Chacos sets the industry standard for sandals. These performance driven puppies are one of the best, if not the best sandals on planet Earth. But if the style is not for you or you want to check out some alternatives, are there any?
Turns out, the market for sandals is a bit saturated. Now, it’s hard to come across brands which offer the same style and the same versatility as Chacos, but there are some.
We go through 6 of the best sandal brands and also list their pros and cons!
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1. Teva
Teva is probably the second most well-renowned brand for sandals. These sandals are very similar to Chacos, and they were even founded at relatively the same time in the 1980s.
As we saw in our head-to-head comparison of Chaco and Teva, they’re very alike, but they also have a style of design which is unmatched in the industry. These are possibly the best-looking sandals in the world.
PROS
- Amazing designs
- Both urban and hiking sandals available
- Great value
CONS
- Not the best ratio of design-to-performance
Best-Sellers:
- Hurricane XLT2
- Original Universal
- Midform Universal
- Tirra
2. KEEN
KEEN is a very impressive footwear brand all-round. They have both women and men’s lineups of sandals, but they also have shoes, bags, boots, socks and clothing. So, it’s easy to say that they have an extensive portfolio.
Back to the sandals, the main keyword I would use to describe the KEEN sandals is “compact”. They’re more restrictive when it comes to letting your feet breathe, but they’re absolutely amazing for the harshest terrain imaginable. Mostly for hiking in the mountains.
PROS
- Very compact
- Designs are bold but in a good way
- Very durable & great for mountain hiking
CONS
- More restrictive for the foot
Best-Sellers:
- Women’s Newport Retro
- Women’s Whisper
- Men’s Newport
- Men’s Newport H2
READ ALSO: Chaco Vs Teva: Which Sandals Are Better?
3. Bedrock
Bedrock sandals are not for everyone, especially not for people that prefer the new style of sandals. For me, these puppies take the win for the best classic sandals out there. They have a toe part, which I know a lot of people have come to appreciate.
They aren’t very airflow restrictive as some of the others in this list, which means they’re more open, but also less compact.
They’re not suited for harsh terrain or hard mountain hiking. However, as a leisure sandal for the typical summer activities, they’re perfect.
PROS
- Very open & breathable
- Great sole designs
- Classic sandal design
CONS
- Not a great price-to-performance ratio
Best-Sellers:
- Cairn Adventure Sandals
- Cairn 3D Adventure Sandals
- Carin 3D PRO II Adventure Sandals
4. Xero
Xero sandals are the most lightweight sandals out there. Now, keep in mind, these aren’t very durable if you’re thinking of climbing Mount Everest. If you want to get as close to bare feet as possible, Xero is the way to go.
They might be unusual to a lot of people, but there’s a reason for that. Like I said, their goal is mainly to manufacture a sandal that is as heavy as air.
PROS
- Ultra-lightweight
- Comfortable
- Feels natural on your foot
CONS
- Not at all for harsh terrain
Best-Sellers:
- Jessie – Women
- Colorado – Women
- Z-Trek – Men
- Cloud – Men
5. Ecco
Ecco has some great models. Some of them are targeted for hiking, some are more formal and appropriate to social gatherings, and some are intended for everyday use.
The main reason why Ecco made it to this list is because of how many different types of sandals they have and the comfort. Ecco sandals are some of the most comfortable sandals out there. They have really decent quality as well!
PROS
- Sandals for multiple types of activities
- Very comfortable
- High-quality
CONS
- Not very lightweight
Best-Sellers:
- Men’s Yucatan Sandal
- X-Trinsic Men’s 3S Water Sandals
- Women’s Yucatan Sandal
- X-Trinsic Women’s 3S Water Sandals
6. Merrell
Merrell sandals are interesting. Their best-sellers are usually more shoe-like sandals, but that’s why Merrell made it to the list. They’re pretty compact sandals, built for hiking speed and water!
Their soles have an amazing designed that’s optimized for walking in rivers or other bodies of water. For their design, they’re impressively lightweight.
PROS
- Great for speed hiking
- Quick-drying
- Great soles
CONS
- A bit restrictive (some models)
Best-Sellers:
- Women’s Waterpro Pandi 2
- Women’s Breakwater Strap
- Men’s Kahuha Web
- Men’s Hydro Moc
Those include all of the brands which we found similar to Chacos. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we missed any or which brand is your favorite!
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