11 Best Men’s Sandals & Water Shoes For Summer
Published May 20, 2024
Sandals are our summer staples. Most of us Gearhead® Experts own casual sandals that replace our socks and shoes for a long stretch of the summer—or at least a pair for the pool or beach. But Backcountry also carries plenty of performance sandals that blur the boundary between everyday and adventure sandals—sandals that transition easily from farmers markets, dog walks, and music festivals to trails, paddle boards, and whitewater rafts. Plus, many of us river rats and backpackers at Backcountry pick up a pair of quickdrying water shoes for our paddling trips, portages, and hikes with frequent water crossings. Do you consider your sandal tan lines a source of pride? Check out our picks for the best men’s sandals and best water shoes for amphibious adventures.
Best Sandals For Men
When warm weather rolls in, we start our annual switch from shoes to sandals. Wearing sandals is much like driving a convertible—taking the top down lets our feet enjoy a nice breeze and catch some sun as we get out there. For our active outdoor lifestyle, travels, and warm-weather adventures, we like sandals with these features:
- Cushy and supportive soles
- Comfortable straps
- Quick-drying materials that shed sweat and water
- Specialized traction for wet and dry surfaces
Here’s a short list of the best sandals for men that meet and exceed our expectations.
Chaco Mega Z/Cloud
Best Multipurpose Sandal For Men
A versatile choice for active men, the Mega Z/Cloud features softer cloud-like cushioning and wider Z-shaped straps than other Chacos for a comfort upgrade. This sport sandal balances the burly with the cushy (a LUVSEAT footbed lets our feet settle in for all-day comfort), giving us a sturdy platform for hiking, paddling, and pedaling. We’ll wear the Mega Z/Cloud almost anywhere and for almost any outdoor activity—it's a great, multipurpose sandal.
Winning Features
- Great for everyday wear, hiking, and paddling
- Wider 32mm straps for comfort
- PU midsoles provide durable cushioning and support
- Best for high arches (not flat feet)
- Chacogrip rubber for wet traction
Tread Labs Redway Sandal
Best Fast-And-Light Sandal For Men
The Tread Labs Redway Sandal is our pick for guys who prefer to keep things fast and light. This men’s sandal looks sick with a low-profile, streamlined design, and it keeps our feet well-ventilated with its comfortable straps. Our feet are fans of the anatomical, microsuede footbeds, which support our arches, fight funky smells, and dissipate moisture. The Redway looks killer next to our khakis and shorts, but it’s also athletic and supportive enough for light hiking and more active endeavors.
Winning Features
- Appropriate for everyday and active wear
- Semi-custom insoles include arch support
- PU midsoles maintain cushioning over time
Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandal
Best Outdoor Adventure Sandal For Men
Removing the controversial toe strap from the Chaco Z/2, the Z/1 Classic is a tough, river-ready sandal that can accommodate socks, dry suits, and neoprene socks. This sandal’s soles mean business with stiff, heavy-duty materials to stave off foot fatigue and stand up to trail miles and river miles alike. Chaco’s fastening system also lets us lock down our fit—once we learn how to adjust Chaco straps. These are the beefy and grippy sandals we strap into when we’re ready to run a river, scramble up a riverbank, and switchback up to a summit.
Winning Features
- Best for outdoor adventures
- Highly supportive PU midsoles
- Quick-drying synthetic webbing
- Adjustable straps for a lock-down fit
- No-slip grip for wet and dry terrain
Danner Joseph Leather Sandal
Most Durable Sandal For Men
Featuring Danner’s heritage style, the Joseph Leather Sandal is built to last with quality leather straps, polyurethane midsoles, and Vibram outsoles. Those quality components add up to a durable sandal that can span seasons of dog walks, BBQs, and casual wear. Danner also scores sustainability points because the Joseph sandal can be recrafted at the end of its (first) life—Danner’s Portland facility can replace our soles, repair any stitching and hardware, and recondition the leather for a born-again sandal.
Winning Features
- Best for casual outdoor wear
- Leather Working Group-certified leather
- Magnetic buckle for easy off/on
- Can be resoled by Danner
The North Face Base Camp II Flip-Flop
Best Flip-Flop For Men
Flip-flops are the quintessential summer footwear, something light and easy to slip in and out of at the beach, the campsite, pool, and dock. The North Face Base Camp II Flip-Flop may be the best of the bunch with a bumpy midsole and anatomical arch support to soothe our feet after a long day of hiking, surfing, or disc-hucking. These flip-flops somehow find their way onto our feet most days of the summer—no matter what we’ve got on tap.
Winning Features
- Premium flip-flops
- EVA foam adds lightweight cush
- Rubber soles add tread and durability
Best Men’s Water Shoes
Sandals let our feet enjoy life with the top down when the weather heats up. However, the added coverage of an amphibious water shoe may be a better choice when our summer adventures take us in and out of the water. The best water shoes drain and dry quickly, protect our feet from underwater hazards, and feature grippy rubber tread that sticks to wet surfaces when we’re rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, canyoning, portaging, wading, and fishing. If you’re a salamander like us—equally at home on land and in the water—check out our picks for the best water shoes for men.
