Top 5 best hiking sandals for women

Who’s more equipped to review hiking gear, women’s sandals in this case, and choose the best then the users then women hikers themselves. That’s why our team of featured testers include some of the well-known names of the hiking and trekking arena, women like: Diane Spicer, Fran Reisner, Danny Bernstein…

Back when we started putting together these reviews of the best hiking sandals for women we realized that even the toughest “women of the trail” still have a soft spot for pair of sandals or shoes that will turn a few heads, so we find it a tad more difficult to balance that plate as well while reviewing sandals and pay special attention to the looks and design.

Luckily for us, the manufacturers know it too, so the best sandals are most often offered in a variety of colors. So, ladies, here we go…

The structure of the guide:

1. We will take a look at the specs, pros and cons of each sandal, stress the weaknesses and strength that might be decision points
2. Sum everything said in a number that we call, Sole Labz rating based on 10 different quality aspects

Over time, we learned that people like to see the winners right away, and those who like to dig deeper and see why the sandals are where they are will read the individual mini reviews.

So, here are the TOP 5 in women’s sandals

Picture & Rating	Model	Read More
	Keen Whisper
	Teva Omnium
	Keen Newport H2
	Keen Clearwater CNX
	Clarks Tuvia Melon

Keen Women’s Whisper hiking Sandal review

Whisper offers 36 color choices and that ties up real nice with what we said at the beginning at this guide. It is a true classic and has not moved from the list for ages. Let us “dissect” it and see why.

Here is the official Sandal fact sheet:

• Textile
• Rubber Sole
• Heel approximately measures 1.25
• Platform approximately measures 0.5
• Metatomical EVA foot-cushioning molded Microban footbed, low profile EVA compression molded midsole, patented toe protector
• Water resistant, metatomical secure strap design, rubber non-marking outsole, upper made of polyester webbing, 8.80 oz
• Quick draw cord elastic lacing system provides comfortable and secure fit
• Upper polyester is washable
• Lining is made of quick dry hydrophobic mesh
• Odor-preventing Microbe Aegis shield

Pretty extensive product specification, but let’s see what the users had to share about it in the reviews they had to share with the Sole Labz team.

Here are some of the positive reviews of this Keen:

• Best women’s hiking sandals by far! I’ve been having a lot of arthritis problems, especially in the joint of the big toe, and they were super comfortable and very supportive throughout our entire Costa Rica cruise
• My feet are prone to swelling, and these sandals were lifesavers on our most recent hike. I’ve just loosened up the strap system a bit, and I was good to go
• Besides being super comfy and customizable when it comes to width, they also look very cute, and I got myself a lot of compliments too
• I enjoyed them so much I just had to get a second pair in different color. They’re awesome for warmer weather, but especially if you expect your feet to get wet. They dry super fast so you won’t have to bother with your wet feet for the rest of the hike
• I’ve read dozens of hiking sandals reviews and purchased these after seeing their incredible score of 2k+ 5-star reviews on Amazon. I’ve read a lot of them, and now that I’ve finally saw them in action I have to agree with all of them
• These are the first pair of hiking sandals that wee not too narrow for my wide feet
• They fit perfectly, feel very comfortable, and I just love my new Keens!
• Very comfortable and lightweight. I wore them whole day during our Disneyland visit, and they left my feet with no blisters or sore spots whatsoever
• I bought these for our kayaking tour, and they were more than up for the job. They endured being submerged while we were kayaking/snorkeling, but also lasted through the 4-day rainstorm
• Their style is amazing! They look very nice, well made, durable and just feel great on my feet

Here we have some of the “less than pleasant” experiences from the sandal reviews – CONs:

• These are very comfortable, but my feet need some extra arch support, which is not featured here
• I’ll go ahead and state that my toes are a bit weird, and they constantly find little openings on these sandals and stick out

Conclusions of the Keen Whisper review and the Final Ratings

An industry classic that DID NOT leave the list of the best since we first put together this review. High quality and beautiful design with 36 color choices. Hard to beat it whichever way you look about it. Keen also dominates the category of best hiking sandals for men.

Review of Teva Omnium Sandals

Let’s see the specs of Teva Omnium as the company shared it:

• Mesh/synthetic
• Man-made sole
• Heel approximately measures 1 ¼ inches
• Closed sandal featuring several drainage ports and mesh lining with quick-dry properties
• EVA molded midsole
• Heel with shock pads
• Bungee lacing system with strap for quick release and a back-strap with hook-and-loop functionality
• Spider rubber non-marking outsole

This would be a specification of a product that definitely merits a decent review. let’s move on and see what the user’s had top share with us:

The choice from the plethora of positive reviews:

