I love hiking in closed toe sandals. After stubbing my toes several times hiking in open toed sandals I switched to closed toed and love them. I even wear them in the snow with a pair of waterproof and a pair of heavy wool socks. This combo is really warm crossing ice cold water.
@@jessica.m.brooks no I don't , most people swear by Keens but they didn't fit my feet well. One thing I did figure out is, if your going to do this in snow make sure the toe is entirely closed or snow gets in and its uncomfortable, if it's just cold but no snow I wear a pair of Columbia sandals have small opening on the front.
Very helpful video. I really like the OV brand and content, and I love the OV products I've bought. I would really love to see more videos featuring female hikers and families. I'm a mom who is trying to get my teens and tween outdoors more.
I switched exclusively to sandal hiking over a year ago, and haven't looked back. My sandals of choice are the Bedrock Cairn 3D Pros. They are super grippy, comfortable, and secure. They are also more durable than any hiking shoe/boot I've ever worn. After the first couple of test hikes in them, any fears I had about hiking in sandals went away. Most of the common fears (stubbed toes, cuts on your feet) don't actually happen in sandals. Occasionally, I will get a small piece of debris in the sandal. But it's easy to get it out when that happens. And to be fair, I would occasionally get debris in my old hiking shoes too- except I was forced to take the shoe completely off in order to deal with it.
@@TaysonWhittaker It's hard to beat the freedom of just walking right through puddles & water crossings and not having to deal with wet shoes/socks. In 5 minutes, my sandals and feet are dry again.
I do long-distance walking projects as well...do you wear socks in the sandals. I now use Merrell sandals for two months as I recover from a new hip and Like it a lot. I always use them at camp but full-time would be a pre
@@kayakcobber524 I have a pair of split-toe wool socks I sometimes use when hiking in them. They help keep your feet from drying out. It's definitely worth keeping a small tube of Aquaphor or something to use on your heels, just to make sure they don't crack.
@@rickwebermusic I never apply something on my feet only when open. But I will try some trips full-time with sandals and see how it goes....and also see how the feet behave in winter with it. But summer still have to come here in Holland
Timely video... I’m not a trail running shoe hiker. I like mid cut boots for stability, comfort, durability, and grip. However trails with lots of water have me rethinking my approach. I like the idea of the trail runner for it’s light weight and relatively quick dry capabilities but I hate hiking in wet feet. I’m a fly fisherman and love fishing in my Teva Sandals. I’m used to hiking into difficult to get locations and am always surprised at how well the Tevas handle the terrain. When rocks do get in the sandals it is easy to get them out. Not bothersome at all. We did a day hike up Mt Whitney and I wore my Merrill Moabs non goretex and my feet sweat up a storm. My son wore his Teva sandals and absolutely loved them, eventhrough a couple snowy sections. On the way down he cooled his feet in every stream we passed. I’m getting ready to update my 23 year old pair of Tevas with the current Terra Fi 5 Universal model. I may start hiking in them more often. Not sure about backpacking in them though... Great videos guys. Keep them coming!
Interesting. Gravel and debris between my foot and sandal is why I've stopped walking trails in sandals. Very happy wearing Vibram Five Fingers. And they take up almost no room to pack an extra pair to have a dry set at camp while the other pair is drying (if needed, they are quick drying) Can you provide information for that cot? I prefer a hammock, but if I need to go somewhere that I couldn't hammock, I would rather sleep on a cot then on the ground. (Been using an army style cot for car camping but that's too big to backpack)
Great idea for a video! Very interesting, thanks. For myself, I have hyperlax joints (born that way), therefore uneven, rocky terrain and river bottoms are always challenging. I have sprained my ankles countless times over 40-some years (most of the time *not* while hiking). But I could never hike with sandals. I mean, I did it a few times way back in my early 20s, but it was hell, very hard on my feet. I have to have a boot that goes up my ankle. I also have been wearing orthotics for a few years now and wow! what a difference! I wouldn't want to live without them anymore. I don't get sore feet like I used to, it's wonderful. A couple of years ago I thru-hiked in the rockies (Kananaskis country in Alberta) for a week (45-50 pounds of stuff on our back)
I've been thinking about sandals seriously. Hiking sandals with grip, a great strap system that won't let the foot slip and are thick cushion with a flat sole. That's not easy to find. Have y'all done any sandal comparisons?