Salomon Techamphibian 5
Best Men’s Water Shoe For Amphibious Adventures
For those who spend equal time spent on land and in water, the crowd favorite Techamphibian 5 goes unrivaled. Sticky Contragrip soles deliver next-level traction whether you’re wading pebble-bottom brooks with fly rod in hand or following meandering trails in search of distant jungle waterfalls. We love the collapsible heel, which lets us slip these on like slides for short jaunts, as well as the quick-adjust lacing system, which ensures a secure fit when we’re transitioning from barefoot swims to shoes-on paddles. Another key feature is the well-ventilated synthetic mesh that lets water in, keeps painful debris out, and allows quick drainage when we emerge back to land from the depths. Finally, these Salomons include a soft-feel sock liner, meaning you can wear sans socks without worry about chafing or hot spots (unless you’re more of an always-socks type, of course).
Winning Features
- Comfort-focused EVA midsole
- Congragrip FD soles excel in wet and dry terrain
- Adjustable heel strap and quick-lace forefoot closure
- S.Cafe® sock liner made from recycled materials
- 10.6oz per shoe
Astral Rassler 2.0
Best Mid-Cut Water Shoe For Men
With a skater look and some over-the-ankle protection, the Astral Rassler 2.0 lets us enjoy our time on and in the water. That mid-cut coverage adds a little support for our aquatic adventures while making it tougher for sticks and sediment to sneak into our shoes. Like other Astrals on this list, the Rassler features several ports to drain water in a hurry and ventilate our feet. We like this mid-cut water shoe for wading rocky streams, kayak camping, and river trips with short side hikes to ruins, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks.
Winning Features
- Best for rafting, kayaking, and canoeing
- Over-the-ankle protection
- Thicker soles add comfort and protection
- Quick-drying canvas uppers
Astral Brewer 2
Best Outdoor Water Sneaker For Men
The Astral Brewer 2 is an outdoor sneaker with some sneaky-good tech to make it both brewery- and water-ready. It may look like an everyday shoe, but the Brewer feels at home around wet environments with its quick-drying canvas, drainage ports in the heel and toes, and siped outsoles with tire-like grooves for better wet traction. With Astral’s Level Footbed helping us land naturally, this water sneaker should also appeal to fans of zero drop running shoes.
Winning Features
- Best for water, casual, and travel
- G.15 rubber for wet traction
- 0mm heel to toe drop
The North Face Skagit Water Shoe
Best Lightweight Water Shoe For Men
Astral doesn’t have the market cornered on water shoes. The North Face Skagit is another quick-drying water shoe for paddling, wading, and water-crossing adventures. The EVA midsoles feature a drainage system while the shoe’s mesh screens out debris while allowing water to drain easily. Thanks to its lightweight build, we like paddling in the Skagit, which also moonlights as our summer wading shoe.
Winning Features
- Best for paddling, wading, and water crossing
- Lightweight (9.4oz per shoe)
- Convenient toggle for easy off/on
- Siped outsoles shed water for better grip
Astral Loyak
Best-Looking Men’s Water Shoe
The Loyak is so good-looking that we may not want to get it wet, but that’s a mistake. This low-profile sneaker is very paddle-friendly with its durable, quick-draining uppers and Astral’s G.15 rubber, which really sticks to slippery river bottoms. The Loyak also has loyal fans who pretty much live in them, thanks to their close-fitting comfort and their balance of flexibility and support underfoot. Plus, it needs to be said—we look way cooler in our Loyaks than our paddle buddies in their neoprene booties, especially when we meet up for post-paddle pints.
Winning Features
- Best for paddling and outdoor lifestyle wear
- Cordura uppers are durable and quick drying
- Rubber soles add foot protection
- Specialized traction for wet surfaces
Astral Hiyak
Best Men’s Paddle Bootie
For the best bootie-style water shoe, we like the Astral Hikak for kayaks, SUPs, and boats. Like other Astrals on this list, the Hiyak features balanced geometry for natural landings, quick-drying materials, drainage ports, and specialized rubber for wet environments. The bootie is made with paddlers in mind, giving us extra protection and insulation for cold whitewater. The Hiyak is also made without toxic neoprene—using insulating airmesh that’s comfortable and better for the environment—and features clutch traction on wet surfaces.
Winning Features
- Best for kayak, SUPs, and boats
- 1060D ballistic nylon is highly abrasion resistant
- Secure laces & lace protection system
- Grippy G rubber excels at wet traction
- 0mm drop
Buying Men’s Sandals At Backcountry
Backcountry’s sandal and water shoe assortment runs the gamut—with options for everyday and outdoor adventures. This post has highlighted some of our Herd’s favorites. For more options, guys can connect with a Gearhead® Expert for a more personalized recommendation or see all of our men’s sandals and men’s water shoes at Backcountry.
FAQ
Q: What sandals can you wear in the water?
A: Any sandal with water-repellent materials can be worn in the water because it won’t absorb much moisture and will dry quickly. We prefer wearing sandals with synthetic uppers in the water, but some treated leather sandals are also water friendly.
Q: Are sandals good for kayaking?
A: Sandals often work well for recreational kayaking, but some whitewater kayaks and touring kayaks may not have enough volume for kayakers to wear bulkier sandals safely.
Q: Is there such a thing as hiking sandals?
A: Yes, several adventure sandals are appropriate for hiking. Our Gearhead® Experts have hiked a ton of miles in a range of great brands, such as Chaco, Bedrock, Teva, KEEN, and HOKA.
