One of my legs is a half-inch shorter than the other, so I have to wear a lift, and I know lots of people who require orthotics for various reasons. I'd be curious to hear about sources for sandals that can be custom-shaped for those of us with particular needs. I know Teva used to offer one line of sandals whose soles could be removed (they sold replacement soles) to allow the installation of a lift or other orthotic treatments, but last time I checked this model had been discontinued. I have leather sandals custom-made for me, but it would be nice to have a waterproof pair; does anyone have suggestions?

The Chaco Flip is a flipflop with all the same technology, and costs $50. However, it's an order of magnitude better than dimestore foam flipflops.

I bought some Chacos on a similar recommendation, and they were by far the worst footwear I've ever purchased. Forget going to the beach or anywhere sandy (like standing on a river bottom) with them. The sand gets stuck between the strap and your skin and causes severe irritation and even bleeding. I tried in vain to wear them for a month and they were always uncomfortable and chafed my feet.

I sold them to a friend and bought a pair of Keen "Newport" sandals. They were comfortable from the first second I put them on, and even if I get sand in them, it washes right out, never getting stuck and irritating my skin. They were also a few bucks less than the Chacos. 2 years later the Keens still look new even though I wear them almost every day.

I've had two pairs of these. My first pair was awesome and lasted me 8 years until they finally broke in half from so much use. My second pair doesn't get much use because everytime I wear them, 4 blocks of walking is enough to give me blisters. They changed the rubber, it seems, or perhaps something else. My wife likes mine, but she has much tougher feet. I've always liked them. They're a little on the heavy side, though. Also, if you don't wear them too tightly, just flick your foot side-to-side in the water and sand-be-gone.

Personally I use Ecco's sandals most of the year (except for when it's wet snow outside. Dry snow is ok with the right socks.)
One big difference between the Ecco sandals and the Chaco sandals is that the Ecco sandals looks much more acceptable in business-environments. The price is about the same, so that's no reason to choose one or the other.
But as a computer-consultant, often have meetings with management etc.I could not see myself in a pair of Chaco sandals at work.

I love Chaco's - have three different pair that I've had for years. The Z-1's are my favorites as well, having used them for hiking, canoeing and general wear. The flip-flops are also excellent. I bought a pair of the Chaco "river" sandals, with an extra strap between the first two toes. I've had mild chafing problems with these (between the toes), and I find the additional restraint somewhat annoying since the sole is relatively stiff. So the Z-1's are my go-to sandals.
I've never had problems with blisters or sand abrasion

My caveat is with sandals in general. Sometimes things, like shoes, are invented for a reason.
In an urban environment, you most definitely want close-toed shoes on your feet, regardless of the climate, simply because of the random nature of human cities at foot-level. Likewise, in most tourist destinations, the last thing you want to do, while on your trip, is to step on a pop-top and subsequently blow out your flip-flop.
That being said, these sandals sound great. I own a pair of garden-variety (but expensive) Tevas, and their primary flaw is indeed the buckle.

Being an avid sandal/clog/slip-on wearer, I have tried many brands and styles over the years. Although my wife swears by her Chaco's, I have never been able to wear them at all. The footbed is uncomfortable to my foot and the strapping never fits quite right. Keen's, on the other hand, have generally felt like they were made for my foot. So it seems to me that you have to try a few different styles, since feet are most definitely shaped differently.

I bought a pair of leather-soled Chaco sandals about four years ago. They made it very clear that leather-soled ones were exempt from the "we can resole them" offer, but I loved the look of them and bought them anyway, figuring they'd only last a year. They lasted at least four (I might have another summer in them, I'm not sure) before the soles started to tear at the seams. I wouldn't hesitate to buy Chacos again.

Excellent tool indeed! My first pair (purchased 9 years ago) only died when my wife's new puppy ate the straps. The soles were getting a bit bald, so I decided on a new pair with more aggressive tread. Awesome. As always. The water/sand/mud combo is a bit bothersome, but this is the case with every sandal I've ever owned--the key difference being that the others are missing one or both sandals of the pair because they were (expensive) cheaply made sandals and the straps or foot bed broke and left one or both sandals under a foot of river/swamp muck when I pulled my leg up and out. Only one Chaco complaint in all these years--cleaning inside the footbed--where the straps pass through requires moving the straps in a sawing motion to wash out the funk and sand (I do this in the shower about twice a year). Tough shoes; cool tool!

