While you’ll usually find me in my trusty hiking boots on the trail, there are times I prefer to hike in sandals. If I’m hiking to a swimming spot, if it’s too hot for boots, or if I’m traveling and want to pack light, I will probably wear sandals. Plus a good hiking sandal can usually also work for other outdoor activities, like kayaking or rafting.
I’ve always worn Chacos, but on a hike earlier this summer, I ended up chatting with a fellow hiker dipping her feet in the river about how much she loved her Bedrock sandals. I started getting curious about what else was out there in the world of hiking sandals. So I called in the Bedrocks, along with seven other pairs from popular sandal-makers, and set out hiking. I tried each pair of sandals on one of two hikes that are about two miles with around 500 feet of elevation gain and a mix of dirt paths, rocks, and even some mud. I also tested some of the sandals on shorter or flatter routes as well.
There are some inherent risks to showing toe on the trail — stubbing one of them, getting a cut on your foot, dealing with a lack of ankle support — so I’m not suggesting they’re right for every situation or every person. But if you, like me, occasionally like to hike in sandals, here’s what I found worked best from the eight pairs I tested.
