ZuZu Sandals Review: Minimalist Hiking Sandals with Upcycled Soles

ZuZu Sandals makes minimalist hiking sandals using upcycled car tires with a focus on sustainability and durability.

Both shoe companies and tire companies have a reputation for being big polluters, but what if a shoe brand could be part of the solution? ZuZu Sandals challenged themselves to not only make a comfortable and durable barefoot hiking sandal, but make use of materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.  

One billion tires make their way to the dump every year; ZuZu Sandals is working to disrupt this cycle by upcycling tire rubber and using it to make their barefoot hiking and adventure sandals. This rubber is high quality and durable — think about it, an average tire can last up to 50,000 miles.  

 The name ZuZu means “move” in Hebrew. These minimalist sandals are built to let you run, walk, and hike. ZuZu Sandals has three different huarache-style models, all of which have the same strapping system. You can replace the straps easily, so if your soles are still going and your straps wear out, it’s only $15 to replace them. These upcycled car tire soles feel like they’re going to be super long-lasting, and have a good grippiness to them. 

All sandals are unisex, which makes these a great barefoot sandal for men or for women.  

Note: This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by ZuZu Sandals. I do my best to provide an informative, honest review to help you make a purchasing decision. My goal is to help you find the best shoe for you. Using affiliate programs and collaborating with brands is a way I can continue creating this content. For more information, see my Sponsored Content policy. Thank you for your support!

Outsole 

All ZuZu Sandals use 100% upcycled rubber from car tires for the outsole. In this scenario, ZuZu is using tires that had a defect during production. Therefore, they’ve never been used on the road, but would’ve gone to a landfill nonetheless due to the defect.

This rubber is flexible and incredibly durable. Plus, they maintain good grip, even in more slippery conditions.  

Is it safe to use upcycled car tires in shoes?

Car tires have a reputation for containing some toxic chemicals, so I went down the research rabbit hole to see if a sandal using upcycled or recycled rubber was a good idea.

I started with the fact that all of these sandals have a separate material for the footbed, so my skin wouldn’t be in direct contact with the rubber. Two of the models also have a midsole, which means there is an additional few millimeters of separation.

In addition, all of the materials used by ZuZu sandals were tested and approved by the AFIRM Group and meet REACH regulation, both of which are designed to assess the safety of chemical substances used in clothing and footwear in the EU.

I read articles and studies that discussed the safety or recycled car tires, and from what I understand, it sounds like the main concerns are ingesting small particles, either from crumb rubber that is ground up and used in things like turf fields, or when micro particles from car tires rub off on the asphalt, then make their way into runoff, the soil, and then up into the food supply.

An additional concern is prolonged, repeated and direct contact. There were some articles that talked about whether this exposure could be linked to cancer; they looked into soccer goal keepers that later developed cancer, noting that they repeatedly dove into turf that had recycled tires, where they would frequently make direct contact, and sometimes even get particles into and under their skin. Ultimately the found that the cancer rate of the soccer goal keepers was actually less than what they expected, and in line with the occurrence in the general population. Most researchers think that more studies need to be done to develop a better understanding of what is safe, but so far, evidence is not conclusive.

After all the research, I felt comfortable wearing these sandals as 1) it passed the AFIRM Group and meet REACH regulations 2) there is a footbed of separate material between the tire rubber an my foot, and 3) I’m not planning on eating, inhaling, or getting the rubber underneath/into my skin. It’s best to do whatever you’re most comfortable with!

Footbed

Since this is the part that’s touching your foot, I know people can be pretty picky with how it feels. For a minimalist hiking and running sandal, you don’t want it to be too slick, but also want it to be comfortable for long trails.

Each of ZuZu Sandal’s different models have a different footbed. I’ll get more into it in the review of each sandal, but both the Flow and the Flex have footbeds with a little bit of traction that dry quickly, making them good for activities around water. The Groove uses a vegan leather footbed which looks and feels incredibly nice.

Laces 

The laces on ZuZu sandals are easily interchangeable. You can swap them out for different colors just for fun, or replace the first set of straps when they wear out. There is a metal plug to hold them into the sole. The buckles which hold the straps into place are also metal and very secure; I haven’t had any issues with these slipping or coming undone.

Since the soles are made to last for so long, you’ll be able to extend the life of your sandals just with a $18 replacement pair of laces. Again, this means the rubber is staying out of the bin and on your feet longer, and offering a great value!  

