Hiking Sandal Recommendation Needed

The Luna Monos are this really super light foamy springy stuff (and they have the Mono Gordos which are even thicker). I ordered just the footbeds and had some other laces to use. My first impression was these are glorified flip-flops but I really like walking in them and they are not as soft as flip-flops and more durable than they seem. There’s a bit of springy give that makes them comfortable and they just feel so light. I hiked 4 miles in them today, barefoot in the sandals, no socks. They’re still not as cushy as shoes, though, and there’s that lace between the toes. I got a between-the-toe ball-of-foot blister partially because I wore them backpacking for many miles a couple weeks ago. It’s not exactly because of the thong between the toe rubbing but something about the pressure there gives me a blister on the ball of my foot.

I’ve hiked long distances in Chacos pretty happily. You might have to do something like Chacos or Tevas if you want something more beefy that doesn’t go between the toes.

I’m with you on the sandal thing. I can barely stand it to wear shoes at all anymore.

Chaco’s or Tevas are the next step up as weight increases.  It is liberating and I’ve been thinking of going back in certain terrain.

Piper: The Luna’s have some bounce to them? That’s good to know! The Z-trails, although claiming a 10mm stack height, might be as cushioned as a thick piece of leather. They won’t bruise your feet, but I’ve found that they apply unwelcome pressure on my feet if used too long, and I think they’re constricting blood vessels in my feet; my feet are a bit sore when I wake up now, and it’s not plantar fasciitis.

The toe post doesn’t bother me too much. My feet are pretty leathery. However, I do wonder how I’d combat cold snaps wearing sandals when they have toe posts. You could wear toe socks, but they won’t be near as warm as other options when wearing sandals without toe posts.

If Luna’s weren’t so darn expensive I’d just try a pair. I have abnormally narrow feet, and their all their sizing charts are too wide for me (I fit near-perfect into women’s sizes of Xeros and Bedrock). In order to get a pair of Luna’s that’d fit me, I’d be forced to resort to custom sizing. They do it, but it’s at a premium to what is already a hefty price-tagged sandal, hence a level of hesitation. It’s good to hear that they do have some bounce.

I’m tempted to just try a pair of Hurricane XLTs next. They seem pretty minimal yet cushioned. They aren’t zero drop, but they are really cheap.

You could try TABI socks where only the big toe is separate unlike injinji socks where all the toes are separated

Luna also makes the TABU based in the Tabi sock for cold, wet and windy weather

I have used Teva and Chaco brands. One needs to get the feet ready before a trip so that the straps do not make blisters.

I found the Tevas cut into my outside ankle bone. Hurt quite a bit and had to fuss with taping and bleeding.mQuite a hassle. Also had a strap come undone from the footbed on the trail. That was not good. To their credit, they replaced them even though past warranty. Still very inconvenient to be sure.

I am now using Chacos. Wish their straps were not so spartan. I have the model with the vibram sole. I like them a lot. One thing though; the straps can get sticky from mud seeping into the footbed, then drying. It is a bear to loosen. Thus, i would clean them out if i have been in such an environment to prevent that. Google it for method.

.BAREFOOT JAKE.

I’ve been keeping an eye on these.  https://bedrocksandals.com/collections/sandals/products/cairn-sandals

Quite a bit thicker than I prefer but if they’re flexible enough they might do the trick.

I’ve tried Xero 4mm and 6mm, Bedrock Synclines, Unshoes Uinta, and Luna Leadville Pacers.  So far, the Xero 4mm are my faves.  The Leadville Pacers have potential, though.

The luna mono footbeds are only $40 and you can get some laces for $13. I met the luna team at an ultramarathon and asked one of them whose sandals appears to be extra wide why his sandals looked so wide and he said they had a wide template you could request. So I emailed Luna, they sent me a pdf pattern of the template which I printed out, and it seemed to fit my foot okay so they sent me a custom order form to order the footbeds in wide. It didn’t cost me extra. Maybe they have a narrow template.

I wouldn’t say that they are as bouncy as Tevas, but they have some cushioning. And it’s only the ones that look like Birkenstocks on the bottom that seem cushiony. I have a pair of the Osos and they are hard as a rock, but the pattern on the sole is pretty good for not slipping.

When it’s cold I just wear socks. If the socks and laces are not too tight, you can just wedge the sock between your toes. I also have some nylon tabis that are thin and not to warm for just keeping my feet from getting all scratched up.

If you haven’t tried Sanuks, I wholeheartedly recommend them.  While I primarily hike in Inov8’s, I always bring my Sanuks along as a camp shoe. Yet, whenever I swamp my Inov8’s, I find myself easily hiking in my Sanuks, and always find them to be extraordinarily comfortable on any terrain. I use the Vagabond “slip on” shoes, and while they are not sandals per-se, they protect the feet while remaining very breathable and porous.

Since my first pair a several years ago, I’ve accumulated a couple more pairs for daily wear and tear. While stores like REI have them off the shelf, I have had pretty good luck finding them on Ebay.

fwiw.

“I found the Tevas cut into my outside ankle bone. ”

It sounds like you had the wrong model. Most model’s cut me also. I’ve had excellent luck with tera fi’s and originals. However, for long trips I prefer tera fis.

-Barry

-May everyone find their sole

Barry, Could be. They were a gift, so I wore them regardless. The replacement model (not sure which one) does not do the same thing. The Chacos are heavier, but I like the sole.

I tried xero. Though I wanted them to work I found the sole too thin. I know, I know…thats their point!

happy trails