The Best Of...Walking Sandals, Gear Reviews

Walking Sandals To be considered for this category the sandal needed to be robust, grippy, supportive and durable, as light as possible and at a reasonable price tag, I ask a lot from my hiking sandals as I use them in water, sand and on rock and so hybrid sandals/shoes were not discounted since they offer greater protection and, in general, more versatility.  Gold Award went to Inov-8 for their Recolite since it's comfy, ultralight, and ideal for water crossings and dries super quick, the price tag is healthy at £60/£55.  Silver went to Source Vagabond for their solid reef/walking sandal since it provides the best fit out of all the open sandals.  It's got a very rugged and durable sole unit, and outperforms most on the market, a not unreasonable £60. Bronze award goes to Teva's Itunda, it's not the lightest on the market but offers great traction, good support and is their first real dip into the water-shoe market, offering their usual solid toe-protection, and perform really well on wet rock, they aren't the cheapest but certainly outperform the other solid reef-shoes in their class. 

Top 20* Finalists

Aigle: Clumb
Materials: synthetic straps for padding Sole
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: EVA

Support: EVA cushioning
Weight: 680g
Sole: Vibram sole
Price: £50
Brasher: Mayan
Materials: Full grain leather
Adjustment: 2
Footbed: Memory foam

Support: EVA midsole

Weight: 740g
Sole: Brasher rubber

Price: £65

ECCO: Yucatan II*16th Place
Materials: WP Nubuck/ oiled nubuck + textile lining
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: ECCO Anatomical Wave Footbed antimicrobial
Support: PU midsole + arch support + Receptor technology
Weight: 710g
Sole: rugged rubber
Price: £65
ECCO: Bryce
Materials: Synthetic nubuck + stretch fit textile lining
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: dual density, Aglon treated TPE
Support: EVA midsole featuring Receptor® technology
Weight: 670g
Sole: Rugged grippy rubber
Price: £65
Hi-Tec: Owaka
Materials: Neoprene lined + WR Nubuck leather
Adjustment: 2
Footbed: Comfort footbed
Support: EVA midsole + external shank
Weight:
Sole: MDT carbon rubber + flex plate
Price:
Hi-Tec: V-Lite Diablo* 18th Place
Materials: Compression Fit synthetic and stretch neoprene upper
Adjustment: Stretch cord lacing with locking toggle + removable heel strap
Footbed: Comfort
Support: EVA midsole + external ESS Shank
Weight: 720g
Sole: MDT carbon rubber
Toe protection: Molded rubber toe cap
Price: £40
Inov-8 Recolite 190/ 180* Gold Award
Materials: Synthetic webbing/ nylon
Adjustment: Stretch cord lacing system with locking toggle
Footbed: Anatomical
Support: MET cradle webbing, MetaFlex to follow flex,
Weight: 190g/ 180g (slip variety)
Sole: Enduarance Rubber Compound
Toe Protection: Molded rubber toe cap
Price: £60/£55
Karrimor: Aruba* 17th Place
Materials: Upper synthetic webbing straps, neoprene padding
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: Shaved phylon
Support: Phylon mid-sole support
Weight: 744g
Sole: Sole Karrimor Islands, phylon mid-sole lug pattern
Price: £30
Keen: Arroyo II* 11th Place
Materials: Nylon hydrophobic mesh + WP Leather + webbing
Adjustment: Secure foot lace capture system
Footbed: Removable metatomical Footbed
Support: Torsion stability ESS shank + S3 Heel support structure
Weight: 388g
Sole: Non-marking Keen rubber
Toe Protection: Patented toe box
Price: £74.99
Keen: Hydro Guide
Materials: Hydrophobic mesh AEGIS Microbe Shield treated lining
Adjustment: Multi point adjustable strap system
Footbed: Drainable rubber
Support: EVA midsole
Weight: 368g
Sole: Aqua Stop non-marking water traction outsole
Toe Protection: Keen patented toe box
Price: £69.99
Keen: Newport H2
Materials: Hydrophobic mesh + polyester webbing Aegis microshield treated
Adjustment: Quickdraw elastic cord
Footbed: Metatomical low durometer EVA molded footbed with Microban
Support: Compression molded EVA midsole, metatomical strap design
Weight: 394g
Sole: Keen multidirectional lugs for increased traction
Toe Protection: Keen patented toe box
Price:
Keen: Laguna* 7th Place
Materials: Hydrophobic mesh + WP leather Aegis treated
Adjustment: Secure fit strap design (pull cord)
Footbed: Metatomical low durometer EVA molded footbed + suede
Support: Compression molded EVA midsole
Weight: 349g
Sole: Keen multidirectional lugs for increased traction
Toe Protection: Keen patented toe box
Price:
Merrell: Chameleon 2 Kahuna
Materials: Neoprene lined + WR leather
Adjustment:
Footbed: Antimicrobial
Support: Footframe and air cushion midsole
Weight: 450g
Sole: Vibram + flex plate
Price: £60
Merrell: Waterpro Rogue
Materials: Synthetic leather + webbing + Neoprene
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: EVA Footbed treated with Aegis® Antimicrobial solution
Support: Molded nylon arch shank, air cushion heel EVA midsole
Weight: 624g
Sole: Vibram Waterpro TC5+ rubber
Price: £65
Merrell: Waterpro Animas* 14th Place
Materials: Synthetic Leather + Neoprene Spandex lining
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: Air cushion,