I am the author of the review. My wife wears Keens, and after reading my review she defended her Keens by demonstrating to me that their sole is every bit as stiff as my Chacos. In fact, the particular style that she owns is marketed by Keens as a hiking sandal. The choice between the two perhaps boils down to how important the open-toe feeling is to you. However, my comparison of the comfort and ease of use of Chacos vs. Teva-style sandals stands.

I own about a dozen pairs of sandals, and wear them exclusively at least five months out of the year, and I have to second the recommendation for Ecco and add in one for Teva's higher-end models. I've tried on Chacos many times but never bought a pair because trying them on (or even just handling them in person) compared to Eccos or the better Tevas, it's immediately apparent that they're not as well made or designed.

(I'd like to emphasize that the recommendation is for the higher-end Teva models. Tevas used to be all very well made/designed, but in the last five years or so they've come out with some cheaper models, similar to Chacos, that don't fit or hold up nearly as well.)

Here is a question for all you sandal and flip-flop enthusiasts.

We were in Hawaii for about a month recently, my first time in a tropical climate.

I brought a pair of Teva water shoes for hiking but they didn't dry as fast as I wanted and we had to spray them with disinfectant to keep them from smelling and by the end of the month they were pretty much destroyed by constant exposure to water from the rain, fording streams, etc. Even though they had flow-through sides, for some reason they made some of the trim out of suede or synthetic suede and it fell apart.

I debated bringing my Teva sandals but their completely flat soles do not give enough support if I wear them more than an hour or two and they didn't seem like they would give enough support on rough trails.

I ended up wearing cheap flip-flops most of the time when I wasn't on the trail.

What I want is something that is cool and open and will dry within an hour or so no matter what, provides enough protection for rough wet rocky trails, is easy to slip on and off and preferably provides ankle support.

This sort of sandal seems like it would do all of these except the ankle support. Do they actually dry quickly? Any other footwear you would recommend that fits all of these needs?

My favorite feature is that the company will fix them for you. Resoling is available with two tread patterns and different types of rubber (one is more sticky and suitable for rock climbing.) New webbing is also available. A friend of mine has a single pair and keeps sending them back for new parts!

I cannot wear a pair of sandals for more than two days without my the skin on my feet drying up and cracking. I have used a variety of brands, but there is something that my feet don't like about being away from the ground like that. So when it is hot, I go barefoot. If I am hiking, I don't pack heavy anyway so I tend to go barefoot a lot.

@Brad I have the same issue with uneven leg length. I have a prescription from my chiropractor to take to a local shoe shop along with my Tevas, they're able to cut the sole of the sandal and add a spacer to make it the right height. Ask your doctor or chiropractor if they know of a shop in your area that is able to perform that sort of work.

I was very glad to see comment #11, since I couldn't believe that this site would support a review which dismissed Keens in favor of Chacos when the reviewer had never even worn a pair of Keens!
I own both a pair of Keens and of Chacos. I like the Chaco footbed better, but the Keens are always my #1 choice for any kind of dirt, gravel, or unpredictable surface as the toe protection not only helps against toe stubs and getting the front of the sandal "turned under", but it helps keep dirt and rocks out from under your feet.
I don't see the Chaco re-soling option as a big advantage. I seem to wear the sole under the ball of the foot, which eventually reveals the slot where the strap slides through. At about that time, the strap usually begins failing where it makes sharp turns to go under the footbed, and the footbed begins looking very worn. Getting the straps and the sole replaced costs about as much, with shipping, as a new pair, so a new pair is what I get.

On the topic of Tevas, I nominate them for one of the top ten most frequently mispronounced words in America (along with "espresso"). Most people pronounce it either "teeva" or "tayva," both of which are wrong. It's Tehvah. They used to have pronunciation info on their website but I don't see it there anymore.

I've used Chacos for years, though I've also used Tevas and a variety of other sandals. They're the best -- superbly designed, rugged and amazingly durable. I've never had a malfunction or breakage of any kind. I wear them on river trips and around town, and a few years ago thru-hiked the 165-mile, 28,000-foot Tahoe Rim Trail with no other footgear. Even better, Chaco's resoling is fast and unconditional: I use my sandals hard and put a lot of mileage on them, and twice when I've sent them in for resoling, Chaco decided the straps were too worn and simply sent me a brand-new pair. Small company, good folks, honest dealing. Great footgear. (And no, I don't know anybody connected to the company in any way.)

