Teva Footwear for Summer Adventures: Best Sandals & Shoes for Walking
Summer and Teva sandals go together as well as the fish and chips you might have on the beach, or the strawberries and cream you scoff in the garden on a sunny afternoon.
And while the great socks with sandals debate may remain ongoing throughout many UK households... there is one decision that we can help settle for you here: which pair of Teva sandals to pick for your adventures as the warmer weather approaches.
We’ve rounded up some of the best footwear styles for the trails, the coast, and your city breaks, to make your choice easier and to get you ready to get outdoors in the sunshine this summer!
Who is Teva?
The Teva story starts at the Colorado River, running through the Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona, USA.
In 1984, a river guide working the canyon had a simple but persistent problem. The sandals of the time were comfortable enough on dry land, but the moment they met the water, they floated away. The solution turned out to be something as simple as velcro straps attached to a pair of flip flops, which kept the footwear exactly where it belonged: on your feet.
That improvised fix became the world's first sport sandal, and the brand that grew from it has since equipped adventurers across the globe. Their mission today is to keep inspiring people to connect with the earth, with themselves, and with each other. The spirit running through all of it is something we can absolutely get behind here at Avenue 85: Go outside and play!
Some interesting facts about Teva sandals as a footwear brand to start us off:
- From 2020 onwards, all the iconic straps you see on Teva sandals have been made from traceable, verifiable recycled plastic. This is part of their focus on reducing their footprint, to help make sure that future generations have the freedom to keep exploring the great outdoors just like we do today.
- The brand values the protection of wild places, and making the outdoors accessible to people from all walks of life. They don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk too, and give back to several partner organisations who share those values, including Grand Canyon Conservancy, Camber Outdoors, The Conservation Alliance and more.
- The name “Teva” means “nature” in Hebrew, and that connection to the outdoors has shaped everything the brand has made in the decades since that very first sandal back in 1984.
Types of Teva Sandals
So what are the main styles you will see across the range?
You’ve got:
- Sport and walking sandals: the heart of what Teva does. Designed with multi-point adjustable strapping systems, supportive footbeds with arch support, and outsoles built for the varied terrain you encounter when you’re active. If you are planning to cover serious ground, this is where to look first.
- Universal and everyday sandals: carry the same commitment to comfort and durability, with a more relaxed, all-occasion feel. The Original Universal is the most iconic example, and one of the most recognised sandals in the world.
- Water-friendly sandals: designed for life in and around water, so you’ve got features like quick-dry materials and secure grip underfoot when walking on wet surfaces.
- Leather styles: bring a premium look and feel to the Teva range, while keeping the performance features that make their sandals adventure-ready.
These are all firmly outdoor sandals, so differ to the strappy going-out style sandals you might wear for warm summer evenings or on beach holidays. The features are, in the brand’s own words, “built for life outdoors, from everyday walks to epic adventures.”
Best Teva Sandals for Walking
Because, it's important to remember that there are different types of walking you can do. The most common types being:
- Hiking trails, often with steep terrain (to get those good views) and variables like stream crossings, wet grass, and rainy weather. You'll also likely be covering long distances without loads of stops, thus wearing the same footwear for multiple hours at a time.
- Coastal walking, where you might not get the same steepness as hill-walking, but the path itself might be a bit rocky or cobbly. You might dip in and out of walking on sandy beaches in between, particularly if you're doing long stretches of the coast and want a break part way.
- City walking, such as if you headed to Rome or Barcelona for a summer weekend break with the family, and will be walking around seeing all the sights. The conditions are likely to be dry, so not quite as much of the mercy of outdoorsy elements like you would be on a trail.
All this means you may need different walking sandals for each type of walking. However, regardless of if it’s a stroll or something that could have its own postcard picture, a good walking sandal should always have the following three things:
- a strapping system that holds your foot securely in place
- enough arch support to keep you comfortable across hours of movement
- an outsole with real grip on steep terrain
To sum up: sturdy enough, comfy enough, and grippy enough to allow you to walk or hike to your heart’s content!
