Reviews You Can Rely On

How We Tested Sandals for Women

By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor
Friday March 22, 2024
sandals womens - to truly compare the performance of the models in our review, we...
To truly compare the performance of the models in our review, we test them side-by-side. Here, we're getting ready to traction-test (from left to right) the Luna Oso Flaco, OluKai Upena, Keen Rose, Bedrock Cairn 3D PRO II Adventure, Chaco Z/1 Classic, Teva Original Universal, and (worn by our lead tester) the Bedrock Cairn Adventure.
Credit: Joanna Trieger

We put our tested sandals through the wringer, wearing each of them for various activities to be sure to bring you a comprehensive look at their strengths and weaknesses. Our testers went on day hikes, multi-day trips with heavy packs, up and down rugged and easy trails, biking and walking around town, through creeks in the mountains, and while kayaking. We compared each pair and evaluated them on key metrics of comfort, traction, adjustability, stability, versatility, and style so you can figure out which model best suits your lifestyle and needs.

sandals womens - we sent a photo like this of every model to a trusted group of...
We sent a photo like this of every model to a trusted group of family and friends and had them rate the sandal's style on a scale from 1-10.
Credit: Joanna Trieger

Comfort


To evaluate the comfort of each sandal, we wore them throughout our testing period and made our best effort to wear each pair as our primary shoe for a full week. We evaluated their break-in periods, whether any hot spots or blisters developed, and how the materials felt against the skin. We were each model with a heavy pack to determine how that affected the comfort of the footbed. We also noted whether differences in foot type (flat feet vs. high arches) or foot shape (wide vs. narrow) affected the comfort of each.

sandals womens - listen, gear testing is no picnic, but we get through it. we wore...
Listen, gear testing is no picnic, but we get through it. We wore the Bedrock Cairn Adventure deep into the backcountry to determine whether any hot spots or pain points developed during sustained use (spoiler: they didn't).
Credit: Joanna Trieger

Traction


We measured traction by walking and running in each sandal on various surfaces, from loose scree to dirt trails to granite to slick river rock. We were each as a pair; then we wore a different model on each foot to truly test them side-by-side. We noted the traction between the outsole and the ground, and crucially, we also noted the traction between the footbed and the foot since this is a huge contributor to how well a sandal holds you in place.

sandals womens - side-by-side testing the bedrock cairn adventure (back foot) and the...
Side-by-side testing the Bedrock Cairn Adventure (back foot) and the Xero Z-Trail (front foot) to determine which feels more grippy over slippery river rock.
Credit: Joanna Trieger

Stability


For stability, we hiked on a variety of terrain and took down our subjective notes about how stable each model felt. We also measured how far we could displace our feet to the left, right, back, and front to report how well the straps hold the foot in place.

sandals womens - we wear models on varied and uneven terrain to test their stability...
We wear models on varied and uneven terrain to test their stability. This Bedrock model is a standout in this category.
Credit: Joanna Trieger

Adjustability


Adjustability was measured by timing how long it took to get each shoe out of the box to fitting well on our foot. We noted whether each model was intuitive to adjust or if we had to furrow our brows to figure out how the straps worked. We counted the number of adjustment points on each model and noted throughout our testing if we wished there were more. We also attempted to adjust each model one-handed and noted whether or not this was possible.

sandals womens - field-testing the z/1 classic to see if it's possible to adjust...
Field-testing the Z/1 Classic to see if it's possible to adjust one-handed.
Credit: Joanna Trieger

Versatility


We scored the versatility of each product by looking at the big picture: how wide a variety of activities and settings could each model handle? We noted the number of outdoor sports each model was appropriate for, its weight (since this affects whether it can be easily toted on trips), and how well it transitioned to life around town. A sandal scored well here if it performed highly in the backcountry and in town.

sandals womens - if a model is light and slim enough to tuck into a backpack side...
If a model is light and slim enough to tuck into a backpack side pocket, it probably makes a great camp shoe. We also love this Teva model because it can be worn with thick socks.
Credit: Joanna Trieger