Best Hiking Sandals of 2023

Want a hiking sandal that maximizes comfort and airflow whilst making the fewest compromises on the stability, support, and traction provided by regular hiking shoes? The Chaco Classic (click here for women’s version) is just that kinda sandal.

These days, many hiking sandals have complex designs and use all kinds of newfangled features that all too often seem like a solution in search of a problem. On the other hand, the Chaco Z/1 Classic keeps things simple, and therein lies its strength.

The Z/1’s outsole is made with ChacoGrip rubber and boasts 3.5mm lugs. It provides awesome traction in loose or muddy ground and grips well on rock and slippery surfaces such as exposed roots. The podiatrist-certified, dual-density PU “Luvseat” midsole offers solid arch support and delivers outstanding all-day comfort.

The Z/1’s strap system is another admirable feature. The adjustable straps on the heel and forefoot allow you to achieve a dialed-in fit with ease. The toe loop, meanwhile, wraps around the big toe instead of pulling back on the toe webspace, one of our biggest grumbles with the Bedrock Cairn and other models with a between-the-toe loop.

The material of the straps (polyester jacquard) is also highly durable and far quicker drying than the suede or leather straps used on models like the Ecco Yucatan or Teva Katavi.

It would feel like nitpicking to mention any downsides to the Z/1. While their open-toe style does leave your tootsies exposed to stubs and bumps, this is the trade-off when choosing a sandal in this style…

Sometimes, the marketing peeps at the big brands are a little too arrogant in the naming of their products. In dubbing the Bedrock Cairn (click here for women’s version) an “adventure shoe,” however, Bedrock has hit the nail on the head.

True to its name, this is a sandal built for outdoor adventures, boasting a handful of features and design characteristics that translate into awesome performance on the trails.

Let’s start with the Bedrock sandals’ obvious USP, the MegaGrip Vibram sole. Thanks to the aggressive, pentagonal tread and deep lugs we found this sole gave us as much grip and control in loose or muddy terrain as traditional footwear for hiking.

MegaGrip also adheres well to rocky surfaces, on which lesser outsoles have left us sliding around, and is among the most durable on our list. And unlike most of its competitors, these sandals are also resoleable.

The G-hook-and-loop heel and front strap configuration is the next feature we love. This system, combined with “sole-hugger” wings, does a few things. First, it helps to provide a more secure fit by locking the foot in place. Secondly, it provides superior stability by improving posture and gait. Thirdly, it reduces the risk of the sandal being sucked off your feet in mud or fast-flowing water.

Finally, you get all of the above at a piddly weight of 17.6 oz., which is a 12 oz. saving on the Chaco Classic and roughly a pound and a half lighter than your average trail shoe.

The downsides to the Cairn? This is a zero-drop sandal, so it might be a little hard on the calves if you’re used to wearing higher-drop shoes and are new to the barefoot style. The Cairns’ Arch support is also best described as “minimalist” and the strap between the toes won’t be to everyone’s liking.

Looking for a robust, reliable, comfortable sandal for hikes on less rugged, well-maintained trails? If so, the Teva Katavi 2 is well worth considering.

The K2 are made with burly leather straps, “Durabrasion” outsoles, and a chunky EVA footbed. This combo makes them highly durable, tough enough to deal with regular use on both paved and unpaved surfaces, and a little more pillow-like than most other options in their price range.

Compared to our review’s other 3-point, velcro-closure sandal, the ECCO Yucatan, the K2 have far shallower, less aggressive lugs, which makes them a less suitable option for hiking on testier trails. They also lack some of the Yucatans’ dialed-in features, like the neoprene lining and more supportive and durable PU midsole.

Given that the K2 cost half the price of the Yucatan and weigh 3 oz. less, however, they’re a solid option if you’re looking to maximize bang for your buck or don’t envision needing top-end traction or the additional support of a more robust midsole.

