Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo 3D Pro

Five year after I purchased a pair of Cairn 3D sandals, I replaced them with the Evo 3D Pro and sold the Cairn 3Ds used. The Bedrock Cairn 3D Pros have a sole with better traction on wet rocks and adjustments that are all hardware hooks and fabric loops—no hook/loop (Velcro) anywhere, a big plus. Otherwise, they retain Bedrock’s excellent unique strap design and thicker and more contoured midsole from the non-pro 3D. The downside, if there is one, is that these are thicker than the original Bedrock Cairns and have less ground feel, like the regular 3D sandals.

BASIC INFORMATION

The basic strap layout on Bedrock's Cairn Evo 3D Pro sandals is a heel strap that secures via a metal hook that secures through stitched-down webbing and straps that fit roughly like a flip-flop—except that you can adjust the straps and cinch them tight via a slider and another metal hook with more stitched through webbing. The toe post is two strands of round nylon, like skinny pieces of perlon. The unisex sizing runs men’s 5/women’s 6 through men’s 14/women’s 15.  

The Cairn 3D has a thicker and more contoured footbed/midsole—the regular Cairn’s footbed is flat, not contoured, and thinner, providing better feel for the ground or river bottom, but not as much support or comfort if you’re walking far….unless you really prefer a pretty minimalist sandal experience. Either way, these midsoles aren’t nearly as thick or cushy as competitors like Chaco, Keen, or Teva.  

Note the slider on the left, which is how you get these on and off, and the little metal hook on the right that’s a set-and-forget size adjustment for the instep strap length.  

The effect of this three-part strap layout is that your feet don't slide either front-to-back or side-to-side. It's very secure. The only design that comes close, for me, are the Chaco sandals with a separate strap over your big toe, which are also very good at keeping your feet in place. This shoe is quite a bit lighter than that, yet short of using this sandal for some steeper scrambling, where it probably doesn't belong anyway, there is virtually no opportunity for your foot to slide around.

WHAT MAKES THESE DIFFERENT/SPECIAL?

The Cairn Evo 3D Pro has some features that distinguish them from the non-pro models. First, they’re made with a particularly grippy pro sole. The pattern is the same as the regular soles, but the rubber is more tacky and provides somewhat better grip on wet and mossy rocks. That’s a good thing for a water sandal. 

Next, unlike the non-pro version, the pro version adjusts the heel strap with a metal hook through stitched-down fabric, rather than having no adjustment or hook/loop (Velcro) at the heel. Ever get hook/loop closures fouled with river mud? Not with these. 

HOW THEY FEEL TO WEAR

It honestly depends on what you’re looking for. Some people would find that middle toe post annoying for a sandal that can deal with a decent amount of walking and hiking. I find that the triangular strap configuration and having the cord between the big and second toes provides an unusual amount of stability, particularly laterally. The straps lock my feet in better than most. (One reason I like Chaco sandals is the ability to slide the straps beneath the midsole to customize the fit). 

Also, the sole/midsole combination does a nice job protecting your feet from pointy rocks…but it’s a substantially harder midsole than many competitors. If you want a cushioned walking experience, you may not like these - but I suggest  you try them on, because they’re very comfortable. 

I wouldn’t suggest hiking rocky terrain in any open-toe sandal, and even Keens have limits for that kind of hiking. However, I’ve worn these on bumpy and at times rocky riverside trails along the Potomac River near our home, and my only worry is bashing the fronts of my toes. I’ve never felt like these were slipping around, or that my feet were not absolutely locked in. Because the straps are substantial in terms of thickness but very simple, this is also not a sandal that loosens up after being in the water on and off all day. 

HOW I HAVE WORN THEM

I basically rotate these with two other water shoes—Chaco Z/Clouds and Keen Zerraport IIs. The Keens have excellent toe protection from the bumpers, and the Chacos are very comfortable for longer walks between watery places, with a particularly forgiving midsole. Also, both those other sandals are better in cold water because they can accommodate socks, whether they’re wool or a neoprene booty for really cold rivers. You can wear wool socks with Bedrock Cairns, so long as they have separate toes—like Injinji’s toe socks.  

I have worn these to the beach, along and in the Potomac River near where we live, around town, walking the dog on trails and paved bike trails, and in lakes for canoeing, sailing and paddling. Peculiarly, perhaps, I really like sandals for long drives. 

A word about durability: these are my third pair of Bedrock Cairns. I have a pair of regular Cairn Pros that are several years old, with the sole treads starting to smooth out. I might resole those soon. I wore a pair of the 3Ds, non-pro version, for nearly five years. They were in great shape; I sold them to make way for these. I’ve never had them fail or look even close to that. Extremely solid construction. 

A few more close-up photos, with a compare to an older, skinnier pair of Cairn pros:

TAKEAWAYS

If you can deal with this strap setup and don’t need a lot of cushioning, these are outstanding sandals for in and out of the water, among my all-time favorites.

Choose your Bedrock Cairns wisely. If you want a minimal underfoot experience, get the regular Cairn, or the Cairn Pro if you like a more grippy rubber sole. The 3D versions are better for me when I expect to walk more or figure the trail will have more rocks and roots, with the 3D pro a better choice if you’re around water or trails with particularly smooth rocks where it’s important to maximize traction. 

Background

Roughly seven years of experience wearing Bedrock sandals, with about five months wearing the Cairn Evo 3D pro. Nearly 30 years of experience wearing water sandals of various brands—many of which I’ve reviewed on Trailspace.