12 Best Hiking Sandals of 2026

Chaco is a world-renowned brand with one vision: to create the best footwear for outdoor adventures in and out of the water. One of the brand’s first products was the classic Z/Sandal, designed to be versatile, durable, and performance-ready. Fast forward 30 years, and we now have the Chaco Z/Cloud—a new and innovative take on the brand’s original design.

The Chaco Z/Cloud series is a new range of outdoor sandals with a number of unique features to see you through each adventure. Personally, I really love their adjustable straps and the “Chacogrip” that ensures good traction on wet surfaces. This makes them ideal for treks that may involve crossing a river or two.

The Luvseat Footbed is also a big plus. It’s a durable base that properly supports your foot, and it’s comfortable even for all-day hikes.

The Chaco Z/Cloud is the overall best hiking sandal because of its ability to adapt not only to the shape of your foot but to varying terrains as well. Thanks to its unique features, it provides your feet with the comfort and security needed for a strenuous walk. Best of all, they kick-ass whether you’re walking along a gravel trail or venturing up a river.

This innovative hiking sandal is available for both men and women and is a solid option for most easy-to-moderate trails. And if you’re not a frequent hiker, these sandals work well as everyday shoes too.

The Teva Hurricane XLT2s are comfortable, vibrant-colored hiking sandals, ideal for day hikes. They have soft padding on the heel strap and an innovative new sole, designed for better traction.

The sandals are also quick-drying and durable, and they support your feet nicely on uneven terrain. While this shoe may not be the most ideal for longer trails, it's great for lighter hikes and everyday use. And best of all, it comes at a relatively low price, starting at around $70.

While this is a more budget option, it's still comparable in terms of quality and functionality to some of the more high-end hiking sandals on the market. And if you’re an eco-conscious hiker, you’ll be happy to know that this shoe is completely recyclable. Through the TevaForever recycling program, you can have your sandals recycled so they will never see a landfill.

The Teva Hurricane XLT2 is available to men and women, and comes in a variety of fun and exciting designs.

As with many of Teva’s other footwear options, the Teva Tirra sandal is fairly versatile and can be worn at home, in water, or on the trail.

The Teva Tirra is the best women’s hiking sandal as it is a comfortable and versatile shoe. The comfort of this sandal is thanks to the adjustable straps, nylon shank, and cushioned heel. But it's a popular pick for the female contingent of the TravelFreak team sandal for more than just its functionality: it's also stylish and comes in a range of colors.

The Teva Tirra is also a good option if you're aiming to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. The shoe makes use of recycled materials and, through the TevaForever program, can be recycled again.

While this sandal is a comfortable and stylish option, it does not have the best grip. As such, this shoe is best suited to lighter hikes as opposed to more rigorous trails.

The Teva Terra Fi 5 is one of my favorite all-terrain hiking sandals—it'll ensure that you are ready for pretty much anything a trail will throw at you. It has a rugged, lightweight construction, making it ideal for longer treks.

They're also super, super comfortable. The sandal has molded PU soles that cushion and support your foot, even when you’re sporting a heavy backpack. This way, the shoe will keep your feet pain-free for miles and miles. Note that these sandals are not the most durable, so you may find yourself having to replace them sooner than expected.

Of course, in classic Teva fashion, the shoes are also both recycled and recyclable. This way, your shoe is not only supporting your foot but the environment as well.

Sometimes you just want a nice, plain sandal. That's exactly what Luna offers, but with some nice features to keep your feet pain-free and comfy. Luna is also also all about having healthy feet, which requires breathable shoes—this idea helped them to develop their range of unique, minimalist sandals, and among these, their best-selling Luna Mono Winged Edition.

One unique feature of the Mono Winged Edition the “wing design." The wings keep your Luna sandals securely in place without the use of a technical strap. The shoe is also designed to move ergonomically with your foot and to withstand harsh conditions.

While I love this sandal, it's worth pointing out that they make quite a bit of noise while you walk or run. This is not always ideal, especially when you’re out in nature and trying to keep the peace.

The Mono Winged Edition sandals are exceptionally lightweight and good looking, too. This ensures a versatile, super-sandal that is suitable for a variety of different occasions. Whether you’re headed on an outdoor adventure or to your local store, these will ensure your feet are comfortable the entire way.

The Chaco Odyssey is an innovative closed-toe sandal that combines the durability of a hiking shoe with the freedom of barefoot trainers. In my opinion, they’ve achieved this goal. The end result is a sandal that's suitable for all terrains, wet or dry.

Like many of Chaco’s other outdoor footwear, the Odyssey has high standards and features both Chacogrip and Luvseat technologies, meaning the sandals come with high levels of traction, as well a comfortable fit. With these Chacos, you'll be able to overcome both rivers and trails when exploring your new destination.

One downside to this sandal: it's not very adjustable. And if you get any sticks or stones caught in your shoe, they can be a hassle to get out because the sandal is partially closed.

