Women's Sandals

Women's Hiking Sandals for Trail, Water, and Everyday Use

A good pair of women's hiking sandals does things a regular sandal cannot. It grips wet rock at a stream crossing, stays comfortable through a full day on trail, dries fast after you wade through a creek, and then looks reasonable enough at a picnic table or riverside restaurant once the hike is done. The best outdoor sandals are built around trail-specific footbeds, secure strap systems, and materials that handle repeated water exposure without breaking down.

This collection at Appalachian Outfitters covers 35 women's sandals across seven outdoor brands: Teva, Chaco, Birkenstock, Keen, Olukai, Kavu, and NuuSol. For a deeper look at how each brand compares for actual trail use, the guide to hiking in sandals from the Appalachian Outfitters blog covers the specific strengths of Chaco, Teva, and Keen in practical detail.

Seven Brands, One Outdoor-Focused Selection

The collection includes 35 women's sandals from seven brands, with 21 currently in stock. The collection spans four functional categories: open-toe sport hiking sandals, closed-toe hiking sandals, casual and recovery sandals, and slides. Use the brand filter on the collection page to narrow by maker, or the price filter to stay within your budget.

Matching the Brand to Your Outdoor Life

Teva is one of the original outdoor sandal brands. Born in the Grand Canyon, Teva hiking sandals are built for hot, dry trail environments and excel in low-profile open construction that handles heat and ventilation well. The brand also offers closed-toe versions for more demanding terrain. Teva's lineup here ranges from the Verra to the Hurricane XLT3 Closed-Toe, covering casual outdoor use through serious trail hiking.

Chaco is the most supportive brand in the collection for women who need serious arch support on longer hikes. Chaco hiking sandals use a polyurethane (PU) bottom sole, which is denser than standard rubber and does not compress over time, extending the lifespan of the sandal. Their continuous strap system is fully adjustable, running through the sole to create a customizable fit across the length and width of the foot. Chaco soles are also re-soleable, which can add years to the sandal's lifespan.

Keen brings closed-toe and open-toe hiking sandals with the brand's signature toe protection. The Newport H2 is Keen's most proven hiking sandal, with water-friendly uppers and a lug outsole built for trail use. The Hyperport H2 is a lighter, more performance-oriented take on the same platform.

Birkenstock is represented here through the Arizona and Boston silhouettes. These are recovery and everyday comfort sandals rather than trail-specific footwear. The Birkenstock cork and latex footbed contours to the foot with use, providing excellent arch support and shock absorption for all-day wear. The Boston clog styles add covered toe and heel for cooler-weather and camp use.

Olukai is a Hawaiian footwear brand specializing in premium beach and water sandals. The Honu and Kipe'a 'Olu are built for comfort and durability in coastal and water environments. Olukai footwear uses drop-in ETPU midsoles and anatomical footbeds for a cushioned, supportive feel.

NuuSol and Kavu round out the collection with accessible options in the slide and casual sandal categories. The NuuSol Women's Sun Valley Slide is the most affordable entry in the collection.

From Open Toe to Slides: Four Style Categories

The right style of women's hiking sandal depends almost entirely on where you are going and what the ground looks like when you get there.

Open-Toe Sport Hiking Sandals

Open-toe hiking sandals are the most versatile category for warm-weather trail use. They ventilate well in hot conditions, dry fast after water crossings, and handle everything from maintained trail to rocky terrain with reasonable competence.

Teva offers several options in this category built around multi-directional lug outsoles and quick-dry straps, suited for both trail and water use. Chaco's sport sandals feature a continuous strap system and supportive PU footbed, making them strong choices for longer days where support matters. Keen rounds out the category with open-toe designs that combine lug outsoles with water-friendly construction.

Closed-Toe Hiking Sandals

Closed-toe hiking sandals add toe protection without the full coverage of a shoe or boot. They are the right choice for rocky trails where open toes are a liability, water environments where stubbing on submerged rocks is a risk, or any hike where you want more protection than an open sandal provides.

Teva offers dedicated closed-toe hiking sandals built with the same trail-capable construction as their open-toe lineup. Keen takes a more minimal, performance-oriented approach with lighter materials and a lower-profile outsole - a strong option for those who prefer a less bulky feel without sacrificing protection.

Casual and Recovery Sandals

Birkenstock and Olukai occupy the casual and recovery end of the collection. Birkenstock offers their classic sandals in several material versions — oiled leather and Birkibuc options use the signature cork footbed for everyday wear and recovery after active days, while EVA versions offer a waterproof, lightweight, and machine-washable alternative that works well as a camp sandal. 

Closed-toe clog styles round out the Birkenstock selection, functioning well as camp shoes and cold-morning sandals. Olukai's lineup sits similarly - premium everyday sandals with a cushioned, anatomically shaped footbed that carries easily from beach to dinner table. 

Slides

The NuuSol Women's Sun Valley Slide and the two Kavu options complete the collection with simpler slip-on designs. Slides are not hiking sandals in the sport sense, but they are practical as camp shoes, post-hike recovery footwear, and casual outdoor-adjacent use where you want something easy on and off without sacrificing basic comfort.

Before You Buy: A Practical Buying Guide

Start with the terrain. Easy trails with maintained paths and minimal technical sections are well-served by any open-toe sport sandal. Rocky, uneven, or technical terrain benefits from closed-toe protection. Water crossings, creek walks, and canyons call for quick-dry materials and grippy outsoles. Chaco, Teva, and Keen all handle wet environments well. If your trips regularly combine different terrain types, it can also help to compare sandals with the wider selection of women's outdoor footwear available at Appalachian Outfitters. 

