View Full Version : Anybody hike in "Tevas"? SealSkinz with Tevas?
Anybody tried hiking in Teva sandals? I've used them in Hawaii and Arizona and they were great. No worries about getting boots wet, and in cooler climes, a pair of heavy wool socks kept my feet warm, even in temps down in the 30's. Haven't tried them with "waterproof" socks like SealSkinz yet. Anyone try SealSkinz with Tevas? Comments?
CarlZ993
12-08-2012, 15:56
A local REI guy hiked the AT in Chaco sandals a few years back. Wore wool socks with them. Added water-proof oversock in cold, wet weather. Didn't need any 'camp shoes' for his hike. :)
A gal on trail journals 'Mouse" (Mickie) wore a pair on her thru this year. Comments on the last page of her journal.
Anybody tried hiking in Teva sandals? I've used them in Hawaii and Arizona and they were great. No worries about getting boots wet, and in cooler climes, a pair of heavy wool socks kept my feet warm, even in temps down in the 30's. Haven't tried them with "waterproof" socks like SealSkinz yet. Anyone try SealSkinz with Tevas? Comments?
Yes. Teva Terra FI II and Keen Newport H2 and Venice H2 sandals with Sealskinz WP and non-WP socks and with NRS 2 mm Neoprene Wet socks. Works great, FOR ME, in milder temps in deluges, on river hikes, some wet canyon treks, and along mixed terrain coastal hikes/wades in Olympic NP, Cali(Lost Coast), etc. Also, not a terrible system for wading while fishing, beachcombing, exploring tidal flats at low tide, etc I hiked in Teva Terra FI II's with WP Sealskinz in Maine for three days on the AT in non-stop HEAVY rain when the trail was literally 2 ft under water. I went this way for the added protection and warmth plus it got old dealing with soaked wool socks or having to replace damaged expensive wool socks or having to hike in wet trail runners. Worked well but I think I would have been better served in those conditions with a thin non-WP Neoprene or non-WP lined SealSkinz sock because with that much H20 WP becomes meaningless. Applied the same system on the same hike in the Smokies on the AT for three straight days of heavy non-stop rain. I don't always hike in sandals though.
I'm pretty sure Joe from Zpacks (http://www.zpacks.com/about.shtml) hikes with sandals.
Mrs Baggins
12-10-2012, 13:13
I love my Teva Terra Fi's for day hikes now and then. Really depends on the terrain and whether or not there will be water crossings. They're excellent in the water.
I'd like to look thru her journal. Being a Noobie to the site, how do I find her journal?
A gal on trail journals 'Mouse" (Mickie) wore a pair on her thru this year. Comments on the last page of her journal.
Oops! Forgot to put the quote in! At any rate, how do I get to "Mouse's" journal?
I want more toe protection and find trail runners to be a good option in the summer.
magic_game03
12-12-2012, 23:29
A lot of people hike in open-toe sandals, Tevas, Chacos, and there have even been people who have hiked the entire trail barefooted.
SCRUB HIKER
12-13-2012, 03:03
Had a trail buddy in 2011 that thru-hiked the AT in one pair of Tevas. He was not wearing socks with those most of the time. He put this picture up on facebook when he retired them afterward. <img src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485718_10100453456661225_523838789_n.jpg">
SCRUB HIKER
12-13-2012, 03:04
Uh, that didn't work. How about this? 18402
Velvet Gooch
12-13-2012, 06:38
I hiked a couple of hundred miles section in Tevas back in the late '80s. I probably wouldn't do it again. It's not that they were torture devices or anything, just that I'm no longer an indestructible teenager.
Teva had far fewer offerings back then. I think my sandals were made with lots of fairly soft, thin, blue webbing and had more buckles than hook-and-loop. It's been several decades since I've owned a pair.
daddytwosticks
12-13-2012, 08:16
SCRUB HIKER...if that's what his sandals looked like, I would hate to see his feet! :)
Find sandals like Tevas to be too heavy. Saw one odd pair of running teva-like sandals that looked awesome but they were not my size and no longer available, Gotta keep looking, and when you do find something that works you have to test them out and buy an extra pair or two before they change them and make them suck, which they always do.
urbansix
12-13-2012, 08:58
I did a 100 mile BMT hike in Teva Terra Fi II year before last. Wore socks with them (REI Ragg (http://www.rei.com/product/242163/rei-classic-ragg-socks) wool socks). I thought they worked great at a hiker, and converted nicely to a camp shoe.