While these sandals are partially closed, they're still breathable and quick-drying. They're great if you'll be doing longer hikes and walks, or water sports. And best of all, the added structure allows for better overall foot and toe protection, which open-toe hiking sandals often lack. They're available in men's and women's.

When backpacking, you'll need a sandal that is light, durable, and comfortable—something that's easy to pack and that'll keep you blister-free. That’s where the award-winning Bedrock Cairn Adventure sandals come in. It’s a minimalist and ultralight shoe designed for backpacking, hiking, and casual use.

There are a number of reasons why the Bedrock Cairn Adventure as the best backpacking sandal. Firstly, the shoe has a minimalist footbed that conforms to your feet, providing a more barefoot feel.

I also like the shoe’s flexible, lightweight design, which can easily be packed into your backpack. And while light and minimal, the sandal has a beefy, grippy sole that is built to last.

The Bedrock Cairn Adventure has a range of stylish color options, making it just as suitable for town as for the trail. Made for your big adventures and easy afternoons, these sandals are a good option if you're backpacking and need something versatile to wear all day long.

The ECCO Yucatan is a versatile leather hiking sandal that's comfortable both on and off the trail. It has a classic open-toe design and is ideal if you're looking for a good quality, multipurpose shoe.

One of its biggest draws is that it's built to last. The upper part of this sandal uses durable leather that's not only comfortable, but also fares well across various terrains.

The ECCO Yucatan performs well on most trails; however, you'll find that it's not ideal for chasing waterfalls. The moment these sandals get wet, they become heavy and a little uncomfortable, and can take some time to dry.

This open-toe sandal is ideal for both men and women. It's great for hiking as the shoe is able to protect the bottoms of your feet and keep them pain-free throughout the course of your journey. It's also a good everyday shoe, especially if you tend to be on your feet a lot.

The KEEN Newport H2 is a classic, versatile water shoe. Its unique design provides the freedom of a comfortable sandal, as well as the support and protection of a closed shoe. It also features a toe bumper, which keeps your precious toes protected from accidental stubbings (yes, I just made that word up).

It’s an ideal river sandal/water shoe as it works great in both wet and dry conditions. And, once you leave the water, you’ll be thankful for its quick-dry webbing which will help keep chafing at bay. The closed sandal also has grippy soles, allowing for added traction. Unfortunately, this sandal definitely isn't the most durable on this list.

The Newport H2 is a good outdoor hiking sandal suited to both men and women. Plus, it comes in both minimalist and vibrant designs for whatever style you prefer. It’s even the official sandal of the Japan Fuji Rock Festival, so Newport is definitely doing something right. They're available for men and women.

The Chaco Z/1 Classic is a fresh take on the brand’s original sandal, developed in 1989. As with most of Chaco’s innovative footwear, this dependable sandal is great for your outdoor adventures both in and out of the water. This ability to adapt and thrive in most environments is what led to the brand’s signature gecko logo.

The Chaco Classic sandal is fairly minimalistic, resulting in a simple, timeless design that suits both hiking and everyday use. To help you in wetter conditions, it has sticky rubber outsoles, providing exceptional grip and traction.

The Chaco Classic is a great option for both men and women. While these are winners on the trail, they're also stylish and suited to most casual settings, whether it's a park visit or grabbing coffee at a cafe. They also come in men's and women's.

It took a little time for me to break in these hiking sandals. They’re also durable and will last for many years, so you won’t have to scramble to find a new pair after one or two seasons.

First finding fame on ABC’s Shark Tank, the Xero Z-Trail is an innovative, multipurpose shoe. It offers the protection you'd expect from a sports sandal but without the bulk. With this shoe, you'll enjoy trail runs (or hiking) as it provides top-notch protection and lightweight flexibility.

These sandals have a flat, zero-drop sole, which gives your feet a more natural position and provides you with better stability. They are also comfortable, water-resistant, and grippy, making them an ideal option for various outdoor sports and activities.

With this subtle shoe you can enjoy hiking, kayaking, and other sports that require a more technical design. Note that while these sandals fair well on the trail, they are not ideal for road running. They are, however, a good option to wear to your yoga classes. If you're seeking a sandal that provides a more “barefoot” feel while you're being active, these Zero Shoes are for you. They're available for both men and women.

Whether it’s for a family trail walk or a day out in the sun, it’s good to put your kids in a more dependable shoe. Kids need shoes that provide comfort, breathability, and flexibility to allow for proper foot development. It also helps to have a pair of shoes that is easy to take off and put back on.

The Chaco ZX/1 is a great option for kids, as it offers all Chaco’s usual benefits. This sandal ensures your kids feet are safe and secure. It also has a soft footbed, providing a comfortable fit and conforming to the curves of mini feet.

The rubber outsoles contain recycled rubber and offer impressive traction. This way, you don’t need to worry as much about your child slipping when they’re playing outside. Best of all, the Chaco ZX/1s come in a variety of fun colors that are sure to have your kids excited to enjoy the outdoors.