After logging countless miles on the trails, here are the best barefoot hiking sandals that will keep you comfortable on your next outdoor adventure.

I used to be a die-hard Chacos fan, mostly because I was trying to avoid hiking boots that squished my toes. But most traditional hiking sandals like Chacos are still stiff, clunky and comically heavy. 

Ever since I discovered the world of barefoot shoes, I opt for barefoot and minimalist hiking sandals as often as I can. They’re comfortable, lightweight, and I feel so much quicker and nimbler on my feet using a shoe that can move with me. 

Hiking is one of my favorite activities, whether I’m at home or traveling. I’ve tested these hiking sandals on trails throughout the United States and 4 continents—and these are the ones that make my top list for hiking and high mileage travel days. I’d be happy walking in these sandals on the trails or exploring a new city.  

Types of Barefoot Hiking Sandals

Barefoot and minimalist sandals for hiking and running typically fall into two categories: a huarache style sandal with a toe post, or a strap over the toes. Both styles are included in this list, though there do tend to be more huarache-style options for barefoot sandals as they don’t restrict toe splay and create secure fit. 

Key Characteristics of Barefoot Hiking Sandals

Tips on picking the best size and fit for barefoot sandals

Fit and sizing for both barefoot shoes and sandals can be tricky when you’re ordering online. I promise that as you get a little bit more familiar with your own feet and with some of the barefoot shoe brands, it does get easier. 

Always start with measuring your own feet (both length and width). Look for sandals that are 5mm to 10mm more than your longest foot measurement. You typically do not need as much extra space in sandals as you do in closed toe shoes. While you don’t want your toes falling off the front, you also don’t want sandals that are too long and cause you to trip.  

Next, gain an understanding of your foot shape and volume. These barefoot hiking sandals have adjustable straps that can accommodate a range of widths and volumes, but some styles may still tend to be better suited to a certain type of foot.

---

All of the sandals in this post are unisex, and work well as hiking sandals for both men and women. Find a list of cute and dressy sandals for women here. 

---

Best Barefoot and Minimalist Hiking Sandals

After trying dozens of sandals, I’ve rounded up the best options based on the barefoot criteria I’ve listed above, comfort, fit and quality. Whether I’m heading out for a long walk around my neighborhood, a day at the lake, or a day of hiking, these are the barefoot hiking sandals I reach for again and again.

---

---

3 ZuZu Sandals

Sole Thickness: 7mm – 11mm | Weight: 6 oz | Price: $79 – $99 | Upcycled Soles | Discount code: KELLY10 for 10% off 

Discount Code: KELLY10

ZuZu makes huarache style sandals that are built for walking, hiking and running. The soles for all three models (the Flow, the Flex and the Groove) are made with upcycled tire rubber. ZuZu’s goal is to make both more durable and more sustainable hiking sandals, and does this by keeping high quality rubber in use and out of a landfill. For a more in-depth discussion on these sandals and their materials, read the full ZuZu sandals review. The stack height of the sandals varies depending on the additional footbed. 

The straps are easily adjustable and replaceable; you can opt for nylon, recycled polyester or leather straps. For the best performance, especially wet conditions, I recommend the recycled polyester straps. The strap is thin but secure and work well for both hiking and casual wear. 

Fit & Sizing: I wear ZuZu sandals in an EU38, which is the same size I wear in barefoot sneakers. They’re slightly longer than my Earth Runners and slightly shorter than my Shamma sandals, so the EU38 equates well to a women’s sandal size 7.

---

4 Bedrock Sandals

Sole Thickness: 8mm – 20mm | Weight: 7.8 oz | Price: $70 – 135 | Vibram Soles 

The Cairn Evo sandals by Bedrock are a good combination of grippy tread, cushion and durability with a 14mm stack height. They’re still flexible but provide enough protection for almost any terrain. 

These are the heaviest hiking sandals on the list; a pair of Bedrocks will run you about a pound. To compare, a pair of Chacos clock in around two full pounds, so even this beefier option among minimalist hiking sandals is still much lighter than the conventional ones. 

Bedrock has a range of thinner and thicker options, and even a Pro line with a specific strapping system made for whitewater rafting adventures.  

You can order Bedrock Sandals on REI, which offers free shipping and free returns in store.

While you can’t replace the straps for Bedrocks on your own, they offer a Rock Solid Warranty. This is a lifetime warranty on the Vibram soles, which also covers any manufacturing defects on the straps. If you damage your straps, Bedrock offers reasonable repair rates through their Re-Soul program ($20 for a complete strap replacement per sandal).

