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Come summer, we’re all about barefoot sandals. We explore in them, travel in them, wander in them, and definitely hike in them. Yes, we hike in sandals (but only purpose-built sandals designed for the task). So just like last year, we got our hands on a bunch of brands and styles, tested them all on dirty, rocky, uneven trails in Utah, plus on gravel and asphalt, and sized them up to determine which ones are best for what activities, which are most comfortable, durable, have the best ground feel, you name it. So if you’re ready for a new pair of barefoot hiking sandals, here are some of the best money can buy to keep your feet happy and free.
New to barefoot shoes? Read about how to transition to barefoot shoes here and find some non-sandal barefoot hiking boot options here.
Barefoot Hiking Sandals: Useful Info
What is Stack Height?
When we (or shoe brands) say “stack height,” the number, usually in mm, refers to how thick the sole of the shoe is complete with footbed and tread lug height. A smaller stack height means you’re closer to the ground with a thin sole while a larger stack height means you’re dealing with a thicker (or taller) sole. But stack height alone shouldn’t be the only thing to consider; sometimes a larger stack height paired with super soft or flexible rubber can offer more ground feel than a lower stack height and dense, less flexible rubber.
A Note on Sizing and Barefoot Sandals
Most of these brands have printable sizing templates on their websites to help you get the perfect pair (since most aren’t widely available to try on at retail stores nationwide). We highly recommend printing those templates or using brands’ measuring guides to help determine the right size for you. Especially since barefoot sandals can fit differently from other footwear, even from the same brands.
Xero Shoes D-Trail Sandals
Weight: 11.3oz (US size 6 pair)
Stack Height: 11mm
Terradrift fans know we love our Xero Shoes, from our barefoot winter boots to our barefoot hiking boots. In fact, our very first barefoot adventure sandals were the Xero Z-Trek. Call them our gateway drug, if you will. But they did better as camp shoes than hiking sandals due to soft, narrow, flexible straps. Enter the brand new D-Trail. While still not as well suited for aggressive hikes or trail running due to the lack of a toe post that functions to keep your foot from sliding forward, during testing on warm hikes on dusty, rocky, steep terrain, we found them more than suitable for at least a few miles. In fact, they’re one of the only adventure sandals without a toe post we’ve tested that still felt secure on steep declines. And they’re supremely comfy to boot.
The soles are impressively flexible and despite being just 11mm thick, the footbed feels protective thanks to a thin layer of foam that not only keeps the soles of your feet from feeling every tiny pebble, but offers a minimal but delightful amount of cushion. Pair that with wide straps outfitted with soft fabric lining to keep your skin from rubbing or blistering and you’ve got a winning barefoot adventure sandal on your hands (your feet?). Bonus: They come in several colors for men and women.
How it’s sustainable: 5,000-mile sole warranty, recycled webbing.
Best Use: Hiking, camping, water sports, daily adventure.
Groundfeel Scale
Bahé Respire Sandal
Weight: 17.2oz (UK size 8 pair)
Stack Height: 13mm
Bahé sandals are unique for several reasons, but the most important may be that they’re grounding sandals, which means thanks to conductive material through the footbed and lacing you can reap the benefits of earthing or grounding, even when you’re not barefoot (read more about what earthing is here). When it comes to fit, there are two adjustment points: a Velcro top strap and heel strap. The latter is even padded on the inside to keep the webbing from rubbing or blistering your heel. The toe post is thin and flexible, so more comfortable right out of the box than some other options. The soles land somewhere in the middle of the flexibility spectrum, more on the protective side than the ground feel side, but they do have excellent traction (including on loose gravel and steep rock).
There’s an extra O-ring on the top strap that lets those with narrower, low-volume feet cinch them down tighter without so much extra webbing hanging off the side. But there are only two adjustment points, which somehow feels less customizable than three OR one with through-the-footbed lacing, but they did successfully lock in our feet. The footbed is textured and feels nice on the feet, but felt slick when wet with water or sweat. We found after a few minutes our feet slid around more than we’d like, but if your feet don’t tend to sweat, or you plan to just wear them as day-to-day sandals, you should be fine. They come in a small selection of neutral colors and are available in unisex sizing.
How it’s sustainable: Outsole : 65% natural rubber, Footbed : 30% sugarcane EVA, Upper : 100% recycled webbing.
Best Use: Easy hikes, travel, daily adventure.
Groundfeel Scale
Luna Sandals Hemp Monkey
Weight: 13.4oz (men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 15mm
Luna makes comfy, high-quality sandals, and these are no exception. They’re comfortable, have pliable webbing, including between the toes, are easy to adjust, and are ultra flexible but still have thick enough soles to offer plenty of protection from rocks and uneven terrain. There are a number of different soles available from Luna, many of which we’ve tested over the years (the Oso Flaco may be our favorite), but the new Hemp Monkey with the Mono sole may take the cake. The straps are made of a hemp-polyester blend, which means they have a bit more stretch, will be nice and durable, will get softer with time, and look less like trail sandals if you plan to wear them as your daily casual sandals, too.
