REASONS TO BUY
Protective coverage
Three points of adjustment
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the most comfortable or breathable sandal
Teva Omnium 2 Review
This model holds its own, but isn't our favorite closed sandal
Credit: Teva
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Our Verdict
While closed-toe sandals aren't popular with everyone, the Teva Omnium 2 has caught the eye of multi-sport adventurers looking for protective, breathable footwear. It is indeed a supportive sandal but didn't hold up to the expectations of our testers when evaluating the top sandals on the market. We found it to have only moderate traction and stability, and the completely closed-toe meant it was slow to dry and hardly felt like a sandal. Our testing showed that this sandal is less comfortable and a bit more cumbersome to adjust than most others. Best suited for casual wear and some light-duty hiking, it hasn't quite got the gusto to be considered an all-terrain sandal.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Teva refers to the Omnium 2 as a "wet-dry hybrid shoe" — utilizing the same outsole material as seen on other Teva models. But our testing proved that this 'hybrid' feels more like a shoe and doesn't play as well in the water as we had hoped compared to the competition in our best sandal review. For capable water sports footwear, check out our favorite men's water shoes.
Performance Comparison
The Teva Omnium feel more like an aquatic shoe than a sandal...not necessarily a bad thing, but we prefer breathability in our summer footwear.
Comfort
A bonus of closed-toe sandals is their greater coverage and protection that enables more confidence bushwhacking, trailblazing, or activities that would otherwise be challenging in sandals. The toe box of the Omnium 2 is undoubtedly protective, though it offers so much coverage that breathability becomes an issue. Similarly, we found that the shoe is slow to drain and thoroughly dry during aqueous adventuring.
We also aren't wild about how the heel strap of the Omnium rubs against the bare skin. The comprehensive coverage may help protect you from snags, but it also makes it more challenging to get pebbles or sand unstuck from inside. Worn with socks, these issues are mitigated, but socks also aren't the best with this swampy toe box.
Even though it isn't the most comfortable sandal in the lineup, the Omnium is forgiving enough to be worn during high-intensity outings.
Traction
The Omnium 2 features the proprietary Spider rubber found on most of Teva's active footwear. The outsole has tough black rubber around the foot perimeter with a strip of beige non-skid rubber in the middle. The tread is angular but not fully lugged out.
Ultimately, we weren't terribly impressed by this model's traction performance. Though it fared well in favorably dry conditions, we found that the rubber tends to give up once it becomes wet. This is sort of a deal-breaker for a shoe that claims to be a "wet-dry hybrid." Other Teva models that we've tested seem to have better traction than the Omnium 2.
The mixed rubber sole of the Omnium 2 wasn't exactly our favorite. While the non-skid material is favorable for watersports, we didn't experience the best traction on mixed or loose rock.
Stability
Despite being reasonably lightweight, the Omnium 2 provides a decent level of overall stability. While there are stiffer, more robust soles to choose from in this review, our testers thought that the Omnium could handle sporty approaches.
Full-coverage sandals may offer more protection, but that doesn't necessarily mean more security. Because of the shape of the Omnium and the relative lack of secure straps or webbing, we found our feet sliding around in this sandal more than we like.
Great protection and support are notable strengths of the Omnium 2. Both of these characteristics helped to boost its stability score.
Adjustability
This sandal has more total adjustment points than many other models that we tested. Still, our testers preferred other models that are quicker to adjust, easier to release and hug the foot better than the Omnium.
Using a Velcro heel strap in the heel, a buckling Velcro strap over the instep, and a small loop of elastic laces, the Omnium 2 has all the bells and whistles for dialing in a good fit…or so you'd think. Our experience with these shoes has proven that, when it comes to sandals, simplicity is preferred to extravagance.
While we appreciate three different points of adjustment, they seem superfluous on a sandal that's almost a shoe. We prefer the lace-up style of the Newport among the closed-toe designs.
Versatility
Because they offer enhanced coverage and protection, the Omnium 2 may seem like a clear choice for those in need of a do-it-all hybrid shoe. While it is undoubtedly capable of handling a good blend of outdoor excursions, we wouldn't recommend it as an all-purpose footwear option.
The materials and design of the Omnium aren't conducive to draining water from the footbed or drying quickly after getting wet. This is a huge bummer if you plan to use these as multi-sport shoes where you will undoubtedly be getting wet.
Enhanced coverage and a protective toe box may lend a hand to more raucous adventuring, but the Omnium 2 isn't the best choice for all terrain types.
Should You Buy the Teva Omnium 2?
We were ultimately disappointed with the performance of this sandal. With a swampy toe box and faux-leather materials, it's tough even to call it a sandal. While it offers great protection on the trail, something is left to be desired in the Teva Omnium 2 after our intense testing. If your objective is to find an all-purpose sandal capable of handling missions on the water as well as land, you'd be wise to look at the other models in this review first. The Omnium 2 is less expensive than some of the higher-end models included in this review. However, we assert that your money is better spent on a different shoe with better overall comfort and performance.
If you're looking solid water shoe, we think you can do better than the Omnium 2.
What Other Sandals Should You Consider?
We prefer the Keen Newport H2 if you want a closed-toed sandal. This sandal is somewhat heavier, but it offers significantly better stability and traction. We also think it is more comfortable and adjustable than the Omnium. While it will cost more, we believe the price is worth the upgrade in materials and performance.
—
Nick Bruckbauer and Rob Woodworth
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