Fit & Sizing: These run true to size. Like most standals that come in whole sizes, I recommend going for the size down. My husband typically wears a US Men’s 10.5 or 11, and wears these in a Men’s 10.

---

5 LUNA Sandals

Sole Thickness: 5mm – 15mm | Weight: 8.2 oz | Price: $110 – 135 | Vibram Soles | 15% off using this link

Get 15% off using the this link

Barefoot Ted met Manuel Luna in the Copper Canyons of Mexico back in 2006, and learned about the ultra-running techniques and minimalist sandals worn by the Tarahumara. He started his own minimalist running sandal company, and named them Luna sandals after the man that inspired him.  

Luna has a range of soles, with a lot of really rugged options. My current favorite Luna hiking sandal is the Middle Bear Winged Edition. The goal of these sandals is to give you the best of both worlds—it’s not too thick and not too thin and uses the Vibram MegaGrip outsole.  

They’re an ideal option if you’re using them for a lot of tough terrain, but can be overkill if you also plan to use them as a daily shoe. For thinner options, check out the Venado or Leadville trail sandals.  

Luna sandals has two strapping systems. The original (now called retro lacing system) just uses a twist of the straps around the soles to hold them securely in place. The new lacing system has plastic wings that attach the straps to the sole just before the heel. Some people find that the plastic wings can rub the inside of their feet, especially while running over long distances. Adjusting the straps to set the back strap higher on the heel can prevent the rubbing. Or, opt for the retro lacing system that doesn’t have the plastic wings.

The main drawback I’ve found in my Luna sandals is that the toe post will twist around, so that the twisted strap feels thicker between my toes. It can easily be twisted back, but usually needs to be untwisted each time I wear them. 

Fit & Sizing: I wear a women’s size 7 in Luna Sandals. They fit up to medium width feet well, and are somewhat narrow compared to other brands, like Shamma.

---

6 Xero Shoes

Sole Thickness: 11 mm | Weight: 5.5 oz | Price: $80 

The Xero Shoes Z-Trails were my first minimalist hiking sandal, and I quickly started wearing them everywhere. For those that do not like sandals with a toe post, these Z-Trails are a solid option—my husband and son still wear these regurlarly.  

At $80, these are a more affordable option than most others on this list. But I think the price does reflect the quality; the outsoles as well as the insoles show considerable wear, whereas other sandals I’ve worn for similar mileage are in better shape. Like all Xero Shoes, these do have a 5,000 mile, so you have some insurance on the sole since they’re not using a more premium product like Vibram soles. 

The top layer of foam offers a softer and more bouncy footbed; the downside is that it compresses over time, so the footbed of my sandals have deep compressions in the heel and big toe. The sole has a minimal tread, so they work well for light hiking, but I wouldn’t choose these for a tough trail.  

Xero Shoes recently released the H-Trail hiking and running sandals, which uses a similar sole, but pairs them with Huarache-style straps. The strapping system is concealed between the foam footbed and outsole, so you cannon replace the straps on these sandals.

Fit & Sizing: I wear these in a Women’s 7, and have plenty of space in these without them feeling too long. The Z-Trail has a heel cup on the back, so you may not want these in as close of a fit as other sandals as your heel could end up on top of the bump. These are one of the few sandals that come in separate men’s and women’s versions; the men’s are wider.  

These generally work well for medium width feet. As you start to go wider, the over-the-toe straps can start to squish the toes together. 

---

7 Bahé Respire Sandals

Sole Thickness:  13mm | Price: $109 | Grounding Soles | Discount Code: BAREFOOTGUIDE for 10% off

BAREFOOTGUIDE for 10% off

The Respire sandals prioritize comfort with soft webbing straps and an extra EVA layer in the footbed. The huarache-inspired design features adjustable velcro straps and added heel padding for a secure fit. With 13mm stack height, 7mm of which is EVA cushion, they offer more padding than typical minimalist sandals, which improves comfort but reduces ground feel.

Bahé does not market these as specifically a hiking sandal, but with their secure fit and lugged sole, they’ve worked really well for easy hikes–especially beach hikes where it’s not problem if they get wet, and the thicker soles can easily deal with the sharper rocks. The rubber outsole has the same lug pattern as Revive sneakers, providing traction and protection, with grounding technology integrated into the sole and straps.

