Has anybody hiked in hiking sandals?

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or opinions on hiking in hiking sandals. Are they any good? When would they not be appropriate?

Has anybody hiked in hiking sandals?
Bad idea, you never know what situation you might get yourself into! TRUST ME!
Reply:The comment about debris getting between your foot and the sandal is valid. If you tighten the straps on the sandal to keep the crud out, you'll just end up with sore feet from the constriction. If you leave the straps a little looser to make it easier to shake the crud out, you'll get blisters.





You also have to be careful about your advancing foot as you walk in brush so you don't get a stick jammed into your foot.





I have a friend who's done the Pacific Crest Trail and the AT in Alp sandals, he and his wife say they seem to pick up a lot less debris. Others recommend the Keen sandals for the same reason but to me, the Keens might as well be shoes.





I live in Colorado and usually hike and backpack barefoot with a pair of Teva's clipped to the outside of my pack for the rare instances I might need them.





Yes, there are lots of folks who are dependent upon shoes to hike and they'll say I'm nuts but I'll bet the first thing they do at the end of a hike is TAKE OFF their shoes! I never get blisters and I don't have plantar fasciitis since I stopped wearing shoes.





That's not to say I NEVER wear hiking boots, I wear boots for the Keyhole route to Long's Peak for example and I always at least carry my boots for early and late season hikes just in case of snow though you may find walking barefoot in melting snow on a warm day feels far better than you imagine.





Best advice I can give you is start out with some day hikes in sandals or bare feet on trails you know then when you move on to new or more rugged trails, carry your hiking boots on your pack.
Reply:have worn then on some beach hikes the big promblen is trail junk keeps getting beaten your foot and the sandal and you take a beating from rocks.



treatment