If you are in the market for some new shoes for hiking, you should consider getting some hiking sandals.
While typically these may not seem like the ideal shoes for this type of activity, the market for hiking sandals is enormous. And there are a lot of amazing products that can make your hike so much better.
We are going to be sharing some of our absolute favorite options on the market today for the best hiking sandals.
First, let’s talk about how we are choosing the products and how we will be rating them for you. This will ensure that you know you are picking the best product for yourselves.
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How We Chose Our Ratings
So first, let’s talk about how we are rating and choosing our options for the best hiking sandals on the market today.
We truly value the importance of keeping a review 100% accurate, completely honest, and trustworthy. To do this, we research a few different aspects thoroughly before sharing our thoughts with you.
The first thing we take a look at is customer reviews and testimonials. This allows us to get a much better view of what the general public thinks of a certain item. We get particular insights on both the positive and negative aspects, and it allows us to pinpoint any potential shortcomings that may occur.
We also consider product specifications very heavily as well. This is incredibly important because it allows us to learn the products backward and forward for our reviews. That way if you decide to purchase a particular product, you don’t experience any surprises or disappointments.
Lastly, we consider the brand/company that creates and sells the product we are reviewing. This is important for several different reasons.
Customers want to buy items from a business they can trust, so we make sure they are acting appropriately and professionally. On top of that, it gives us insight into how the company handles returns and refunds, how well its customer service works, how its products are made, and what they are made out of.
For this particular list of the best hiking sandals, we will be considering the brand, sizing, pricing, overall performance, materials, and design.
The Top Choices for the Best Hiking Sandals
Here are our top choices for the best hiking sandals on the market, currently. We will be providing you with highlights of each shoe, some pros and cons of the design, and a final rating of between 1 and 5 stars.
Chaco Men’s Z2 Classic Sport Sandal, Black, 15 M US
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The first shoe on the list is the wonderful Chaco Z/2 Unaweep. This open-toed sandal is ideal for rocky terrain and long, long trails, and will last you through many months of use.
The Chaco Z/2 Unaweep features a wrap-around toe loop that is ideal for keeping your feet securely tight to the footbed of the shoe. It also has custom adjustable straps and soft polyester webbing that is fast drying, which makes these shoes perfect for wet weather or wading in creeks/rivers.
These shoes feature an anatomical footbed that contours to your foot perfectly. This provides you with superior arch support and amazing motion control. Even after hiking and walking all day long, you can take these off and not feel achy or tired at all.
We love this shoe’s incredibly lightweight and minimal design that offers you the perfect fit and fantastic arch support. For those of you who worry about aching and pain, these shoes are perfect for you.
The only downside we came across when it came to the Chaco Z/2 Unaweep shoes was simply that the sizing was a little bit off. Many customers mentioned that the sizes do run a little large, so keep that in mind if you decide to purchase these.
You can purchase these shoes online for anywhere between $ to $$.
Our final rating for these shoes is going to be a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Teva Omnium Slate 8
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If you would prefer a sandal with a closed toe, the Teva Omnium shoe is a great option.
This shoe protects your toes with material and has a rubber sole, a bungee lacing system with a quick-release buckle, and an encapsulated shock-absorbing ShocPad heel.
We especially love the adjustable ankle strap that the shoe offers. This makes it an ideal option for those who have issues fitting into normal-sized shoes.
Teva has a reputation for having incredibly high-quality shoes that will last through any activity you take them through. The materials that the shoes are made out of are durable, strong, and perfect for any weather.
The only downside we came across was that the shoes do not offer very good arch support, so if that is a feature you need in hiking shoes, keep that in mind.
You can purchase these shoes online for anywhere between $ to $$$.
Our final rating for this hiking sandal is 4 out of 5 stars.
Birkenstock Arizona – Suede (Unisex) Mocha Suede 42 (US
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You have most likely heard of the brand Birkenstock, and not imagined them as being a decent option for hiking. However, these incredibly high-quality sandals are actually ideal for rocky terrain and are a great choice for anyone.
