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Teva Sandals Review After 2 Months of Hikes, Swimming & Walking New Cities

  • Kara
  • August 10, 2021
  • Contains Affiliate Links

About a mile into our 7-mile hike to a secret waterfall, my beloved hiking boots broke. Like, the sole literally fell off. It was also pushing 90 degrees out and my feet were burning up in boots anyways. I took it as a sign to finally pull the trigger on a pair of Teva sandals.

I see all my travel blogger peers endorse Teva shoes but I’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger on the hiking sandals (I’ve been burned by pairs in the past.) But I finally did and I’m here to give you my honest Teva sandals review after 2 months of wear (pros, cons, and buying tips!)

Didn’t slip in this cave once!

I think it’s important to note that I live in San Francisco and low-key addicted to running around this state. Any given weekend you can find me hiking National Parks, swimming in a waterfall, soaking in a hot spring, exploring a mining town, wandering the desert, kayaking a Bay, camping lakeside… basically, if I’m getting a pair of adventure shoes they need to be super comfortable, sturdy and versatile.

Teva Sandals Review 2021: Pros & Cons After 2 Months of Hiking, Swimming & Walking All Over New Cities

After way too much time comparing Tevas online, I bought the Teva Universal Trail sandals in black. My husband bought the Teva Hurricane XLT for men. I also chatted with my female friend who wears the Teva Original to bring you a comprehensive review on the best Teva sandal to pick if you choose to!

First things first…

Overall Pros

  • Don’t stain easily
  • Sturdy velcro straps
  • Good footbed & arch support on most shoes
  • Many color and style options
  • Quick shipping
Overall Cons

  • So many styles it can be hard to pick the best one
  • Not all sandals have an adjustable ankle strap system
  • Sizing can run small
  • Expensive compared to generic hiking sandals
My friend wearing Teva Orignals
Me, wearing the trail

Are Teva Sandals Worth It?

Jumping right to the kicker here: are Teva sandals worth the price point? YES but only if you get the best Teva sandals that’s right for your adventures. I’ve been sporting my Tevas all over since getting them and have yet to get sore feet or slip.

But, as someone totally new to buying Teva sandals I was really overwhelmed with choices. That’s a major downfall of Teva – if you can’t get into a store to try things on, it can be really overwhelming to figure out what shoe you need. And they aren’t all created equal in my opinion. Here’s some start points:

Important Tip: Size Down On Teva Sandals

How should Teva sandals fit? I found you needed to size down a full size. I originally bought a 9 sine I usually wear a 9.5, but there was way too much toe room in the front that I was tripping in my apartment. So I returned those and got a size 8, which fit perfectly.


Not all shoes may need this hack that’s why it’s important to read the Teva reviews from past customers as they’re a good way to crowdsource any potential sizing issues. But remember, if they mean size down a size that doesn’t mean a half size, it means a full size!

Pro Tip: When in doubt, order a couple of sizes and return what doesn’t fit.
Chickens and Tevas?! It works!
Always love a shoe shot

Teva Original Universal vs Teva Universal Trail vs Teva Hurricanes

I oped for the Teva Universal Trail since I needed Teva hiking sandals that could replace my hiking boots on hot days or for water adventures. As I mentioned before, my husband has the Mens Teva sandals in Hurricane.

Teva Original Universal Review

This is probably the most commonly found shoe in stores as it’s the OG Teva fashion style. It’s also the lowest price point at around $50 a pair and can be found not just on the company website but at lots of stores like Madewell or Zappos.

I love the colors that the Teva Original Sandal comes in (like this rainbow pair!) so they make a great everyday summer sandal. The cons are they aren’t great for hiking. They don’t have the same arch support as the Universal Trail and don’t have the same grip on the bottom, either. This is the sandal you get for casual hangs and everyday summer wear (like errands or a lazy beach day).  

