Now might be a good time to get a pair of the best walking sandals. With summery adventures beckoning on the hazy horizon, the versatility offered by the finest adventure sandals will come into its own. Whether you’ve got your eyes on rocky scrambles or are planning to embark on some water sports, you’ll be surprised at just how well a walking sandal performs across a range of demanding activities.
The best walking sandals are designed to give you the breathability and good looks of a casual beachwear sandal, with the grip and comfort of a hiking shoe. This makes them extremely versatile products that are just as at home on boulder-hopping expeditions as they are exploring rock pools on the beach.
What To Look For When Buying Walking Sandals
As walking sandals are often employed for amphibious outings, they need to be crafted from quick-drying materials that also grip well when wet and won’t wear out after only a few adventures. The excellent traction offered by Vibram rubber soles is used in some of the best models, while padded neoprene and leather are also sandal mainstays thanks to their comfort and durability. The quality of the materials is the main reason that you’ll have to fork out a little more dough for a pair of decent walking sandals – cheaper models sold to everyday holidaymakers simply don’t stack up.
The best walking sandals differ in terms of the protection they give your feet. Minimalist models may just feature a grippy sole and a y-strap to hold your foot in place, while some sandals resemble hiking shoes that look oddly unfinished, giving you the breathability and freedom of a sandal with the protective shield and toe box of a trail shoe. If you’re off on rugged scrambles, you’ll want a more maximalist sandal than people who are merely gallivanting around on the beach.
One final note: If you’re looking for some footwear for longer distances and/or trips over challenging terrain, you might also be interested in our best walking shoes round up, or our top 10 guide to the best walking boots.
The Best Walking Sandals We’ve Tested
We’ve gathered half a dozen of the very best walking sandals. These are firm favourites that, over countless adventures, have never let the team at Outdoors Magic down:
- Lizard Super Trek Best Walking Sandals
- Teva Hurricane XLT2 – Best Value Walking Sandals
- Bedrock Cairn Pro
- Keen Newport
- Keen Targhee III sandal
- Meindl Capri
- Merrell Kahuna 4-Strap
- Hoka One One Sky Hopara
Share