Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 6 Best Water Shoes and Hiking Sandals for Your Next Adventure this 2022

Clay Abney
By
Teva Original Universal Sandals hiking
Teva/Facebook

After being stuck at home for a long time, there’s nothing more exhilarating than being able to have an adventure, even for a short while. Whether you’re heading to the beach, the lake, a remote tropical destination, or have a whitewater rafting adventure in your immediate plans, we have a solution for all of your aquatic endeavors. Water shoes and hiking sandals are designed to dry quickly and look great on or off of the water. To help you, we’ve made a roundup of the 7 best pairs of water shoes and hiking sandals for your next adventure this 2021.

Chaco Banded Z/Cloud Sandals

Chaco Banded Z Cloud Sandals
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We have given Chaco much love over the years. The brand’s footwear has evolved since its inception three decades ago. And while they now offer a wide variety of options from lifestyle to adventure shoes, the iconic Z/1 and Z/2 sandals still remain staples in the line. And while the Z/Band may look like a new style, its roots date back to the early days of the company. It was designed but then ultimately shelved for decades before finally making its debut this season. It contains the same DNA as the classic Z/1 with the addition of a strap.

Recommended Videos

Chaco Torrent Pro Shoes

Chaco Torrent Pro Shoes
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Developed in collaboration with professional whitewater athletes, the Chaco Torrent Pro is a blending of the brand’s sandals with a more protective shell. Certified by podiatrists, the durable footbed is sure to provide all-day comfort while the enhanced-traction rubber soles will provide superior grip on slippery surfaces. And, unlike the sandals, the closed-toe design will protect your toes and the shoes are easily secured with a single-pull lacing system.

Related

Teva Original Universal Sandals

Teva Original Universal Sandals
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The original sandals that began a paradigm shift in the adventure sandal market over 30 years ago remain as a testament to simplistic and functional design. The quick-drying polyester webbing paired with the hook-and-loop closure on the straps for easy adjustment make these classic sandals a no-brainer for beginners and professionals alike. And they won’t break the bank at checkout.

Merrell Choprock

Merrell Choprock
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The new Choprock collection from Merrell provides the trifecta of waterborne options. There’s a shoe, a shandal (think shoe meets sandal), and a sandal (they call it the Strap). This three-in-one collection offers something for everyone. All feature the Vibram Megagrip outsole that is designed to provide excellent traction on both wet and dry surfaces. Can’t decide which is right for you? Buy all three for all of your adventure needs this year.

Astral TR1 Mesh Shoes

Astral TR1 Mesh Shoes
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Astral has a tradition of creating products that excel in adventure pursuits while doing so with a strong commitment to the environment. The TR1 Mesh looks like a regular hiking shoe yet it maintains a versatile symbiotic relationship with both land- and water-based activities. The sticky rubber outsole provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces while the synthetic mesh upper contains drainage holes at both the front and back of the shoe to move water away from the foot.

Keen Evofit One Sandals

Keen Evofit One Sandals
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At less than 20 years old, Keen has become a highly recognized brand in the outdoor marketplace. Fitting like a glove, the Evofit One provides out-of-the-box comfort and envelopes the foot like a second skin. Using the brand’s proprietary Aquagrip rubber, the outsole maximizes traction on a variety of surfaces.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Clay Abney
Clay Abney
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Clay Abney is a PR guru and freelance writer living in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia, where he spends his…
Set yourself up for success on your next long-distance hike
Like any endurance event, preparation is key to making your next long distance hike the best yet
Two people hiking the W Trek in Chile, mountains in the background.

Completing a long-distance trail is the ultimate aim for many hikers. While long-distance means different things to different people — for some, it's being out ten hours at a time, while for others, it's hitting the AP trail over the course of multiple months — there are some universal truths for anyone who wants to push their hiking further than ever before. I'll look at plenty of these universal truths shortly, but if there's one that you can't escape, it's this; this hike is going to be tough.

Endurance events like a long-distance hike take planning and training — no one thinks you can run an ultra-marathon without training, and long-distance hiking trails can be just as tough and even tougher. When it comes to how to prepare for hiking these long distances, most people focus on the physical attributes they need to develop. These are important, sure, but I like to think of my preparation as being a three-pronged approach, each of which is just as important as the others; physical, tactical, and mental. Here's how I prepare for hiking or any other endurance events.
Let's get physical
The physical attributes of training can be broken down here into two main categories; cardio exercises and weight training. To build your aerobic baseline — your cardio fitness — you should spend sustained periods of time in low-to-mid heart rate zones, either running, walking, or biking. While it's important to get your heart rate elevated to pump the blood around your body, getting it too high can actually be counterproductive to developing your cardio baseline. You want to stay in what your smartwatch would tell you is zone two — can you hold a conversation but feel a bit breathy? Perfect. Mix it up, and don't forget to add some hills into your training; just remember to control your breathing and slow down if you have to.

Read more
Gear up for your next big adventure with the best camping gear and accessories
Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your gear closet and upgrade your tired camping essentials and accessories
Person camping on a river using a one person tent.

Spring is officially here, and for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere anyway, that means the start of five to six months of the year's best weather. It's the perfect time to get outdoors or at least plan your next outdoor adventures, whether that's hiking, kayaking, biking, hitting the beach — whatever you're into. It's also a great time to take stock of your outdoor gear to see what, if anything, might need an upgrade.

If you're into camping, that might mean shopping for a new tent, a portable fire pit, or the best power station you can get your hands on to keep your tech gadgets powered up for car camping. With all that in mind, we’ve selected some of our favorite front-country and backcountry essentials. These are our picks for the best of the best camping gear accessories of 2023 (so far).

Read more
The best winter hiking boots: Don’t leave home without one of these great picks
Hit the trails in confidence with great traction and insulation this winter
winter hiking boots

Heading out hiking in the depths of winter is no mean feat. You might be heading out for your usual few hours on the trail, but when the temperatures are below zero, and the weather can change in a moment, you need more than just your summer hiking gear to keep you safe. As well as warm merino layers and a backpack full of winter safety essentials, you need to be wearing a proper pair of winter hiking boots.

Sure, you can get by in your summer hiking boots, and perhaps you'll be okay. But what about those days when you're not? Those days when temperatures plummet, snow is melting through your lightweight boots, and you can feel your toes turning blue or going numb. On those days, a pair of insulated, fully waterproof winter boots are worth their weight in gold — trust me. We've put together this list of the best winter boots to keep you on track in the snow.

Read more