Technical Approach Sandals?? What do you wear?

I wear sandals all the time, I only resort to wearing closed toed shoes when I'm actually going to be seriously scrambling over shit or needing to jam my feet to solo easy terrain.  Also my feet tend to be pretty sweaty/stinky so I prefer not to have them soaking in shoes unless I have a good reason.  I have been wearing Teva sandals (hurricane XL2) for many years and here are some of the major pros to them:
- Lightweight & compact (no problem strapping to my harness if I need to walk off a multi-pitch, don't take up much space in a backpack)
- Securely strapped onto my foot (I never feel like they are going to slip off unless my feet are wet)
- Fairly durable (they'll last a little over a year of continuous use)
- Easy to slip on between pitches while cragging (I find it annoying to sock up and put on real shoes when it's only for a few minutes at a time and then I need to take them off again)

Here are some cons:
- Rubber is not that sticky (it's good enough for most things, but sometimes I sketch out on wet surfaces or climbing over big rocks and shit)
- They cost like $75 a pair (they're fucking sandals!! wtf?)

I see more and more folks wearing those thong type sandals, like those moon and bedrock brand ones.  Are they as good as everyone claims they are?  Personally I think they look a little weird and would imagine the thong between the toes would be annoying when walking downhill with a heavy pack on.  

What sandals do you wear?  What's so great about them?  How long do they last you?  How do you use them?  Are they worth the cost?

I have a pair of bedrock "cairn 3d"s that I take on some approaches. Rubber seems similar to what you described. Not great at all on wet rock specifically. And your intuition about hiking downhill with a pack in them is good, but the toe thingy isn't too bad as far as toe thingies go. They're $105 for fucking sandals though.

Earthrunners. I wear the mid thickness pair. Have had them for 3 years, Vibram sole is just starting to wear out. I love them. I have worn them to horseshoe canyon ranch in Arkansas and hiked from rim to rim, as well as taken them into Lake Superior and fast-moving rivers as water shoes. Super minimal, and VERY comfortable, despite the thong strap. I feel totally locked in when I'm wearing a 50 liter pack with all of my sport/trad gear in it as well. Feel free to ask me some more questions. The only con I can think of is the staining on the footbed from my foot imprint, but that's with any shoe. 

Chacos.

Send your faves for a resolve in some C4.

mollycoddled anteater wrote:

I have a pair of bedrock "cairn 3d"s that I take on some approaches. Rubber seems similar to what you described. Not great at all on wet rock specifically. And your intuition about hiking downhill with a pack in them is good, but the toe thingy isn't too bad as far as toe thingies go. They're $105 for fucking sandals though.

Second this. Although I have the 3d pro version with the grey vibram - it’s marketed as being stickier when wet but I haven’t had the regular ones so not sure how they compare. I don’t notice them slipping much but also I don’t use them on super technical terrain. However, I’ve done a lot of sierra hiking, backpacking, and mellow ~class 3 scrambling in them; and have crossed rivers/snow patches in them - I think they’re great! 

The 3D version is slightly thicker than the non-3D, which I appreciate when hiking on rockier trails, and the contouring is minimal. They’re still zero drop. They are pricey but mine have lasted a few years (still have more life left) and the company resoles them. Also, I lost a single sandal once and they replaced it at a really fair cost. They’re pretty dope sandals. My feet feel a lot happier and less tired at the end of the day when I wear these vs my altras. 

Toetem Sandals make actual approach sandals using Vibram Approach Rubber

Mr Rogers wrote:

Send your faves for a resolve in some C4.

Which companies will resole sandals with climbing rubber?

Sportiva use to make some super light basic foam sandals with sticky rubber.  Really too bad they don’t offer them anymore.  I’d walked off el cap and half dome with them numerous times.  To keep them from sliding around, I’d wrap some athletic tape around them and my foot.  That trick really turns them in to all terrain footwear.

I like the xero z-trails for lightweight compact approach sandals

Got some crocs and Amazon basics sandals I wear both equal amounts. Crocs keep rocks out from under my foot better. And easier to get rocks out of. 

Got some crocs and Amazon basics sandals I wear both equal amounts. Crocs keep rocks out from under my foot better. And easier to get rocks out of. 

I will never go through life without my Bedrocks. Absolutely love them for approaches in the summer, backpacking and just wearing around town/to the river or park etc 

adidas slides from the bodega around the corner.  Been using them to hike in for a few years.  No complaints. 

Connor Dobson wrote:

I like the xero z-trails for lightweight compact approach sandals

Second. I wear my xeros literally everywhere for everything including big long Sierra hikes they are awesome 

i’ve been wearing merrell hydromoc all summer. they’re grippy, protect my feet, stay on tight, and super light for multipitch. at home in the garden, driving, or doing an hour approach on kind of rugged terrain. would recommend. 

A guy on here has a sandal company called “Toetem Sandals” that make approach rubber convertible sandals. I havent warn a pair myself but a few friends have them and seem to like them

I like my Keen's. Toe cap means you won't stub your toes and gives more stability on the downhill. But that means they do run warmer than the Teva style.

You think the Bedrock sandals look weird and you wear Tevas?

John Nguyen wrote:

Which companies will resole sandals with climbing rubber?

Rubber room used to do it! I just email them, I bet they would/still do.

isn't the phrase "technical approach sandal" an oxymoron?

kinda like "4 season alpine slipper" :)