Field and test information
I have used the Chaco Z/2 sandals extensively from the beginning of the test series in May until the present time (early November). The summer had a rainy beginning, and autumn also has had a wet spell, but the weather has generally been warm, with prolonged dry periods. Daytime temperatures ran as high as 90 F (32 C), but are at present rapidly cooling off as winter approaches. The end of sandal season is upon us. Altogether, this was one of the warmest (though not the driest) summers of recent years.
Product Use and Performance
The Z/2 sandals proved comfortable in day-to-day use. Despite having some long-standing problems in the metatarsal region of my right foot, I didn't feel the need to routinely use a metatarsal cushion (as I often do in boots). This is a small rounded pad that cushions the affected area of the foot and diminishes nerve-pain there. I did determine that is possible to mount the pad to the footbed of the sandal (using industrial-strength Velcro) but the Z/2s are not intended for use with orthotic inserts, for example.
As the temperature drops with the approach of winter, I'm usually to be found wearing the sandals with a pair of toe-socks (the type with a split at the big toe, solely to accommodate the toe strap). While I'm using a proprietary brand because of my large foot size, such socks (designed for use with flip-flops) are widely available in many sizes as tabi, and may be found on-line and at stores carrying Japanese clothing. Socks obviously extend the period of usefulness for a sandal, and may be used to provide some needed protection on other occasions.
I'm please to report that the sandals show no significant signs of wear. The straps still move quite smoothly through the sole, despite the fact that there is now some dust and dirt that has worked its way in. There's no real wear to the Vibram soles despite significant mileage.
So have I become converted to the use of hiking sandals? Sadly, the answer must be "not really." They are feasible for use on some hikes in my region, but downright impractical on many others. This is more a function of the demanding nature of the terrain I hike than the result of any serious deficit in the sandals themselves. As an illustration, let me detail my experiences on a couple of recent hikes.
Ashokan High Point
This 3000 ft (914 m) peak, quite close to my house, rises about 2000 ft (610 m) above the base. As it is so close, I've explored it extensively, and I'll often bushwhack to the summit, rather than following the rather attractive loop trail. The main impediment to this mode of travel consists of acres of mountain laurel, rather scratchy stuff en masse. Walking carefully and following occasional deer paths, I reached the area where a traverse along the side of a ridge is necessary (there's scrub growth above, cliffs below, so I keep below the ridgeline proper for this stretch).
It was at this point in my hike that I noted a previously unobserved problem with the sandals. They did not work well for me on the rough sidehill terrain. The problem appeared to be that there was insufficient tension in the webbing straps to keep my feet centered on the insoles. My heels periodically skewed off the sandal footbed in an awkward manner. This was no more than mildly annoying, but it did make a relatively tricky section somewhat awkward and perhaps less safe, and was far from comfortable.
Once I had intersected the trail and turned off for the summit, the Z/2s handled the rocky, eroded trail quite well on the direct uphill ascent. On the downhills, I experienced the issue mentioned in my Field Report, with the straps tightening excessively across my big toe, essentially throttling the blood supply. I have found no way to adjust the straps in order to prevent this. I emerged back at the car shortly after dark (I was up on the peak for sunset, when a great finger of shadow extends from the peak out across the Hudson Valley) with a few scratches, but really none the worse for wear. The sandals had done the job, but they had not handled the terrain with grace (and this is a mild hike compared to many here).
Mohonk Trail System
The Mohonk Mountain House lands (and the Mohonk Preserve) are situated a short distance away in the Shawanagunk Mountains. They are criss-crossed with carriageways that are superbly maintained, and even the footpaths that connect them have seen heavy traffic for a century or more. There are few truly steep sections (in fact, this is a fabulous area for classic cross-country skiing in the winter), but there are here and there some interesting scrambles on the fine Shawanagunk rock (this is a region famous for its climbs). My daughter and I navigated a "cave" system (actually a series of large roofed rifts, quite spectacular) and the sandals acquitted themselves quite well through the narrow rocky passageways. On the carriageways, they were a pleasure to wear.