HOWEVER, on the 3rd day, the heel strap started irritating my achilles on the left side only. The repeated stress became unbearable (I thought I had majorly pulled something at first), and I had to completely unstrap the left side and wear it like a clog. It was not a pressure or tightness issue, or a rubbing, just a very light touch on the same spot with every step that did it - like chinese water torture. Very odd.
I feel that was a unique-to-my-foot issue, and would otherwise be totally on the hiking-in-sandals camp.
bear bag hanger
12-13-2012, 11:06
I use them when hiking on paved trails, but find too much stuff gets in on dirt, even with a good pair of socks - but for me the socks sort of defeat the purpose of hiking in sandals. I do know a gal that hikes in them all the time, she wears wool socks with them. If it works for you, then go for it.
SCRUB HIKER
12-13-2012, 14:12
SCRUB HIKER...if that's what his sandals looked like, I would hate to see his feet! :)
I should have added that his trail name was Blackfoot. He didn't have to waste much time explaining that one.
Water Rat
12-13-2012, 14:37
I used to hike around in Tevas. Now, I prefer to wear my Keen Newport H2Os for the majority of my hiking - More toe protection. In colder weather, I wear trail runners, or boots. I think it all depends on what you are most comfortable wearing on a hike. If you normally scamper around in sandals, then stick with what works for you. :) Anything is possible to wear on the trail.
Maybe try on a pair of the SealSkinz and see how it feels. I have some friends who swear by them, but they don't do it for me.
Our local EMS store has both Teva and Keen sandals. I'm going to go over and try on both to see which I prefer. Thanks for the feedback;)
turtle fast
12-20-2012, 12:19
I have hiked in Tevas too, but the problem is that it does not offer protection on top of the toes when you nail a rock or when you get debris between your foot and the shoe.
Meriadoc
12-20-2012, 14:49
Most of my thru hike on the AT this year was in low support Tevas. Two pair, the first with 400 miles the second with 700+ miles and I'm still wearing them. On the second or third rainy day in a row I would wear socks to stop the straps from rubbing my softened skin raw. And then below freezing I wore socks for warmth.
On the AT I wouldn't hike in anything else. (As long as you strengthen your feet enough beforehand.)
I have hiked in Tevas too, but the problem is that it does not offer protection on top of the toes when you nail a rock or when you get debris between your foot and the shoe.
YES. Another issue, FOR ME on the AT, when I used Teva Terra Fi's, was when I got small sticks, stones, brambles, thorny blackberry branches, etc jammed into the webbing/flesh between my toes. I got little cuts, abrasions, bruises, and stab wounds between my toes while wearing Tevas on the AT and it was worse on my toes especially the tips of my toes. That's why I now mainly long distance hike in Keens which have a protective toe bumper, which also protects nails and in between the toes, and I opt for hiking sandals, like the Keens, that have a protective slightly raised outer edge on the sole and heel where you plant your feet. That slightly raised edge not only helps keep the sole of the foot firmly on the sandal but also assists in keeping debris from getting between the bottom of the foot and the sandal. Although some of the Teva and Chaco models also have this raised edge feature. And, I think Teva has recentlly introduced some sandal models with protective toe bumbers. One of the most potentially annoying issues with hiking in sandals, FOR ME, is getting debris lodged between my toes and betwen the sandal's footbed and sole of my feet. I also want a hiking sandal that securely attaches to and fits my feet! I don't want a hiking sandal that is flopping around on my foot or slips off when doing a wade/ford. For example, IMHO, Crocs don't cut it for hiking for extended periods. Personally, I WOULD NOT, and wouldn't advise anyone, to hike through PA, The Whites, down Mt Moussalake or through Mahoosuc Notch in sandals that were not securely attached to your feet!
This isn't exactly to the pt of the OP's question but if planning doing a hike in sandals I would advise you carefully monitor the health of your feet when hiking, even more so than when hiking in boots or trail runners. Part of accomplishing that is selecting sandals appropriate for whatever type of hiking you are plan on doing, hence the comment about Keens. Personally, when hiking for extended days in sandals I find my skin can dry out severely leading to deep cracked heels, toes, and toenails, which can sideline me and take considerable time to fully heal. DEEPLY cracked heels are one of those things that are BEST approached preventively! Wash, moisturize, take care of, and protect you feet, including your toenails if hiking in sandals for extended periods. Lately, I've been using Bert's Bees Res-Q Ointment in the .6 oz size can and Bert's Bees Miracle Salve in the 2 oz size can, both perfect sized for UL backpacking, with excellent results for keeping my skin, especially my feet, healthy. And those Bert's Bees products smell good without being too girly smelling.