Hiking sandals are quickly becoming a replacement for hiking boots, especially in warm climates and warm wet climates particular. The great thing about hiking sandals is that your feet stay open, they can breathe, and they don’t overheat or stay wet if you have to cross streams for example.
In this article, we are going to focus on women’s hiking sandals in particular and take a look at some of the best hiking sandals for women on the market.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Hiking Sandals For Women
We will look at each of the women’s hiking sandals in detail and compare their comfort, support, and lots more so you can find the best women’s hiking sandals for you and leave those old heavy hiking boots for winter.
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Some of the best hiking sandals for women around are the KEEN Women’s Newport H2 Sandals. These women’s hiking sandals are designed for hiking long distances on every terrain and easily transition from one hiking trail to the next.
They are designed with extra padding for extra support and extra protection so that you can hike on rugged hiking trails, through streams, and more.
These are closed-toe hiking sandals that ensure your toes are always protected and they feature webbing straps that are fastened via a bungee. This ensures your feet stay secure in the hiking sandals, do not rub, and provide all-day comfort.
The hiking sandals are built to provide a lot of arch support, absorb shock, and more. They are also close to being waterproof so you can use them for water sports and they are grippy on all surfaces too thanks to the excellent outsole.
The only issue with these hiking sandals is that the sizing can be a little off, and they are quite expensive but they are durable and of great quality.
If you are looking for the best hiking sandals around but are shopping on a budget, you should seriously consider the Teva Original Universal Sandal as your best choice.
While being very affordable, close to 50% more affordable than the ones above, they are of excellent quality and are super comfy to boot.
Built with a rubber outsole, recycled plastic straps, and bouncy EVA foam, these are super lightweight sandals that are great for light hiking and use in water too. The straps are quick drying and the rest of the sandal isn’t affected by water.
The outsole is bouncy and absorbs shock to cushion your feet, the straps adjust and hold your feet securely, and the outsole is grippy so you can go on light hikes on all terrains.
These hiking sandals are durable too thanks to the thick sole and they also have a cool look to them, coming in lots of different color options.
The only downside to these hiking sandals is that they are open-toe sandals so your toes can be easily stubbed, and the sizing is a bit off. Most women choose to order one size down to find a perfect fit.
The KEEN Women’s Whisper Hiking Sandal is quite similar to the KEEN Women’s Newport H2 Hiking Sandal but they are a lot lighter and designed less like hiking shoes and more like sandals.
The design of these hiking sandals is more open and airy but with all the great support and foot protection one would expect. The closed toe stops stones from getting stuck inside and protects your toes from stubbings too while the many side straps ensure a secure, comfortable, snug fit so you can hike properly on the trail.
They feature a women-specific insole for great arch support, they are bouncy to cushion any shock and the lugs on the thick rubber outsole make them grippy on most terrains.
These hiking sandals use a bungee for a lace which means you can take them on and off quickly and get a custom fit for your foot. They don’t blister, and they are great in the water too, they should handle long hikes ok but you might want more support for strenuous hikes.
The only downside to these is that the sizing is inconsistent so order a few pairs in different sizes and send the ones that don’t fit back.
The Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals are designed for easy day hikes or less and for use in water but these Teva sandals also have some issues with comfort.
Some people who wear these minimalist sandals have an issue with both the toe loop and most of the other straps too.
Unlike many hiking sandals, these sandals seem to rub and cause blisters for a lot of people, and the reason I am saying this now is so you can skip on to the next ones if you want to.
That being said, lots of people also love these as hiking footwear thanks to the thick sole, awesome grip, shock-absorbing cushion, and that they are great in the water too. If the straps don’t hurt you, they are fully adjustable for a customized fit too.
Overall, these sandals are a bit of a risk but if they work for you, they are great and you will love them.
The Bedrock Sandals Cairn Adventure Sandals have quite a unique look to them as they pretty much look like flip flops except with an adjustable heel strap added to them.
This design ensures minimal straps and comfort too that provide a secure fit for when you are out hiking. The straps are also padded for extra comfort and the vibram sole is about as good as an outsole gets with awesome grip and durability that lasts. But, the grip isn’t designed for wet surfaces so don’t take these in the water.
The soles are made to be thin so that you can feel more when hiking and while this is nice on some terrains, you may feel sharp rocks poking through these in rougher areas.
The only downside to these hiking sandals is that they have an open toe so your toes are exposed to stubbing and they don’t hold well on wet surfaces. Otherwise, these are super comfy, and great all around.
READ OUR FULL BEDROCK CAIRN SANDALS REVIEW
The Teva Tirra Sandal is one of the most sophisticated-looking sandals featured in the lineup and they are a quality pair of hiking sandals to boot, if your feet get along with the straps ok.
Each pair is made from a combination of nylon straps, EVA midsole, and a thick rubber outsole. The rubber outsole provides excellent support from sharp rocks and the grip is fantastic even when on wet surfaces.
The midsole is soft and bouncy to support and protect your feet on hiking trails and the straps are adjustable to keep your feet secure. This combo of materials means these are great for getting wet too so you can use them when kayaking, for example.
