Keen Evofit One | £100
BEST FOR: High summer, water-bound adventures and travels.
Keen’s original Newport sandal set the tone for sandals that were not only airy and breathable but could take you beyond the beach and on to the trails. Keen have built on this heritage to bring us the latest performance sandal, the Evofit One.
The upper is made with a soft and flexible material that has a 4-way stretch mapped to different parts of the foot. The material wicks moisture and variable densities enhance airflow, increasing breathability in certain areas. The lightweight material dries quickly when things get sweaty or when you go for a paddle in the water.
The outsole is tuned for a mix of wet and dry land, the super sticky rubber and densely packed lugs perhaps favour waterside activities but assuming you’re not wading into mud or climbing the Matterhorn you’ll find the grip sufficient for most dry trails.
An attractive range of mainly sporty looking colour options in both men’s and women’s fits completes the offering and solidifies the Evofit One as a great sandal for the outdoors.
VERDICT: 8/10
We think that this accomplished piece of summer footwear is well worth the steep price tag.
Merrell Terrant Slide | £70
BEST FOR: Globetrotters who like a classy and practical sandal.
If style and comfort come high on your list of priorities for travel gear then you’ll want to check out Merrell’s Terrant Slide sandals.
Merrell’s Terrant Slide sandals incorporate a breathable webbed leather upper with a memory foam footbed for comfort. The footbed is seriously plush, the thick layer of memory foam contours beautifully to your foot and an antimicrobial treatment slows down the onset of smells.
The premium full grain leather upper looks great on the beach or the city streets and a stretch webbing attachment means that the sandal flexes with your foot. The outsole foregoes the usual slick flip flop sole for a capable M Select sole with pronounced lugs, this adds a decent amount of grip without detracting from the smart looks.
You would have to be brave to wear the Terrant Slide sandals on anything more than a gentle hike though as the foot can easily slip out on tricky terrain.
As a smart travel sandal for hot weather trips with days spent sightseeing and walking on gentle paths, the Terrant Slide sandals are a decent option.
VERDICT: 8/10
A very smart travel sandal for hot weather trips, walking and sightseeing rather than tricky terrain.
Teva Terra Float 2 Knit | £85
BEST FOR: If you like your feet to have maximum ventilation.
Knitted footwear and clothing is bursting onto the outdoor scene and there are a lot of benefits to it, not least the environmental impact of using less material.
The upper of the Terra Knit 2 is knitted from one continuous yarn rather than a series of stitched together panels. This reduces chaffing and adds massively to overall comfort in use. It feels luxuriously soft next to the skin, which, unless you like to spot the odd train is where the fabric of a sandal is likely to be.
The chunky foam sole cushions you from impact and the durabrasion rubber outsole takes care of traction underfoot, which is great on smooth terrain like poolside promenades, but the shallow lugs and soft foam preclude the Terra Knit from being put to use when the going gets tough.
Teva’s classic ‘Universal’ sandal lends its foot support system to the Terra Knit, and we’ve always found this to provide great comfort with maximum ventilation to the foot, if not the best lateral support.
Teva have managed to keep the Terra Knits weight impressively low, so much so in fact that they float on water – great for impromptu dips!
VERDICT: 7/10
A lightweight, easy-going summer sandal that fans of Teva’s classic Universal sandal will love.
