View Full Version : Chaco Sandals - Hiking the AT
I know there have been a lot of comments in various threads about distance/thru hiking the AT in sandals. What I'd like to hear is some specifics and suggestions, as I just got a new pair of Z/1s, and am thinking about trying them out as my primary hiking footwear.
1. Should I wear socks or no socks?
2. Should I start with socks and gradually migrate to no socks as my feet and Chacos get used to one another?
3. In colder weather, I'm thinking of wearing my Sealskinz waterproof socks with them - anyone have feedback on this combination?
To avoid convoluting the discussion, I am not concerned about ankle support as I have confidence that will not be an issue for me, having hiked extensively in trailrunners for years. My pack weight is around 30 lbs base - could reach 45 lbs with food on week-long hike. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences/suggestions! :)
I've been wearing sandals instead of shoes for a couple of months now.
If I don't wear socks, I get small rub-raws from the straps.
The other thing about sandals is that they provide significantly less protection to your feet than shoes. Socks can help keep you from getting scratched or cut so much.
I would make the transition over some time--it's a pretty major change in the way the muscles and tendons in your feet have to operate, so it makes sense to build the strength a bit at a time. I carried both sandals and shoes for a few longer hikes, in case the sandals didn't work out.
Random thoughts from an exclusive Chaco wearer:
Most important thing is to break them in before you start. The footbed is not like that of a sneaker or boot. The surface needs to be broken in quite a bit or it will feel like you are walking on a plank of hardwood.
Socks are useful to have. Your feet will callous and crack. Socks can limit this or will come in handy when it does happen. However, I would start out sans socks. There will come a time, in rain or mud or some other necessity, where you will go without socks. It is best to be familiar with no socks when this arises. Besides, it just feels better. There is something psychological to having the feet exposed. It is freeing.
If you go without socks, your feet will never be clean again. Nor your ankle bone.
Your first hike in the rain will let you know you made the right choice. Rain is no longer your enemy. And if you are like me, a kid at heart, purposely stepping into puddles while you are hiking along is good perverse fun. (Altho, don't let your sneaker/boot wearing partners now how much. :banana
You won't stub your toes. The real trouble is small roots sticking out sideways from the trail which your eyes arent' trained to scan and which can really jack up your small toe. I crushed mine on my thru, however, you really don't need that toe to hike but it can hurt.
Not sure how cold you are planning on hiking in, but a good pair of wool socks has done me right down to 32 degrees. Just make sure you have a great big warm pair for use exclusively in camp.
Don't worry about the ankles. They will strengthen.
I got my first pair 7 years ago and they are almost all I wear, hiking or not. Hope they work out as well for you.
Thanks Yahtzee! I was hoping you would 'wade in' to my inquiry. Well, I just wore my new Chaco Z/1s on a 3-mile walk tonight with a pair of wool Thorlo socks and they felt great! Just trying to break them in a little. I'm thinking these babies are going with me on my 70-mile hike starting on Oct 11th, along with my regular cross-trainers (trail runners). I may start out with them and see how it goes and follow Marta's advice as well as yours.
CrumbSnatcher
09-29-2008, 22:39
my first thruhike i wore heavy boots (montrail moraines) and since then have wore nothing but chacos. so comfortable, i'd reach camp for the night and still have my footwear on. so comfortable i'd pay no attention to my feet. so much more energy without the boots. camp shoes not necessary...they do weigh more than trail runners though. i usually hiked with no socks, thats what dries your feet out,never had a blister wearing my chacos. but the dried out cracking feet, hurt just as much. putting socks on didn't help too much. more comfortable but the dust still goes thru the sock and dries the feet more. in bad weather i hiked sometimes without socks and just got muddy feet no big deal. but i would usually wear a smart wool sock(thin socks are better,if your socks are to tight in your seal skin ) inside of my seal skins and a pair of O.R. low cut gaiters. could stand in a creek cool off the feet without getting the feet wet. and when the feet were real dry and cracked? leaving my seal skins on would make my feet sweat just enough to help keep them moist(carry some lotion too). alot of people worried about kicking rocks wearing sandels? if i did bang my foot, it was usually when i stepped over things and banged my heals,on the back swing. and sometimes when your moving along a stick will stick between your sandel and your foot, it can hurt a bit, you get used to it though. Z1's are great don't like the Z2's
I know there have been a lot of comments in various threads about distance/thru hiking the AT in sandals. What I'd like to hear is some specifics and suggestions, as I just got a new pair of Z/1s, and am thinking about trying them out as my primary hiking footwear.
1. Should I wear socks or no socks?
2. Should I start with socks and gradually migrate to no socks as my feet and Chacos get used to one another?
3. In colder weather, I'm thinking of wearing my Sealskinz waterproof socks with them - anyone have feedback on this combination?