We haven't done any sandal comparisons, most of our team prefers trail runners. But those that use sandals have been impressed with both Chacos and Tevas.
Useful & interesting comparison. Reenforced my choice to stick with my hiking boots. I’ve tried sandals (Teva) in the high desert of AZ when I lived there and had all the problems Tayson commented on. Pretty darn sure my “tender” feet would not appreciate sandals in the outback of TX. Pity because sandal work really well on the Gulf Coast beach. 😀
Good info. Would love to see more females participate in your comparisons for all hiking gear and other. I’m a very athletic 68-year-old female hiker and would love to gain insights from all person’s perspectives especially when it comes to purchasing or considering hiking gear.
@@TaysonWhittaker female about the same age as Jas here, I do wear sandals too but they are more protective, they are "Whisper" from Keen, they are great to walk on trees (speaking of strong stream crossing) they really stick to the surface. I have had no issues on rocks or wet surfaces. That is all I wear all summer. Also to my surprise I have never had blisters with a brand new pair and bare feet. They are bound to get heavier than the Teva when wet since they have more fabric and they are also probably heavier even dry but I just love them..and you can tell by the tanning pattern on my feet. Yes small stones and spiky vegetation that sticks to fabric needs "attention" sometimes.
My experience with bedrock 3d’s were negative,- last night threw them away. This morning just ordered Teva trail. My last Teva were perfect. - for hiking,where ever- I recommend having a little area in front of the toes ,to protect them. Personally,I’m done trying sandals - Tevas only for me.
I need to ankle support and foot protection. Sandals are light weight, so for that kind of trip I'd wear boots for the rugged dry stuff and put sandals on when you get to the water.
Not a great comparison, as the style of sandal means everything with regard to foot slippage. Plus the properties of the shoes and boots like drop, breatheability, etc. Great videos, just pointing out some tidbits.
Such a personnel decision. Definitely suggest people try different things and follow their instincts. My 1st backpacking trip was 5 weeks on the southern AT in 1998. Wore oldschool heavy boots and started with a weight of 75lbs. No idea what we were doing plus 90s tech with little money. I hated the boots and following trips were hiking shoes than running shoes. These days Im in love with Merrill trail glove4s. Weight nothing, dry fast and my feet have never felt better. Only draw back was hiking the CO trail there is a mile here n there of pure rock that gets pretty technical in bare foot shoes. Im 39, 150lbs, and was last carrying 20-26lbs depending on water.( don't have normal base weight as share things with wife). Safe steps!
Why don’t people carry river walking shoes,(textured rubber bottom, and wetsuit like top) and lightweight, use them for water crossing then clip them on backpack to dry and switch to your dry shoes? Just curious.
@@TaysonWhittaker I'm surprised to see people going barefoot in some of these canyons. I say if you go sandle route you should carry trail runners as backup especially emergencies. I would've been trapped until water went down it was getting dark. Thanks for the video
I’ve worn trail runners hiking the rainbow falls trail in the Smokey Mountains park and I wish I had sandals. I hated having wet feet all day. I see what your guy was saying regarding support and being locked in, but I’m a careful walker and I have decent ankles so I’m not worried about slipping or twisting my feet too much. I hiked that trail starting the day during a huge downpour in the morning, so the streams were really flowing, but I was never really worried about traction or protection from debris. Boots are always too bulky for me. I have a pair of insulated boots for cold weather hikes but if the weather is above freezing I’ll never wear boots. I have a nice pair of Vasque leather boots that I never wore long enough to fully break in, so they aren’t very comfortable and they are too heavy. Plus I don’t know what your thoughts are but I feel like the overly rigid Vibram soles are actually a hinderance. I’d much rather be able to flex with the terrain, especially on rocks, and I gotta say I think it’s a real shame how hard it is to find hiking footwear without Vibram Soles. I wonder what are everyone’s thoughts on hiking down/up the slope in trail runners or boots then switching to sandals? Maybe the extra weight isn’t worth it but I imagine to many it would be something to consider. Maybe it depends on the hike distance. Thanks for the video guys. I can tell it was a real bear 😂✌🏼 Also, any plans to make some clothing without Down? I have the Loftek jacket because it was a synthetic but I’m bummin cause I can’t buy some of the other items I want since they have Down.
