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Before you lace up your hiking boots this summer, consider strapping on some outdoorsy walking sandals. Although open-toed shoes might seem unsuitable for hiking, these types of sandals are specifically designed for the trails. Walking downhill, through bodies of water and in the heat for miles can make sandals the better option.
While I personally (and plenty of people on Reddit) wouldn't wear sandals in particularly rough terrain or rocky trails, I was intrigued by the idea of wearing adventure sandals for lighter hikes, to cross rivers, walk on the beach or relax at a campsite after hiking. Plus, I walk a ton in my day-to-day life, so an ultra-supportive pair of sandals sounded ideal for warm weather.
When it comes to outdoorsy sandals, Teva and Chaco are two of the most popular options. After walking miles in sandals from both brands, and consulting with our footwear experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, I put together this detailed side-by-side comparison of both brands to help you choose which is right for you, whether you need sandals for hiking, walking in the city or going to the beach.
Chaco Women’s Z/Cloud Cushioned Sandal
Style
I own the Hurricane XLT2 Sandals and the Original Universal Sandals from Teva. I also own the Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandals and the Z/Cloud Cushioned Sandals from Chaco.
I personally prefer the sleek look of black Chaco sandals with their stylish straps. However, Teva offers more colors, designs and customization options. For a vacation or hiking trip, I'd choose Chacos in a solid color — they match both regular and hiking clothes, providing support and cushioning while maintaining a stylish appearance.
However, I prefer the look of my Teva sandals for day-to-day wear. The arch and footbed are lower and thinner, the straps are less intense and I chose a funky pattern in green (my favorite color). They don't match everything, but I feel cool and fun when I wear them.
Meanwhile, Updates Editor Elizabeth Berry said she appreciates the solid color options from Tevas. "That said, I think the Chaco has a more seamless look and could come off as a more stylish sandal than the velcro straps of Tevas," she added.
Berry has also owned and loved the Teva Midform Universal Sandals for about three years and recently tried the brand's Hurricane XLT2 Sandals. "I do think that the chunkier outsole elevates the look, but I found the shoe to make my feet look wider than they are," she said of the Hurricane style.
Construction and Materials
Straps
While both brands' sandals feature adjustable straps, the most noticeable difference at first glance between Teva and Chaco sandals is the strap style.
Tevas feature a strap across the bottom of the toes, along the length of the foot and around the ankle. It's quick and easy to adjust the Velcro straps to fit your feet securely and comfortably. Sand surprisingly did not stick to the Velcro and the quick-drying REPREVE polyester yarn by Unifi stayed clean and comfortable.
My feet shift a bit in the Teva Original Universal sandals because I had to loosen the top strap after the triangular ring was hurting my pinky toe. A few styles from Teva, like the Tirra Sandal, have additional straps and a thicker strap around the ankle for more support. The brand also has sandals with laces, like the Women's Midform Infinity Tie, if you're looking for stylish day-to-day sandals to wear to work, school or out and about.
Chaco sandals' straps are more adjustable thanks to their buckle system that is webbed through the sandal, allowing you to loosen and tighten the shoe to a greater extent than Teva is capable of. I have narrow feet and I was able to tighten both pairs of Chacos securely, but it was a bit time-consuming to do so, especially every time I walked from the sand to the bathroom at the beach. The straps are made from water-friendly polyester jacquard that I found to be quicker drying than Tevas and easier to wipe clean and dust sand off. These straps feel thinner on my feet than the ones on Tevas, which have a bit of cushioning on the back of my heel.
Chaco also has sandals with toe loops to hold your feet in place and prevent your feet from sliding during a walk or hike. I prefer no toe loop, but styles like the Women's ZX/2 Cloud Dual Adjustable Straps Cushioned Sandal are popular among fans of Chacos that I personally know — and the sandals have high reviews online. Chacos website even features a step-by-step instructional graphic for adjusting the straps to get the perfect fit.
Footbed
Both the Hurricane XLT2 Sandal and Original Universal sandals from Teva have a molded ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam footbed, with the former being thicker and more robust for extra support. I wore the Original Universal sandals to social outings, work and the beach and my feet only began to get sore after over 20,000 steps. "The footbed is squishy with a bouncy foam feel with some arch support," says Senior Analyst Emma Seymour, who owns the Teva Original Universal sandals.
Seymour explains that the Hurricane XLT2 Sandals are the more supportive option from Teva thanks to a Nylon shank that stabilizes your feet and instantly cushions feet. "I would wear these for a light hike, a long walk or while exploring a new city on vacation," Seymour says.