Open toe or closed toe? 

Open-toe sandals are cooler and dry faster. Closed-toe sandals protect against rocks, roots, and submerged hazards. If you will mostly hike dry, maintained trails, open toe is fine. If the trail is rocky, the approach includes water crossings, or you are not sure what the ground looks like, closed toe is the safer choice.

How much arch support do you need? 

If you have flat feet, high arches, or need significant support for longer hikes, Chaco is the strongest option in the collection. Birkenstock's cork footbed provides excellent everyday arch support but is designed for walking rather than active hiking. Teva's low-profile footbeds suit those without specific support needs.

Strap system. Chaco's continuous strap is the most adjustable and most secure for active use. Teva uses hook-and-loop adjustable straps that are easy to adjust on the fly. Keen uses a combination of adjustable webbing and bungee systems. If you are planning water activities, check that straps dry quickly and do not hold moisture against the foot.

Socks or no socks?

Most women's hiking sandals are designed for barefoot wear. Some hikers choose to wear thin liner socks to prevent blisters on longer days. If you expect more than five miles of continuous hiking, liner socks are worth considering. The women's hiking socks collection has liner and lightweight options suited to sandal use.

When Sandals Work on Trail (and When They Don't)

Women's hiking sandals are appropriate for a specific set of conditions. Knowing where they work well and where they fall short saves you from choosing the wrong footwear for a trip.

Sandals work well on: day hikes in warm weather on maintained trails, creek hikes and canyon walks where you will frequently wade, beach-to-trail transitions where you want one pair of footwear, camp use and short walks from the site, and flat to moderately rocky terrain where the trail surface is predictable.

Sandals are less appropriate for: multi-day backpacking with a heavy pack, off-trail scrambling or technical terrain, cold or wet conditions where foot warmth matters, or hikes involving sustained steep descent where a more stable sole and ankle containment matter. For those conditions, women's hiking boots or women's trail shoes are the more appropriate choice.

The Appalachian Outfitters blog post on hiking in sandals goes into specific brand recommendations by trail type and covers the practical case for each of the major hiking sandal brands in more detail.

What Sets This Retailer Apart

Appalachian Outfitters is an independent outdoor retailer with a physical store and staff who hike in the gear they sell. The seven sandal brands in this collection were not assembled to cover a price matrix. They reflect the brands that outdoor women actually reach for across a range of activities and preferences.

Flat-rate shipping. All orders ship at flat rate. Orders over qualify for free shipping with code FREESHIP99. Most sport hiking sandals in this collection are priced at or above, so a single pair qualifies for free shipping.

21 in-stock options. With 21 of 35 products currently in stock, there are enough in-stock options across brand, style, and price point to serve most buyers without waiting for restock.

Outdoor expertise. The Appalachian Outfitters team has firsthand trail experience with the brands and footwear they carry. The blog post on hiking in sandals is a clear example of that: practical brand comparison from people who have actually worn these sandals on trail.

Stewardship. The store actively supports trail conservation and outdoor access, consistent with how the people buying these sandals use them.

Sandal Questions, Answered

What is the best women's hiking sandal for arch support?

Chaco is the strongest option in this collection for arch support. Their PU sole does not compress over time, and the continuous strap system creates a secure, customizable fit that supports the foot evenly across the length of the sole.

Are Teva sandals good for hiking?

Yes, particularly for warm-weather hiking on maintained trails. Teva's low-profile construction and open-air design work well in hot environments like the Grand Canyon and dry canyon trails. For rocky or technical terrain, the closed-toe Teva Tirra Sport or Hurricane XLT3 Closed-Toe adds protection.

Can I wear Birkenstock sandals for hiking?

Birkenstocks are not designed for active trail hiking. They are better suited for camp walking, casual use, and recovery after hiking days. The cork footbed provides excellent everyday support, but the outsole is not designed for lug-pattern grip or the lateral stability that trail hiking requires.

What is the difference between open-toe and closed-toe hiking sandals?

Open-toe sandals ventilate better and dry faster but expose your toes to rocks, roots, and underwater hazards. Closed-toe sandals protect the toes while keeping the breathability advantage of a sandal over a shoe. For trail use on rocky or technical terrain, closed-toe is the safer choice.

How long do outdoor sandals last?

This depends heavily on use frequency and care. Chaco sandals are particularly long-lasting because their PU soles can be re-soled, extending the lifespan significantly beyond most other sandals. Teva and Keen sandals typically last several seasons of regular use with proper care. Rinsing with fresh water after salt or heavy sediment exposure extends the life of any sandal.

Are hiking sandals waterproof?

Most hiking sandals in this collection are water-friendly rather than waterproof. They are designed to get wet, drain quickly, and dry fast. Sport sandals like the Keen Newport H2 and Teva Hurricane series use open or mesh uppers that shed water rather than trying to keep it out. The Birkenstock EVA Arizona is the explicitly waterproof option in this collection.

What socks should I wear with hiking sandals?

Most outdoor sandals are worn barefoot. For longer hikes where blister prevention matters, thin wool or synthetic liner socks work in sandals without looking awkward. Avoid cotton socks, which hold moisture and increase blister risk.