The footbed of this shoe is made of cork and is contoured to perfectly fit your feet and offer you ideal arch support. The raised toe bar design supports the natural grip of your feet to stimulate and aid your circulation.
We love the classic suede lining that is typical of Birkenstock shoes and the minimalistic design that looks amazing with any outfit. You can dress these up or wear them with gym shorts – either way, they look great.
The company uses EVA for their footbed, which is an incredibly durable and eco-friendly man-made foam that works as a fantastic shock absorber. This material adds additional layers of cushioning to protect your feet and help you avoid discomfort when you walk long distances.
As for downsides, these shoes are pretty expensive for hiking sandals. However, keep in mind that Birkenstock has been a loved and trusted brand since the 1700s and its quality is above almost any other design on the market today.
You can purchase a pair of these best hiking sandals online for anywhere between $ to $$$.
Our final rating for these shoes is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Vionic Women’s Rest Bella II Toepost Sandal
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Next up on our list of the best hiking sandals we have the Vionic Tide ll.
These shoes are made from woven leather and they feature a cushioned EVA midsole and TPR outsole. They are ideal for preventing and removing pain from your legs, ankles, and feet. In fact, these shoes are proven to alleviate heel pain thanks to the Orthaheel Technology that they offer. This is biomechanically designed to hug your arch and support your foot well.
Just like the last shoes we looked at, these hiking sandals offer an EVA cushioned midsole. This makes them comfortable enough to wear for any exercise and for any amount of time.
One aspect that we love about these shoes is how affordable they are. These are extremely high-quality and well-loved shoes that also won’t ruin your budget. You can purchase these shoes online for between $ and $$.
The only negative aspect we saw in these hiking sandals is that the footbed is fairly wide. If you have extremely narrow feet, these might be a little too big for your feet.
Overall, our rating for these shoes is 4 out of 5 stars.
Teva Men’s Hurricane XLT Sandal,Black
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If you are looking for shoes that work well in water as well, the Teva Hurricane XLT is a fantastic choice.
These shoes have a polyester upper that is made to last through anything and is also fast drying after it gets wet. The handy hook and loop closures that the sandals come with are extremely easy to put on and take off, and the shoes are pre-treated with Microban technology to stop odors before they even start to become a problem.
The shoes also have The Rugged Durabrasion Rubber outsole, which is made to withstand any terrain and provide you with unbeatable traction.
While a lot of Teva’s shoes are fairly expensive, these are a little more on the budget-friendly side. You can purchase these shoes online for anywhere between $ and $$.
As for the negative aspects of these shoes, there are a few to consider. Several customer reviews have mentioned that the middle strap tends to rub the skin and become irritating over time. Also, the sizing is said to be off as well, so make sure to try the shoes on before buying them if you can.
Our final rating for these hiking sandals is 4 out of 5 stars.
Merrell Men’s J65243, Brindle/Butterscotch
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Last, but not least, we have the Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve Water Shoe. This is another closed-toe option for those of you who like a little more protection when you go hiking.
These shoes feature a Vibram outsole with a 3 mm lug depth, Lycra neoprene stretch collar, and Unifly Midsole. They are very durable and incredibly high-quality shoes, offer incredible grip for any terrain, and are great for wet weather.
The only downside for these shoes is that they are a shoe instead of a sandal. The amount of coverage that they offer is incredible, but it almost takes away the sandal design because of all the material they are made out of.
You can purchase these shoes online for between $ and $$$
Our final rating for these shoes is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Buyer’s Guide
We hope you found our list of the best hiking sandals helpful in your search to find great shoes for you. Remember to keep in mind that our shoes vary quite a bit when it comes to pricing, performance, design, and materials.
Keep a number in mind for how much you want to spend on these shoes. Knowing what you want to spend beforehand will ensure that you can narrow down your options and choose the best shoe for you.
Also keep in mind what you need in a hiking sandal, as well as your preferences for features and what they look like. Being able to narrow the choices down and find what works for you is an important part of the shopping process.
If you have tried a pair of these shoes in the past, what was your honest opinion of them? Would you recommend them to others? If not, which ones are you excited to try out?