Field and test information
During the two months discussed in this Field Report, the daytime temperatures ranged from cool (50 F, 10 C) to scorchingly hot (by my standards), over 90 F (32 C). It was a somewhat damp spring (with 100-year floods in my region) and in consequence trails are eroded and are still inclined to be a bit slick. In this period, I wore the Chaco sandals on hikes in the Catskill Mountains to about 3500 ft (1100 m). The Catskills, while not of great elevation, are rugged little mountains. Many Catskill trails involve steep ascents and descents without benefit of switchbacks, and have sections that thread through (or over) rocky shelves and ledges. On some trails, much scrambling is involved.
Product use and Performance
Having initially tested the Chaco Z/2 sandals on a few short (three mile) walks on level ground, as well as casual use, I early on decided to take the plunge and use them for some real hiking. What follow are notes from a couple of selected trips to give a sense of what it's like to hike with these sandals on tough terrain, and some more general observations.
Upper Cherrytown Road to Peekamoose Road, Catskills, May 14.
Generally moderate terrain with one long steep final descent
I'm the trail supervisor for a section of the New York Long Path, and I wanted to walk this stretch of trail to get a sense of how conditions were after the winter, and if the maintainers had been able to keep on top of things. I felt this would be a great trip on which to test the Chacos, as there would be twigs, branches and trees in the trail, wet spots and small stream crossings, a very steep and prolonged descent at the end of the trip, and a fairly considerable overall distance. Despite a forecast of dubious weather, it was a bright, sunny day with mild temperatures, perfect for sandals.
I initially wore them (for a mile or so) with regular socks, with the front toe loop pulled to the bed of the sandal (see Initial Report regarding this). However, I sensed that my feet were slopping about too much for this terrain (the toe loops do add a great deal of stability), so I stripped my socks off, pulled up the loops and inserted my big toes, and walked with bare feet in the sandals. It was mildly disconcerting (this was my first “real” hike using them), and I somehow felt my feet were a bit exposed. I found that on the level sections and gentle uphills and downhills my foot was snug and that the sandals permitted rock-hopping with confidence. I did not have much trouble with debris in the footbed, although I felt a certain amount of friction to the soles of my feet, which may have been sand or may simply have been the result of the reticulated pattern of the insole.
After stabbing my feet twice with my trekking poles with an ill-placed pole plant (something that would be no problem with a boot) I learned quickly to be more careful. I had no problems navigating blowdowns or hauling them (where possible) off the trail. I think I got jabbed by a twig on the trail perhaps once in the entire day. This may be the result of the fairly generous amount of “bumper” created by having the sandals a half-size too large. I never felt at serious risk of bruised toes.
Unfortunately, the final descent was a trial. Despite (so far as I could determine) getting the straps crossing my forefoot as taut as possible, as I climbed down the steep slopes to the valley, my big toes felt very uncomfortable. The toe loop size had seemed adequate on relatively flat sections, but on this severe incline my big toes would slide forward and be choked by the loop, which had tightened under the force. In fact, they turned quite red with the pressure. This was not a show-stopper, but not entirely pleasant either. My feet felt a bit sensitive on reaching the car (but then, they sometimes do at trip's end, no matter what), and the toe discomfort immediately eased on level ground. I had neither blisters nor any real wear-and-tear to my feet, other than the scratches caused by the poles. Nor did the sandals (other than a coating of tree pollen) show any wear.
I did find that the strap of the sandal seemed a trifle too long. It dragged slightly, and would not stay in place when I tucked it in. Still, overall (except for the descent) I was reasonably pleased with the performance of the Chacos.
Notch Lake to Devil's Acre Lean-to, Catskills, June 5
Steep ascent (and descent), rough sidehill trail section
This was also a maintenance-related trip. I was clearing fallen trees and brush from a section of trail that I personally look after. It's one of the steeper Catskill trail sections (on the so-called “Devil's Path”). Because of the nature of this trip, which involved both a protracted steep ascent (and descent, by the same route), as well as much cutting and levering logs off-trail, this was not perhaps the best of footwear choices, but I decided to do it anyhow (I'm careful with tools and rolling logs).
This trail has a number of wet, slippery sections, as well as some loose, gravelly portions, and I found the grip of the soles generally very good, probably equivalent to a pair of light boots or trail shoes, in my estimation. Remembering the problem I had experienced with the previous downhill section, I had set the toe straps fairly loose on my big toes before starting. However, because the strap system is continuous, the forces created during walking tend to readjust it to an equilibrium position, i.e. one in which tension is distributed fairly evenly at all points. For this reason, it seemed impossible to maintain a loose (and therefore comfortable) toe strap on downhills. On a switchbacked trail of lower grade, I suspect this would not be an issue, but our region's paths notoriously tend to rise and fall with little attempt to mediate the rate of ascent and descent.
Once again, overall the sandals were comfortable enough, despite the toe pressure, but not (I felt) as comfortable as boots would have been. Still, I had virtually no problems with rocks or twigs getting stuck between sole and foot. Occasionally, as previously noted, some fine grit would enter, but the resulting abrasion was limited, and the footbed could be easily cleared by loosening the straps and kicking (or brushing) the foreign matter out.
