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Can you hike in Tevas?

Tevas tend to be associated wrongly with another type of footwear: the flip-flops. The best way to tell the difference among them is that Tevas are shaped like an open shoe and they provide enough support to properly walk in them all day long without them messing with your feet and back, meanwhile the others lack the support around your ankle and cause you to regret your choice very quickly.

So you should know that, Yes! You can hike in Tevas without any problem in most cases. But before you go out you should let me explain when those cases will let you enjoy your hike properly and when it’s best to bring another pair with you.

When to wear your Tevas

This iconic sandal was created in 1984 with only one goal in mind: To be able to walk near a river without caring if your footwear gets wet because it can dry faster and while you still have them on. So with that in mind in the first place, this is when you can use your Tevas:

  • On a short or moderate-length hike. Less than 5 hours of walking or around 12 miles (25 km) per day is a good estimate.
  • When you hike near a river.
  • Hiking near or on beaches.
  • On everyday small commutes that do not involve water.
  • When the climate is hot. The openness of the Tevas allows for constant air to flow and prevent bad odors and sweat to form much more efficiently than closed shoes with many tiny holes in them.

When to not wear Tevas

The open feature of this kind of sandals is what makes the previous examples possible, but it’s an inherent flaw when you take them on another type of walks like:

  • On longer and more demanding hikes. If you want to climb the side of a mountain or go through a full city tour of 10 hours it may start to bother you more than an average shoe. Still infinitely better than flip-flops, but not the best choice.
  • On a path that has a lot of small stuff that can get under your feet (small rocks, seeds) and hurt you (Sand is just a mild inconvenience, you can shake it off easily and it will not sting on each step).
  • When you know you will be running a lot. Tevas are great for walking but they do not shine that much when running, again you can do better with a regular pair of shoes.
  • If the terrain has a lot of branches or roots in whom the tip of your shoe can make you trip over.
  • If you plan on carrying a heavy backpack. Under a heavyweight, it’s easier to slip wearing Tevas than hiking boots.

Advantages and disadvantages of hiking on Tevas

Now that we know where we can use them and when not, let’s discuss if they are worth it.

Advantages of hiking in Tevas

  • They will be good enough for the length of most recreational hikes you do on vacation or your everyday commute.
  • They are light, stylish, comfortable, and very adaptable. You can use the same pair you used to went into the water once to go to the store without feeling anything strange about your clothing.
  • They have enough grip to be a good choice on almost every terrain that you can encounter in the city or on the most standard vacation sites.
  • On low to moderate usage, they can last for over five years, some even going as far as to use the same pair for ten years straight.
  • You can find them below 60 USD if you look for a little.
  • Most models have adjustable straps for a perfect fit.
  • You can step into the side of the river or beach with them and if the sun is nearby, in less than 30 minutes your feet are perfectly dry again.
  • Very comfortable at high temperatures.

Disadvantages of hiking in Tevas

  • You can stub your toe.
  • They can get expensive fast, with some new models closing or even surpassing the 150 USD mark.
  • You simply do not want to use them in cold temperatures as your feet will freeze extremely quickly.
  • If you overuse them the underfoot support starts to get damaged, as it is not made with that end in mind.
  • When the arch starts to wear down it may start to hurt a little when walking for long periods of time.

Other common questions

Do Tevas give you blisters? 

Certainly, they can.
If you get your foot wet and don’t let them dry you may start to swell and develop some painful blisters, but you are much less likely to have them than wearing another type of footwear.

The thing is that you can prevent them way easier than with flip flops or even some kind of regular shoes. As long as you keep an eye on how watery they got, you let them dry properly (Even while wearing them, but don’t hide from the sun for a few minutes) and you do not take the path that has many tiny pebbles in it they may just be your best choice.

Should I bring extra footwear?

If you are going on a light vacation you should have with you at least another pair of shoes and maybe some sandals or Crocs or yes…maybe even flip flops.

If you plan on climbing a mountain or hiking through a dense forest you will need some better equipment, like maybe boots or hiking shoes. But that depends on your destination.

If you are simply using them in your home, city, or town your Tevas can combine with a lot of outfits so it’s certainly not a bad idea to have a pair around. As I mentioned before, they have no problem withstanding time so you have close to ten years with minimal use to decide if they are your thing or not.

Do you already have a pair? Were they good or you have any problems? Let us know in the comments.