What are the Best Hiking Sandals For Women?-A complete and detailed guide
Here we give tips for choosing the best hiking sandals for everyday use. We tell you which ones are the most comfortable for walking in, which are the best for protecting your feet from blisters and which are the most convenient because of their strap design.
Hikes can be very relaxing and enjoyable if done right. They provide an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and just enjoy nature. When thinking about hikes, people often think about high-heeled shoes that will protect them from any potential hazards. However, women’s trail running shoes are much better suited for outdoor activities such as walking and jogging. Women’s trail running shoe designs are comfortable and allow for proper foot support. These types of footwear are ideal for those who love to hike and run outdoors.
We’ve looked into the best hiking sandal options available today and we’ve included a thorough buyers’ guide so that you don’t get stuck with fake products.
Tips for Buying Women’s Hiking Sandals
Look for a pair with excellent traction
Traction is an extremely important thing to consider when choosing a pair of shoes for walking in rocky terrain. It’s even more important if you plan to use them in wet or possibly slippery conditions. In a shoe, it’s important to get good traction both on the bottom as well as some kind of grip in the foot bed to prevent your feet from sliding inside the shoe.
Prioritize comfort and support
You want a shoe that offers a good combination of comfort and support so you can wear them all day long without feeling uncomfortable. Look for shoes that feature cushioned EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or foamed insets for added support and shock absorption.
Prepare for the climate
“Believe it – or not, sandals don’t always perform best in all seasons! Although sandals often function very well in sandy locations, they might not function properly in loose gravel or varied rocky terrains. Furthermore, sandals can get uncomfortable when worn on loose gravel or uneven surfaces. In addition, sandals aren’t great when it rains or in cold immersion environments—this can totally freeze your feet.” Bartels said.
Best hiking sandals for women
Best Overall: Chacos Z/Cloud Sandals
We love the cushy comforts that the ChacoZ Cloud Sandals provide — they give us all day wear without complaints. A nice addition to our collection of Chaco shoes, these new designs feature a soft foot bed that we know will be comfortable for hours on end. They’re made from durable materials and come with added arch support and heel cup padding.
With their adjustable strap system, these shoes offer a comfortable fit and won’t cause blisters on your feet. Their unique tread design provides excellent grip on both smooth and rough surfaces. They’re light enough to wear comfortably during long hikes but powerful enough to handle any terrain.
For a solid pair all round sandal that can tackle longer walks as well as a quick hike, look no further. They are not only comfortable but also durable and easy to wear. The quick dry polyesters and anti microbial odor controls ensure that you stay fresh and clean throughout your day. Whether you are hiking, enjoying watersports or just relaxing around campfire, these Chaco Sandal are the perfect companion.
Buy here the Chacos Z/Cloud Sandals
Available sizes: 6-12, including wide | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Closure type: Strap and ladder lock buckle
Best Overall, Runner-up: Chacos Z/1 Classic Sandals
We adore the Chacos Z1 Classic shoes for their sturdy construction and supreme comfort. They’re perfect for hiking, camping, and exploring the great outdoors. Their foot bed provides excellent cushioning and support, so you can enjoy every step without discomfort. The Chaco Luvseat Foot Bed is our favorite because it offers superior support and comfort. Whether you’re out on the trails, river rafting, doing chores around the house, or just relaxing at home, these shoes make it easy to get through each day.
The continuous straps mean tailoring to your foot will require some effort, but once you get used to wearing them, they’ll hug your foot perfectly for extended wear. They keep your toes warm and dry, perfect for tackling both rainy and dry conditions as you go exploring outside. These durable shoes are a classic for a good reason, and they’re prepared to deal with anything your day may throw at them.
Buy here the Chacos Z/1 Classic Sandals
Available sizes: 5-12, including wide | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Closure type: Strap and ladder lock buckle
Best Budget: Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals
The Teva Hurricane XLT2 sandles are a good choice because they’re trail ready right out of the box and offer a comfortable fit at an affordable cost. They feature a classic three-strapped design that’s easy to use and offers a decent level of support. The footbed is fairly stiff, but they are able to handle most rocky trails like pros.
If you’re looking for a comfortable pair of hiking sandals that offer good traction, then the Teva Hurricane XLTs 2s are perfect for you. They come in a wide range of sizes so they’ll be easy to slip on and off when you need to change shoes. And if you want to save some cash, you can get them for less than $25.