Brad, a friend had a similar situation to yours. After paying an outrageous sum to get custom sandals, next time he found a pair of cheapish sandals and a pair of old shoes that still had intact soles. He cut off the shoe soles with a sharp knife, trimmed them to the thickness he wanted, and glued them to the sole of the sandals with some kind of industrial rubber cement -- maybe the Shoe Goo reviewed on this site. He put a thick sole on one sandal and a thin one on the other, for looks I guess. The whole thing took him less than an hour as I recall. But he was a very skilled woodworker and carver and knew how to keep his tools razor-sharp, so YMMV. Just a thought.

Nature boy sandals... part of the uniform
These things are worthless in Wyoming terrain.

HEY BRUCE:

Check out the Padda water shoe by The North Face.

Focusing more on support and protection, they arent exactly open, so they take about 1.5 hours to dry when your walking in them... but if you take them off and let them sit in the sun, they dry in about 20 min.

I have a pair of Keens and a pair of Chaco's and like them both for different occasions. I have to disagree though that the Chaco's 'oversized footbed' offers any real toe protection. About two years ago, I stubbed my toe on the end of a wooden pallet with Chaco's on and ended up with a 2 inch piece of wood embedded under my big toenail for several hours. Chaco's are great for an open sandal, comfortable, durable, easy to run in, etc.. but I wouldnt be going hiking in them

I always carry a pair of sandals on my travels as well because they are so practical for several reasons: a) quick dry, b) light weight, c) compact, d) and easy to easy to put on and take off.
Besides comfort and price, another important factor to consider when buying sandals is the material and quality of the rubber sole. If you ever walked through rocky streams, exposed wet tree trunks, or other slippery surfaces then you'll want soles that will grip and stick to any surface. For this reason I'm not a big fan of Chaco or Keen.
Also, Chaco does not wear well on pavement and Keen are way too heavy.

Chacos: arch support was too much for me, I have low-to-medium arch, and as much as I wanted to pick up Chacos at my local REI ... my right foot ached horribly after 20-30 min wearing them around the store. however I knew from past experience when I made myself wear a pair :) there was no body chemistry interaction with the vibram soles.

Tevas: got a pair of the Toachi (?) river sandals instead. much milder in the arch area, but I absolutely knew that after a few times wearing these, the sandals and my feet would acquire a terrible odor from being in contact with each other. after one summer of urban commuting, a few rain storms on the city streets, nothing major ... my feet absolutely stunk! I wish I could go back to Chacos but alas, my arch, my arch .... :)

I just buy el cheapo sandals from the indigenes wherever I am and wear 'em till they wear out.

I've spent at least $50 on sandals in the last 30 years... maybe even $55!

Extremely nasty looking footwear.I don't mean that in a noce way!

Julian #21

"Nature boy sandals... part of the uniform
These things are worthless in Wyoming terrain."

Oh, I don't know...I use my Chacos as my only field footwear all spring, summer and fall in Nevada doing geology field work. I don't remember Wyoming being any more rugged than Nevada; just windier and more politically backwards.

I do keep my eyes open for cactus, spiny hopsage etc.

I have both Chacos and Keens, and I agree that they're very different. I wear the Keens when I want a little more warmth or protection, but they don't give as secure footing as the Chacos. Unless cinched down uncomfortably hard, the Keens have a "slip-on" feel to them; I wouldn't trust them as much on rough footing. When adjusted right (which is easy to do), the Chacos fit very securely, without feeling constricting. The Keens also make "slap-slap" sounds, like a pair of flip-flops, when walking; the Chacos are quieter because they don't move around on my feet as much.

I have two pairs of Chacos (both Z-2s, with the strap between the toes), one pair is a half size larger than the other. The larger pair protrudes a bit in front; rather than protecting my toes, the excess sole has caught on things and nearly tripped me on several occasions.

Can't speak to these, but I've had two pairs of Keen sandals over the past ten years. They wear like iron, are very comfortable, great for hiking and in the water. If I'm going to sweat/chafe a lot I'll wear them with athletic socks. If I can get away with it, which isn't as often as I'd like, I'll go barefoot, though...

