Hiking Sandals buying guide

Love to go onto long hikes but frustrated with the sweating and suffocating feel of the boots? Don't worry. Hiking sandals are here to the rescue.

The sandals are quite comfortable and allow you to enjoy long hikes comfortably without suffocating your feet. When talking about hot areas, where there is high humidity and moisture, the sandals prove out to be the best footwear for the activity.

They are comfortable and provide excellent ventilation to the feet. Say goodbye to sore toes and smelly feet as these sandals offer proper support and cater to all the needs. While selecting a particular pair, you have to consider several aspects.

You have to look into the design, size, shape, weight, and whatnot. Researching all these elements can take a lot of your valuable time, as you have to go through tons of pages online. Also, you may not even end up with the correct facts and details.

A comprehensive buying guide offers all the information under a single roof. You don't have to search for tons of pages and waste your time. You can analyze all the elements with your requirements and pin down the best fit for your feet. Moreover, you will get answers to several questions and queries regarding the product in a jiffy.

However, you must know the benefits of the product before diving directly into this guide. So, without wasting any more time, let us start with a quick introduction and then begin our hunt.

What are Hiking Sandals, and why should you buy them?

When you start packing your bags for hiking, you must overlook your footwear choice. You want your feet to be protected and comfortable in every sort of weather conditions as you have to walk.

People who love hiking are willing to enjoy their favorite activities in every other condition, no matter how hot the weather is. So in these conditions, boots might not be your first preference. You will want to wear something light and comfortable that allows more ventilation.

The best hiking sandals make these situations a bit better by providing comfort without compromising the quality to withstand any rough hikes.

These sandals are available in so many designs, and one can easily find these sandals which suit them the most. Hiking sandals are versatile as you can wear them every day, so this indeed will be a productive purchase. You can easily wear them for your hiking adventures and daily wear too.

Why should I read this buying guide before selecting a particular pair of hiking sandals?

With several brands gloating over their models in the market, you cannot blindly invest your money in any product. You have to complete your research and make an informed decision to buy the right model.

With an ill-fitted pair, you will feel uncomfortable, which can land you into unfortunate accidents and ruin your whole experience. So it is imperative to analyze all the aspects of the product.

By reading this extensive buying guide, you will get all the information that is necessary to consider while selecting a pair. You can analyze all the models and outfox the salesman in the market to choose the best product for yourself.

Let us now move further into this guide to know the in-depth details about the product and fennel down an ultimate model.

Things to deem about while selecting appropriate Hiking Sandals

Weight

Hiking sandals weigh lighter than the regular boots for hiking. No matter which of the hiking sandals you choose, they will be light in weight. The weight of these different sandals may vary due to their design.

The perks of lightweight sandals are that you will not get tired quickly while hiking as those heavy boots will drain you of your energy much faster than these boots. Getting tired will cause you discomfort, and you may miss out on all the fun while hiking.

It is entirely understood that the sandals with thick soles and closed toes will weigh much more than the ones with thin soles and some straps. You can go for a lighter weighing sandal as it has all the necessary qualities that you require in your hiking sandals. These sandals can be a backup option in your adventure backpack as they provide comfort and extreme relaxation.

Fit and comfort

Fit and comfort are the necessary features that the buyers are looking forward to in the hiking sandals. A good fit provides comfort and relaxation and avoids blister formation, which is one thing that you don't want to happen while hiking. It would help if you tried going for sandals that have high adjustability since you can't try them on before buying.

If you are aiming for supreme comfort, adequate ventilation is the feature you should look for. Ventilation is one of the main reasons why you will want to buy these hiking sandals as those regular hiking boots will not provide ventilation, which causes discomfort and might lead to blister formation.

The sandals' ergonomic shape will also follow the sole's curve and help determine how quickly the sandals dry after being wet and if the insole is soft.

Support

The perfect hiking sandals can provide support in situations like when the terrain is uneven such sandals will neutralize the discomfort and wouldn't make you feel uncomfortable.

These sandals will avoid strain on your ankles as much as they can. As they will prevent slipping, you can keep your feet sturdy by making them stay in a normal position.

It is determined by the shape of the hiking sandals' soles and the quality of their material. You can walk for much longer and avoid being uncomfortable as the sandal's ergonomic shape will give support to the shape of your sole.

These sandals should be shockproof. That is why these products have shanks in the design to enhance support and stability. You should not wear these sandals while you are carrying some heavy load or on a challenging climb.

Type of hiking

Although these sandals are very light in weight, there are still some things that one should keep in mind. These sandals are not meant for all types of hiking. One should consider wearing them when they want to avoid wearing heavy boots and are on a mostly flat hike, and the weather is warm. These sandals will provide proper ventilation and support in such conditions.

