They are designed to protect your feet and ankles and improve shock absorption. However, boots are too hot in many situations, creating discomfort on long routes or during hot seasons.
Therefore, sandals can be a better solution on many occasions because they are breathable and ultralight. The perfect choice for your mountain routes, provided there is no snow or very difficult terrain.
If you are a backpacker or traveler, trekking sandals may be your best option. They are much cheaper than traditional boots and can be stored in any small or medium backpack. In addition, thanks to their attractive designs, you can use them to walk around the cities, travel by bus or go out at night.
How to choose the best trekking sandals?
Today, we have the opportunity to find highly performing sandals on the market, thanks to the extremely advanced soles and intuitive designs that guarantee both excellent support and high performance. It is now sporting sandals that go beyond simple footwear for outdoor walks, so as to become indicated for unique and specific purposes. So don’t be surprised if you find an infinite amount of options when it comes to choosing the perfect sandal.
It must be said that the choice of footwear depends heavily on the preferences and anatomy of those who will wear them. The shape of the foot, the desired support, the fact of finding soft and comfortable sandals, and the use you make of them are the main factors to consider to find the sandals that best suit your needs.
The activity you have chosen
If you don’t know which pair of sandals to choose, think at the beginning of what and how you intend to use them. Even if you are looking for a sandal to use for any type of occasion, it is good that you consider which type of activity you engage in more regularly before starting the search. Not all sandals are ideal for any use, and more attention should be paid to the features you seek for use during your favorite activities.
What benefits can a sandal give you and that you wouldn’t get by wearing other types of shoes? For which sports or activities will you mainly use sandals? Finding and knowing the answer to these questions should guide you on the path to choosing the perfect sandals for you.
Let’s start by describing the three basic categories for which they are most used so that you will have a guide of the models to consider.
Trekking
For many of us, the greatest utility of a sandal is to be able to lead us from point A to point B while crossing different types of soil.
The excursion with sandals prevents the feet from overheating too much, keeping them well ventilated which is very useful especially during the summer heat. If you are looking for sandals that can replace your hiking shoes, you will be happy to know that there are models dedicated to hiking and that allow you to feel comfortable during long days during which you often come across a wide variety of conditions can be extremely demanding.
Trekking sandals must be robust, comfortable, and resistant. Ideally, they should also be light and compact for optimal transportation.
Watersports
If you don’t wear sandals as everyday footwear, chances are you have a pair for the beach or to spend a day at the lake. The breathability, the materials that allow quick drying, and the ease in putting on and taking off the sandals make them a perfect choice for water adventures, even if sometimes flip flops are not enough.
When you engage in water sports, your main considerations should be grip and water resistance. The super-adherent soles not only keep you safe by having a greater grip on slippery rocks, but also improve performance in wet conditions. Sandals with minimalist design will surely have a smaller surface, which guarantees fast drying but, at the same time, they are less protective of rocks and obstacles.
The Vibram soles, for example, keep your feet firmly on wet surfaces, and reduced amounts of tissue and materials allow your feet to dry much faster.
Travel and urban use
If you are looking for practical sandals, which are versatile and which can be easily stored in a beach bag, this is the category for you. A sandal you intend to wear in the city should be particularly comfortable and versatile. It is also a huge advantage if they are comfortable and beautiful. But since the style is highly subjective, we have chosen not to consider it as a target meter of choice and therefore, in our opinion, it is better to choose based on your taste.
For outdoor use, travel and urban use, we recommend wearing sandals that keep your feet comfortable all day, whether you are walking on asphalt or on other types of terrain. Walking on hard and flat surfaces usually requires sturdy soles that offer support and comfort. The thinner models, for example, are not particularly suitable for moving on the asphalt but, on the other hand, are easily transportable and therefore suitable for travel.
What to look for when choosing mountain sandals?
Surely investing in high-quality sandals is the smartest choice you can make since they will be able to protect you from possible injuries that could cost you much more in health than in money. There is a wide range of factors that you should take into consideration when choosing mountain footwear and, in this specific case, sandals. For example, the different models have different closures that can satisfy all your needs. There are sandals with tear-off, lace-up, without closure, with buckle, and with zipping. Which will you choose?
Fit
It is certainly the most important element to consider when choosing to buy a pair of shoes. Of course, we can also spend our money on shoes that don’t fit us as they should. But what’s the point? It would be money thrown into the wind. Of course, shoes can strike us aesthetically but if they are uncomfortable, the whole body will be affected! Walking will no longer be a “walk”, but will become a pain and therefore always choose shoes that make you feel at ease.
Measurement
One piece of advice we would like to give you is to opt for sandals of a larger size simply because the extra space you will have will better protect you from knocks against rocks, branches and thorns. This tip is good for both women’s and men’s hiking sandals.
Ultralight transport
We are confident that when hiking and hiking on a long journey, all you need is a backpack with the lightest hiking equipment possible. So, remember not to load your backpack unnecessarily, to carry only the essentials even if this could include trekking poles.
Impermeability
A Waterproof sandal is useful both while you find yourself crossing a wet and slippery path and on rainy days. In addition, the price difference between a waterproof and a non-waterproof sandal is not excessive so we advise you not to save money on this aspect.
Strap
When choosing the straps, highly resistant materials such as polypropylene should be preferred: this material, in fact, adapts well to any weather condition, even the most difficult ones and dries much faster than nylon or polyester.
Open design or closed design
Normally, the open toe design is characterized by a very light, simple line and great comfort.
Crossing a stream or a stream you will find them perfect because they will dry quickly and without particular effort but it is also true that they are not able to guarantee maximum foot protection.
On the other hand, the closed design sandals manage to give great protection from rocks, branches, brambles, and any other impediment you may encounter along the way but are heavier than the open design sandals.
Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that closed sandals are usually covered with fabric panels or external seams and therefore wear faster than the simpler models.
Coverage
Sandals, as we have been able to understand so far, leave the foot almost totally uncovered but a reasonable amount of coverage will be useful to protect the feet along the way.
Our favorite sandals are those with greater coverage in the front and a lower one in the rear area of the heel since they guarantee satisfactory protection without having to give up comfort.
Comfort
The best way to realize if a pair of sandals will suit you, in the long run, is to try them on and take a few steps. Care should be taken that there are no parts that rub on the foot causing pain and that they are not too stiff. The ideal therefore is a soft, flexible and at the same time robust pair to face even the most difficult paths.
Flexibility
Flexibility is another important aspect to keep in mind while choosing hiking sandals. Remember that the best shoes are those that adapt well to the anatomy of your feet. When you are outdoors, you will often have to walk on mostly uneven surfaces such as rocks, twigs and more. It is, therefore, preferable to buy sandals that are flexible enough to adapt to the unevenness of the ground and that protect the lower part of the feet from irritation and tiredness. A good way to find out if the sandals you intend to buy are flexible is to grab one, hold it firmly by the sides making it twist.
Sole
The sole of the sandals should be hard but adaptable. Fortunately, this combination is not too difficult to find nowadays, due to the new materials that make up the sole. Equally important is to take a look at the bottom of the shoes: most sandals will have grooves to ensure good grip and minimal slip on the most difficult terrains.
What are the best hiking sandals?
Still, have doubts? Let me give you some suggestions. The Keen Newport H2 has great performance for a good price. If you’re looking for something solid and durable, check out the Keen Arroyo II. For something super light, the Teva Terra-fi Lite could be your best option.