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Over the past two years, I’ve worn two Chaco sandals, including the Z/1, as well as two sandals from Teva, another popular hiking sandal brand, to compare the two brands side by side. However, I wanted to write an even more detailed review of the Chaco Z/1 Classic sandals since they are my favorite pair of walking sandals I’ve tried.
Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab ultimately named them our best overall walking sandals due to their great traction and excellent arch support which makes walking or hiking long distances comfortable. So if you want to know more about whether these sandals (or the newer iteration, the Z/2 Classic) are worth your money, check out my thoughts below, along with some insight from our footwear experts in the Textiles Lab.
Pros
- Excellent traction
- Adjsutable straps for a perfect fit
- Regular and wide sizes
- Comfortable for long walks
- Suitable for water activities
Cons
- Has a break-in period
- Not the best for those with flat feet
Which activities are these sandals good for?
Before we dive into the ins and outs of how these shoes were built and my thoughts on them, let’s start with the basics. These walking sandals are designed to be supportive and comfortable with grippy traction that makes them ideal for hiking and activities near or in the water. That means you can wear these for navigating a lake’s rocky shore or strolling around your neighborhood’s paved streets. Just keep in mind that your toes aren’t protected, so we recommend wearing a traditional hiking shoe for more rugged hikes. I put them on every time I go to the beach because it’s easier to walk in the sand in these shoes compared to flip flops. I wear them practically every day once the weather is warm—their versatility is what makes me turn to them again and again.
I also own the Z/Cloud Cushioned Sandals from Chaco, which have a bit more cushioning and less firm support. The brand states that the Classic line is best suited for paddle boarding, rafting, and water exploration, while the Cloud line is best for travel, hiking, and backpacking. Both shoes can be used for any of the listed activities, but I honestly prefer the Classic sandals because they feel sturdier, more durable, and haven’t given me any pain while on long walks. So, if I had to buy only one pair, I’d choose one from the Classic line.
Are they constructed well?
Short answer: yes. Below, are the in-depth details from my experience and our Textiles Lab pros’ testing notes on how the shoe is constructed to prevent blisters, support your feet, and stabilize your steps on slippery terrain.
Firm footbed
Chaco sandals are made with the brand's signature LUVSEAT footbed, which is a polyurethane (PU) material. PU is less cushiony from the get-go than EVA, which is what Teva sandals’ footbeds are made with. However, PU is known to last longer and maintain its shape, which is why my Chaco sandals are still in excellent condition two years later.
My Z/1 sandals took a few days of walking to break them in, but once I did, I found the footbed to be conforming and cushioning. I took over 17,000 steps the first day I wore them, and the arch of my foot was a bit sore, but I had zero blisters. If I were to buy a new pair, I’d slowly break these sandals in rather than walking a lot the first day of owning them (ya live and ya learn!). Now that they’re broken in, my foot sinks into the footbed like a cushion, but they still feel firm and stable.
Adjustable straps
As someone with narrow feet, I really appreciate that the straps are adjustable. Chaco constructed these sandals with straps webbed through the footbed, which allows you to pull on the straps and tighten the shoe for the perfect fit. This helps my foot feel secure in the shoe and prevents my foot from sliding around—which happens frequently to me since my feet are long yet very narrow. That said, I do have a long piece of excess strap hanging off the side of my shoe, which only mildly annoys me but has never caused any real issues.
During our walking sandal evaluations, some of our consumer testers found the straps to be a bit narrow, and I agree (although I find that to be a plus). The straps on Teva sandals have some cushioning at the back of the foot, while Chaco’s straps are a thin, smooth piece of fabric, but they’ve never given me any cuts, blisters, or discomfort. The straps are made from water-friendly polyester jacquard, and I found them to dry quickly after walking through water.
Roomy toe box
These shoes have a wide toe box for my feet, which I liked because my toes could sprawl out comfortably. Also, the front of the shoe is thick, and there is some space before the tip of my toes, which came in handy when I came across small rocks or a random bump in the path. This sometimes causes me issues, though, like when I walked out of the library and tripped over the doorway.
Rugged outsole
The Z/1 sandals are constructed with the brand’s ChacoGrip rubber compound technology with 3-millimeter lug depth treads. This provides a durable, grippy outsole with traction for more well-maintained trails. A deep lug depth provides better traction on trails, but if it’s too deep, it can be uncomfortable to walk on flatter roads. These Chaco sandals are the perfect in-between: The traction is suitable for slippery terrain but not too intense for walking on paved roads.
I loved wearing these sandals while hiking alongside a river to a hot spring in New Mexico. My friend was wearing regular flip flops on the hike and lost her balance multiple times on the slippery rocks, and she wasn’t able to wear them in the hot spring pool (there were no straps on her shoes, so they would just float away!). That meant her bare feet were touching mud and sharp rocks, but my Chaco Z1 sandals kept me sturdy and stable the entire hike, and I could wear them while in the water.
I’ve worn these shoes on loose gravel, pavement, and dirt paths too, and I’ve always found them to have just as good of traction and stability as my regular hiking boots. Although, I mostly prefer them for hikes around rivers, lakes, and any body of water because then my feet can get wet and dry quickly.
Are these sandals supportive and comfortable?
I briefly touched on this while discussing the construction of the sandals, so you know the answer is once again an outstanding yes. Here’s a breakdown of the comfort features the shoes offer.
Arch support
The Chaco Z/1 sandals offer superb arch support that impressed our footwear pros. Textiles Lab Associate Director Emma Seymour said when wearing these sandals her “high arches felt completely supported, which is rare.” She continued, “I wore my Chacos on an hour-plus walk in Central Park and found them to be comfortable, especially in the arch area, which I appreciate since I have high arches.”
