My foot easily changes width and length by 2 sizes when hiking. Combine this with different temperatures such that you will need a thicker sock on some days and thinner socks on another day-- or even different times of the day. How are you supposed to pick the right size shoe with that kind of moving target?

Plus I would like a shoe that dries practically instantly so I can minimize wet feet. And on hot days, I want my feet to never sweat (that invites fungus, smell, and blisters).

And while my foot is growing, and have a fat sock on, I don’t want to be hammering my toes going down hill. And when I have my fat sock on for warmth, I don’t want my foot to feel squished. Likewise, on 70F days and using a thin sock, I don’t want the least bit of foot slippage (invites blisters).

I would also like a very cushiony heel to eliminate foot bone(s) stresses. A nice arch would help on long walks with weight on the back.

If my foot gets sucked into mud (which it did last June for 3 days in OK), I would like to walk through the nearest stream and, wala!, the shoe is clean with no hand scrubbing. Talk about saving time!

If the above wish shoe doesn’t fit right, I will feel it in my lower back and my knees---- BAD.

I need a semi-sturdy sole because this helps in going up hill. It also cushions the foot on scree.

I’ve hiked in boots for 10+ years and trail runners and just lived with the above mentioned problems.
About 5 years ago I took the plunge and tried the sandal. Low and behold, all my footwear wishes were solved. My feet misery vanished.
I am particular to Teva sandals because I love their wide soles. This makes it hard for ankle turns. And they feel great to me (not all the models though). I’ve been wearing the Tera Fi 2’s for over a year now.



And because of wearing this sandal and sock, the following joys were also met:
1. no need to wear blister treatment.
2. no need to carry blister treatment.
3. no hammer toes
4. lighter footwear gave me way more energy. I noticed that right off the bat.
5. wiggle room for the toes.
6. much harder to roll an ankle (vs a trail runner)
7. excellent traction on wet rock.
8. Maybe once/day I have to get the twig out between foot and sandal (it used to be every hour; but not this design).
9. Instant slipper for camp. Just loosen the straps; no extra weight needed.
10. Shoe smell is gone.
11. Don’t have to stop and change socks or take off boot
12. They’re cheaper than the boots and shoes I bought
13. Excellent tread and ARCH life. I’m getting 500-1100 miles per Teva. It depends on the terrain.
14. Can expand or contract with different socks without squishing the foot.

Other notes:
1. On 30F days, I just plow through the streams. I first take off my socks. At the other side, I hurry and dry my feet and put my dry socks back on. By then my sandals are dry. Somehow, surprisingly, that process warms up my feet.
2. On warmer days, I plow through streams with my coolmax socks. The sandals dry after a couple of minutes but my socks take about 30 minutes to dry-- which I can live with.
3. Is wearing a sandal risky? Initially, you would think so. It is now more risky for me to wear a shoe or boot because of the above mentioned foot problems.
4. The sandal needs to be worn with a sock, or the feet will sweat and blisters will form.
5. The sandal needs to be cinched snug (not tight) when hiking. I even have to cinch it tighter 15 minutes into the hike because, for some reason, my feet shrink.
6. I’m size 8 and I buy a size 9 (which is big in a Teva). The extra length gives toe protection. In the last 5 years, I don’t remember of ever stubbing my toes (knock on wood) and I’ve bushwacked several times in sandals. There are some areas that I would refrain from (prickly needle bushes), though I’ve done that too.
7. Depending on weather, I can use the following with my sandals w/o squishing the foot:
a) 2 wool socks
b) thin sock
c) down booty (that is comfy!)
d) sealskins with wool sock (cold days only)
- that is versatile footwear!
8. I still feel guilty walking in the woods with my sandals. I think that’s from my youth. But the ability to wiggle your toes while backpacking erases the guilt <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
9. I play basketball, handball, and tennis in the same sandal. I just love them. I go canoeing in them and later on-- hike.

Is sandals for everyone? I don’t know. My wife is a convert after she watched me. One of my hiking buddies is a convert. Ironically he’s using cheaper sandals and I hope they hold out on our trips. Another hiking buddy stays with his boots because he was born in boots. And he has foot problems on almost every trip <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

-Barry