Support: External lateral and medial stability posts + solid EVA midsole
Weight: 500g
Sole: Vibram Waterpro TC5+ rubber+ flex plate and 3.5mm lug depth
Price: £60
Merrell: Saugatuck* 15th Place
Materials: Full grain leather upper
Adjustment: Cord and lock lacing system + ankle grip
Footbed: Textured EVA footbed treated with Aegis® antimicrobial solution
Support: Molded EVA Footframe + Nylon arch shank
Weight: 765g
Sole: Vibram® Chameleon Speed Hiker Sole/TC5+ Rubber 4mm lug depth
Toe protection: Abrasion resistant toe cap
Price: £70
Merrell: Chameleon3 Maze* 8th Place
Materials: Nubuck leather, Synthetic leather and mesh upper w/ neoprene stretch collar
Adjustment: Elastic cord and lock lacing system
Footbed: Ortholite® Anatomical Footbed Aegis® Antimicrobial solution
Support: Air cushion heel, In-Board™ Compression Molded EVA Footframe
Weight: 850g
Sole: Vibram® Chameleon / TC5+ Rubber 4mm lug depth
Toe protection: Abrasion resistant toe cap
Price: £80
New Balance 820
Materials: Synthetic
Adjustment: Quick draw lace system
Footbed: C-cap treated
Support: Compression-molded EVA for superior midsole cushioning and flexibility.
Weight:304g
Sole: Vibram Outsole
Toe Protection: basic
Price: £50
Patagonia Izaak* 5th Place
Materials: quick-drying synthetic upper neoprene/spandex lining
Adjustment: 2
Footbed: Patagonia Air Cushion Plus
Support: molded 6.6 lateral and medial posts, compression-molded EVA footframe / nylon plate
Weight: 425g
Sole: Non-marking Vibram® Izaak Idrogrip rubber outsole with 4mm outsole
Toe Protection: rubber toe guard
Price: £60
Salomon Epic Cabrio* 6th Place
Materials: Nubuck and synthetic upper lined in neoprene
Adjustment: Adjustable heel strap, tightening with drawcord and tanka.
Footbed: treated leather midsole and upper
Support: Injected EVA mid-sole
Weight: 341g
Sole: Contagrip™ sole
Toe Protection: Abrasion-resistant rubber
Price: £65
Source Vagabond: Gobi * Silver Award
Materials: synthetic
Adjustment: webbing X-Strap® patent 3 (6 point anchoring system)
Footbed: Anti-Microbial Compound integrated permanently
Support: soft pad cushioning for comfort (x-strap)
Weight: 314g
Sole: A.R.T2™  rubber compound sticky sole even in wet conditions,  3x abrasion resistance of competitors
Price: £60
Teva: Itunda* Bronze Award
Materials: monofilament mesh / neoprene synthetic leather
Adjustment: 2
Footbed: Drainframe
Support: Spider rubber + EVA midsole antishock
Weight: 650g
Sole: Spider rubber
Toe Protection: Spider rubber abrasion resistant toe cap
Price: £75
Teva: Open-Toachi Leather 19th Place
Materials: Waterproof Leather (there is a synthetic version) neoprene padding
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: zinc-impregnated Microban
Support: EVA/ rubber
Weight: 538g
Sole: Spider rubber
Price: £60
Teva: Terra-Fi 3 12th Place
Materials: Synthetic strapping / spider rubber
Adjustment: 4
Footbed: Spider rubber Microban treated
Support: blended polyurethane/EVA unit
Weight: 450g
Sole: Spider rubber
Price: £60
Teva: Tanza 9th Place
Materials: Synthetic strapping/ spider rubber
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: Spider rubber Microban treated
Support: blended polyurethane/ EVA unit
Weight: 430g
Sole: Spider rubber
Price: £55
Teva Omnium Leather: 13th Place
Materials: WP full-grain leather
Adjustment: Elastic pull-lace + 2
Footbed: Spider rubber Microban treated
Support: blended polyurethane/ EVA unit
Weight: 740g
Sole: Spider rubber
Toe Protection: Spider rubber abrasion resistant toe cap
Price: £85
The North Face El Hermano
Materials: WR synthetic nubuck + SBR lining
Adjustment: 3 (removable heel strap)
Footbed: Moulded EVA footbed with AgION antimicrobial protection
Support: Moulded EVA X-frame design strapping
Weight: 552g
Sole: Exclusive HydroTrak, water channelling, sticky rubber outsole
Price: £40
The North Face El Porto Convertible10th Place
Materials: Synthetic straps. neoprene padding
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: antimicrobial footbed
Support: EVA cushioning
Weight: 570g
Sole: Hydro Track water-shedding sole
Price: £35
Timberland Hypertrail
Materials: Full grain leather
Adjustment: Quick lace system
Footbed: basic
Support: Timberland® Agile IQ stability plate with high torsional rigidity
Weight: 410g
Sole: Vibram
Toe protection: Climbing-grade toe guard
Price: £75
Timberland Mountain Athletic
Materials: Rubber / synthetic leather/ mesh
Adjustment: 3
Footbed: EVA footbed has a subtle texture for underfoot comfort
Support: Independent Suspension Network™ technology
Weight:
Sole: Green Rubber sole (recycled 42%) with increased traction
Price: £50
Vibram FiveFingers KSO
Materials: Abrasion resistant polyamide + mesh
Adjustment: Single Hypalon strap
Footbed: Antimicrobial microfibre
Support: Rubber
Weight: 161g
Sole: Vibram TC-1
Toe Protection: Enclosed
Price: £90
Vibram FiveFingers KSO Trek* 6th Place
Materials: Abrasion resistant kangaroo leather
Adjustment: Single Hypalon strap
Footbed: Antimicrobial microfibre
SupportEVA midsole
Weight: 161g
Sole: Vibram TC-1 + EVA4mm improved traction
Toe Protection: Enclosed
Price: £99* This would have received Silver had it been more reasonably priced