I did the sandal thing for a couple of seasons but went bact to trail runners. I still take walks in sandals but not off-road.
Reason I gave them up is two fold.
1) more than once a stick found its way into the toe area and punctured me.
2) feet stay dirty and dirty puncture wounds are not what I want, days from help.
I do carry lightweight sandals (nike strap runners) on my pack as "spare tires" and camp shoes when desert hiking.