• These sandals are simply fantastic! They’re the best women’s hiking sandals for sure. At least among the ones I’ve owned so far. They’re very easy for putting on and off, fit just perfectly, and they always keep my feet cool and super comfy thanks to the number of holes they have
• I mostly use them for my water aerobics and water jogging, and they work perfectly for that. There’s a lot of “give” so my joints are always well protected, and they have some extra weight to them, so they just keep me floating, minimizing the impact during exercises
• The grip they provide is amazing! I’ve hiked over some pretty wet and slick surfaces, and never slipped once. It appears they tend to provide much better grip the wetter they are
• This stood the test of Galapagos Islands like champs. I’ve been wearing them throughout all of ours guided excursions, hiking up hills, walking over some pretty sharp lava beds, snorkeling… They did all that without a hitch, and I would sincerely recommend them to anyone preparing for the similar experience. These won’t let you down
• They are extremely comfortable, and just a breeze to clean after a good, long hike
• The toe area is pretty wide, which is the most important thing for me. I finally found a pair of sandals that allow me to go on longer hikes, and I give my recommendation to all women with wide feet out there. You won’t believe the difference
• I own a farm in Missouri Ozarks and needed a pair of good sandals to allow me to work all day without my feet being in all sorts of pain. I’ve read a lot of reviews for these hiking sandals and decided so many people around the world can’t be wrong. And they weren’t

Some of the negative experiences:

• I was so sad when I had to return them. They are beautiful, but the toe box is sadly too narrow for my toes to fit comfortably. My feet are very wide, and I’ve been having this width problem my whole life, but these I really liked…
• Certain shapes of heels give me some hard time, and these are pretty much it. My feet demand very specific kind of shoe shape, but I’m sure they’ll be OK once I break them in a bit

Final thoughts and ratings on the Teva Omnium sandal

Teva does not make many models, but when they do go out to the market with a pair they mean business. With the minimalist style and compact design, Teva has built a pretty decent “fans” base in the circle of female hikers, especially with the Omnium.

Sole Labz Quality Rating 91 / 100.

Keen Newport Women’s H2 Sandals review – 3rd top-rated

The Keen Newport for men is currently the best rated in it’s category. Let’s see how this sandal compare to others in the market of sandals for female hikers who have a bit more of a specific taste.

Some basic info about the sandal:

• Textile
• Rubber sole
• Heel approximately measures 1.25 inches
• Platform approximately measures 1 inch
• Strappy sandal with ghillie lacing, rubber toe bumper, and contrast stitching
• Lining with AEGIS Microbe Shield
• EVA compression-molded midsole
• Lugs are multi-directional

These sandals do not disappoint when it comes to the manufacturer’s description. We’ll still have to consult the customers, however, and listen to what they had to share in their reviews of this sandal.

PROs, as shared in the reviews of the sandal:

• I don’t have the words to explain how comfortable and durable these sandals really are. Even though the summer is pretty much over, and the fall is almost here, I still find myself wearing them a lot because they simply feel great. Not even the cooler weather can stop me from wearing them daily
• They felt amazing since the time I first put them on and got gradually more and more comfortable. If they’re not super comfy from the day one, you must have the wrong size
• The toe-box is wide enough, even for my very wide feet and toes. I really got sick of my toes being cramped together, and the protective guard is nothing to sneeze at also
• Hundreds of hiking sandals reviews later I ended up with these, and I’ll just say I got myself the best Women’s hiking sandals out there. I was just stumped at how many positive reviews they’ve got, and I’m about to add one more to the pile
• The outer sole is anatomical and provides me with a great grip. It also has a good, athletic shape, and the traction I get while wearing these is unparalleled. They’re good for walking on boulders, mud, dirt, sand, you name it!
• The soles are not slippery at all, so walking over some wet rocks, docks, and any other slippery slopes is just a breeze. Plus, they leave no marks behind me
• The soles are specially made as to not hold anything within the groves. You can literally walk around the dirtiest of terrains and over your living room carpet right afterward, it won’t leave a speck
• My feet are flat my whole life and remained that way even after some corrective surgery. Ligament inflammation is a real concern for me, and these sandals made longer hikes a possibility again with their extraordinary support

Excerpts from the negative reviews – CONs:

• According to all of my friends and a bunch of reviews I’ve read online, best women’s hiking sandals out there, . Sadly, my wide feet simply can not fit inside. I’ve bought the widest ones I could find, but they’re still too narrow for me
• My ankles tend to swell a lot, and when they do, the strap that goes around them is way too tight

Final thoughts on the Keen Newport sandal for women

The Newport for women did not score as well as the model for men, but it’s still constantly present on this list since the start and that speaks volumes.

One more thing that we noticed about the reviews we’ve seen of this pair is the fact that most of the negative reviews were talking about things that are specific and should be thought of before ordering.

So, two things to bear in mind before you go for this sandal:

1. if you have especially wide feet, these are NOT the sandals for you
2. If your feet tend to swell due to a medical condition, again, the Newport for women is NOT for you

Overall Rating of 91 / 100.

Keen Clearwater Women’s CNX Sandals

Another entry from Keen. No, we don’t have any relatives or uncles on the board of Keen, they have just proven over time that they make best sandals for women hikers.