To avoid convoluting the discussion, I am not concerned about ankle support as I have confidence that will not be an issue for me, having hiked extensively in trailrunners for years. My pack weight is around 30 lbs base - could reach 45 lbs with food on week-long hike. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences/suggestions! :)
My son, Colonel Chaco (akaChaco Taco) hiked in Chaco's early on, until he was in PA, NY. He now, as we speak , is summitting Mt. Katahdin. I believe he was pleased with the Chacos until he got into more rugged terrain. I am sure he would not mind sharing his experience/s with you.
my first thruhike i wore heavy boots (montrail moraines) and since then have wore nothing but chacos. so comfortable, i'd reach camp for the night and still have my footwear on. so comfortable i'd pay no attention to my feet. so much more energy without the boots. camp shoes not necessary...they do weigh more than trail runners though. i usually hiked with no socks, thats what dries your feet out,never had a blister wearing my chacos. but the dried out cracking feet, hurt just as much. putting socks on didn't help too much. more comfortable but the dust still goes thru the sock and dries the feet more. in bad weather i hiked sometimes without socks and just got muddy feet no big deal. but i would usually wear a smart wool sock(thin socks are better,if your socks are to tight in your seal skin ) inside of my seal skins and a pair of O.R. low cut gaiters. could stand in a creek cool off the feet without getting the feet wet. and when the feet were real dry and cracked? leaving my seal skins on would make my feet sweat just enough to help keep them moist(carry some lotion too). alot of people worried about kicking rocks wearing sandels? if i did bang my foot, it was usually when i stepped over things and banged my heals,on the back swing. and sometimes when your moving along a stick will stick between your sandel and your foot, it can hurt a bit, you get used to it though. Z1's are great don't like the Z2'sThanks for all the info. So is there a solution to preventing dry, cracking skin on your feet? That doesn't sound like much fun. :) :p
My son, Colonel Chaco (akaChaco Taco) hiked in Chaco's early on, until he was in PA, NY. He now, as we speak , is summitting Mt. Katahdin. I believe he was pleased with the Chacos until he got into more rugged terrain. I am sure he would not mind sharing his experience/s with you.Yes, I recognize the name as a poster here. So he's finishing his thru at Katahdin today/tomorrow? That's awesome! Yes, I would like to get his feedback on his Chacos experience.
CrumbSnatcher
09-30-2008, 08:08
having strong ankles is a plus if your going to wear sandels all the way to big k, i've seen some use ankle braces. last time i went thru pa. this older couple coming the other way said,you never make it thru hear with sandels on. that was a good laugh.
I used to exclusively wear Chacos, and I'll second everything here, WEAR SOCKS, break them in for 50 miles before hand, they do have a heavy sole.
Beware, though. I had a BUNK pair of Chacos that ruined a SHT hike. The ankle straps were not sewn in at the right angle and they rubbed horribly on my achilles tendons, so badly I could barely walk. So put some weight on your pack, climb some hills, and make sure the straps are set in correctly before you get out in the middle of nowhere.
I recently hiked the Hundred Mile Wilderness, starting out with low topped Keen hikers. I carried a pair of all synthetic sandals for stream crossings. About 2/3 of the way through, the hikers had stretched so much that they twisted around my foot on steep sidehills and off camber rocks. I switched to my sandals and wore them through the last third of the Wilderness, through Baxter Park, up and down Katahdin, and back to Abol Bridge. The only things that I noticed is that:
1) There was little stiffness to the soles, so I got "stone bruises".
2) Sticks would occasionally get between the straps and poke my feet (I wore socks). I had not had this problem with the low tops. Once I got quite a scratch from a stick that my other foot had kicked up.
3) Obviously, I would get more sand and small rocks and pine needles in my sandals than I did my shoes, so I would have to stop and dump them out more often.
4) The difference in weight between the shoes and the sandals was noticeable and enjoyable.
5) I was surprised in how much grip and support the sandals had while climbing Katahdin.
I wore both Sealskinz and Smartwool socks with the sandals. The Sealskinz gave more protection from sticks, and the sand and pine needles did not bother me as much as they did when I wore the Smartwools, but they were much hotter than the Smartwools. They (Sealskinz)were great in the mud, though.
I will be wearing the sandals more in the future.
Yes, I recognize the name as a poster here. So he's finishing his thru at Katahdin today/tomorrow? That's awesome! Yes, I would like to get his feedback on his Chacos experience.
Also, as a note, when he wore out his first pair, somewhere in SNP, I contacted Chaco in Colorado and they sent him a new pair, free of charge, along with some other hiker paraphenalia. Yes, contact chaco and he can give you a first hand opinion.
Also, as a note, when he wore out his first pair, somewhere in SNP, I contacted Chaco in Colorado and they sent him a new pair, free of charge, along with some other hiker paraphenalia.