This was terrain on which I could have full confidence in the sandals. Other experiences since have borne this out. The Z/2s are fine on switchbacked trails, on carriage roads, and anywhere the hiking surface is not excessively rugged. They don't seem to behave well on extremely rocky trails, steep descents, or off-trail digressions (unless the surface is very gentle).
Overall, I have put at least a couple of hundred trail miles on the sandals during the test period, plus a substantial amount of routine wear around town. Under most circumstances, they are comfortable, and I enjoy wearing them and certainly intend to continue to do so. If I am going out to hike rough trails with substantial gain and loss of elevation, or with sections where I will be off trail, the Z/2s are definitely not my footwear of choice. Given that they are not (at approaching three pounds) lightweight, I can't throw them in my pack and alternate between sandals and boots. Indeed, they are only slightly lighter than my summer boots, and are the same weight as most trail-running shoes. Where serious scrambling is involved, the difficulties of toeing-in to holds in the rock is most definitely an issue, and they are not (because the sole is fairly stiff and wide) always as stable as I would like on trails strewn with rocks and boulders (a typical Catskill trail, unfortunately). As a result, while they are still my choice for gentler hikes, I can't wear them for climbing the majority of peaks in the Catskills, Adirondacks and elsewhere in the Northeastern US.
There are a few design quirks that I have found bothersome. That there is no way provided for securing the strap end is odd, as to have it trail on the ground (as it does when I have the sandal secured tightly on rough trails) is awkward and a potential hazard. I'd love to see a clasp of some kind that would take up this slack and keep it out of harm's way. This is something I can certainly improvise, but I feel that it should be part and parcel of the sandal. I'm also not convinced that having the sandal webbing as a continuous loop is ideal, as I would (for example) love to have some way to independently set the size of the big-toe strap. As it is, any adjustment made tends to be lost once some force is applied. To set against these inconveniences are distinct advantages where water crossings or wet trails are concerned, and there is pleasure at having my feet exposed to the elements. I know at least one hiker who has done the Catskills barefoot!
Summary
At the outset, I posed four sets of questions in the Initial Report. On the first set, pertaining to fit, I feel that the sizing is true, and that the contoured Biocentric footbed is generally comfortable, although the somewhat elevated instep still feels a hair too high for my foot. Whether pronation is controlled I've been unable to determine. The toe loop is an issue I have already discussed at length above and in the Field Report.
As to the second set of questions, those pertaining to comfort, socks are handy, but are not required. I'm presently using them so I can wear the sandals into cooler weather. The straps certainly need to be cinched down to their full extent on tough terrain, and even at that there is more movement and less stability than I like. Particularly disturbing is the slewing I noted above. I've not bashed my toes once, and I've not blistered, despite finding the footbed initially a little rough. Over rocky terrain, my feet feel pretty well cushioned, but the combination of the width of the sole (much greater than any boot) and its comparative stiffness means that I must take care with my foot placement, as more than once I've lost balance slightly when the sandal has teetered in an unstable manner on a pointed rock.
The materials, as discussed in the third set of questions, seem first-rate. The webbing does dry reasonably fast, and such minimal odor as the soles have acquired has been dispersed by passing the sandals through the washing machine. The buckles hold their grip on the webbing tightly, and are certainly not prone to breakage, and insole and outsole remain in good shape.
On the fourth set of questions, as noted, a simple orthotic pad can be mounted. To address the other issues, I must state that I feel truly secure in these sandals only on comparatively gentle trails. Still, the soles are pretty grippy, even on wet rock.
In short, this is a fine sandal, but not a good choice for trails with difficult footing, or extensive off-trail excursions. I'd love to see the issue of the excess strap addressed, and I believe the sandals would gain hugely were it possible to
a. have a greater range of adjustment of strap tautness and
b. be able to independently control the tautness of the toe strap on descents.
I thank BackpackGearTest and Chaco, Inc. for permitting me to participate in this most interesting test.