The deep heel cup creates no difference in height between the heel and toe, but there is additional foam in the middle of the shoe. This allows for a zero-foot drop, which provides a more natural barefoot-like footstep, without sacrificing arch support.
Cushioning foam
As mentioned, Chaco sandals use PU foam in the footbed, but I want to reiterate just how comfortable these shoes are. Once you break them in, these sandals are cushiony enough to walk a few miles in them. The longest I’ve walked at once wearing these shoes is seven miles, and my feet weren’t achy, and the walk was comfortable overall. I particularly love to wear them after a long day of hiking because my feet get to breathe, but they also feel cushiony after miles of walking in stiff boots.
I’m not the only one who finds these sandals comfortable. One of our consumer testers was impressed with "how effortless walking feels now with these sandals.” I sound like a broken record, but remember that Chaco’s Classic line is a bit stiffer than the Cloud line, which is made with an extra cushioning layer. I prefer the firmer, durable feel of the Classics, but the Cloud sandals can be preferable if you don’t want to deal with a break-in period and want instant cushioning comfort.
Flexibility and stability
I found these shoes to feel a bit rigid at first, but after breaking them in, they became much more flexible, yet still slightly stiff. The flexibility means the shoe moves with my foot as I walk, but the firmness helps keep my foot from tripping as I step on any obstacles.
This makes the sandals more stable for hiking, but they’re of course not as stable as a boot that protects your ankles from rolling. I know that some people wear these on tougher terrain, but I mostly stick to only wearing these shoes for hikes without rugged trails so that I don’t trip over branches and tree roots
Sizing
Chaco sandals are offered in a size range of women's 5–12 and men's 7–15. If your size is unavailable, you can always purchase the same style sandal in the men's size or vice versa. Chaco only offers wide-width sandals in women's sizes 5–10 and men's sizes 7–12, which is a good option for those who need some extra room in the midsole.
My feet are a little narrow, and I definitely have to tighten the straps a considerable amount to make sure they don’t slide around much. Still, I find these shoes to be the perfect width. My toes have room to flare out, and if my feet become swollen, there’s plenty of space. Also, these shoes come in wide sizes as well, so everyone can find their perfect fit.
Weight
These Chaco sandals are definitely heavier than my Tevas or a pair of good running sneakers. The sole is quite heavy, but the shoes feel light on my feet although I wouldn’t call them lightweight. The thicker midsole and PU foam material of the Chaco is ultimately heavier than Teva’s EVA foam. I wouldn’t tie these shoes to my bag or use them for a backpacking trip. For reference, this is how much all the hiking sandals I’ve previously tried weigh:
- Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandal: 1.4 lbs
- Teva Original Universal: 0.6 lbs
- Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandal: 1.4 lbs
- Chaco Z/Cloud Cushioned Sandal: 1.2 lbs
How versatile are they?
While comfort and construction are most important when looking for a good pair of walking shoes, I’m also a fashion girl at heart. If I’m spending money on shoes, I want them to look cute and coordinate well with my clothes (is that too much to ask?). I personally love my all-black pair because it matches practically any outfit I wear, making it versatile enough to wear with my hiking clothes or with a sundress while going to dinner on a trip. That way, I don’t have to pack two pairs of shoes.
Seymour also found them easy to style and even paired the shoes with dressy outfits. One of our consumer testers shared, “They are very versatile for vacation and felt supportive for a sandal.”
I thought the thin straps made the sandals look sleeker and balanced out the chunkiness of the sole. There are a few options with colorful and patterned straps. If you want to get really funky, Chaco’s website has the option to customize your sandals. You can choose the strap and buckle colors, which is perfect if you have a color scheme you’re trying to achieve (I may have to forgo my black pair and create a pink, yellow, and orange pair to match my sunset hiking clothes’ aesthetic!).
Can you replace your walking or hiking shoes with these sandals?
While these shoes are great for walks and hikes, different shoes serve different purposes. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to wear sandals when it’s cold out. But in the summer, I rotate my sneakers and hiking boots with these sandals. I saw that some people online said they wear these sandals to hike in the Adirondacks, but any high peak I’ve summited was extremely steep and muddy. I personally need more ankle support for going down steep rocky trails, and I don’t enjoy my toes being plastered with mud.
The bottom line: Should you buy the Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandals?
According to our footwear experts in the GH Textiles Lab and based on my own experience, the answer is a confident yes. These sandals are excellent for hiking, walking, water sports, and travel in general. So, if you tend to walk, hike, or travel often, these are great shoes for the summertime.
That said, I would recommend the Z/2 Cloud sandals if you want extra cushioning and will not be submerging them in water often—in other words, if you’re wearing them primarily to go on walks, opt for the Cloud line.
Plus, the Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandals are around $100 or less (and only $68 on Amazon in select colors), so it’s not a high price tag for a pair of quality shoes. If you want the newest iteration of the shoe (the Z/2 Classic), you’ll be spending a bit more, so I recommend the Z/1 shoes to save some extra bucks. I also love that they come in fun colors or basic neutrals, so you can truly find the cutest style for you. That way, you can wear them while walking in athleisure or pair them with a sundress. It’s a one-time purchase for a versatile shoe that’ll last you a long time.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have been researching and testing footwear for decades, including walking sandals, running sneakers, and more. When testing and reviewing walking sandals, our experts analyze the fit, sizing, footbed, straps, support, and materials the shoes are made with.
Isabella Cavallo is the editorial commerce editor at the GH Institute. She has experience writing reviews of all sorts of footwear and athletic gear, including slip-on shoes, white sneakers, running shoes, and more. When she’s not writing product roundups, Cavallo is most likely on a walk, whether it’s around her neighborhood, on the beach, or on a hiking trail. She has owned and worn the Chaco Z/1 Classic sandals for two years, and she has tried other walking sandals in the past as well.