They do tend to lean toward the wide side. Narrow feet tended to slide from side to side between the strap posts, so these may be best suited for average to wide feet. They’re flexible despite the thickness of the sole but slightly less bendy than some other options. The thickness also means you also won’t feel every pebble underfoot (if that’s what you’re after). They didn’t rub or cause hotspots and the canvas footbed helped keep them from feeling slippery with sweat during activity, but they’re not the most grippy we tested. They’re light, though, so whether you’re packing them as camp shoes or wearing them on trails, they won’t weigh you down. They’re a solid middle-of-the-road option for those who may not want a serious barefoot, feel-it-all shoe, but still want the flexibility and functionality of a minimalist adventure sandal. Use code TERRADRIFT for 15% off!
How it’s sustainable: Made in the USA, durable, hemp is a sustainable natural material (Hemp Footbed and 80% Hemp 20% Nylon blend laces).
Best Use: Easy hikes, daily adventure.
Groundfeel Scale
Unshoes Uinta + Wakova Feather
Weight: 10oz (Uinta men’s size 9 pair), 8.5oz (Wakova men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 8mm
We tested two styles from small, Utah-based brand Unshoes: the Uinta and the Wakova Feather. The soles are identical on both and are extremely flexible but just thick enough to feel protective without sacrificing ground feel. A happy medium for barefoot enthusiasts. The tread, though lacking deep lugs, felt plenty stable and grippy on loose inclines and steep rock.
We love the look of the Uinta (which is named for an east-west mountain rage here in Utah). It’s like if Chaco sandals lost a ton of weight and prioritized natural foot function instead of rigid support. That said, we never liked the toe loop on Chacos because it felt like it locked our big toe in place (and we need to be able to move it for balance and flexibility). The loop on the Uinta, however, feels light and loose and offered full big toe mobility. The strapping is a bit convoluted at first, but once you get the hang of unsnapping buckles and learn what straps go where, you’ll have no issue. The straps did loosen during activity until we doubled the webbing back through the elastic strap keeper, which mostly solved the problem. The footbed was a bit slippery when feet got sweaty, so they may be best suited for around-town, camp, or close-to home adventures as opposed to rugged hikes.
As for the Wakova Feather, a bungee loop and narrow, flexible webbing make for sandals that were comfy and super easy to slip on and off, but ones not as well suited for high-impact activities or aggressive trails because it was hard to lock our feet in place. So they’re better for daily adventures, around-town wear, or camp sandals.
How it’s sustainable: Made in the USA (Utah) by a small brand.
Best Use: Easy hikes, daily adventure, camp sandals.
Groundfeel Scale
Deliberate Life Designs Alchemy Sandal
Weight: 12.5oz (men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 12mm
We’ve tested several styles of Deliberate Life Designs sandals and we’re big fans. This Vermont-based cottage brand’s specialty is making sandals that fit YOUR foot perfectly. Sure, you can choose your laces–including up-cycled Black Diamond webbing laces–but you can also choose the shape of your footbed: options range from a narrow slope shape to wide mountain shape depending on the outline of your foot and even the length of your second toe. As a result, you’re guaranteed to end up with sandals that fit your unique feet. You can even send a tracing of your feet to DLD and they can custom cut soles for you!
There are several sole thicknesses available, from the 7mm Onsight that I love to the most popular sole, the Alchemy, which is 12mm. The Alchemy is highly flexible despite its thickness, felt secure on loose dirt, rock, and uneven terrain, and kept our feet locked in whether we were trail running, hiking, or strolling around town. Even when it was warm out our feet stayed put on the textured Vibram footbed. The webbing is available in a slew of bright colors and neutrals (including this new dual-tone we love) and because it’s just all one length of webbing laced through the sandal, they’re highly adjustable (though they may take a few wears to break in because straps are a bit on the stiff side). They’re thick enough so you don’t feel every tiny rock and root, but flexible enough to be functional and the toe-post is thin and flexible cord, so was comfortable.
How it’s sustainable: Made by hand in the USA, durable, small batch/made to order.
Best Use: Trail running, hiking, water sports.
Groundfeel Scale
Shamma Sandals TrailStar Ibex
Weight: 14oz (men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 13mm
Allow us to introduce you to one of our new favorite sandals: the Shamma TrailStar Ibex. It’s the one we’ll turn to most often for everything from hiking and trail running to running errands and strolling around town. Besides having a stylish and streamlined look, the footbed is super sticky so we never felt like our feet were sliding around. The single thru-the-footbed straps truly keep feet locked in, and the adjustability ensures you can make them fit just right no matter your foot shape or size. In fact, they offer one of the most customizable fits of any sandal on this list. What’s more, the microfiber straps are soft to the touch, flexible and comfortable with no weird rubbing or hot spots.
There’s an easy on-off Velcro heel strap and, as for the toe loop, those who don’t care for a traditional toe post may find it more comfortable. To top it all off, the sole, which is hardly the thinnest on this list, is surprisingly and impressively soft and flexible but dense enough to also be protective. A beautiful marriage. The only caveat: those who have tried Chaco sandals and don’t love the toe loop, who prefer full freedom of motion with their big toe, may want to opt for another webbing style. Fortunately, there are plenty available from Shamma that fit the bill.
