ZuZu Sandals Review: Huarache-Style Barefoot Sandals
ZuZu Sandals makes classic huarache-style minimalist hiking sandals with replaceable straps and soles ranges from ultra thing to more cushioned.
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.
ZuZu has already recently been expanding its line to add some Teva-style sandals and a classic Chelsea boot.
All sandals are unisex, which makes these a great barefoot sandal for men or for women.
Code KELLY10 for 10% off
Latest update: June 26, 2026
Review updated to include notes after three years of testing, and to add new sandal styles, and note that ZuZu is now based out of the U.S.
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ZuZu Sandals Overview
Discount Code
You can use code KELLY10 for an extra 10% off your purchase at ZuZu Sandals.
Shipping and Returns
As of 2026, ZuZu is now based out of the U.S., which means free shipping for U.S. customers over $80 and easy returns.
Outsole
ZuZu Sandals have a grippy sole made from a mix of natural rubber and rice husk. This rubber is flexible and incredibly durable. Plus, they maintain good grip, even in more slippery conditions.
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.
ZuZu has a few different options for footbeds, but the main canvas option feels soft, but still gives you some traction when wet and dries quickly. They’re great activities around water.
Laces
The laces on huarache-style 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
ZuZu Sandals are available in sizes EU36 – 47. The brand has a printable size guide, along with a size chart that includes the sandal length. I’ve opted for the EU38 for my ZuZu Sandals, which feel similar to a women’s size 7. I compared them to my Shamma Sandals unisex size 6, and they’re the same size. (You can find my sizing notes for all barefoot hiking sandals here). I could probably go a half size down as sometimes they feel a tad big, but the whole size down feels a little too small for my 23.3cm foot measurement. While I prefer to have a little extra space on my closed-toe shoes, I like my sandals without much excess so I don’t have to worry about the front catching.
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
ZuZu Sandals has several different versions of their huarache style sandals, and an over-the-toe style with three adjustable velcro straps. I’ve tested out each of different ZuZu Sandal models, including trying them out with different straps. Here’s a review of each style.
The Flow
6mm rubber sole | Canvas 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 use a mix of rubber and rice husk for the sole (so no midsole). If you’re looking for the feeling of as close to barefoot as possible, you’ll love the Flow! They’re light and very flexible. These feature the canvas footbed which is soft and has felt really good even on long walks. It provides good traction, and dries quickly (which makes these a great pick if you need a barefoot sandal for water activities!).
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.
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.
The Dune
11mm stack height: 5mm rubber sole; 5mm EVA midsole; water-repellent leather footbed | $105
Best for: everyday, water activities, those with a sensitive sole
The ZuZu Dune keeps the same strap design and similar stack height as the other sandals, but swaps in a water-repellent sueded leather footbed. It’s the Goldilocks of hiking sandal footbeds—smooth and soft underfoot, but it doesn’t get slippery when wet. If you have a sensitive sole and have found other footbeds too rough, these might feel just right! On my first rocky beach walk in them, I was surprised to watch water bead up and roll right off. While they will still feel damp if you fully submerge them, they dry quickly. If you’re often in and out of the water, the Dune is a fantastic choice.
The Drift
9mm stack height; canvas footbed | $99
Best for: Casual wear, those who don’t like in-between the toe straps
The Drift is ZuZu’s newest sandal, featuring a fresh strap design. Instead of the classic huarache style, it leans more toward a casual outdoor look, reminiscent of the ever-popular Tevas with three velcro-adjustable straps. This gives you plenty of room to fine-tune your fit, and means they can accommodate narrow to wide and low to high volume feet. The 9mm sole feels like a good balance of not too thick, not too thin and the canvas footbed feels soft, and isn’t slippery when wet. I’m using these mostly for casual wear like summer days around home, the beach or the pool. I opted for an EU38 in these like I did the rest of my ZuZu Sandals. Like I mentioned in my overall sizing comment at the top of the post, I think a half size down would be ideal, but the EU38s still work great.
The Drift sandals have a special launch price of $79 through September 10, 2025. My code KELLY10 stacks on top of this for a final price of $71, which is perfect because you qualify for free shipping over $70.
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. Use code KELLY10 for 10% off your ZuZu Sandals!
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