Other trips
I have worn the sandals regularly (though not continuously) over the two-month field test period, including other hikes of moderate duration, evening walks on level ground, shopping excursions, some serious vegetable gardening, and kicking round the house. I've also worn them while kayaking. I have avoided wearing them where I know that there will be stinging nettles, briars, or biting flies (all part of summer in the Catskills). Overall, I'd guess that I've walked a hundred miles in them, at a bare minimum.
I now have a sense of how the sandals perform, and where their advantages and limitations lie, which I will synopsize below.
Traction
As I've already noted, the soles perform quite well on fairly slick rock. The tread is roughly akin to that of a trail shoe or lightweight boot, and the stiffness is adequate for rock-strewn trails. However, when it comes to climbing chutes and ledges, which occur both on and off the trails of my region, there are big differences between a sandal and conventional hiking footwear.
Because of the lack of sole rigidity (and the breadth of the toe of the sandal), I simply cannot jamb my forefoot into a narrow crack or chimney, and this limitation is most definitely an issue. A number of trails in my area contain sections that involve this most basic of climbing methods (including the classic trail traverse of the Burroughs Range, where there is a notorious cleft en route to Cornell). Normally, one can walk right up this, jambing the toe of a shoe or boot into the angle of the rock, but this is simply not feasible in these sandals. It is possible to edge (to use the side of the sole on footholds), and I found I could (where needed) use friction climbing techniques on steep slabs. Still, given the inability to toe-in to a climb, I would not consider the Chacos a viable or safe choice on any trail that involves extensive scrambling, and there are many such in the northeastern US where this is part of routine hiking, and is not considered technical climbing.
Comfort
I find the footbed, which is grooved (see Initial Review) somewhat rough underfoot, though perfectly bearable. I've recently purchased a pair of special flip-flop socks (with a separate big toe) for added comfort and protection. For routine use and on short hikes and walks, this refinement isn't needed.
The fact that my big toe gets squished on descents is definitely a nuisance. Despite extensive fiddling with the straps, I have not yet found a way to prevent this from occurring, and I'm not convinced there is one. It is simply not terribly comfortable, and it also means that I must attempt to loosen the straps upon reaching level ground, or the pinching continues to a lesser extent.
I am not entirely satisfied with the fact that the inner edge of the arch of the footbed is substantially raised. My feet (which are a bit flat) seem to accommodate this well enough at the arch itself, but I feel that the result may be to put more load on the metatarsal area of the foot (though the stiffer-than-average sole flex of the Chaco sandal may be a factor here too). Since I have a minor medical problem (Morton's Neuroma) in my forefoot, this is a concern.
I'm not a podiatrist, and so the exact mechanics involved are obscure to me, but these sandals are definitely not as comfortable as other pairs I own (or have owned) that are similarly endorsed by the American Podiatric Medical Association (and I tend to seek these out). On the other hand, Chacos are (despite various shortcomings) much better suited to trail hiking than just about any other sandal I have worn. They seem incredibly sturdy, as well.
So far as I can tell, pronation is controlled well by the structure of the sandal; I'm not quite so clear about supination, as I think they may slightly over-correct my gait. As to overall fit, the width seems perfect and the length is also good.
Durability
In comparison to other sandals I currently own, or have used, these seem to be built like tanks. Other than some ingrained soiling to the footbed that does not easily wash out (even when they are run through the washing machine) there is little evident wear-and-tear after two months of extensive use. The downside to the strength is that these are as heavy as many trail shoes. One of the issues that I will be investigating in long-term testing is whether there are sufficient advantages conferred by a heavy sandal to make it preferable to other footwear of approximately equal weight.
I've noticed no significant stretching of the straps or similar issues. They have been thrown in the washing machine a couple of times, and there's not been any issue with odor so far.
Ease of use
The Chaco strap system could be a little easier to adjust. The overall process of pulling strap from one slot to the next is straightforward enough (though it requires some strength), but sometimes the toe-loop seems to go slightly off-kilter in a fashion I have yet to quite fathom. The fact that excess strap extends from the buckle almost to ground level is a detriment, and surprisingly there is no method provided for holding it out of the way.
The footbeds of the sandals dry almost immediately, though the straps can hold water for a while if they are soaked during a stream crossing. The footing when the sandals themselves are wet remains pretty secure.
Summary
I've found these Chaco sandals to be overall quite comfortable the majority of the time, though not necessarily more so than light boots or trail shoes. However, I do enjoy having my feet exposed to the air, not least because the sandals (and my feet) dry quickly and without odor. There are some shortcomings on descents and on occasions when scrambling ascent is the order of the day, and also some minor design annoyances (e.g. the fact that there is no way to hold the surplus strap length in place). Still, I'm pleased enough with them so far, although there are clearly many situations in which they will not work well. In all fairness, the areas where I hike are extremely rugged by most standards.
Future testing Strategy
In the remaining four months of testing, I will continue to wear the sandals on hikes where I consider them appropriate footwear, and I expect to use them on at least one light-load backpack.
I will continue to examine those concerns outlined in the Initial Review. Some of these points have been discussed above, and really need little further elaboration. Among new concerns are the utility of special socks with the sandals, possible techniques to deal with the pressure on my big toes during descents, and the effects on my feet of the footbed design.
I thank BackpackGearTest and Chaco, Inc. for permitting me to participate in this very interesting test.