How it’s sustainable: Repairable, made in the U.S.A.
Best Use: Hiking, everyday adventures.
Groundfeel Scale
Earth Runners Primal Sandals
Weight: 10oz (men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 7.5mm
Of all the barefoot hiking sandals I’ve tested over the years, I often come back to Earth Runners, particularly the Primal, though the Circadian with its fabric footbed is the most popular model. The sole thickness of the Primal is just right, the flexibility right in the sweet spot, they look good on and off trail, and they function just as well for hiking and trail running as for travel. Plus, they’re grounding sandals. There’s a copper plug connected to the webbing, which is stitched with metal wire, so no matter what you’re doing outdoors, you can stay grounded even with your shoes on (watch our video about the science of grounding here).
The webbing is a bit less flexible than other options, so may take some getting used to, but once you do, you’ll likely find them some of the most robust and durable sandals you own. The tread seems minimal but because your feet are conformed to the shape of the ground it’s not an issue. Bonus: They come in a slew of colors and there are several types of laces depending on whether comfort or performance is more important to you. Get 10% off when you use code TERRADRIFT at checkout!
How it’s sustainable: Made in the USA by a small brand, durable, 1% of your purchase is donated to True Messages, a non-profit supporting the running heritage of the Tarahumara people, cotton footbeds made of organic cotton.
Best Use: Trail running, hiking, water sports, travel.
Groundfeel Scale
ZuZu Sandals Flow
Weight: 12oz (size 42 pair)
Stack Height: 6.8mm
We tested a few different models from ZuZu Sandals, a small brand based in Stockholm and Tel Aviv. And HO-LY bananas! The Flow instantly became one of our new favorite barefoot adventure sandals right out of the box. The sole is made of upcycled tires (they buy tires that don’t pass inspection, use the outer rubber and recycled the rest) so they’re ultra durable (you know how tires are supposed to last 50,000 miles or more?) and stupendously flexible. We’re talking ultra-super flexible. And while they’re not the thinnest soles (6.8mm), looks can be deceiving: the rubber is soft, so the ground feel is tremendous. And the footbed is impressively sticky and textured and didn’t feel slippery at all when our feet got sweaty.
The Flex, which we also tested, is just a touch thicker in the sole, and with a non-slip canvas footbed, but still plenty flexible (though not as bendy or soft). The Flex may be better suited for those who want a more even balance of ground feel and protection. There are also options with a vegan leather footbed, which elevates the style a bit in our opinion (but isn’t as grippy, so wasn’t as well suited for hiking) and you can purchase extra vegan leather (or synthetic) laces if you’re looking to make your sandals appear a bit more sleek and stylish or just mix it up a bit.
The fabric lacing in all styles is softer and more flexible than similarly-designed sandals, so it required no breaking in and felt more comfortable between our toes but still plenty secure when hiking or trail running. All styles also have metal clasps instead of plastic, which in theory should last longer. These may be our new go-to travel, adventure, do-everything sandals.
How it’s sustainable: The Flow is made of 100% upcycled car tires (sole) and a 100% recycled PET strap, which makes it ultra durable. The Flex has a natural tree rubber and recycled rice husk outsole with canvas footbed and straps made of 100% recycled PET. Replaceable laces.
Best Use: Hiking, trail running, everyday adventures, travel.
Groundfeel Scale
Bonus: Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo C
Weight: 19.2 oz (men’s size 9 pair)
Stack Height: 20mm
On the more minimalist (as opposed to barefoot) side of things, there’s the new Cairn Evo C. Like the Cairn Evo Bedrocks fans know and love, but with a touch of squish on the footbed for extra comfort. No, they’re not barefoot hiking sandals, but people love them and always ask about them when we don’t include them, so here we are! This new style does have a touch of arch support and curves up at the toes, which we didn’t care for as it rubbed our toes weird, which we never complained about with the original.
Otherwise, Bedrock shoes tend to be comfortable and the lacing rock solid. Once you get them set to your comfort preferences, they won’t loosen as you walk. That said, the three separate adjustment points took a bit of trial and error to get perfect. The soles are denser and less flexible than all of the other sandals we tested, and have little to no ground feel, but have seriously aggressive tread. They do lean toward the wide side. Narrow feet tend to slide from side to side, so these may be best suited for average feet (wide feet may also find less than desirable wiggle room).
How it’s sustainable: Bedrocks are resoleable, durable, 1% For the Planet member.
Best Use: Hiking, water sports, minimalist adventures.
Groundfeel Scale
Bottom Line: Barefoot Hiking Sandals
If you’re into barefoot hiking sandals or minimalist adventure sandals, you’re bound to find one to suit you and your feet (and your style) on this list. But if we missed your favorite or you have thoughts to add about any of these you’ve worn, feel free to drop ’em in the comments! Footwear is such a personal thing and the goal is to help everyone find their perfect pair. So strap in, enjoy the summer, and wander on.
