Best Hiking Sandals

6 min read
Last Updated: Nov 2, 2024
BY: Matt Keepnes
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If you're looking for the best hiking sandals, you've come to the right place. Here at our store, we carry a wide selection of hiking sandals from a variety of brands, so you're sure to find the perfect pair for your needs. Whether you're looking for a lightweight option for day hikes or a more durable pair for backpacking trips, we've got you covered. We also carry a variety of sizes and widths to ensure a comfortable fit.

So, what are you waiting for? Come on in and check out our selection of hiking sandals today!

Who doesn’t enjoy spending the summer drenched in sunshine, playing in water and enjoying the great outdoors! Whether you spend your summer days on the trail or in the water, some sort of footwear is likely on your must-have list. As with clothing, there are elements to consider such as design, whether it's for supporting comfort when hiking or for more fashion-conscious choices. We break down our favourite picks for 2022's best footwear below into three categories: Trail shoes - Everyday wear - Water sports shoes.

Trail, Water Sports, and Everyday Wear

Trail

Choosing the right pair of sports sandals for your activity may prove to be challenging, especially if you're unfamiliar with which ones would best suit your needs. So before you even begin searching for that perfect pair of paddleboarding shoes or trail running sneakers, first ask yourself how you intend to use them. Do you plan on wearing then during activities like surfing in the ocean or running through trails? Are they going to be used just for recreational purposes or will they also serve as footwear for your other outdoor adventures? Once you figure out their intended purpose, it'll be a lot easier deciding on one trail shoe over another!

Water Sports

If you typically spend your summer days out on the water or hiking along coastal beaches, a water sports-specific sandal might be a better bet. Models like KEEN’s Newport H2 and SOLR are purpose-built for the job, with drainage ports along the upper for dumping water, flatter soles for maintaining grip on slippery surfaces like boat and paddleboard decks, and closed-toe constructions that protect the front of your foot against impacts from rocks and other obstacles.

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Some of the picks above can also pull double duty for both extended hikes and water activities, including KEEN’s open-toe Targhee III and Hoka One One’s Hopara, which boasts toe coverage but has a hiking boot-like outsole for maintaining grip on both wet and dry surfaces. To be clear, you can likely get away with wearing any of the sandals above while out on the water, but for committed kayakers, paddlers, fishermen, and rafters, the added protection and specialized features can be very helpful.

Everyday Wear

A final category of sandals that excel for everyday wear is those that are just too cool-looking to be confined to the outdoors. Some people simply have no desire to spend time getting dirty out in the wilderness or risk ruining a pair of $100+ shoes on a nature walk – this subsection offers greater styling and stylistic versatility than any other boots or flats, as well as placing less priority on the universal functionality that makes the others friendlier options for travel and rough terrain alike.

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Our top picks include Birkenstock’s Arizona EVA with their simple yet trendy profile, KEEN’s UNEEK with their orthopedic footbeds, and Teva’s flagship Original Universal design with its heavy-duty build for walking miles in modern style. You don't get the nearly bulletproof durability of hiking boots or water shoes, but many styles can handle short outings into nature and more formal use than any other sort of footwear used primarily for going places.

Fit and Sizing

It’s important to get a great fitting pair of sandals that not only go with both your outfit and aesthetic, but also work for you when it comes to giving your feet the support and comfort they need. There are usually different factors in play to consider such as how the sandal is styled since some may be better suited for more casual look while others can work well with a more sophisticated style. As far as material goes, leather is an excellent choice if you want something that’s classic and versatile while other options such as cork or rope provide different textures and designs you might like.

Now when it comes to sizing, we recommend heading to a local shoe store or department store where they will have many options available so you can try some on before making a purchase. It’s also helpful if you know what brands run larger or smaller than others, because those vary according to brand and even model of sandal!

Hiking Sandal Weight

Sandals come in different forms and weight. Xero Z-Trails weigh just 10.8 ounces, but provide little support for serious use like backpacking or rafting. Chaco’s Z/Cloud weighs 1lb 14oz, and KEEN’s Newport H2 weighs 1lb 12oz which are great options if you want to take them on serious outdoor excursions like hiking etc. If you plan to do more light walking a sandal like Bedrock's Cairn Adventure which weighs a reasonable 1lb or the Tirra will do the trick weighing a very light 1lb 2oz making it ideal for longer walks and hikes without fatigue setting in as quickly.

Hiking Sandals-min

Stability and Support

Regardless of their intention, sandals inherently offer limited stability and support compared to hiking boots. If you intend on doing a lot of walking in them, then make sure that you look at brands that offer arch support as well as foot structure such as Bedrocks and Xero for a sturdy feel. Some shoes like the Terra Fi 5 Universal include a TPU foot bed for improved security when travelling on rough terrain. As for more luxurious designs with less support, brands like Chaco have an array of models with similar styling but less security - so be sure to check out this section if the style is really important to you!

Build Quality and Durability

Typically on our lists we do link to all the available options. But in this case, we're only able to suggest a few of those since there are too many items people can choose from. So the best thing you can do is focus more on your budget and the quality of your product. We normally would include links to each option, but if you're interested in reading about more hiking shoes for men and women , then feel free to click through into even more details!

Final Word

Hiking is a great way to spend time in nature and enjoy the great outdoors. However, if you’ve ever worn traditional hiking shoes, you know how much they can hurt your feet! That’s why today we’re going to be talking about hiking sandals and what they can do to keep you more comfortable out on the trail this summer.

creator of RoofboxTop.com

Matt Keepnes

Matt Keepnes, travel enthusiast and creator of RoofboxTop.com. I share expert tips on car storage solutions for seamless travels, combining personal experiences with practical advice.

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