PROS

  • Most affordable
  • Most styles and colors available
  • Good Teva walking sandals for easy summer days
CONS

  • Not as good for hiking
  • Not as great for water or slippery surfaces

Teva Original Universal Trail Review

This is the pair I got and I LOVE them. I’ve worn them on long hikes, swimming under a waterfall, swimming in a cavern, at the airport, to sunflower fields — seriously. All. Over. I think these are the best Teva sandals for walking AND hiking, so your true jill of all trades. The white stripe on the sandal also stays really clean, it’s magic.

The downside is they are more expensive at $100 a pair and don’t have many color options. They also don’t have an adjustable back strap so it’s best to order a few sizes to get the best fit. Again, I originally got a size 9 but the room at my toes was too long so I had to return them and get a size 8. 

PROS

  • Best for hiking
  • Best for water activities & slippery surfaces
  • Comfy AF
  • Doesn’t stain easily
Cons

  • Most expensive
  • Backstrap not adjustable
  • Not many color options
My husband wearing his Tevas!

Mens Teva Hurricane Sandal Review

My husband is the kind of guy who picks a sandal and a pair of shoes and those are his two shoes. He runs them to the ground. When his old pair of sandals literally fell apart in his hands, I bought him the Teva Hurricanes XLT2 so he could keep up with me easier on our hikes around the Bay Area.

He had no complaints about his sandals, though he did giggle and tell me “the only con is they aren’t slip ons” (his usual choice for sandals.)

Pros

  • Comfy & sturdy
  • Good arch support
  • Easy to take on and off
  • Many color options
Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavier than women’s styles
Another competitor brand is Chacos, which I haven’t tried but another hiker friend of mine loves them. She goes on intense backpacking trips so if you wanted to try those, you would probably be happy. I just haven’t been able to test them out in person yet.

So, I hope I’ve convinced you to give Tevas a try. I for sure was in that stubborn bandwagon where I was like “they can’t be as good as everyone says, this is just really good influencer marketing” but alas, here I am, totally unsponsored and signing their praises. 

Got your own Teva sandal reviews to add? Drop a comment below so everyone can see!

Kara

I'm the founder of Whimsy Soul (this blog you're reading!) I'm a type 3 enneagram cat lady who lives in San Francisco and loves to find everyday magic to share with others. You can probably find me hunting down hot springs with girlfriends, kayaking, cooking with my husband, petting strangers' dogs or watching like, all the things on Netflix. Follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

7 comments
  1. IzzyM says:
    August 23, 2021 at 4:08 am

    Any concerns about injuring your toes during a hike since they’re exposed?

    Reply
  2. Nicole says:
    May 13, 2022 at 7:29 pm

    Super helpful, thank you!!

    Reply
  3. Julie says:
    May 15, 2022 at 12:24 pm

    I bought a pair of Teva sandals in 2003. Wore them everywhere the last 19 summers. The sole came off one of them today. I’d say I got my money’s worth!!

    Reply
  4. DazzDeals says:
    June 21, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    hey lovelies, has anyone found any staple pieces for summer? im going to bali in august so looking for good rated swimwear, dresses, beachwear etc? thankyou 🤍🤍
    pfa in my fave shein dress to date

    Reply
  5. Al says:
    August 19, 2022 at 11:44 am

    I buy a new pair of Hurricanes every two years or so… I burn through shoes crazy as an active big guy, but absolutely no complaints about them slipping and they have great support. Well worth the $75 spend when I burn through the soles.

    Reply
  6. Aurora says:
    August 20, 2022 at 7:26 am

    Thanks! Can someone give me an opinion on TevaVoya Strappy Sandals? I’m not sure which one to pick: the Teva Originals or the Teva Voya Strappy!

    Reply
  7. Randall Everett says:
    December 26, 2022 at 9:30 am

    I love the way my Tevas looked and their comfort but the sole composition is dangerously slippery, I slipped several times on wet surfaces during my trip to India in my new Hurricanes, the last time I slipped I broke my tibia and fibula at the ankle, I read reviews that they were slippery but I didn’t listen, my own fault, I don’t recommend for hiking, it’s okay for around the house as long as you watch out for slippery wet floors.

    Reply

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