Sandals have been worn for virtually all of human history, however it’s only as recently as the 1960s when this form of footwear became specifically designed for the specific act of hiking. The modern hiking sandal as we know it can arguably be attributed to the German brand Birkenstock. In 1964, they released a sandal, which featured a contoured footbed designed to provide better support and comfort to the wear and, although it was initially popularized as casual footwear, many outdoor enthusiasts started using this for hiking and camping due to its comfort and functionality over uneven terrain.
In the following decades, other footwear companies also began to produce specialized hiking sandals, most notably Teva and Chacos and as outdoor recreation gained popularity, hiking sandals became more mainstream.
Today, numerous brands offer hiking sandals with advanced features, catering to different types of terrain and outdoor pursuits and you can find sandals designed for anything from light trail hiking or basecamp use through to long-distance trekking.
Hiking sandals aren’t universally appreciated, however. Some people prefer the support, stability and protection of a trail shoe or hiking boot. I personally am a big fan of hiking sandals and I’ve worn a lot of different models and hiked hundreds of miles in them. I won’t wear them for every hike but for hikes that I know that they’ll be the most comfortable option for me; so any trips where I’m going to benefit from the maximum breathability and ventilation sandals can provide.
The hiking sandals you’ll find here are the ones that have impressed me the most over the years (and that are still on the market). They’re the options that I rate for their comfort, performance, versatility, reliability and all-round suitability for hiking.
There are six pairs of sandals reviewed here in this round up. Here are the category winners.
Best overall hiking sandal: Lizard Super Trek
Best closed toe sandal: Keen Newport
Best for water use: Teva Hurricane XLT 2
Best lightweight and breathable sandals: Bedrock Cairn Pro II
Price: £105 (not available in the U.S)
Weight: 7.93 oz / 225g (per shoe)
Best for: trekking
Pros: grippy, cushioned, quick-drying, recycled rubber
Cons: quite expensive, shame no recycled plastic in the webbing
I’ve used the Super Trek extensively now and I’ve been really impressed by it. From my experience, it’s very well-suited to long-distance treks over varied terrain, mainly thanks to its comfortable, shock absorbing mid sole which feels like the kind of sole you’d get on a pair of trail shoes. The outsole performs well too; I found it to be grippy on muddy surfaces and even on wet rocks – though like almost all shoes, it has its limitations there.
The two Velcro straps and buckled one across the front let you really dial in the fit and my feet felt very secure in these with no backwards-forwards or side-to-side movement. Usefully, the top of the sole has a material and pattern that holds your foot in place, even in wet conditions – so there’s no slipping in rain, rivers or when you just get sweaty.
Another thing I liked about the Super Trek during my tests was the neoprene-like lining on the straps. It feels really comfortable, even when wet.
The only downside is the weight. At 225g per shoe, it’s quite a heavy sandal so it’s not the best option out there if you want a pair that you can keep in the side of your backpacking pack ready to pull on for the occasional river crossing. So I’d say these Super Trek is more of a wear-all-day option – and it fits that mould well.
Straps: two Velcro with locking buckle | Drop: 8mm | Materials: mesh upper, moulded EVA foam footbed, Vibram rubber sole.
Available at: lizardfootwear.com
Price: $75 / £65
Weight: 10.26 oz / 291g
Best for: trekking and water sports
Pros: comfortable and secure, eco-friendly, lots of cushioning, quick-drying
Cons: quite heavy and could be grippier
While the Lizard Super Trek might’ve landed the top spot as the best hiking sandal overall, the Teva Hurrcane XLT 2 is a very close second, as it’s a little heavier and just a bit less grippy too.
This is another sandal that proved to be very comfortable and shock absorbing in my tests. The three strap design really lets you fine tune the fit to suit your foot shape and the soft webbing (which is made from recycled plastic bottles) and neoprene lining give a comfortable feeling to the straps too.
The grip gives the outsole a bit of bite. I found it to be stable on light to medium trails and on a bit of wet rock too, but the outsole isn’t quite as aggressive as the one on the Lizard Super Trek, which I’d say is more suitable for hikes on very muddy or gravelly tracks. Where the Hurricane XLT 2 really comes into its own, however, is in wet stuff – so any hikes that involve multiple river crossings, or for things like kayaking, sailing or stand up paddle boarding, that’s thanks to the quick-drying straps and the non-slip rubber on the footbed.
Straps: three Velcro | Drop: moderate | Materials: Repreve polyester straps, EVA foam midsole, nylon shank, Durabrasion rubber outsole.