Buy here the Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals
Available sizes: 5-13 | Weight: 1 pound | Closure type: Strap and hook and loop closure
Best Eco-friendly: Teva Women’s Original Universal Sandals
Teva is an icon for a reason, with a classic design and versatile shoes. It’s also one of the leading sustainable brands and utilizes recycled and organic vegan material to save the environment and help preserve the earth. The word “Teva” means “earth” in Hebrew, and the brand does their part in protecting the very place where they were born to live. Teva’s commitment to use less water and cut down on packaging are just some of their smaller efforts to make a bigger impact on the world.
They’re ideal for light hiking and water sports, but not so good for long walks or running. However, if you want something comfortable to wear during warmer months when you don’t plan to hike or run, these are the shoes for you.
Buy here the Teva Women’s Original Universal Sandals
Available sizes: 5-13 | Weight: .8 pounds | Closure type: Strap and hook and loop closure
Best for Wide Feet: Chacos Z/Cloud 2 Wide Width Sandals
It’s our favorite ladies’ walking shoe, but in wide width sizes. The durable and functional Cloud 2 is the best-selling sandals in the world, and it fits most feet, including narrow and wide ones. The padded collar gives an added layer of comfort and support, and the adjustable strap allows for a customized fit. The toe loop helps provide extra control when descending steep hills and wet terrain, making them perfect for hikes.
The Cloud 2 has been designed with the needs of hiker’s diverse foot sizes in mind. For example, if you’re someone who wears wide shoes, you’ll love the Cloud 2 because it has a wider toe box than its predecessor.
Buy here the Chacos Z/Cloud 2 Wide Width Sandals
Available sizes: 5-12, including wide sizes | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Closure type: Strap and ladder lock buckle
Best for Trail to Town: Chaco Lowdown Sandals
Chaco made a new pair of shoes for hikers who want something comfortable enough to wear all the time but light enough to take anywhere. These shoes are perfect for traveling because they’re easy to pack and don’t weigh too much.
The 3-millimetre lug design offers excellent grip on the outsole to help prevent slips in wet or dry weather, as does the grippier footbed. They’re not too high in the mid-foot area, so they won’t interfere with your stride, and they’re also wider than most, meaning they can fit most feet comfortably. Wear them with hiking shorts or to work in a sundress and prepare yourself for almost anything.
Buy here the Chaco Lowdown Sandals
Available sizes: 5-12 | Weight: .7 pounds | Closure type: Strap and ladder lock buckle
Best Arch Support: Ecco Sport Yucatan Sandals
Comfortable, supportive, and versatile, the Ecco Sport Yucatan Sandals are a good choice for an everyday shoe. They come with three adjustable straps so you can get a better fit, which is perfect if you also want some added arch support.
While the Sole is very stable, it lacks some flexibility and grip that harder trail shoes need. It’s best suited for more casual hikes and general outdoor activity or travel. They may not be the top choice if you want to hike technical terrain. The Ecco Sport ‘Yucatan’ is a true walkers’ shoe that will let you go for miles and miles, so long as you stay away from any technical terrain.
Buy here the Ecco Sport Yucatan Sandals
Available sizes: 4-14, including half sizes | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Closure type: Velcro
Best Lightweight: Xero Shoes Z-trail EV Sandals
We love the sleek, minimalistic, and “barefoot”-like design of the Xero shoes Z-Trail EV sandals. They’re supreme flexibly too; in fact, they fold down into a small package so they can be stored in your backpack or pockets.
The eco-friendly design is made from recycled plastic bottles, which makes them a sustainable choice as they are recyclable. The dual chevrons provide traction when walking or running, and they’re waterproof so you won’t slip and slide when doing anything involving the waters. They’re also buoyant, meaning they can be used for floating purposes.
These sandals are made from durable materials and offer support and comfort when walking outdoors. They’re ideal for hiking, running, and any other activity where you need to be able to move quickly but don’t want to sacrifice comfort.
Buy here the Xero Shoes Z-trail EV Sandals
Available sizes: 5-12, including wide sizes | Weight: .5 pounds | Closure type: strap and ladder lock buckle
FAQ
How should hiking sandals fit?
If you wear flip flops, make sure they fit properly so both sides of your foot are covered by the sandals. Also, make sure not to let your feet dangle outside of the bottoms of the flip flops.
Should I wear socks with hiking sandals?
It really depends on personal preferences. Some people prefer wearing socks, others don’t. But if you’re going somewhere cold, then it makes sense to bring some extra socks just in case.