That is very cool.
A dog gnawed the straps on a pair of my Chacos. I wonder if they can be fixed? Not a warranty issue, of course, but it seems a shame to have a great sole with a gnawed-up strap. I'll have to look into it.
That is very cool.
A dog gnawed the straps on a pair of my Chacos. I wonder if they can be fixed? Not a warranty issue, of course, but it seems a shame to have a great sole with a gnawed-up strap. I'll have to look into it.
The Customer Service Page on the Chaco web site has a recommendation you'll enjoy: "Dog ate your sandals? Need your worn webbing or soles replaced? Visit our repairs page."
That's good advice. I sent my sandals back to Chacos to be resoled this summer. They came back with new straps. The repair guy decided I would be needing them. No charge for the straps.
In addition to being very cool, this is a company that is very green. Chaco rules -- or, at least, it should.
Good luck, Marta.
Dennis
PS. Really enjoy your Trail Journals. Keep writing!
Thanks, Dennis! I guess I should have thought of looking there. I'm kind of a procrastinator. It took me three or four years to send my defective sleeping pad back to Big Agnes. I'll see if I can do better with the Chacos.
Which brings up the intriguing question--Why do dogs like shoes so much?
Chaco Taco
10-07-2008, 14:48
I have the toe loop sandals and they rub in between the toes, but after you get the calous formed they are awesome. I have the vibram sole but am interested in the stealth sole because it has more tread. My gf Wakapak had the Z1 with no toeloop and just had lower foot problems I dont think related to the shoe. The thing is, wear the hell out of em before you hike so you can get that strap calous. When i walked into the NOC my feet were bleeding from the straps. Dont hike in brand new pairs. They seem to take longer to break in than shoes. I love hiking in Chaco's just hard to do with new sandals. just break em in real good.
I have the toe loop sandals and they rub in between the toes, but after you get the calous formed they are awesome. I have the vibram sole but am interested in the stealth sole because it has more tread. My gf Wakapak had the Z1 with no toeloop and just had lower foot problems I dont think related to the shoe. The thing is, wear the hell out of em before you hike so you can get that strap calous. When i walked into the NOC my feet were bleeding from the straps. Dont hike in brand new pairs. They seem to take longer to break in than shoes. I love hiking in Chaco's just hard to do with new sandals. just break em in real good.So did you complete your thru and summit Kathadin? You're dad said you were there a few days ago.
Anyway thanks for the tips on breaking them in. I went with the Z/1s cause just trying the Z/2s on in the store I could tell that the toe strap would be a problem. That plus I can't stand anything between my toes anyway . . . never have been able to stand flip flops! :eek: I've worn mine on a couple of 3-mile neighborhood walks and they felt great, better with my thicker outer socks than with the merino wool thin under socks. I'll take your advice and break them in this way before I take them hiking, so they aren't going on this Friday's week-long hike, unfortunately. Too heavy to carry along to wear sparingly.
So did you complete your thru and summit Kathadin? You're dad said you were there a few days ago.
Anyway thanks for the tips on breaking them in. I went with the Z/1s cause just trying the Z/2s on in the store I could tell that the toe strap would be a problem. That plus I can't stand anything between my toes anyway . . . never have been able to stand flip flops! :eek: I've worn mine on a couple of 3-mile neighborhood walks and they felt great, better with my thicker outer socks than with the merino wool thin under socks. I'll take your advice and break them in this way before I take them hiking, so they aren't going on this Friday's week-long hike, unfortunately. Too heavy to carry along to wear sparingly.
From the Dad, Chaco summitted last Tuesday, Sept 30, at 11 AM. Sounds like he did it just in time.
From the Dad, Chaco summitted last Tuesday, Sept 30, at 11 AM. Sounds like he did it just in time.Yes, I see on another thread where the thru hikers are piling up with 5 days of trailhead closures due to ice and snow. Congratulations Colonel Chaco!
Chaco Taco
10-08-2008, 11:06
So did you complete your thru and summit Kathadin? You're dad said you were there a few days ago.
Anyway thanks for the tips on breaking them in. I went with the Z/1s cause just trying the Z/2s on in the store I could tell that the toe strap would be a problem. That plus I can't stand anything between my toes anyway . . . never have been able to stand flip flops! :eek: I've worn mine on a couple of 3-mile neighborhood walks and they felt great, better with my thicker outer socks than with the merino wool thin under socks. I'll take your advice and break them in this way before I take them hiking, so they aren't going on this Friday's week-long hike, unfortunately. Too heavy to carry along to wear sparingly.
Yes summited on 9-30-08
I see what you mean with the toe loop. Its a pain getting them on in the morning with the loop, esp when its cold. easier to wear socks. The solution would be toesocks.