Sandals

Featured review by Andrew F.

Comfortable, beefy, pricy flip-flop. They have solid arch support, a thick, grippy sole, soft footbed, and reasonably wide straps that make them comfortable to wear "around" or walking on most surfaces and trails. I found these benefit from a little break-in. Though the price is steep, they should last a long time and are a comfortable, good-looking option.

I am providing my initial impressions of my new flip-flops, the OluKai Hokua, having worn them for a few weeks and walked several miles in them. I strongly prefer flip flops that are closer to a water sandal like Chaco, Teva, Bedrock, Keen etc., rather than the three dollar foam pancakes you can buy at most supermarkets or Old Navy. I still wear a pair of Chaco Flip eco-treads, several years old, and a pair from Scott Hawaii that are very comfortable. A good pair of flips will last several years, outlast many cheap pair, and should be much more comfortable than lighter-duty flips.

Read more: OluKai Hokua reviews (2)

Featured review by Gary Leatham

My most durable and trusted footwear, so far! DURABLE!! BULLETPROOF!! FUNCTIONALITY!! These are the original "Hummer" of sandals. Safe transportation through difficult terrain that challenges/kills other sandals. Built to help keep the human inside safe. I've had these exact sandals for about 13 years now and still use them every day. Comfortable, rugged, waterproof materials (including leather), sure footed on wet rocky stream crossings. Highly recommended for humans. Do they make them for water dogs too?

Keen Newport Sandals are among my most trusted footwear for Utah exploring trips. They have got me safely down slot creek carved canyons and into Moab's Fiery Furnace, and back out. Here my friend Brent, at Woodsounds Flutes, took a video of me playing one of his custom Native American Style flutes in the Firery Furnace (over 40,000 YouTube views now, humbling!). While at a Native American Flute Festival in Zion National Park we were to go up a slot river canyon the next morning. My buddy saw my Tevas and said "man you are going to kill your feet".

Read more: Keen Newport reviews (7)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

People who canoe, kayak, raft, stand up paddle board, boat, or hike in and out of the water will like Keen’s water-dedicated Solr. A gasket-style ankle, close fit, and smaller openings mean less sand/grit/stones get in, and a sole made of grippy rubber that is both textured and razor-siped maximizes traction. Plus, they are just plain comfortable for walking too, and the webbing is made from recycled plastic that dries quickly for a partially enclosed sandal.

Photo above shows the top of the shoe, the elastic to tighten them (I have it tucked under), the loop on the ‘tongue,’ and the toe bumper. Note the elastic attached to two yellow pieces that tighten a cord that runs around your ankle.  The rougher-looking sections are robust and thicker; the smoother parts in the middle are stretchy mesh that allow water and some air to circulate.  The Solr (sea, ocean, land river) builds on Keen’s strengths—a forgiving, moderately-arched footbed and Keen’s well-known bumper to protect your toes—with features that should make it a go-to choice for water sports and adventures.

Read more: Keen Solr Sandal review (1)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

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.

Read more: Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo 3D Pro review (1)

Featured review by Andrew F.

This is a review of a custom pair of Chaco Z/1 Classics I purchased a few years ago. It’s a pair of Z/1 Classics customized via Chaco’s website; still a nice sandal for walking and water stuff, super-durable, equally happy on moderate trails, in/around the water, on canoes, and at the beach. My only gripe is that the very durable straps have one place where my feet tend to develop a blister, even after a few years; I wear a small piece of tape over that spot. I’m also sprinkling in some ReChaco comments, because I re-strapped and re-soled an old pair of Chaco Z/1s.

I bought my first pair of Chacos around 2008 after I broke the hardware on another brand of water sandals. The brand works well for my feet. A few years ago, faced with significantly worn straps and soles on an old pair of Chaco Z/1 Classics, I took a two-pronged approach: I sent the old pair back to Chaco for a fresh pair of straps and a new sole, and I also went on their site and made a custom pair.  WHAT DISTINGUISHES THIS BRAND A few things come to mind about Chaco’s sandals. First, they’re very durable.