The lightly textured footbed adds traction, though other sandals may offer better grip in consistently wet conditions. These sandals are ideal for those seeking versatile outdoor footwear with added cushioning.

Fit & Sizing: Bahé Respire sandals are unisex and available in sizes EU36 to EU47, which corresponds to US men’s 4/women’s 5 up to men’s 12/women’s 13. The sandals are currently available in whole sizes only. I’ve found that these fit true to the size chart. I’ve been wearing them in a US6/EU37. The footbed on the sandals is a similar length to the Revive sneakers; feet don’t tend to need as much room in sandals, which is why I opted for the EU37 in the sandals and the EU38 in the sneakers. Since the straps are adjustable, they can fit low to high volume feet. The footbed can accommodate extra wide feet.

---

8 Toetem Sandals

Sole Thickness:  5mm – 14mm | Price: $120 – $140 | Vibram Soles | Discount Code: KELLY5 for 5% off

KELLY5 for 5% off

These huarache sandals are made with Vibram soles that 5mm, 8mm and 14mm soles, so you can pick your level of cushion and grip. The straps are made with a soft microfiber that’s thicker than the straps you’ll find on most other barefoot hiking sandals; it can feel a little bulky. There are long pieces of velcro around the heel and over the top of the foot to adjust the sandals. The back strap sits a little lower on the heel for me, so I find I have to tighten these a little more to get them to stay up. 

To further customize your Toetem sandals, opt for the hemp footbed that is designed for good grip in wet conditions. 

Fit & Sizing: With the squared off toe box, the Toetem sandals fit those with square and plateau feet well. They now come in extra wide and standard width; the extra wide is their original sole shape, which I found to fit medium and wide width feet well.  

---

Comparison of the best hiking sandals

---

Our testing process at the Barefoot Shoe Guide

I’ve been wearing many of these sandals for several years, and I’ve logged countless miles both on hiking trails and in everyday life. I’ll usually test out new sandals by bringing them on a trip with me where they will be the only shoes I’ll wear for a week or more. It’s an efficient way to tell how the sandals performs in varied terrain, in the water, and in different weather and if any issues pop-up from repeated wear. 

As my first barefoot sandal, I wore my Xero Shoes Z-Trails on dozens of hikes through California. I spent over a week hiking through the jungles and along the beaches of Costa Rica in my Shamma Sandals. And recently, I packed my ZuZu sandals on a 10-day trip through Morocco, where I went from the coast, through sand dunes, hiked to an oasis, and spent several days exploring the busy streets of Marrakesh.  

Customizing your sandals 

If you find you like different aspects from each of the different sandal brands, some are compatible enough that you can do a little mixing and matching. For example, you may need the squarer toe box from Toetems, but prefer the straps from Shamma Sandals. The simple straps from Earth Runners and ZuZu sandals can often be used with different soles, like Toetems or Shamma Sandals. Many of the sandal brands do sell straps separately, and some sell the soles separately so you can do a little bit of customization.  

Bedrock Sandals and Xero Shoes Sandals are the only brands on this list where you cannot easily replace the straps on your own as they are anchored and enclosed between the outsole and footbed.

Kid’s barefoot hiking sandals

A number of these barefoot hiking sandal brands offer styles in kid’s sizes, including Earth Runners, Shamma Sandals, LUNA Sandals and Xero Shoes. See this post for a complete list of barefoot outdoor sandals for kids.

Why are barefoot sandals so expensive? 

This question is asked often when it comes to barefoot shoes. While there are a large number of reasons that result in the final price tag, the big drivers tend to be that these are small businesses with much lower order quantities compared to large brands, a commitment to better materials and paying fair wages.  

Plus, a thinner sole often doesn’t mean a cheaper one. It’s often the reverse, in that a thinner sole needs to be made of better material to maintain both the flexibility and durability. Most of these barefoot hiking sandals use Vibram soles, which are not cheap.  

And for fairness, if you compare the prices to some of the biggest names in hiking sandals, you’ll find that the prices aren’t that far off. A pair of Chacos will typically start around $100, the rugged Terra Fi Tevas are $110, and KEEN Newport sandals are $125.  

Final Thoughts

The best barefoot hiking sandals are the ones you find most comfortable. I hope that with the real-life insights included in the reviews above, you’ll find a pair of sandals that will be the best fit for you, and you can enjoy the outdoors with happy, pain-free feet.