Available at: sportsdirect.com
Price: $130 / £105
Weight: 7.8 oz / 221g
Best for: hiking
Pros: grippy, good adjustment and secure fit, good eco credentials
Cons: ‘barefoot’ feel is not for everyone
The Cairn Pro II Adventure has a bit of a cult following and it seems to be that whoever owns a pair swears by them. I’ve tested the Cairn Pro a fair bit now and I think it’s excellent but for me personally it just don’t have the kind of cushioning I want when I’m hiking.
I’m not too used to barefoot shoes though and the Cairn Pro, with its zero-drop and thin platform does fall into the barefoot category.
Still, it’s comfortable to wear (if you don’t mind the flip-flop-style strap in-between your toes) and it’s really grippy on all manner of surfaces thanks to its Vibram Megagrip outsole. The three-point adjustment and front strap all work together to lock the foot in well – not quite as well as the Lizard Super Trek and Teva Hurricane though – and the footbed sticks well even when it’s a bit wet.
Shoutout to Bedcrock for making sure this can be resoled when the rubber’s worn through – and for donating 1% of the return from each sale to environmental organisations. It’d be good to see Bedrock take their eco efforts even further at some point by using recycled webbing.
Straps: three adjustable straps | Drop: neutral | Materials: webbing straps, Vibram Megagrip outsole.
Available at: bedrocksandals.com
Price: £100 (not currently available in the U.S.)
Weight: 9.87 oz / 280g (per shoe)
Best for: hiking
Pros: comfortable, good adjustment
Cons: slippery footbed when wet, quite expensive
In a previous review of the Lizard Super Hike, I’ve stated it continues to grip well even when wet. However, after further testing, I’ve discovered that it does have its limitations there. On one kayaking trip, it was actually quite frustrating how slippy the footbed became. I think the suede footbed must’ve started out with a bit of texture and then eventually got a bit of a slippery sheen with use. So, with that in mind, if you’re looking for a pair of sandals for water use, I’d definitely look to Lizard’s Super Trek instead – they perform much better when wet.
These were very comfortable to hike in when dry though. There’s cushioning, the footbed is ergonomically shaped to hold the foot in place and to support your arch and the three-point adjustment allows you to get a nice, supportive fit.
It’s a zero-drop sole which might appeal to those who like a more natural stride. Those who like a barefoot style sandal might find that the thick sole unit and the curved footbed negate that natural feel a bit.
I found the grip to be good, though it’s not quite as grippy as the Lizard Super Trek. Still, I found it was good on wet rock, roots and dusty trails.
Straps: three Velcro | Drop: neutral | Materials: suede footbed, rubber outsole, webbing straps.
Available at: sportsshoes.com
Price: $120 / £120
Weight: 14.1 oz / 401g
Best for: trekking and water sports
Pros: protective, durable, good bungee closure, good water performance
Cons: heavy, quite expensive
I once had a pair of these under my desk which I’d received for testing. One day, after cycling into the office, I thought I’d slip them on as it was a hot day. I was charmed instantly and a love affair began. I wore those sandals non-stop and gained myself a bit of a reputation for it – they were a garish yellow after all.
The thing I loved about them is that they just felt so comfy but then they were also really practical too, mainly thanks to that unique toe bumper. Your can hike over rocky ground in these and feel well protected and well ventilated and the bungee lacing ensures you get a nice refined fit from them too. They’re great in water too as they hold your foot in place well and don’t become all heavy once they get wet. Because they’re made from polyester, they’ll dry out quickly too.
The grip is great on hard surfaces – whether that’s on a big boulder or a paddleboard – as it’s got a real stickiness to it. The lugs are pretty minimal though so it’s not great on loose ground. I found these great to hike in so long as the ground underfoot is stable enough.
The Newport, like a few of the sandals in this round up, is a little too heavy to carry on your pack as an option for wearing around camp at night. It’s definitely more of a wear-all-day offering.
Straps: none, bungee cord closure | Drop: moderate | Materials: webbing, EVA footbed, rubber outsole.
Available at: alpinetrek.co.uk
Price: $110 / £90
Weight: 20 oz / 568g
Best for: trekking
Pros: good grip, comfortable leather upper, handles rocky terrain well
Cons: quite expensive, heavy
This blends an open toe with support and comfort. It has a smart suede upper with a comfortable neoprene lining. While the toe is open, the footbed is shaped and slightly tipped up to offer a small amount of front protection. The side protection and foot security was excellent, with the suede strapping sitting inside the edge of the footbed.
The footbed is grippy when wet and dry, with a hint of instep support. The Velcro straps at the ankle and at the forefoot are secure and positive. The sole unit has small lugs with a 3mm depth. This worked well on all types of terrain and offered cushioning on rough ground, although I find rounded lugs do slip on wet rock.
Straps: two Velcro | Drop: moderate | Materials: suede leather and mesh upper, EVA foam footbed, Neoprene lining, Vibram outsole.
Available at: merrell.com
