The Best Hiking Sandals in 2022, According to Customer Reviews

chaco-hiking-sandals-for-women — Carson Davis Brown

Whether your goal is to pack light, air out your toes, or give your feet a break from the boots you've been wearing, these hiking sandals are the hybrid footwear you need right now.

When to Wear Hiking Sandals

Hiking sandals just might be the most versatile footwear you can buy. What other women's shoe can you wear to hike, go to the beach, and explore a new city? All of the sandals on this list truly go the distance, with serious soles meant for rugged trails and footbeds to keep your arches happy.

Keep reading for the tops picks for the best hiking sandals for women — and if you need more gear, check out the best hiking backpacks for women and the best hiking boots and shoes for women, for those treks when sandals just won't cut it.

Best All-Use Hiking Sandals for Women: Chaco Z Cloud

chaco-z-cloud-hiking-sandals-women — Chaco

Buy It, from $68 Buy It, from $68 Buy It, from $68

Whether you're camping, kayaking, or headed out for a rugged hike, you can't go wrong with a classic pair of Chacos. These sandals have good arch support and break in over time to fit your foot perfectly. The soles have excellent grip and tread and can handle long, steep hikes and even a bit of scrambling. Amazon reviewers agree that these hiking sandals for women are perfect for hiking, camping, and kayaking, and deliver comfort all day (even for those with plantar fasciitis), thanks to the arch support.

Extra bonus? Chaco is serious about the longevity of its shoes, so if you happen to wear them out in a few years you can easily send them in to be repaired through the ReChaco program, which will replace your outsoles, buckles, or straps for far cheaper than it costs to buy a new pair of shoes.

Price at time of publish: $100 in ply chocolate size 5

Best Durable Hiking Sandals for Women: Teva Hurricane XLT2

Buy It, $70 Buy It, $70 Buy It, $70

The super-grippy sole of Teva's Hurricane XLT 2 sandals and adjustable foot and ankle straps make it a great trail and river shoe. One tester who's been wearing them for more than a year says she regularly walks long distances in them and is impressed by how well they perform on dirt trails and during river crossings. She loves them for days in the city, too, and finds them to be comfortable and supportive even when walking on concrete all day. (FYI, you get all these benefits of hiking when you hit the trails.)

Price at time of publish: $75

Best Minimalist Hiking Sandals for Women: XeroShoes Z-Trail

xero-shoes-z-trail-sandals-hiking-womens — Amazon

Buy It, $80 Buy It, $80

These hiking sandals are ideal for anyone experimenting with the barefoot shoe trend: They're zero-drop and have no arch support. The insoles on these ZeroShoes Z-Trail hiking sandals are just soft and thick enough to absorb some shock, but they don't coddle your feet with excessive cushioning. The ultra-flexible soles bend with the surfaces underneath your feet, so you feel closer to the ground and can better connect with where you're walking.

One Amazon reviewer raved that after alternating between hiking boots and these sandals for a trek across Spain — 500 miles later, she had zero blisters or pain! (Here's what a "zero-drop shoe" means and whether you should consider trying them.)

Price at time of publish: $85

Best Hiking Flip-Flop: Skechers Reggae Trailway Sandals

Buy It, from $34 Buy It, from $34 Buy It, from $34

Sometimes it's best to have a shoe that's easy to slip on and off, like if you've set up camp or you're having a more casual outing at a lake or beach. The Skechers Reggae Trailway sandal offers all the ease of a typical flip-flip, but way more support and structure, thanks to its thick sole and adjustable arch strap.

Nearly 5,000 Amazon shoppers have given them five stars, and several say they're a great option for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis. "The sole of this shoe is firm and supportive yet provides sufficient cushion for comfortable all-day wear," one wrote. "They have an adjustable strap with a [hook and loop] closure so you can really get your foot stabilized in them, keeping the arch of the foot aligned with the built-in support. The ability to achieve this snug fit also eliminates blisters often caused when your foot shifts, making them suitable for long walks and even mild hiking."

Price at time of publish: $45

Best Water-Friendly Hiking Sandal: Atika Outdoor Hiking Sandals

Buy It, from $30

If you're looking for a comfortable sandal to wear on a beach trip (or even an outing to an amusement park), you'll want an option that's equally comfortable when wet and dry. Atika's outdoor sandals are up to the task, with a sturdy rubber sole that offers plenty of traction and adjustable, padded nylon straps.

They come in 30 colors, including classic all-black and more vibrant patterned options. One Amazon reviewer says they wore them for five straight days at Disneyland with no problem, and another who brought them along on a three-week trip in Sri Lanka said the sandals were "lightweight and airy enough to be beach shoes," but supportive enough for lots of walking. With their straps properly tightened, customers say that the Atika sandals stay on just fine in water, too.

Price at time of publish: $27

Best Trail to Town Hiking Sandal: Merrell Terran Lattice II

Buy It, from $86

If you're trying to pack light for a trip, the Merrell Terran Lattice II are versatile enough to double as both your hiking sandals and your zip-around-town shoe. The breathable mesh and leather sandals not only keep you cool and comfortable as you walk, but they also add a pop of color to your outfit, and the nubuck leather uppers make the sandals feel a little bit dressier for dinner post-hike.

Amazon shoppers swear these sandals don't need breaking-in, and one customer said they like to wear them "for long days exploring cities, as well as hiking old Mayan ruins and a few mountain trails."

Price at time of publish: $75 in blue thistle size 8

Best Waterproof Hiking Sandal: Keen Women's Whisper

Buy It, from $60 Buy It, from $60 Buy It, from $60

With more than 11,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, you really can't go wrong with the Keen Whisper sandal. The lightweight and waterproof performance shoe features a cushioned footbed, multi-directional lug patterns on the outsole for better traction, and elastic cording that offers a secure fit and is easily adjustable in and out of the water.

Amazon reviewers love that these hiking sandals have a good sole and roomy toe box (making them comfy for hiking), and one tester went as far as to say that they are the best sandals they've ever owned — touting them as being both functional and fashionable (they even get compliments from strangers on them).

Price at time of publish: $120 in black/magnet size 6

Best Out-of-the-Box Hiking Sandals: Ecco Yucatan

Buy It, from $50 Buy It, from $50 Buy It, from $50

The Ecco Yucatan sandal has earned an impressive 4.6 rating (with nearly 7,000 reviews) on Amazon for a reason: You can't beat the cloud-like feel of these sandals. They feature a foam midsole and plush footbed with a soft microfiber cover for extra cushioning, and three buttery-soft, leather straps that are lined with smooth neoprene so you never have to worry about chafing or blisters — and get a snug, personalized fit. Not to mention, the rubber soles absorb shock, so your feet won't be aching no matter how many miles or hours you spent on them.

Amazon customers promise that these sandals don't need any break-in period (you can wear them directly out of the box!), and one shopper said these shoes were comfortable enough to hike for more than eight hours, despite having minor surgery and still having their stitches in!

Price at time of publish: $130 in fig multi size 7