This was a good video of Getting the opinions of each other Footwear. Sandals are great for crossing the water and wearing them around at camp wow your Footwear that's wet drys off. I would love to go hiking but unfortunately for me sandals are the only Footwear that I can wear. I have big very very wide feet sz15 6 EEEEEE with very fat wide toe. It is very very hard to find a closed toed shoe that will fit my foot. Size not the problem is how wide my feet are. They don't make a hiking boot or shoe that's wide enough for my foot. I have tried hiking in flip flops cuz that's the only Footwear that I can barely fit my feet in and it was complicated. I thought I was going to break one of the flip flops. If that would have happened I would had no Footwear and I would have had to hike barefooted 👣back to the vehicle. I don't have a problem walking barefooted 👣cuz there's times when I can't get my flip-flops on my feet because my feet are wider than the flip flop strap but on a trail that's the problem. I just recently purchased a pair of Bedrock sandals because it's a lot easier to put on my foot. I Love My Flip flops but when wearing them for 4 years 365 day I should not have to fight to put them on my feet. I would like to try to bedrock sandals on a hiking trip to see what they do. I'm just wondering if I should because on my flip-flops and on my bedrock sandals both foot two of my toes hanging off the foot bed of the flip flops and the sandals so I don't know about that. It really sucks having a very very wide feet with fat wide toe. Used to be able to wear shoes when I was young but I haven't more than a shoe or sock in over 30 years now. I just wish they would make a closed toe shoe that's 7 inches wide for my foot to fit in that's how wide it is. Again great video.
There are actually a lot of sandals built specifically for hiking by brands like Teva and Chacos. Using sandals is becoming more and more popular, but does have its pros and cons.
The best way to destroy your feet, wear sandals while hiking in unimproved areas. They do not protect against rocks, abrasions, snakes nor the weather. More importantly they do not provide ankle support, and turning or even breaking an ankle while hiking can turn life threatening quickly.
@@TaysonWhittaker I swear to Buddha, I wear them everywhere its warm enough too, and that means fly fishing and most trips in the mountains that don't involve the possibility of frostbite. I currently have three pairs and I prefer the Vibram soled ones, However Chaco has another sole that is stickier in wet conditions that I maybe kinda-sorta like better for river trips and fishing... Initially when Chacos first hit the market I chose them because I'd had Tevas on a river trip ( Labyrinth Canyon Green River)where the velcro strap closures became so clogged with mud/silt that I sewed them onto my feet for the remainder of the trip. After I laid down the pretty serious cash for the Chacos I soon found they fit my style in every way- except price ( I'm a tightwad) I get a few stubbed toes etc, but generally speaking FOR MYSELF, I would have to say that these sandals are the way to go 80% of the time. My mountaineering boots, light hikers, and trail runners last a pretty long time, and I buy a couple pairs of Chacos a year....I am also not ashamed to admit I'm the guy wearing with socks in all those "Fashion Faux pas" memes....;)
I love hiking in closed toe sandals. After stubbing my toes several times hiking in open toed sandals I switched to closed toed and love them. I even wear them in the snow with a pair of waterproof and a pair of heavy wool socks. This combo is really warm crossing ice cold water.
Do you have a brand or model you'd recommend? The only reason I don't wear sandals is because they're open-toed.
@@jessica.m.brooks no I don't , most people swear by Keens but they didn't fit my feet well. One thing I did figure out is, if your going to do this in snow make sure the toe is entirely closed or snow gets in and its uncomfortable, if it's just cold but no snow I wear a pair of Columbia sandals have small opening on the front.
Teva sandals are best choice, always. 🙃
We are definitely split in the office on this one!
Very helpful video. I really like the OV brand and content, and I love the OV products I've bought. I would really love to see more videos featuring female hikers and families. I'm a mom who is trying to get my teens and tween outdoors more.
Great idea! We'll see what we can do about that.
I switched exclusively to sandal hiking over a year ago, and haven't looked back. My sandals of choice are the Bedrock Cairn 3D Pros. They are super grippy, comfortable, and secure. They are also more durable than any hiking shoe/boot I've ever worn. After the first couple of test hikes in them, any fears I had about hiking in sandals went away. Most of the common fears (stubbed toes, cuts on your feet) don't actually happen in sandals. Occasionally, I will get a small piece of debris in the sandal. But it's easy to get it out when that happens. And to be fair, I would occasionally get debris in my old hiking shoes too- except I was forced to take the shoe completely off in order to deal with it.
