10 Best Hiking Sandals For Men in 2021

Ready your raging heart because there’s no better sandal for the gents than Chaco’s Z/Cloud 2! An apex predator on the trail, this piece dominates with cunning skill on all fronts.

The Z/Cloud 2 never demanded too much from us from a break-in period’s perspective. In fact, we hiked in it straight from the box and came away with highly pampered feet. Most pleasing about the sandal in this regard was how much cushioning underfoot we got out of it!

Equally benefiting about the Z/Cloud 2 is its support system. The sandal’s midfoot, in particular, granted us more than enough support around the arch for hours on end. We also give its rearfoot zone’s unmatched heel-centering capabilities extra props.

On the stability front, the Chaco Z/Cloud 2 never relented on bumpy terrain. Its plush sole unit, which includes the Luvseat footbed, adapted to the ruggedness of the trail without a hitch!

And before we forget: the Z/Cloud 2 has the grip to match its gait-correcting midsole. While the lugs on its outsole look unassuming, they helped us negotiate wet environments (think bogs and muddy hills) without slipping.

So, yeah, the Z/Cloud 2 is, from top to bottom, our greatest pick. Bag it at a discount on us!

They say that sometimes it’s better to go with the flow where wetness is all around to make the best out of your hike. In such a case, the Newport H2 can amp up your game exponentially!

Out of the 50+ pairs of men’s water hiking sandals we’ve put through the wringer, we wholeheartedly give the top spot to this amphibious bad boy. Never have we sported something this solid yet powerful (and graceful) in the water until the Newport H2 came along!

Slipping on perennially wet rocks and logs is not in the Newport H2 vocabulary. Indeed, its siped outsole reassured our every step with cat-like grip! This non-marking rubber outsole also afforded us superb traction on dusty tracks.

As for comfort, the KEEN Newport H2 gave our stout tootsies the break they deserved. While on the outside, the sandal may appear stiff, its interior tells a completely different story. Plushness everywhere was what we got within its supple confines, giving us a cozy ride all the way to the tail end of our trip!

The sandal in question made us KEEN believers in the areas of stability and support, as well. Not once did we lose our balance on uneven surfaces, and we also skipped the achy arches entirely.

If you’ve been desperately searching for something truly out of this world, then you’d better lock your sights on the appropriately named Uneek from KEEN!

With its cordy shell, the Uneek will take you places in shoe-like protection. It’s still a sandal, though, so expect to catch the wind as you go, keeping your brawny feet fresh in the process.

In our books, one of the most unbelievable things about the KEEN Uneek is its ability to deal with small rocks and sand, especially underwater. Its footbed, we believe, was designed to flush out all manners of debris with every step. And those pesky buggers that stayed underfoot despite our best efforts were gone in a matter of seconds, all because the sandal was easy to put on and off!

Now, the KEEN Uneek is also a success story comfort-wise. Indeed, everything within its corded confines felt amazing from the off. And in shallow waters, the sandal’s footbed didn’t rub. It’s true—we didn’t sustain blisters anywhere underfoot on it.

The protectiveness and incredible water performance of the Uneek are matched by its high surface traction. While its proprietary outsole has none of the aggressive lugs seen on most of our picks here, it worked beyond our expectations on grassy hills and in wet, wooded areas.

Make way, make way. The king of minimalist sandals is here, and it’s none other than the Z-Trail from Xero Shoes!

There’s neither gimmick nor sorcery involved in the Z-Trail’s weightlessness. Yes, your eyes aren’t bewitched or anything—this men’s sandal is unapologetically light at 150-ish grams per kick!

As a barely-there hiker for the gents, the Z-Trail made us soar from boulder to boulder with superb flexibility. Everything we encountered underfoot we felt to the finest detail. Yes, we were one with nature in this barefoot kick minus the pain (we trampled on poking pebbles and rocks, after all).

And those low-level boulders we flew over? We surmounted their wiles with the sticking prowess of the Z-Trail’s rubberized outsole! So grippy was the sandal that we couldn’t stop going back and forth those wet slabs just to see if we would land on our behinds. Good news: we didn’t!

In the area of comfort, the Xero Shoes Z-Trail is an oxymoron of sorts. While it lavishes in its minimalism, its comfort level is mighty generous. Naturally, most of its supply of pampering comes from its dreamy footbed. That said, we wouldn’t write off its simplistic straps, as they were soft to the touch and never rubbed on our precious feet.

After having the privilege to test several dozen pairs of men’s hiking sandals, we’re here to confirm that the Original Universal from Teva is the king of value!

In case you’re wondering, the Original Universal sells for a measly $80 a pop. Having said that, we’re quite positive that that price can even go lower through our smashing deals!

Where does the value part come in concerning this sandal, you might ask? Well, the Original Universal has the versatility for one. Whether on casual walks or water hikes, the Teva sandal in question performed like a champ.

Underfoot, the Original Universal also latched on to a variety of surfaces, including mossy wooden steps and sandy banks. But perhaps what convinced us the most about its outsole was the way it kept us going slip-free on wet fist-sized pebbles and mini boulders!

Comfort-wise, all we want to say is that the Teva Original Universal felt like a worn-in slipper right from the start. Yes, its chafe-free straps and non-slip footbed surrounded our burly feet with enduring comfort.

And with its barely-there weight, it can easily pass as a minimalist sandal. Do yourself a big favor and get the Original Universal ASAP!