10 Best Hiking Sandals For Men (Review) in 2021

The Keen Men’s Newport H2 may change the way you approach hiking. It possesses the arch support of a first-rate hiking boot, the comfort of athletic shoes and the open air coolness of the sandal. On top of that, it’s well-constructed top to bottom, slips on in seconds, dries out quickly after being dunked and weighs only a fraction of what your standard hiking boots weigh. Oh yeah, it also looks great.

The H2 features a thermoplastic polyurethane stability shank, a multipurpose non-marking sole that holds fast to wet slippery surfaces and 3mm lugs that provide plenty of grab when things get gnarly underfoot. The H2 also provides some of the best toe protection you’ll get in a hiking sandal and the webbing is treated with Aegis Microbe Shield technology to keep odors at bay.

Merrell All Out Blaze Sieve Water Shoes walk a fine line between hiking shoes and sandals. 20% more coverage in the upper and they’d be completely enclosed and be ineligible for this list. But as they are they’re an outstanding example of how footwear has evolved to make the outdoor experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

These are remarkably comfortable hiking sandals that are going to feel like you’ve been wearing them for a month as soon as you lace them up for the first time. Traction is excellent on dry ground, mixed terrain, screen or on wet, slippery rocks when crossing streams. If you dunk your Sieve Water Shoes while crossing any of those streams they’ll dry out in minutes. Construction throughout is first rate and we have to believe it would take quite a bit of use and abuse before these shoes would lose their integrity.

If you plan on hiking a variety of developed and undeveloped trails you’ll want to consider the Keen Men’s Arroyo II hiking sandal. While they boast the airy quality of a standard sandal their outsole is anything but standard. The lugs are deep and hungry, the design generous and intended to promote stability and the wrap-over toe protection allows you to tackle those more challenging trails with confidence.

The Arroyo II is another hiking sandal that is extremely comfortable right out of the box. Irritation is minimal during the first few wears, the bungee lacing system ensures you get a nice snug fit in a hurry every time and there’s plenty of arch support. If there’s a downside to the comfort it’s that it is achieved, at least to some degree, by the lining of the insole which – when it gets wet – tends to stay wet for some time.

Whereas some of our previous entries flirt with being a hiking shoe the Teva Men’s Omnium Closed-Toe Sandal goes in the opposite direction and looks to see how much it can strip away while still remaining a top-flight hiking sandal.

We love the metatarsal/heel dual Velcro strap combo. It provides perhaps the firmest, most comfortable hold of any hiking sandal we tested, including some of those that had much bulkier bodies and more involved lacing systems. The synthetic leather is to be expected in such an affordable hiking sandal but doesn’t in any way detract from the look or impede performance.

Occupying the extreme end of the minimalist hiking sandal spectrum is the Chaco Men’s Z/2 Unaweep Sandal. These are intended for those leisurely Sunday afternoon hikes in the State Park, long walks through the woods with man’s best friend and long strolls on the beach. If you intend to use your sandals for anything more intensive you’ll need to pick up more intensive sandals.

Still, for what they do these Chaco sandals do it well. They’re comfortable, cool, durable, very light and provide lots of support through the arch. The Vibram outsole actually makes promises the upper likely can’t keep. But it’s better to have a little too much sole than not enough. It’s debatable whether these would make good watersport sandals but there’s no doubt they’re spot on for light hiking.

Teva makes a lot of great footwear and these XLT hiking sandals are yet another example. So what separates these minimalist hiking sandals from being standard walking sandals? First of all, they provide beaucoup arch support. They also boast a high-quality genuine rubber sole that’s both grippy and light. The heel cup and Velcro closures hold your foot snug even when the terrain becomes less than ideal and they feature the company’s ShocPad impact absorption system.

Designed to allow you to glide over developed trails and well-maintained boot paths these allow your feet to stay cool even on the hottest day. The nylon webbing is more forgiving than it looks and the nylon shank helps buttress the already formidable arch support while also providing lateral stability. The ShocPad technology means you can bound down the trail with abandon and the XLT is so light it’s never going to be an anchor on your outdoor activities.

Atika Men’s Sport Sandals are comfortable, versatile, stable and lightweight. They feature a simple and effective tug-and-secure bungee lacing system, an all-synthetic PU upper, a comfortable EVA midsole and buying a pair isn’t going to send you to the poor house. The triple layer toe protection is some of the best you’ll find, while the open strapping system permits optimal ventilation and water expulsion.

The rubber sole features a multi-directional lug pattern that, while not optimal for muddy surfaces or other terrains where you really need to bring the bite, will be more than satisfactory for developed trails, most boot paths and even some undeveloped trails that see lots of traffic. These mens hiking sandals provide a real sense of lateral stability, which is important if you’re to avoid turning an ankle in your sandals. The double stitching throughout is also welcome.

If you’re looking for a pair of comfortable hiking sandals that will serve you well on day hikes where you’re carrying a minimal complement of gear and you don’t anticipate straying from the developed trails, these Fi 4 Sandals from Teva should be just what the doctor ordered. They’re light, airy, durable and provide generous support in the arch with excellent grip on both dry and wet terrain. They also feature Microban anti-odor technology that keeps them smelling good.

These are lightweight and sleek so if you need to switch to your regular hiking shoes they’ll slip away into your backpack with ease. The sole features the company’s durable, sticky Spider Rubber and the SoftShoc heel pad does a great job ensuring you’re not worn down by constant impacts with the trail. They’ll be quickly overwhelmed if you’re sporting a full, 80-pound backpack. But for vigorous day hikes with a light load, they’re hard to beat.

The Yucatan from ECCO is as tough as it is attractive, as versatile as it is durable and as open as it is supportive. It’s no small trick to pull all that off but when you slip your foot into the Yucatan and fasten down the Velcro closures you’ll feel like you’ve just laced up a pair of expensive hiking boots. Except your feet won’t feel heavy and hot.

The Yucatan is a high-performance hiking sandal that doesn’t aspire to be anything other than what it is. It sports the traditional open toe design of the sandal, no lacing, no tongue, and shallow lugs. If you plan on spending a week at Yosemite or Yellowstone next summer they’ll be the perfect accompaniment on your day hikes. If the Yucatan has a weakness it’s the microfiber cover on the EVA footbed that tends to stay wet a bit too long once it gets wet. Other than that it’s all good.

The Uneek Men’s Sandal from Keen looks like something designed by the late, great H.R. Giger. Fortunately, they’re far more user-friendly than they might at first appear. The woven cord and faux leather upper is fully integrated with the drawcord lacing system. The PU midsole provides lots of support and the anatomically designed footbed helps the sandal provide impressive lateral stability while defusing impact forces.

The corded nature of the Uneek is not going to appeal to everyone and those that it does appeal to will find that the cords stretch a bit over time and make it something of a challenge to slip your foot in without snagging your toes. So why is it on our list? Because once you do manage to break these puppies in they’re actually very comfortable hiking sandals, very airy, hold up well regardless of how much weight you’re carrying (within reason of course) and because they do a really good job on developed paths.