The specs of the Clearwater CNX:

• Textile
• Man-made sole
• Heel approximately measures 0.75 inches
• Water sandal featuring signature rubber enclosed toe and stretchy lining
• Ghillie lacing and bungee quick-adjust cord
• Mesh hydrophobic lining with AEGIS microbe shield
• Anatomic anti-odor footbed
• Pull-on dual loops
• Non-marking, razor siping outsole

Here we have some of the positive reviews that the consumers shared with us:

• These were intended for our trip to Cambodia and Thailand. They fit perfectly, and were a great companion during our long hikes and walks up the stairs of numerous temples we wanted to visit. I’ll just say I couldn’t be more happy with this purchase since they were super comfortable the whole time, and kept my feet in perfect condition all the way
• I really like their appearance. The rubber toe guard is much smaller than the other Keen models seem to have, and they look really neat and athletic because of it. As far as comfort goes, these are the best women’s hiking sandals I’ve had
• There’s been a few years since I’ve discovered Keens, and pretty much have a pair for any occasion by now. I had some serious problems with planar fasciitis, and there was a time I would’ve done anything for the pain to just stop. Turn out, all I needed was a pair of these babies
• I love them! They’re very low profile and feel like a feather on my feet. They’re also extremely comfortable, and I just ordered a pair in different color
• These are the first hiking sandals I’ve bought that are completely true to size! The online ordering poses a great problem otherwise since you don’t get to try on the shoes/sandals/boots you’re ordering. I just crossed my fingers, placed the order, and wasn’t disappointed
• They got here pretty fast, and I haven’t got a single complaint so far. They’re true to size and really give me superb traction during my water aerobics. I’ve tried a lot of different sandals since I do it basically four times a week, but these are the best so far
• I feel like the footbed is massaging my feet while I walk, that’s how comfortable they are. They’re also lightweight and provide great foot support. They’re a great substitute for sneakers, keeping my feet cool, but still protecting the toes

A view at the opposite side of the spectrum of reviews:

• I like the way they look, but my feet need more cushion than this. They’re pretty athletically made, but when you have feet as problematic as mine you definitely want more cushiony footbed
• They are not as comfortable as some heavier Keens I own, but they offer lightweight in return

Overall Ratings of the sandal

Clarks Women’s Tuvia Melon

Manufacturer’s basic sandal info lists this:

• Fabric and synthetics, breathable
• Imported
• Rubber flexible sole
• Heel approximately measures 1.25 inches
• Platform approximately 0.75 inch
• Closed-toe
• Hook-and-loop adjustable strap
• Lining with AEGIS Microbe Shield
• EVA metatomical footbed
• Omni-directional traction, non-marking outsole

If tradition is anything to go by, one would expect this specification to be an accurate representation of the truth. We will consult our fellow customers none the less.

Here are some of the things customers liked:

• This is the sandal of my dreams. It’s like the designers just picked my brain in order to create my perfect warm weather footwear. I wore them on my trip to Burma, and they were a trusted companion. They were certainly dressy enough to wear through the city but also feature a quick-release, which came in more than handy when I had to enter the temples bare footed
• I like these leather straps a lot! They are very soft, so they won’t cause any unnecessary friction and sore spots. They are also elastic, so they can be adjusted to provide optimal fit
• They are so comfortable and supportive I can wear them whole day long while hiking, they’re rugged and durable to withstand some pretty inhospitable hiking trails, and lastly, they’re attractive enough for me to wear them to work
• They have everything my imaginary sandal wish list might entail. Besides being super comfy, they’re also very durable and cool-looking, so their use is not limited solely on hiking
• These are the best women’s hiking sandals I’ve come across so far! I own my fair share of hiking footwear, so you might say I know what I’m talking about, but these really took me by surprise. They embody everything I could possibly want out of a pair of sandals, and a little more than that
• Hiking footwear that doesn’t require any period for breaking in is a rare thing to find indeed. These were very comfortable since the moment I put them on, and prolonged wearing just added to the overall comfort. Amazing!
• I’ve read my fair share of hiking sandal reviews while I was searching for the right pair, and I must say I made the right choice. They’re comfortable, well made and durable, look amazing, and pretty versatile as far as wearing occasions go. I recommend them to every girl/woman out there, whether you’re into hiking or not

some less than pleasant experiences:

• The sizing is somewhat odd in my opinion. I can make them fit thanks to the strap system being very good, but they seem a bit larger than they should
• The sandals themselves are great, but my wide feet can’t fit inside. Not without some considerable pain after a while, at least

Final ratings of the Clarks Tuvia

Sleek and eye-catching designed resulted in the fact that a lot of women that get the Clarks Tuvia end up buying it over and over again. It’s very precisely targeted in terms of audience.

Conclusions about best women’s hiking sandals

Before you make up your mind, take a minute or two to think about how strong and in shape you are and how often do you plan to hit the trails. For the time being, the Keen Whisper dominates the category and it seems it’s here to stay.

Whichever way you go with sandals from this list, it’s very hard to go wrong. Feel free to comment and ask our team any questions in the comments section below.