That's great feedback!
@@TaysonWhittaker It's hard to beat the freedom of just walking right through puddles & water crossings and not having to deal with wet shoes/socks. In 5 minutes, my sandals and feet are dry again.
I do long-distance walking projects as well...do you wear socks in the sandals. I now use Merrell sandals for two months as I recover from a new hip and Like it a lot. I always use them at camp but full-time would be a pre
@@kayakcobber524 I have a pair of split-toe wool socks I sometimes use when hiking in them. They help keep your feet from drying out. It's definitely worth keeping a small tube of Aquaphor or something to use on your heels, just to make sure they don't crack.
@@rickwebermusic I never apply something on my feet only when open. But I will try some trips full-time with sandals and see how it goes....and also see how the feet behave in winter with it. But summer still have to come here in Holland
Timely video... I’m not a trail running shoe hiker. I like mid cut boots for stability, comfort, durability, and grip. However trails with lots of water have me rethinking my approach. I like the idea of the trail runner for it’s light weight and relatively quick dry capabilities but I hate hiking in wet feet. I’m a fly fisherman and love fishing in my Teva Sandals. I’m used to hiking into difficult to get locations and am always surprised at how well the Tevas handle the terrain. When rocks do get in the sandals it is easy to get them out. Not bothersome at all. We did a day hike up Mt Whitney and I wore my Merrill Moabs non goretex and my feet sweat up a storm. My son wore his Teva sandals and absolutely loved them, eventhrough a couple snowy sections. On the way down he cooled his feet in every stream we passed. I’m getting ready to update my 23 year old pair of Tevas with the current Terra Fi 5 Universal model. I may start hiking in them more often. Not sure about backpacking in them though... Great videos guys. Keep them coming!
Thanks for watching! Sounds like you've got some testing of your own to do to see how you can improve your footwear!
Interesting. Gravel and debris between my foot and sandal is why I've stopped walking trails in sandals. Very happy wearing Vibram Five Fingers. And they take up almost no room to pack an extra pair to have a dry set at camp while the other pair is drying (if needed, they are quick drying)
Can you provide information for that cot? I prefer a hammock, but if I need to go somewhere that I couldn't hammock, I would rather sleep on a cot then on the ground. (Been using an army style cot for car camping but that's too big to backpack)
We'll have more information about the cot soon, Tayson is currently on his way back from a trip in Alaska where he used the cot.
I love my Adidas Rockadia Trail Runners for all my hikes , light weight , great grip , good ankle support and they disperse water really well !
Sounds like you've got your footwear dialed in!
Beautiful location! All shoes have up and downsides, it just depends on what you like and are willing to deal with for the trade-offs.
Well said!
Great idea for a video! Very interesting, thanks. For myself, I have hyperlax joints (born that way), therefore uneven, rocky terrain and river bottoms are always challenging. I have sprained my ankles countless times over 40-some years (most of the time *not* while hiking). But I could never hike with sandals. I mean, I did it a few times way back in my early 20s, but it was hell, very hard on my feet. I have to have a boot that goes up my ankle.
I also have been wearing orthotics for a few years now and wow! what a difference! I wouldn't want to live without them anymore. I don't get sore feet like I used to, it's wonderful.
A couple of years ago I thru-hiked in the rockies (Kananaskis country in Alberta) for a week (45-50 pounds of stuff on our back)
I have orthotics too
I've been thinking about sandals seriously. Hiking sandals with grip, a great strap system that won't let the foot slip and are thick cushion with a flat sole. That's not easy to find. Have y'all done any sandal comparisons?
We haven't done any sandal comparisons, most of our team prefers trail runners. But those that use sandals have been impressed with both Chacos and Tevas.
I love how open you all are about your opinions. Awesome review
Useful & interesting comparison. Reenforced my choice to stick with my hiking boots. I’ve tried sandals (Teva) in the high desert of AZ when I lived there and had all the problems Tayson commented on. Pretty darn sure my “tender” feet would not appreciate sandals in the outback of TX. Pity because sandal work really well on the Gulf Coast beach. 😀
Good info. Would love to see more females participate in your comparisons for all hiking gear and other. I’m a very athletic 68-year-old female hiker and would love to gain insights from all person’s perspectives especially when it comes to purchasing or considering hiking gear.