It certainly takes some time to break in Chaco sandals that are made from the brand's signature LUVSEAT footbed, which is a polyurethane (PU) material. Compared to EVA, PU often feels less cushiony but is known for lasting longer without losing its shape.
The first day I wore the Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal, I took over 17,000 steps and I severely regretted it by the time I was in bed. The arch of my foot ached but I luckily had no blisters. After that day, these sandals have felt like walking on clouds. The footbeds of both Chaco sandals that I tested are comparable to some of my favorite running sneakers and each step felt like my foot sunk into a cushion. Lastly, I thought the material that touched my skin was comfortable and not slippery for both Chacos and Tevas, but the Teva Original Universal has a nice grippy feel from a textured midsole.
Outsole
Both Teva and Chaco sandals are built to support you hiking through trails, whether that be dirt, rocks, fallen branches, rivers, waterfalls or the streets of New York City. This means the outsole of their sandals has excellent grip for traction — especially while stepping on slippery rocks.
Both Chaco sandals I own utilize their ChacoGrip rubber compound technology with intricate tread designs with 3 mm lug depth, meaning they offer suitable traction for more well-maintained trails. The deeper the lug depth, the better the traction on trails, but the less comfortable they are to walk in on flatter roads. This lug depth is an ideal middle ground for me because I enjoy wearing Chacos to work, the beach, around the neighborhood and on the trails.
Teva sandals also have a rubber outsole. The Teva Women’s Hurricane XLT2 Sandals have a deeper traction on the outsole, with a 3.5 mm lug depth, which could be slightly better for hikes. The Original Universal sandals also have some gridding and while I couldn't find a lug depth listed, a quick check with the ruler showed the lug depth was less than 1 mm. This can be surprisingly more comfortable to wear on flat, clean surfaces, such as an office floor, a clean sidewalk or even around a museum.
Arch support
Tevas have a much lower and flatter arch than the high, thick arch in Chaco sandals. If your feet are on the flatter side, you may find the Teva Women’s Hurricane XLT2 Sandals or Original Universal Sandals more comfortable to wear. Do not fret — they are still supportive, cushioned and healthy for your feet; Tevas may be better suited for those with flat to normal feet.
On the other hand, Chacos can be more supportive for those with normal to high arches, while potentially feeling uncomfortable for some with flat feet. Regardless, if you have concerns about your footwear, we recommend speaking with your podiatrist.
The arch Chaco sandals stood out to our Lab pros and testers. "When wearing these sandals, my high arches felt completely supported, which is rare," said Seymour, who owns the Chaco Z1 Classic Sandals. Berry agreed and said the arch support was a huge plus. "I wore my Chacos on an hour-plus walk in Central Park and found them to be comfortable, especially in the arch area which I appreciate since I have high arches," she explained.
Weight
The thicker midsole and PU foam material in Chacos is ultimately heavier than Tevas EVA foam. Tevas felt noticeably lighter on my feet as I walked, but I didn't notice much of a difference when I walked with the sandals in a backpack or tote bag. In the spirit of thorough testing, I weighed my sandals on a scale to determine the true difference in weight:
- Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandal: 1.4 lbs
- Teva Original Universal: 0.6 lbs
- Chaco Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal: 1.4 lbs
- Chaco Z/Cloud Cushioned Sandal: 1.2 lbs
Every single item and ounce makes a huge difference (especially in a suitcase at the airport!), so Tevas may be better for you if you're about to begin thru-hiking for weeks or months. Plus, lighter shoes can feel like a relief on your feet after a long day of stomping around in heavy hiking boots.
Price
Without skimping on quality, Teva sandals are less expensive without considering any sales. The Chaco Women’s Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal is $105, while the Teva Women’s Hurricane X is $75. After wearing both, the main difference for me is only the straps. I would be willing to chalk up the extra cash for the Chacos for a hiking or campground sandal.
However, I would choose the Teva Original Universal sandal for $55 if I needed to buy new sandals for daily wear or to go to the beach. They're much more supportive than your average flat sandal and my previous pair of sandals from a different brand was almost the same price and probably 1 cm thin — a.k.a. not comfy or supportive, whatsoever. Ultimately, you're most likely shelling out over $50 for either brand, but you'll spend more on Chacos.
Sizing
Teva sandals are offered in a size range of women's 5–14 and men's 3–12. Some of their sandals are gender-neutral with both sizes listed under one product, while others need to be bought specifically for women's or men's sizing.