If you’re looking for hiking footwear that provides the freedom and added airflow of a sandal whilst compromising only minimally on the support, stability, and traction of a regular hiking shoe, the Keen Newport H2 (click here for women’s version) is well worth a place on your shortlist.

Of all the hiking sandals on our list, the Newport are the most versatile and most suitable for buyers sitting on the fence between wanting a lightweight hiking shoe and a minimalist sandal. In short, they bring the best of both worlds whilst also compromising least on the most endearing features of both types of footwear.

Weighing in at 28 oz., the Newport is the second heaviest sandal on our list after the Chaco Classic. While this might be a dealbreaker for some, the Newport has a few features that make it well worth the extra weight. A burly toe cap to prevent bumps and bangs, a plush EVA midsole, a bungee lacing system for easy on/off, and padded webbing are the most notable.

Other admirable features found on this sandal include a grippy razor-siped sole with deep lugs for excellent traction, an anti-odor treatment to keep them smelling fresh, and hydrophobic webbing that sheds water lickety-split.

The Hurricane have been a regular on our list of the best men’s hiking sandals and best-hiking sandals for women for the best part of a decade. And with good reason. Not only do they retail at around half the price of the market’s top-end sandals, but they also outperform many pricier competitors in several key metrics.

The Hurricane (click here for women’s version), in short, encapsulates everything we love about hiking in sandals. They’re lightweight (20.8 oz. per pair), rugged, dry quickly, and keep your feet cool thanks to their supportive but minimalist velcro strap configuration. They also offer great traction courtesy of their multidirectional tread and deep lugs and have a nylon shank for extra support.

Compared to the Teva Terra Fi, the Hurricane are a little less rugged and less supportive. However, they’re a handful of $ cheaper and almost 6 oz. lighter. Like the Terra Fi, the Hurricane have an extra-cushy sole that provides all-day comfort and great underfoot protection, as well as quick-drying webbing that makes them equally at home in the wet stuff as they are on land.

The Ecco Yucatan (click here for women’s version) are a great pick for buyers who want an extra-durable, sturdy, and supportive sandal for regular use on moderate trails.

Unlike other sandals on our list, the Yucatan aren’t an out-and-out hiking sandal, as betrayed by their more casual aesthetics and far from aggressive tread.

So how do they earn their place on our list? Well, the Yucatan is a superbly comfortable sandal.

The molded EVA footbed and durable PU midsole provide outstanding, long-lasting cushioning and support. Whilst the sandals’ RECEPTOR technology and tall stack height mean they deliver enhanced stability and absorb impact as well as any other models on our list.

The straps are soft against the skin and the contoured footbed feels nigh-on slipper-like.

The outsole is, sadly, nothing to write home about, and the lugs are a little too shallow to inspire confidence in loose or muddy terrain. As such, we’d only recommend the Yucatan for hiking in mellow or moderate terrain.

The Teva Terra Fi 5 (click here for women’s version) is one of the most popular womens and mens hiking sandals the world over. While not the lightest sandal on our list by a long shot, the reason for their popularity is simple – they are as comfortable as sandals come, highly supportive, tough as nails, and provide traction on a par with your average hiking boot.

Weighing 26 oz., the Terra Fi are among the heaviest sandals on our list. Those added few ounces, however, are used on features that most hikers would much rather have than do without, especially on more challenging trails.

These include wide comfortable straps, molded PU midsoles for durable cushioning and support, and “Spider Rubber” outsoles that provide awesome traction and grip wet, slippery surfaces better than any outsole we’ve ever worn.

If you’re looking for a closed-toe sandal without paying the weight penalty, the Keen Clearwater CNX (click here for women’s version) is worth a shout.

The Clearwater weighs just over 17 oz., making it 10.7 oz. lighter than the Keen Newport and comparable to minimalist options like the Bedrock Cairn. But this is far from a minimalist shoe/sandal, boasting burly toe protectors, a beefy rubber outsole, and extensive polyester webbing that cradles the foot from heel to toe.