My wife bought a pair of Chacos back in (I think) 1997, and wore them constantly. Recently I contacted the company to see about getting them re-soled, and they offered to do it for free! Unfortunately, closer inspection revealed that one of the sandals had developed a severe crack so they were beyond repair. Still, they held up for 12 years and many many miles.
I have worn Keens for many years -- I have hiked extensively in them. I wore them for 2 weeks of roaming around Italy (which included hiking some steep trails in Cinque Terra). I live in NYC and wear them in warm weather -- they provide a nice balance between open (for cool feet) and closed (for protection from nasty street gunk).

I'm amazed at how much thoughtful discussion has surfaced regarding footwear, and wondering why all of the Chaco fans (Ecco fans, too) didn't submit these sandals as a cool tool earlier. I need to hear from you all in order to post quality recommendations on Cool Tools. Use the submit forms, or just e-mail: elon {at} schoenholz.com. Let me know what you love.

A reminder, too: dialogue is welcome here, but personal attacks aren't and will be removed.--es

Julian,

I work for a living doing fieldwork far from the road cut. Soil sampling, rock chips sampling, core drilling, mapping, earthwork; you name it. I wear chacos (unless MSHA is visiting). My point is that chacos are not "worthless" in Wyoming terrain. I wouldn't suggest that you wear them, but I like them. Why not accept my experience as a data point?

And Wyoming is more backwards than Nevada...Nevada has 24 hour booze and gambling plus legalized brothels. And Wyoming is windier, at least in my personal experience.

Sorry you took umbrage.

The Chaco Z/2 is the most comfortable shoe or sandal I have worn. The footbed fits me perfectly and I wouldn't trade them for any other shoe.

I've now purchased two pair and spent about $60 on each during closeouts. The sizing seems a little odd for me since the best fit was about a size and a half smaller than my regular shoe size, but it's perfect at that size.

The two complaints I have are that after wearing them every day for awhile, they generate a horrible funk, and they're not exactly pretty. But the fact that I can throw them into a washer is great and for the price, durability, and comfort, I'm OK with an ugly shoe.

I too have several pairs of Chacos, bought when they were manufactured in a small town in western Colorado. But now, the company was sold to Wolverine, a large corporation in Michigan, and all production has been off shored to China, putting the highly skilled workforce in this little town out of work, all to save about $3.00 in production costs.
For Shame Wolverine, and Chaco, for putting a small profit above having the high quality and excellent workmanship sent on the down ward spiral. I, for one will no longer buy or support either of these brands ever again.

I agree with Box -- I've worn Tevas for many years, but the velcro always wore out within a couple of years, and a friend convinced me to try Chacos this year instead. I like them in many ways, but their grip under wet conditions is terrible compared to the Tevas.

"For Shame Wolverine, and Chaco, for putting a small profit above having the high quality and excellent workmanship sent on the down ward spiral. I, for one will no longer buy or support either of these brands ever again."

Typical.

I'd never run into a pair of Chaco's my size on sale, and now that they are made in China most certainly won't ever.

I'm a very pro-market person, and I think companies should do whatever they feel is in the best interests of their shareholders or owners. I also can sympathize with companies that desire a more static regulatory framework than our current political system is willing to offer.

However I also think that people who pay luxury prices for luxury products made in third world sweatshops should be horsewhipped.

And companies who buy quality brands and then piss all over them by shipping the production overseas and cutting quality and cost deserve to fail.

This is getting a bit off the topic of sandals, but just because something is made in China doesn't mean its quality is lower; in fact it can be just the opposite.

On iTunes University you can find (for free download) a lecture at Stanford University by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, where he describes why he decided to have some of Patagonia's clothing made in China: it wasn't just because the price was lower, it was because he could get much higher quality of workmanship in China than he could get from any of the factories he used in North America and Europe. Cynics will say, "yeah, yeah, of COURSE it's not about the money," but I've been following Chouinard's work for 25 years and I believe he is telling the truth. His goal is to make the best outdoor clothing available anywhere in the world, and he seeks out the best people to do it. According to him, the level of craftmanship and attention to detail available from the best factories in China is beyond what you can get anywhere else.

Of course we all know that a lot of made-in-China stuff is junk that won't last more than a few years or even months. But there are a lot of high-quality craftspeople in China as well. It's like IKEA: most of their stuff (which in fact is made in China) is flimsy, cheap, and temporary, but they also produce a higher line of products that are well made, better designed, and are likely to last.

