Hiking Sandals were Good Enough for the Romans

Before there was elaborate hiking boots there were hiking sandals. Hiking sandals have been around for thousands of years but it was not until recently that engineering and technology have entered the picture to add dimensions to hiking sandals that they have never had before. They have come a long way from hard pieces of leather strapped to someone’s feet to the technological wonders that we wear today that not only help reduce stress and pressure on your feet but they can also keep your feet cooler when hiking in the summer time.

Hiking sandals today are primarily made out of strong materials like polyester and are stitched and made strong so that they can not only protect the feet but also add comfort to the hiker by using padded insoles and engineered sandals that relieve back pain and leg stress due to hiking. Hiking sandals come in all colors and types and can range from a traditional looking sandal all the way up to something that almost looks like an athletic shoe. They are specifically designed for hiking trails but their effectiveness can be limited by the terrain as they are not really designed to handle truly rugged hiking terrain.

The Good And The Bad

You always want to consider everything when you are looking to purchase something and there are two sides to hiking sandals. They are lightweight which means you can move easily with them on and they also allow airflow which can keep your feet cool during hot months. Good air flow on your feet makes you more comfortable in general and if you are considering a long hike in the summer time then comfortable feet are of prime importance. They are easier to maintain than hiking boots and much less of a pain to put on and take off than boots as well. You want to spend all of your energy hiking and not waste on putting on or taking off your footwear.

The bad thing is that hiking sandals do not offer as much protection as boots do. If you are looking to do a lot of off trail hiking then you may want to consider boots as boots offer a thick layer of protection that your feet may need. Hiking sandals also offer no support for your ankles which can be important if you are doing a lot of rugged terrain hiking and need that extra level of support to stay out of trouble.