Read more: Chaco Z/1 Classic reviews (3)

Reviewed by Troyfromtexas

The Chaco Z/Volv Sandals are more of an evolution of the classic design rather than a revolution in the design — which means they are very very good. And I like it that way.

I owned a pair of Chaco Z1 Classics for over 15 years. I wore the sandals as everyday wear, hiking sandals, beach wear, boating shoes, house shoes, fly fishing shoes, etc., etc., etc... I took the sandals on a year long adventure traveling through Latin America. The sandals were truly amazing. After 15 years they finally blew out. I think that I made the mistake of washing the sandals in the washing machine, but then also drying them in the drying machine. Don't dry your Chacos with heat.

Read more: Chaco Z/Volv review (1)

Featured review by Jennifer C.

Great women's sport sandal! Very stylish and comfortable for a variety of outdoor activities! I wore them hiking and in the canoe.

I am a first-time buyer of the TEVA brand, and I am happy with my purchase. The size is true to what I always buy (a woman's 8).  The sandals fit my feet, as if they were made for me.  The built-in arch support is comfortable.  The easily adjustable, velcro straps (2 across the top of the foot, and one around the ankle) make a nice custom fit for many different foot types/sizes.  After long walks, if your feet swell, you can loosen the sandals. Not much break-in is needed.  I wore them hiking with little break-in, and it was fine.  I didn't have any problems with debris, but small particles could enter around your foot, as with any sandal.

Read more: Teva Tirra reviews (2)

Reviewed by Sean McCulley

I have owned the Chaco Z/2 since the late 1990s. They are by far my favorite pair of footwear. I have narrow heels and these are the perfect solution for me. The resole and restrap service was a great experience. I wear these daily during the summer as a work shoe and as a water shoe on the weekends. I'll hike in easy terrain where the open toe won't be an issue.

In the mid to late 1990s I went on a white water rafting trip and accidentally left my old water shoes behind. The only place nearby was the outfitter shop associated with the rafting company and these were the only brand there. At first, I was taken back by the high price but had no other choice. I have not regretted buying them. They quickly became my favorite shoe. I wear them everywhere in the summer. Luckily, I work in a place where I can even wear them to work daily. I have size 11.5 narrow feet.

Read more: Chaco Z/2 Classic review (1)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

Water shoe with great drainage and Keen’s well-known toe protection. I like Keens around boats and rocks because they keep my toes from getting mashed. This one has the added benefit of siped soles, good traction, and an open design that dries quickly. The midsole/sole is also thick enough for moderate hiking. Adjustability of straps is kind of limited.

Keen‘s Zerraport II is a successor to their Zerraport, which in turn is a successor to the long-discontinued hydro guide. https://www.trailspace.com/gear/keen/hydro-guide/ It combines great toe protection, a comfortable fit under your feet, good traction, and an open design that drains water very quickly.  Basic design: one long strap for the front of your feet that pulls tight, heel strap with hook/loop adjustment FIT: The Zerraport II has a reasonably forgiving fit—my feet are E width in front, no problems with these sandals.

Read more: Keen Zerraport II review (1)

Featured review by Andrew F.

Sturdy, good-fitting flip flop that is relatively inexpensive and comfortable for extended wear. Solid sole/midsole with a more forgiving top layer, bomb-proof nylon straps that will never pull out. These have decent traction, a looser fit, and are extremely durable. Scott has been making flip-flops for eighty years in Hawaii—they’re clearly doing something right.

Scott’s website tells an interesting story about a shoemaker who relocated to Hawaii and opened a factory in 1932; World War II forced the Scott family to focus on flips instead of shoes. Scott Hawaii flips are still made in Hawaii today.  The Makaha is a men’s model with nylon straps—they also make flips with leather, rubber, and ‘vegan leather’ straps, and they make a number of female-specific flips.   I’m on my third pair of Scotts. The first pair were about twenty years old when our pup devoured the heel on one, and I just bought a new pair because the second pair is about 12 years old and look scrappy; they live in my car now.

Read more: Scott Hawaii Makaha reviews (2)