Thanks for the feedback! We'll see what we can do!
@@TaysonWhittaker female about the same age as Jas here, I do wear sandals too but they are more protective, they are "Whisper" from Keen, they are great to walk on trees (speaking of strong stream crossing) they really stick to the surface. I have had no issues on rocks or wet surfaces. That is all I wear all summer. Also to my surprise I have never had blisters with a brand new pair and bare feet. They are bound to get heavier than the Teva when wet since they have more fabric and they are also probably heavier even dry but I just love them..and you can tell by the tanning pattern on my feet. Yes small stones and spiky vegetation that sticks to fabric needs "attention" sometimes.
I have tried all three and if I had a first choice, it would be trail runners as my go to footwear. Where was this hike?
This was Ashdown Gorge in Southern Utah.
@@TaysonWhittaker I will have to look it up. I live in Northern Arizona, so it’ll be a short drive.
Wow, another tough day at the office.
Working hard to have some fun!
My experience with bedrock 3d’s were negative,- last night threw them away. This morning just ordered Teva trail. My last Teva were perfect. - for hiking,where ever- I recommend having a little area in front of the toes ,to protect them. Personally,I’m done trying sandals - Tevas only for me.
You guys have the best job
That's very true!
Great information guys. I recently did a 20miler with combat boots
Never again, unless i have to. Looking into trail runners now.
A lot of our team really enjoys trail runners for most things!
I need to ankle support and foot protection. Sandals are light weight, so for that kind of trip I'd wear boots for the rugged dry stuff and put sandals on when you get to the water.
Good idea! The only down side is having to carry extra shoes.
Not a great comparison, as the style of sandal means everything with regard to foot slippage. Plus the properties of the shoes and boots like drop, breatheability, etc. Great videos, just pointing out some tidbits.
Such a personnel decision. Definitely suggest people try different things and follow their instincts. My 1st backpacking trip was 5 weeks on the southern AT in 1998. Wore oldschool heavy boots and started with a weight of 75lbs. No idea what we were doing plus 90s tech with little money. I hated the boots and following trips were hiking shoes than running shoes. These days Im in love with Merrill trail glove4s. Weight nothing, dry fast and my feet have never felt better. Only draw back was hiking the CO trail there is a mile here n there of pure rock that gets pretty technical in bare foot shoes. Im 39, 150lbs, and was last carrying 20-26lbs depending on water.( don't have normal base weight as share things with wife). Safe steps!
That sounds like an intense 1st backpacking trip! Sounds like you and your wife have some great adventures.
Why don’t people carry river walking shoes,(textured rubber bottom, and wetsuit like top) and lightweight, use them for water crossing then clip them on backpack to dry and switch to your dry shoes? Just curious.
Some people do! But others are really concerned about weight and want to eliminate every possible ounce in their backpack.
Ashdown gorge is beautiful, got caught in flashflood and cut off from exit. Force to 200ft embankment to highway 14
That sounds pretty intense! Glad you got out of there even with a flash flood.
@@TaysonWhittaker I'm surprised to see people going barefoot in some of these canyons. I say if you go sandle route you should carry trail runners as backup especially emergencies. I would've been trapped until water went down it was getting dark. Thanks for the video
I’ve worn trail runners hiking the rainbow falls trail in the Smokey Mountains park and I wish I had sandals. I hated having wet feet all day. I see what your guy was saying regarding support and being locked in, but I’m a careful walker and I have decent ankles so I’m not worried about slipping or twisting my feet too much. I hiked that trail starting the day during a huge downpour in the morning, so the streams were really flowing, but I was never really worried about traction or protection from debris.
Boots are always too bulky for me. I have a pair of insulated boots for cold weather hikes but if the weather is above freezing I’ll never wear boots. I have a nice pair of Vasque leather boots that I never wore long enough to fully break in, so they aren’t very comfortable and they are too heavy. Plus I don’t know what your thoughts are but I feel like the overly rigid Vibram soles are actually a hinderance. I’d much rather be able to flex with the terrain, especially on rocks, and I gotta say I think it’s a real shame how hard it is to find hiking footwear without Vibram Soles.