If you are going on an adventurous climb on rugged terrain, you should not wear these. These sandals will not be recommended to wear for climbs if you are under additional load as they will not provide enough support and stability.

Toe protection and ventilation are critical while hiking to avoid discomfort or blisters. Ventilation makes sure your feet stay dry most of the teams and avoids the sweat in feet, which otherwise may result in blisters.

Toe Protection

While hiking in the natural forests or terrains, it is quite likely to get hit by obstacles on your way. These hiking sandals come in two options, which are either open or closed. Both these types have some advantages and disadvantages.

While hiking, you may come across some rocks, branches, or rough paths. If you don't move around with precaution, you may get hit on your toes or injure yourself seriously. Such things are a significant turn off while hiking; for avoiding such situations, sandals come with strong toe protection.

If you hit something, the shock's impact can be absorbed by the toe caps, which cover the area in the front of the sandal.

But the disadvantage is if there are toe caps in the front, there is no proper ventilation. Since ventilation and comfort are reduced, there are high chances of experiencing blister formation.

Tread and sole

The best hiking sandals are designed to provide a good grip on any surface even though the surface is bumpy, wet, dry, or slippery. You can step confidently if you have a good grip. But sometimes, this is compromised as the difference in the terrain traction is not the same always.

Slipping on wet surfaces can be prevented by having huge lugs or welts that have high strength. The tread pattern is often multi-directional, which improves stability, and the deeper grooves count as valuable points.

The sole should be made of tough and abrasion-resistant materials to provide strength and durability to the hiking sandals.

Ensure you do not buy sandals that are too rigid as they will make it difficult for you to take a natural step. You should be attentive while buying these sandals as they will make you feel comfortable.

Durability

Some good manufacturers can be the product quality indicators as they take pride in the durability of the products they provide. No one will want to buy a product that wears off quickly after some uses after spending some good amount on the product.

However, you should not count on these well-known manufacturers' product durability only as some companies that aren't that famous also make some fantastic hiking sandals.

If you are still in doubt, you can look upon the materials used in making these products and whether the sandals have some reinforcements.

Some companies also provide replaceable parts if the part of the sandal gets broken. You can repair them quickly on your own without buying a new pair, which will save you from spending more money on the sandals.

Lacing Method

Laces and straps help you in holding your feet in one place and contribute immensely in providing stability. It avoids the feet from slipping or sliding by keeping it in place as it secures the foot.

You can easily find the best pair which fits you perfectly if the pair you buy is adjustable, you will be at extreme comfort. Adjustable pairs are incredibly beneficial if your feet swell after taking long walks as you can quickly readjust your hiking sandals as per your convenience.

It will reduce your discomfort and pain. Many hiking sandals come with Velcro closure, which can be tightened as per your requirement of how much tight you want it to be.

There are some other alternatives too if you want, you can try them. Bungee laces are relatively easy to use as they are made effectively and are very strong to use.

Safety

It is very safe to hike in sandals as they protect your toes from being hit by rock, branch, or uneven terrain. Hiking sandals ensure proper ventilation to avoid sweat retention, which may lead to peeling off the skin or the formation of blisters on the skin.

If the weather is warm or humid and the terrain is flat, hiking sandals are the safest and the perfect choice for adventurous hiking. But if you are carrying any additional load, these sandals might not provide you the necessary support.

These are not an excellent option to wear while carrying other loads or climbing on a rugged terrain full of obstacles.

Shock resistance

It is crucial to have a pair of shock resisting hiking sandals as you may hit a rock, branch, or continue walking through rough terrain. The excellent shock resistance is necessary as it protects us from the impact of the rugged terrain.

It also allows one to continue their hiking without any discomfort or pain due to any injury. Shock can lead to severe injuries and damage to the leg, which can completely ruin your hiking joy.

You should check the materials used in the making of the sandals and look for EVA or ethylene-vinyl acetate, also known as foam midsole, which can cushion each natural step's impact.

One can also consider the outdoor sandals, which provide good arch support and has a gel padding system that will be very comfortable during long hikes.

Adjustable Straps

Having a perfect pair of hiking sandals is quite necessary, and it can be of great use too. One should consider certain factors while investing their money on a purchase that yields to be productive.

Having multiple adjustable straps can prove out to be of great use. The parts of your feet, which are feeling swollen or are in pain, can be relieved a bit by reducing the pressure on them by readjusting the straps.

So if you are looking for the most comfortable hiking sandals, try considering the ones with adjustable straps as they can be worn in daily use too when you are not on a hike as they provide relaxing and soothing comfort.

