Hiked in Sandals?

[ppine]

I just came back from a trip this week and hiked around in flipflops on rough ground. It was good to air out the feet and be able to walk right into the lakes. Except for the black organic soil ground into the soles of my feet it worked great.

[ChadTower]

I'm not a big fan of $100+ specialized footwear unless there is a serious need for it. Comfort and ease don't count. Yeah, you don't want to have your feet torn up or your toes broken, but you also don't want to be totally dependent on expensive gear that people hiked for centuries without.

[Michael]

For those expressing doubt about sandals and outdoors activities, a quick reminder: The soldiers of the Roman legion were wearing sandals outdoors when they took over big chunks of the world by force. They were famed for their ability to march long distances at good speeds. And in cold climates, they wore socks under their sandals.

So hiking in sandals is hardly a weird notion.

I've done a bit of hiking in my Tevas, including some really vertical mountain hiking. You mostly just have to be careful where you're putting your feet. There's less ankle support, but you get used to that. And since you're being more careful where you put your feet, you're less likely to be in a situation where you're going to turn your ankle.

It's doable, but it's not for everyone. If you do choose to do it, make sure that you have comfortable sandals that fit you well, and watch out for rubbing; since there are fewer points of contact with your foot, each blister sucks just that much more.

[Boboque]

If I'm doing light hiking *not over a couple of miles*, in easy terrain and on established trails, I will wear hiking sandals. The pair I have are Teva. They are pretty comfortable but I don't think I would wear them when I was out and about with no established trails in sight.

[RingTwist]

I've never worn sandals on a hike for fear of blisters. I just bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers though and look forward to using those on my next hike.