I'm in love with Chaco shoes, especially the waterproof Canyonland series. I wear the midtops all winter long, including together with rain pants on a bicycle. My feet were happy to see them when it started raining.

Another owner/user of both Chacos and Keens who can't believe the attack on Keens from a non-user. IME, Chaco sandals are more hassle than they're worth, especially because of the wet strap/sandpaper experience (mmm, bloody feet, yum). I do agree that the Chaco footbed is very nice, but I think it shines best when employed in a flip-flop--my Chaco flips have gotten years and years of use, and go with me everywhere warm. But as a primary warm-weather hiking shoe, the Chaco sandals didn't stay in use for even one full season--the combination of hassle, lack of toe protection, and, of course, the sandpaper effect, relegated them to the back of the closet. My Keens, on the other hand, are outstanding for anything short of snow, and get worn year-round. (Side note: don't expect the Keen Commuter bicycle sandal to fit the same as real Keens--I learned the hard way that the last is quite different, much narrower, and it is nowhere near as comfortable as traditional Keens for me.)

By now I think these sandals have been addressed from every possible angle, but I'll add my two cents anyway. I'm a little baffled by the commenters that tout the Keens' ability to keep sand and gravel out. I have worn both Keens and Chacos extensively, in town and in the bush, and they're both great -- but the Keens are miserable in mud, gravel or sand. They don't really keep that stuff out, but they certainly do keep it in. The nice thing about Chacos is that you can just wag your foot a bit and they usually clear right out. The Keens, on the other hand, I have to take off.

The other thing I don't like about Keens is the laces: they're elastic, which prevents a good, snug fit. It isn't a problem if they're just worn casually (in which case, I find them incredibly comfortable) but I leave them at home if I'll be on very uneven or muddy terrain. I wore them on a river trip in Utah a few years ago, and as soon as they got muddy, they practically spun on my feet.

In the end, I prefer the Keens for comfort and the Chacos for performance.

I have a pair of chacos that I got on sale at REI, and they are the phenomenal hiking sandals. I own both the chacos and tevas sandals, and IME the two brands have different functions. The tevas are way more comfortable for casual wear (around town) and light duty hiking (strictly on trail/river, and not very rocky). If you want more detail about my specific tevas, it'll be discussed below because I'm a huge dork. The chacos are like the military designed hummers in that they can just about do it all and do not need any frills to accomplish it.

I have the standard Z/1, and once I configured the straps to my feet, they were perfect. I've used them going on/in streams/rivers, and climbing steep, rocky terrain with never had a problem in part because of the ankle support and vibram soles. This is worth noting because I have weak ankles, and they sprain if I just look at them wrong. Having said that, I do not think they are designed to be used for backpacking. I would recommend these to anyone who likes the freedom of sandals, but wants the support roughly equivalent to a dayhiker boot. Their flipflops are amazing, too. (I do not have an affiliation with either brand. I just know way too much about shoes/boots).

I currently own Teva's Dozer, which are super comfy and good for light duty hiking (strictly on trail) and activities with rivers/streams/lakes. They do not have a lot of support, and are not designed for hiking in for rocky terrain. The sole is not very thick and it's a relatively soft sole for gripping onto sand, cobbles, etc. that would be found in a river. Great shoe to play in the water with and walk around town.

I also had a cheaper version of the pretty rugged leather (approx ~$40), and absolutely loved them. I wore them in the river, and up to moderate hiking trails. They fared better than the Dozers for hiking because of the different sole design. The sandals did fine on moderate hikes (I was also 20), but it took a long time for them to dry. Even though I loved my Tevas, I prefer the Chacos because they perform much better when the terrain and activities are more intense. (sorry if this is too long)

+1 on the Chaco recommendation.

In my life I've worn through the straps of several Teva and Merrell sandals. They work well, but the straps and padding seem to always give first, wearing through and exposing some scratchy parts.

I've worn Chacos about every other day for over three years now, and they're the best fitting and most durable sandals I've ever had. They are definitely worth the slight price premium.

I still prefer cozy hiking boots for hiking, but Chacos are my favorite choice for every day.

I have never owned a pair of Chacos but am considering after your article. We have always gone with the Keen's for http://HikingSandals.net .. my wife & I. The chacos sound good because both of us need the arch support and the slide buckle looks like a cool feature.