I wonder what are everyone’s thoughts on hiking down/up the slope in trail runners or boots then switching to sandals? Maybe the extra weight isn’t worth it but I imagine to many it would be something to consider. Maybe it depends on the hike distance.
Thanks for the video guys. I can tell it was a real bear 😂✌🏼
Also, any plans to make some clothing without Down? I have the Loftek jacket because it was a synthetic but I’m bummin cause I can’t buy some of the other items I want since they have Down.
This was a good video of Getting the opinions of each other Footwear. Sandals are great for crossing the water and wearing them around at camp wow your Footwear that's wet drys off. I would love to go hiking but unfortunately for me sandals are the only Footwear that I can wear. I have big very very wide feet sz15 6 EEEEEE with very fat wide toe. It is very very hard to find a closed toed shoe that will fit my foot. Size not the problem is how wide my feet are. They don't make a hiking boot or shoe that's wide enough for my foot. I have tried hiking in flip flops cuz that's the only Footwear that I can barely fit my feet in and it was complicated. I thought I was going to break one of the flip flops. If that would have happened I would had no Footwear and I would have had to hike barefooted 👣back to the vehicle. I don't have a problem walking barefooted 👣cuz there's times when I can't get my flip-flops on my feet because my feet are wider than the flip flop strap but on a trail that's the problem. I just recently purchased a pair of Bedrock sandals because it's a lot easier to put on my foot. I Love My Flip flops but when wearing them for 4 years 365 day I should not have to fight to put them on my feet. I would like to try to bedrock sandals on a hiking trip to see what they do. I'm just wondering if I should because on my flip-flops and on my bedrock sandals both foot two of my toes hanging off the foot bed of the flip flops and the sandals so I don't know about that. It really sucks having a very very wide feet with fat wide toe. Used to be able to wear shoes when I was young but I haven't more than a shoe or sock in over 30 years now. I just wish they would make a closed toe shoe that's 7 inches wide for my foot to fit in that's how wide it is. Again great video.
Thanks for watching! Good luck in your search for good footwear!
@@TaysonWhittaker thank you I appreciate that I'm really going to need good luck.
always having sandals in the backpack
I wear the Xero z trek sandals. Also known as the Jesus shoe. Best part is I can just walk on top of the river. 👼🏻
Sandals all the way!!!!!! TEVA Hudson!!!!
teva sandals are good to have to hook on your backpack its lightweight and great to change into when you get blisters (hopefully you dont)
No Blisters!
Went for a hike on sandals .. got bitten a lot of leeches lol
Yikes!
Can't believe you would think sandals a viable shoe for hiking? Unless you were hiking in water.
There are actually a lot of sandals built specifically for hiking by brands like Teva and Chacos. Using sandals is becoming more and more popular, but does have its pros and cons.
The best way to destroy your feet, wear sandals while hiking in unimproved areas. They do not protect against rocks, abrasions, snakes nor the weather. More importantly they do not provide ankle support, and turning or even breaking an ankle while hiking can turn life threatening quickly.
I hated wearing wet shoes. So i always use sandals.
Chaco
Those are a great brand for sandals!
@@TaysonWhittaker I swear to Buddha, I wear them everywhere its warm enough too, and that means fly fishing and most trips in the mountains that don't involve the possibility of frostbite. I currently have three pairs and I prefer the Vibram soled ones, However Chaco has another sole that is stickier in wet conditions that I maybe kinda-sorta like better for river trips and fishing... Initially when Chacos first hit the market I chose them because I'd had Tevas on a river trip ( Labyrinth Canyon Green River)where the velcro strap closures became so clogged with mud/silt that I sewed them onto my feet for the remainder of the trip. After I laid down the pretty serious cash for the Chacos I soon found they fit my style in every way- except price ( I'm a tightwad) I get a few stubbed toes etc, but generally speaking FOR MYSELF, I would have to say that these sandals are the way to go 80% of the time. My mountaineering boots, light hikers, and trail runners last a pretty long time, and I buy a couple pairs of Chacos a year....I am also not ashamed to admit I'm the guy wearing with socks in all those "Fashion Faux pas" memes....;)
Aren’t you concern about destroying your feet?
Open toed shoes are a bad idea for anything except lounging.
Perhaps there is good information in this video, but I will never know. The damm background band is unrelenting in the noise they are making.