Give your feet a vacation with these freeing sandals for travel

It seems sandals have come full circle since they were once upon a time the OG choice of footwear for people like the ancient Greeks. Gone are the days of flimsy bits of plastic or faux leather you stick on to go to the beach; sandals today are rugged, comfy, all-day footwear that can come with a huge range of footcare benefits.

But, with prices for men’s sandals creeping up as new designs, materials and features emerge, it can be tough knowing what to invest in. So let’s make it simple, with our list of seven of the best men’s sandals for travel you can buy right now!

Birkenstock Arizona EVA

Straight in at the top, these Birkenstock men’s sandals may just be the best men’s sandals available right now – and at a high price. But you get loads of bang for your buck, with extremely sturdy design, including a single-moulded chunk of super-comfortable EVA that will outlast you. The foam used doesn’t absorb water, so you won’t squeak or leak as you head back to the room after a quick dip.

The hand-sticked leather and buckles are extra-extra-premium, looking great even after thousands of days of wear. Plus, the arch in the insole has a specially-designed arch that podiatrists recommend for plantar-fascities sufferers. All-round, a great men’s sandal that will last an absolute age.

Teva Hurricane XLT 2

Teva have updated their super-durable men’s sandal with a couple of additions that make this feel closer to a running shoe than a river sandal. Three velcro tabs allow you to microtune tension for both comfort and rightness, plus there are extra drainage slots and waterproofing so you can actually wear these in the water and be dry in seconds after stepping out.

The build quality is also great, and they’re pretty stylish, so a big thumbs up for pairing them with chino shorts for dinner too.

Chaco Z/Cloud 2

Podiatrists don’t usually recommend sandals for any sort of trekking or even long-distance walks. Except for the Chaco. These webbing-style sandals are engineered to provide extensive support and to reduce wear. They feel more like hiking boots or running shoes with plenty of extra ventilation.

Thanks to features like the ‘grey cloud’ insert that’s as good as it sounds, Z/Cloud 2s do weigh a little more than your average sandal (about 680g), but they’ll last a serious amount of hiking, scuffing and general abuse.

Hoka Hopara 2

You’d be forgiven for thinking these Hoka Hopara 2 hike-sandals were a pair of sneakers at first glance, but the drainage ports and open heel are giveaways if you look closer. The result is a closed-toe trail shoe that gives you all of the ventilation and water-draining benefits of a traditional sandal.

Hoka’s signature marshmallow insole is just one reason to choose these multi-functional quick-lace sandals that are probably technically a hiking shoe. These sandals come with the kind of rocker profile you’d see on a running shoe, adding that extra propulsion that you lose with a flat-footed men’s sandal.

Bedrock Cairn Evo

If you’re all about shedding weight or keeping your luggage to a carry-on, then Bedrock’s 238g featherweight Cairn Evo sandals are one of the best men’s sandals for bulk-conscious travellers.

Despite the lack of substance, Cairn Evos are fitted with a tri-loop climbing-grade webbing system that are still very grippy on wet rock or loose dirt. They’re also great on slippery pool tiles thanks to the impressive-sounding Vibram® Megagrip outsole, so you can use that as an excuse to buy for less adventurous holidays too.

You’ll pay a seriously high premium for these, but view it as never having to buy flimsy flip flops ever again.

Olukai Tuahine

Ever found yourself throwing away a pair of flip flops at the end of the summer because the toe strap has gone, or the sole has worn through? Forget that with these full-grain leather dreadnoughts of a sandal that can handle being soaked, folded, stuffed ina suitcase or stamped through multiple beach bars.

The wider welded straps and high-rebound EVA create durable flip-flop style sandals that don’t suffer the usual style trade off that can happen when function overtakes form. You can definitely get away with wearing these to dinner once you’ve dusted the sand and salt off.

Keen Hyperport H2

If your idea of a sandal is less about keeping your toes cool while you wander to the beach, and more about ensuring you don’t break a toe while rock-hopping, then buy these performance men’s Keen Hyperport H2 sandals.

The recycled-PET webbing structure not only protects your whole foot, but makes for super-speedy drainage and drying while offering extra support. Everything feels extra durable and well put together, which backs up the premium pricetag.

Final Thoughts

We’ve picked some great men’s sandals perfect for travelling in this list, but it’s worth thinking about what you’ll need them for before spending money on the ‘best’. If you’re just strolling down to the beach, the a pair of sturdy flip flops will always be easier to slip on than closed-toe adventure sandals.

7 of the Best Men’s Sandals for Travel