At first appearance, this looks like a doppelganger of the Newport H2, but there are a few key differences worth pointing out.

First of all, the Clearwaters’ molded arches and PU midsoles are a little on the scrawny side, which makes them less supportive and stable on uneven ground. While the outsoles are made with the same materials, the Clearwaters’ tread is far less aggressive and the lugs are noticeably shallower, meaning they provide poorer traction in wet terrain.

But it ain’t all bad…

The lighter weight of the Clearwater makes them less likely to result in leg fatigue during long days on the trail and also gives them a more nimble feel than their heavyweight peers. They also boast a thermoplastic urethane shank that provides a little extra stiffness to the sole – an addition that gives you more purchase in steep terrain by preventing your heel from dropping excessively with each step.

You’re probably wondering, however, why you would choose these over the Newport, given that they retail at a similar price and the Newport is a more rugged and suitable choice for hiking.

The answer is that the Clearwater are, as the name suggests, the more amphibian of the two, and transition seamlessly between water and land thanks to their sticky outsole and lighter, quicker-drying materials. If you plan on doing any canyoning, rafting, or hiking on wet trails, then, these waterproof hiking sandals are a great pick.

If you’re a fan of minimalist footwear and zero-drop designs, the Xero Shoes Z Trail (click here for women’s version) travel sandals are well worth considering. These minimalist sandals are sure to split opinion, with some users sure to feel they are the epitome of the “less is more” ethos and others lamenting their lack of substance.

If you’re a “cup half full” kinda person or a card-carrying convert to barefoot footwear, there’s a lot to love about this sandal.

The outsole uses an aggressive, dual-chevron tread pattern that provides excellent traction and grip on inclines and wet ground. On top of that, the 3-layer, 10 mm FeelLite soles provide decent underfoot protection and enough flexibility to let your feet flex naturally, thus sparing you from aches, pains, and strains at the end of a day’s hiking.

The Z Trails also have soft, tubular webbing that’s wide enough that it doesn’t pinch or chafe, multiple adjustment points, and zero-drop soles that keep your heels low to the ground, thereby encouraging better posture.

The Z Trail weigh a tiny 10.8 oz per pair. For reference, this is almost three times lighter than the Chaco Z/1 and roughly the same weight as regular flip-flops or a can of soda. Their extra-flexible materials also mean they can be rolled up into a tiny bundle and stowed in a pant pocket or backpack hood when not in use.

And the downsides?

To keep weight down, makers Xero have done away with a few features that many buyers might consider non-negotiable, such as a rubber toe box and cushy midsoles. This means they’re short on protection and not as supportive as sandals like the Ecco Yucatan, Teva Terra Fi, and Keen Newport.

Xero also boast that this sandal will let you “feel the terrain beneath your feet.” While this is true and all very well if you’re strolling on a sandy beach or a manicured trail, it’s far from ideal if you’re hiking in uneven or rocky terrain.

If you’re in the market for a lightweight hiking sandal similar in style to the Zs but would prefer an upgrade in protection and stability (even if it means a few more ounces), check out the Bedrock Cairn and Teva Hurricane, both of which fit the bill.

Best described as a sneaker-sandal hybrid, the Odyssey (click here for women’s version) uses a closed-toe style in combination with breathable mesh uppers and an open heel in a bid to strike the perfect balance between breathability, support, and protection.

While this design means they’re a little less breathable than open-toe-style sandals on our list, it makes them ideal for anyone who wants footwear that combines the best bits of both a sneaker and a sandal.

The Odyssey’s shallow, unidirectional tread (2.5mm) and skinny mesh uppers mean they aren’t the best Chacos for hiking on testier trails (for this, check out our top pick, the Z/1 Classic).

However, their beefy, dual-density EVA midsole and super-soft webbing mean they offer sneaker-like, all-day comfort. A better option for peeps who are making the shoe-to-sandal transition but aren’t quite ready to dive in at the deep end by choosing anything too minimalist.