Materials

1. Upper

The common materials used are leather. They are several benefits of the upper as it is highly durable, making it last for years. So the investment on this purchase will not go to waste. It is highly stable and supportive as it absorbs the shock, and the sole takes the shape of the sole.

The leather materials can mold into the foot's shape over time, which allows the hikers to have a customized fit. The material takes a very long time to break-in and is quite heavy on the feet. The materials don't dry quickly and are quite expensive.

2. Midsole

The materials used in the making are EVA and PU. The benefits include soft to mildly stiff cushioning, which provides comfort underfoot. The midsole is much more flexible and very light in weight. Though it is supportive and light in weight is not that supportive. It tends to compress over time after many uses.

In the PU material, the midsole is very supportive, which helps while you are carrying additional weight, and is very durable. The only disadvantage is that it weighs more and is very stiff.

3. Outsole

The materials used are soft rubber and hard rubber. The advantages of soft rubber are that it is stickier and more flexible. It is relatively light in weight. The best of this is when scrambling in rocky terrain.

The cons are the average performance on the muddy trails and that it breaks down a lot faster. The hard rubber is durable and provides stability, and is more protective. But it lacks flexibility and feels quite heavy underfoot, and has less traction on wet surfaces.

How to Care and Maintain Hiking Sandals

When you plan your trek and step into your new hiking sandals, you enjoy the hike to the fullest, and when you come back home, you notice so much dust and mud on your sandals, and you fail to recognize your brand new sandals.

Whole sandals are covered in mud, and you are not sure about how to clean them; you leave them like that. It is exactly why these sandals are damaged quickly.

It is of huge importance to take care of your hiking sandals no matter what material they are made of. We have listed some necessary steps to practice to make your sandals last longer.

1. Cleaning

The most important thing to do after you come home from the hike is to clean your sandals. Even if you are aware of the fact that they will get dirty again in your next hike. The accumulation of dirt and mind affect the waterproofing. This reduces the nature of sandals to provide ventilation.

Clean your sandals with a soft brush or sponge with some lukewarm water.

2. Drying

It is of great importance to dry your sandals to maintain their level of performance. Wet sandals might result in blister formation. Remove the insole and leave the sandals to dry at room temperature. Do not try to dry the sandals with direct heat, as it may damage its waterproofing.

3. Treating

Always clean your sandals thoroughly and dry them before applying any products so that the treatment is efficient. You can get re-waterproofing sprays and greases to maintain the life of your sandals.

The re-waterproofing sprays are useful as the sandals lose their waterproofing with use, after the spray, the water does not stay for long on the sandal, which will not let the water enter inside the sandal.

4. Repairing

You should look out for any damage and get it repaired immediately. As a torn side can lead to a blister on your foot. Thus inspect your sandals carefully before leaving for a hike.

5. Storing

Ensure that your sandals are perfectly dry before storing them. Store them in a cool, dry area without direct sunlight. You can consider storing them with a stuffing newspaper if you are not going to use them for a long time. Try storing the sandals with silica gels and tea bags to keep the sandals free of odor.

FAQs

1. What are the best conditions to wear sandals?

Hiking sandals are excellent footwear for hiking trips, but you have to understand the limitations of the product. If you are going out on a terrain that is relatively flat and does not have several obstacles, then you can wear your sandals.

They will be of no use if the track is challenging, and your feet have to hold up against harsh environmental factors. No doubt, they provide full support and comfort to your feet, but sometimes you need extra protection.

So, get an idea about the terrain type and make an informed decision before selecting the footwear type for your journey.

2. I am new to the hiking world. How can I select the best fit?

When you are going to purchase any pair of sandals, make sure you do that in the afternoon. If you wear socks with them, then bring them with you to understand the real feel of the product.

Also, you have to understand the arch-type of your feet.

For the high and medium arch, a neutral pair is the best type to opt for as there will be extreme wear on the outside and mild wear on the inside of the sole. For the flat arch, motion control type is perfect. There will be a lot of pressure on the inside region, so this type will provide full support and comfort to your feet.

Moreover, if you have broad feet, then go for wide sandals instead of large ones. Getting the perfect fit can be tricky, but after trying out some models, you can pin down the best model.

3. What is the best remedy for abrasive straps?

Use a dry towel to keep the straps and your feet dry. If there are some hotspots, then use athletic tape to protect them.

Summing Up

Hiking sandals present a breathable and comfortable option to enjoy the long hikes. All you need is to select the best pair for your feet.

With this guide, you will get all the necessary pointers that define the usability of the sandals. Go through the details and purchase an elite pair to enjoy your hikes.