What sandals for low level hiking ?

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
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Me and Mrs Pit are both looking for some new sandals for low level hiking and general summer use.

We both currently have some Merrells and they have been very good, does anyone have any others they can recommend ?
 
North Face HedgeFrogs for the win! They are the sandall version of their rugged trail running shoe, the Hedgehogs. Awesome design... I don't like sandals much at all but I picked up a pair for whitewater kayaking. All the support and durability of a hiking shoe, with the openness of a sandal.
 
Go check out Clash of the Titans and then make some of those sandals...then post a how-to so I can make some :D
 
I use sandals constantly and year around. Merrels are good, as are Teva, The North Face, La Sportiva and some others, but the ones that I have found to be the longest lasting and still good for hiking are the Chacos. They're pricey, but worth it and they have a great warranty (I cracked an old pair in half and they replaced them for free). Plus they can be resoled, rewebbed, etc. if you don't like to give up old comfortable shoes.

Typically I buy a new pair of sandals before each new spring climbing season (I usually get them at the end of the summer to save money on the closeouts) and wear them most of the year. My current Chacos are on their their 3rd year (of nearly daily wear) without being replaced and still look really good. They also don't get all stinky like my sandals from Teva, The North Face and Merrel do, and I don't have particularly offensive feet normally. They take a little time to break in, but then they fit like a glove and are good to go.

If you want hands down comfort, then all of my Keens have definitely been the best, but I still only get one season out of them before they're useless.
 
My wife and I both love our Chacos. The arch support is great. I personally prefer the toe-loop as well. It keeps the front of the foot firmly in place and allows for great foot control when walking on stones or through water. Also, they are built for wider feet, if necessary.
 
Always had a love/hate relationship with sandals until I discovered Ecco.
These are the current version of the ones I've had for three or four years now:
http://www.zappos.com/ecco-performance-yucatan-sandal-black-mole-black-2
Note there's 87 reviews, and all 5 star--bottom one of the first page when you click on them might interest you. I didn't buy there, just googled for a link.

I wear them for general knocking around, hiking when appropriate, for kayaking, and for cutting the grass(I spend 4hrs. a week behind a push mower about 7 months of the year). They're pretty much all I wear in the summer. Hose them off every day or two, good to go.
I'll need to replace them soon, and there won't be much shopping around involved when I do.
 
I know they look retarded but I really love mine!

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_footwear.cfm
large.jpg
 
othello32 said:
My wife and I both love our Chacos. The arch support is great. I personally prefer the toe-loop as well. It keeps the front of the foot firmly in place and allows for great foot control when walking on stones or through water. Also, they are built for wider feet, if necessary.
Click to expand...

I love my Chaco flip flops. Incredible fit on the feet. I once did a ten mile mountain bike trail in them because I didn't have anything else. Felt great afterwords too.
 
Chacos is what I wear and in fact I prefer them in steep areas as no heal slip on the way up and no toe jam on the way down. I wear Z/1s so I can wear socks with them if it gets below freezing.

If you get Chacos, make sure you read how to fit them properly or you may hate them.
 
I've been extremely impressed with Teva Sandals, be it on or in the water, and on land.

Very comfortable, secure grip and lightweight, they work for me.
 
+1 for Tevas, I wear them year round.

on a side note, I made a pair of Ho Chi Minh sandals out of an old tire when i was about 12. They were great until my dad(who is a 2 tour Vietnam vet) saw the tracks in the driveway. After he got over the flashback, I got my ass beat..... for some reason, he still doesn't appreciate the fact that I hate real shoes.
 
I've worn Gurkees (http://www.gurkeescentral.com/) to various Pirate Faire's & Ren Faires. Not quite hiking but my feet felt fine after a day of walking aroung in garb. They've held up pretty well to daily wear, too. Really tough for how light they are.

Frank
 
I really like my Chacos...I've used them all over central Texas and they even got a little combat time in Afghanistan (just around the Air Base:D). They are quite robust and tuff.

ROCK6
 
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