Nylon straps: The performance nylon straps come in six different colors. These are very soft and lightweight. 

Recycled Performance straps: These straps are a little thicker and have more structure compared to the nylon straps. I like to pair these with the Flow sole as they’re a good fit for the slightly heavier sandal compared to the other two styles. I also like having sturdier straps for hiking and running. (It looks like these aren’t quite on the website yet, so stay tuned!). These are the most versatile and durable option.

Natural Leather: These leather straps give the sandals more of an elevated everyday look vs a typical adventure sandal. I really like these paired with the Groove sandals that have a brown vegan leather footbed. The leather straps are soft and have a natural stretchiness. This makes them super comfortable for everyday use, but also means they’re not as optimal for running.  

Sizing

These sandals are available in sizes EU36 – 47. The brand has a printable size guide, and also a size chart based on foot length. I opted for a size EU38 based on my 23.3cm foot measurement, and found these sandals to fit true to size.

Barefoot Sandal Features 

As these are barefoot/minimalist sandals, the focus is on letting the feet function naturally. The straps fit securely on the feet without restricting the toes. The soles are thin, flat and flexible. 

ZuZu Sandal Styles 

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The three ZuZu Sandals models are the Flow, the Flex and the Groove. I tested out each of the three different ZuZu Sandal models, including trying them out with different straps. Here’s a review of each style.  

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The Flow 

7mm upcycled rubber sole | imbedded textile footbed | $79  | KELLY10 for 10% off

Best for: most barefoot feeling, water activities 

The Flow is the thinnest and most flexible model from ZuZu Sandals. It only uses upcycled rubber for the sole (so no midsole). Most of the minimalist hiking sandals I’ve worn previously use a Vibram sole, which feels less dense, so I can feel the increased weight of these compared to a Vibram sole of the same thickness. The Flow isn’t super heavy by any means, but I found these felt best with the black recycled polyester straps, which had more structure to them. I could secure them better to my feet compared to the nylon straps.  

All of the sandals have a different footbed material. The Flow has a textile footbed that is very comfortable underfoot, provides good traction, and dries quickly (which makes these a great pick if you need a barefoot sandal for water activities!).  

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The Flex 

11mm stack height; 5mm rubber sole; 5mm EVA midsole; 1mm slip-resistant textile footbed | $89 

Best for: rockier trails or longer days, running, water activities 

The Flex is a little beefed up in the sole compared to the Flow. If you want a minimalist hiking sandal with some cushion, this has a thinner layer of recycled rubber for the outsole, plus a lighter weight EVA midsole for cushion, resulting in a total stack height of 11mm. So even though the Flow has an overall thicker sole, they feel lighter than the Flow.  

With this minimalist hiking sandal, you’ll trade off some of the ground feel with that additional cushion in the EVA midsole. It offers some shock absorption as well, which can make these a good pick for minimalist running sandals. The soles still have plenty of flexibility. I like this thickness of sole for rockier trails, or if it’s going to be a really long day on hard surfaces.  

The textile footbed on the Flex also lends itself well to water-use. It’s lightly textured to provide good traction, but doesn’t start to feel abrasive even after long hours of wear. It is also water-repellent. 

I recently brought these on a 10 day trip through Morocco, and wore them almost every day. They were comfortable and performed well in every situation: hiking, at the beach, through desert, and walking through the city.

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The Groove 

11mm stack height; 5mm rubber sole; 5mm EVA midsole; 1mm vegan leather footbed | $99 

Best for: everyday, versatile travel sandal  

Similar to the Flex, this sandal also features the rubber sole plus the EVA midsole. The Groove has a vegan leather footbed, which is super comfortable, and offers a more casual look. I love these paired with the leather straps for every day wear. If you like to pack light, these are a versatile sandal to pop in your bag as they’re great for hiking, the beach, and long days full of new adventures.  

Conclusion

Since switching to barefoot and minimalist footwear, huarache sandals have become one of my most-worn designs for their comfort and versatility. ZuZu Sandals not only executes the huarache design well, but offers a great combination of sustainability, longevity, and practicality. I’m impressed with the flexibility and grip of the soles. I also appreciate that the straps can be replaced, which again makes these a better option both for my budget and to keep the shoe in use as long as possible.