The major downside of this pair of sandals, for some women, is the straps. The straps can come undone, all the time, which is annoying. Also, the straps can rub a lot and cause a lot of blisters. Again, this is only for some, not for all!
Chaco makes some great sandals and the Chaco Z Cloud 2 Sandals are excellent for any hiking trip with short hikes as long as the straps are comfy for you. They are not designed for longer hikes.
Unlike a lot of other sandals, these Chaco sandals also come in wide fit sizes for flat feet as well as regular, so you can find the best fit possible. Some but not all of the straps are adjustable to give you a secure, comfortable fit too.
The outsoles are non-marking for indoor use and come with long lugs to ensure you stay on your feet, no matter the trail type you are on, even rocky terrain. The midsoles are well cushioned too so that your feet stay comfy on long walks.
These sandals also work well in water, they look good and are comfy. You should know though, that the toe strap can cause some rubbing and that the heel strap isn’t adjustable, so it can rub too if the size is not right for you.
The third pair of Keen sandals to be featured in this article are the Keen Clearwater CNX Sandals.
Like the others, this pair also features a closed-toe design for more protection but they are designed for more rocky terrain thanks to the air-injected cushioned midsole which ensures comfort.
These sandals have quite thick soles too with lugs going out in multiple directions which ensure grip on all surfaces, even wet ones. You can use them for anything from everyday wear to hiking up a mountain in summer, and the quality materials will ensure durability as you do so.
The only downsides to these sandals are that the sizing is hard to get right and the small gaps let small stones in when on uneven surfaces. Otherwise, these are awesome sandals with more ankle support than most.
The ECCO Yucatan Outdoor Sandal is a bit different from the other hiking sandals featured and the main difference lies in the straps.
The straps on these are made with a soft leather outer layer and a quick dry lining made from neoprene to ensure your feet are in excellent comfort all the time, even on long days.
The sole on these sandals is also a little different, being specially designed to promote natural movement and give you dynamic support as you hike. The outsoles are thick and durable, plus grippy for most terrains too.
The only downside to these is that there is no protection for your toes and some people find the buckle rubs a tad, which can lead to quite a lot of discomfort.
The Xero Shoes, Xero Z-Trail EV Sandals are pretty awesome and work well for short hikes, indoor use, and generally wandering about town too.
These sandals are built from Nylon, Rubber, and EVA foam for excellent durability but some will notice how thin the soles are which means they do wear out pretty fast. The thinness is there for a reason though, to make sure these are as light as possible.
Once on, they mold to your feet nicely and you will feel like they are not there, that is how light they are. The straps are actually made from recycled water bottles, so there is a green tick there, and the back strap is adjustable for a secure fit.
They do offer good foot support and promote great foot health, but as I said before, they do wear out quite fast.
Fit and comfort are by far the most important things to get right when looking for supportive sandals. If the fit is off, then chances are discomfort and blisters will ensue, but finding a good fit is hard as all our feet are a little different.
Make sure the ones you choose fit well and are comfy, do not hesitate to send them back and order a different size if not.
As you have probably noticed, a good pair of hiking sandals can cost up to $200. But, being comfortable on the trail and having sandals that last is more important than price in my eyes.
Be sure to spend the top end of your budget to ensure you get some hiking sandals you love instead of ones you hate and never wear.
The lighter your sandals are, the more energy you will preserve and the more hiking you will be able to do. This is why sandals are much better than hiking boots and lighter sandals can be much better than heavier sandals.
Hiking sandals are designed to last and pretty much all of them are made with a rubber sole with lots of lugs for traction, nylon straps, and EVA midsoles. One made thick this will last for ages if the sole is thick enough.
The only thing to be wary of is the sole thickness as lightweight sandals can wear out quickly.
You should choose your hiking sandals based on what you intend to use them for. All of them are great in the water and for wandering around in town or indoors but some of them are made for short hikes and others are for long hikes.
The best hiking sandals for women in my opinion are the KEEN Women’s Newport H2 Sandals. What makes them the best sandals is that they are the most comfortable hiking sandals around that can also handle pretty much every terrain as well as water.
The superior design provides all the support and foot protection you need, they always stay secure, and you won’t get any blistering, plus they are non-marking for all indoor uses too.
The best hiking sandals for women, if you are shopping on a budget, are the Teva Original Universal Sandal. This lightweight pair of sandals is durable, comfortable, handles water well, looks cool, provides great support, and is quick drying for use in water too.
All of this quality comes at such an affordable price you might think we are missing something but the only con to these is that they are open-toe and therefore do not offer much toe protection.
The best all around hiking sandals for women are the KEEN Women’s Whisper Sandal. These are great for all occasions whether it is short summer hiking, long hikes, easy hikes, trail hiking, indoor activities, or wandering through a stream wet wading with a fly rod.
This pair of hiking sandals offers great foot support and protection, are super comfortable, stay secure, don’t blister, and lots more. They really are some of the top hiking sandals around.
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