Chaco sandals are offered in a size range of women's 5–12 and men's 7–15. If your size is unavailable in Chacos (or Tevas) you can always purchase the same style sandal in the men's size or vice versa. Only Chaco offers wide-width sandals in sizes women's 5–10 and men's 7–12, an ideal option for those who need some extra room in the midsole.
Sustainability efforts
Both brands were created by river guides and, consequently, by people who appreciated nature and the earth. Today, both Chaco and Teva have admirable commitments to sustainability. All Teva sandal straps are made from recycled polyester. Chaco has a "ReChaco factory" that repairs broken Chaco sandals to prevent them from ending up in the landfill.
You can read more about Chaco's sustainability efforts and Teva's corporate responsibility statements on the brands' websites.
Speed round: Miscellaneous comparisons
Teva sandals were treated with a peppermint-based anti-odor treatment called Life Natural, is designed to control odor-causing bacteria. This is a neat feature that can come in handy if your feet are sweaty.
I loved wearing both sandals to the beach. I usually wear slides or flip-flops, but Tevas and Chacos changed the name of the game for me. Rather than kicking sand up at me with each step, these sandals all stayed secure to my feet, allowing me to run across the sand faster than I ever could. The sand stuck to the velcro a bit in the Tevas, but it was much easier to take on and off than the Chacos, which made my life easier when I needed to go from the shore to the bathroom or the car.
Chacos were tighter while remaining comfortable because the straps have more adjustability and did not irritate my feet. I had to loosen the straps a bit on the Teva Original Universal to prevent the straps from bothering me, which not only made my feet shift around more, but it also weirdly made a loud noise similar to the sound you hear while walking in flip-flops.
Teva vs. Chaco: Which is best?
So, should you purchase Tevas or Chacos? As with most things, it's ultimately up to the individual. After trying out the sandals for myself, consulting with a GH Institute expert and gauging responses from testers, there are three key factors to consider when choosing between Tevas vs. Chacos:
- Your foot arch
- Foot width
- Activities you plan to do while wearing the sandals
Chacos may be the better option for those with high archers. People with narrow feet like myself may prefer Chacos for a tighter fit, while those with wide feet can shop from the brand's wide footwear options. Frequent hikers walking on rough terrain, through water and slippery rocks may prefer the extra security while wearing Chacos, making the higher price worth the investment.
Tevas may be the better option for those with flatter feet and an average foot width. People looking for an everyday sandal with foot support with more cushion in the ankle strap can opt for the less expensive (but popular!) pair from the two brands, the Original Universal sandals. The ease in taking Tevas on and off may be better suited for heading to the beach or lake.
I plan to bring the Chaco Women’s Z/1 Adjustable Strap Classic Sandal to my upcoming hiking trip and will wear them on some light hikes and while exploring around Lake Tahoe, California. On the other hand, I reach for my Teva Original Universal sandals every time I wear a matching outfit and I wish I could own them in every color. Both brands have styles better suited for different situations and environments, so it mostly comes down to the reason why you want to buy sandals.
"Style wise, I’d probably gravitate more towards to the Tevas and I like how easy they are to take on/off, but I find the Chacos offer better arch support," said Seymour.
Remember to check the descriptions of each sandal to see what types of activities the brand recommends wearing them for. Some are ideal for light day hikes, others are better suited for water activities and a few are solely designed for day-to-day wear.
At the end of the day, both sandals are excellent options for foot support and walking long distances. Strap on those sandals and head out into the great outdoors.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have been researching footwear for decades. When testing shoes, our fiber scientists analyze
Isabella Cavallo is an assistant commerce editor at the GH Institute. She has experience writing reviews of footwear, athletic gear and all sorts of shopping content. Outside of the office, Cavallo is an avid hiker, beach lover and walking enthusiast — she's always on her feet getting her steps in. Cavallo wore two pairs of sandals from both Chacos and Tevas to gain firsthand experience and opinions on the brands.
Cavallo also considered consumer testing notes and consulted Emma Seymour, a senior analyst in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, who oversees Lab and consumer tests for all different types of footwear. Garnering over 10,000 steps a day in New York City and personally testing over 50 shoes, Seymour is an avid walker and expert in all sorts of walking shoes, workout shoes and running shoes. She also has a B.S. in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University.
Isabella (she/her) covers commerce and product-related content in the home, lifestyle, fitness, technology and beauty. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Literature & Rhetoric. Before joining GH, she was an editorial assistant at Prevention, where she covered health topics and celebrity news.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
