The Best Barefoot Hiking Sandals – Tested by a Hiking Enthusiast 

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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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 directly from Bedrock or there is a limited selection available on REI. Both offer free shipping. Bedrock has free returns online, while REI has 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.

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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 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.

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6 Xero Shoes

Sole Thickness: 6mm to 11 mm | Weight: 5.5 oz | Price: $80 

Sandals Without Toe Posts: If you’re not a fan of toe posts, Xero Shoes is a great place to start. Their Z-Trail sandals were my very first minimalist hiking sandals, and my husband and son still wear theirs regularly. At $80, they’re one of the most affordable barefoot sandals available. However, I do think the lower price point reflects the quality—both the outsoles and insoles on mine have shown noticeable wear over time, whereas other sandals I’ve worn for similar mileage are holding up better.

That said, like all Xero Shoes, the Z-Trails come with a 5,000-mile sole warranty, which adds some peace of mind. Just be aware that they don’t use premium outsoles like Vibram, which may account for the faster wear.

The Z-Trail has an 11mm stack height, with a soft and springy top foam layer that feels great underfoot—at least initially. Over time, mine developed deep compression marks at the heel and big toe, which affects the comfort and support. The tread is fairly minimal, so I’d recommend these for light hiking or everyday wear, rather than rugged terrain.

The strap system forms a Z-shape across the foot and secures around the heel, with two points of adjustment. If you’re looking for something similar but with a thinner sole, check out the Z-Trek, which has a 6mm sole and similar strapping.

The D-Trail sandal also shares the same foam footbed and outsole as the Z-Trail, but skips the heel cup and instead uses three fully adjustable Velcro straps, offering a different fit and feel.

Xero Shoes is the main brand to start with if you’re simply not a fan of toe posts. The Xero Shoes Z-Trails were my first minimalist hiking sandal, and my husband and son still wear these regularly.  At $80, these are one of the most affordable sandals on the 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 Z-Trails have a total stack height of 11mm. 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.  

The strap is in a z-shape over the top of the foot and a strap around the back, so there are two separate adjustment points. The Z-Trek sandals also have a similar strap, but with a thinner 6mm sole.

The D-Trail has a similar footbed and sole but with no heel cup. There are three separate velcro straps, making these fully adjustable. And finally, the Z-Trek has a similar strapping system, but the sole is less cushioned with only a 6mm sole.

Sandals with toe posts: If you prefer toe-post sandals, Xero Shoes offers a few minimalist options here too. The H-Trail hiking and running sandals uses the same sole as the Z-Trail but swaps in a huarache-style strap system, with the webbing sandwiched between the outsole and footbed—meaning the straps aren’t replaceable.

One of Xero’s most iconic models is the Genesis sandal, which retails at just $50. It’s made with thin rope laces and a 5mm sole, and while it’s ultra-minimalist, it’s currently having a fashion moment—even featured in Vogue and stocked at Free People. If you’re into DIY, Xero also sells a sandal kit with a 4mm or 6mm sole and rope lacing starting at $22—a great budget option.

Fit & Sizing: I have the Z-Trails in Women’s Size 7, which feels a tad long, but with the heel cup, I didn’t want to risk any issues with my foot hitting the ridge. I sized down in the D-Trail sandals to a Women’s size 6. They have a completely flat footbed, and they’re just long enough.

Xero is one of the few barefoot sandal brands that offers separate men’s and women’s sizing, with the men’s versions running wider.  They work well for medium-width feet, but on wider feet, the over-the-toe straps can start to squeeze the toes together.

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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.

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Comparison of the best hiking sandals

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Barefoot hiking sandals without a toe post

I know some people have a hard time adjusting to a toe post—I was definitely one of them! I wore the Xero Shoes Z-Trails for a few years, but after gradually switching to brands like Shamma and Earth Runners, I’ve found that sandals with a toe post give me a much more secure fit. Without that central anchor point, your feet can slide forward or backward in the sandal, especially when hiking uphill or downhill. It also becomes harder to keep the straps tight enough without compromising natural toe splay. Toe posts aren’t for everyone, but there’s a reason most performance hiking sandals include one—they really do improve stability and control on varied terrain. If you’re mostly sticking to flat ground or just really don’t want to try the toe post, then here’s a list of the barefoot hiking sandals without a toe post.

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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.  

FAQs 

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.