Luckily, the Teva footwear range has plenty of great picks for the trails, for the coast, and for the city. So let us put the spotlight on a few to get you going in your search.
Best Teva Sandals for Hiking Trails
Teva Womens Tirra Sport Leather Walking Sandals
With the Tirra Sport, you've got two particularly fantastic features that make these the best sandals for walking:
- The quick-drying, soft, synthetic micro-suede straps that create a smooth, moisture-wicking barrier that keeps the skin of your foot dry and completely comfortable - much appreciated when handling the repetitive movement of an all-day hike!
- The rigid nylon shank, which helps take the workload off your foot muscles when walking over uneven ground, meaning your arches don’t have to constantly flex and strain to keep you balanced
Alongside that, there are many other trail-ready features such as:
- Topsole texture for additional airflow during longer walks
- Contoured EVA footbed providing arch-support and cushioned underfoot comfort
- Spider Rubber® outsole for grip on the ground you'll cover
Teva Mens Terra FI 5 Universal Walking Sandals
- The rigid TPU shank enforces a flat, stable base under your foot, giving you a powerful push-off on steep climbs, and you get maximum energy transfer and an upright, confident stride.
- Lightweight, breathable mesh lining that keeps your feet cool and comfortable as you hike, and when you're walking in warmer weather, this becomes even more important as you need that airflow.
- Spider Rubber outsole for high-friction grip over any slick surfaces (like mud)
- Quick-dry webbing made from recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE® polyester yarn by Unifi® supports your foot
- Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
- Molded PU midsole cushions and supports mile after mile, even with a heavy backpack
Best Teva Sandals for Coastal Walking
Teva Womens Hurricane XLT3 Walking Sandals
Teva Mens Hurricane XLT3 Walking Sandals
The Hurricane style remains a fan favourite, and it just keeps getting better and better with each version.
For coastal walkers, you can make full use of the following features:
- A cushy, textured topsole that brings 5mm more EVA than the previous XLT2 model, so when you take a step, your foot is surrounded by the type of comfort that walkers dream about!
- The Universal Strapping System with hook and loop tech that helps lock the foot securely into place at three critical skeletal anchors (toe, ankle, and heel) for a more precise fit that keeps your foot perfectly centred
Plus, plenty more features that are ready for your summer adventures:
- Quick-dry straps that are readily welcomed when walking near water
- Nylon shank designed to stabilise and support your foot on uneven terrain
- Updated outsole and lug pattern for enhanced traction and stability
You could also wear these for your hikes, so if you're looking a pair that is very versatile, we'd recommend the Hurricane range.
Teva Womens Hydratrek Vegan Sandals
The Teva Hydratrek range has been specifically developed for adventures around the water, which isn't surprising considering how it all began for the brand.
Taking inspiration from nature (remember those facts we mentioned earlier!), the outsole features specialised channels modelled directly after the microscopic hexagonal cell patterns found on a tree frog’s toe pads.
So when, as you walk, your body weight pushes down on a wet surface, the rubber splays open and forces water out through these deep grooves to the sides, ensuring the sticky, 30% recycled Spider Rubber outsole makes direct, dry contact with the solid rock underneath. This mimics how a frog disperses water to cling to wet leaves.
Rounding off the design is more to keep your feet comfy during your summer walks:
- Textured grippy topsole for stability
- Quick-dry webbing made from 100% recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE® polyester yarn
- Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
Best Teva Sandals for City Walking
Teva Mens Hudson Walking Sandals
For those intending to spend most of the day exploring and sightseeing, the Hudson delivers a great option. The material and construction represent comfort through and through, as can be seen in the:
- The premium suede upper that naturally relaxes and molds to the unique contours of your foot, ensuring continuous, supple comfort on long city walks
- A contoured EVA midsole which gives you arch support that most sandals lack, so this is why it's worth investing in a pair of proper outdoor sandals, rather than making do with the everyday sandals you might usually take on holiday
Then more features come into play to round out this impressive sandal:
- Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
- Nylon shank stabilises and supports your foot on uneven terrain
- Treated with Life Naturals, a responsibly sourced peppermint-based antimicrobial that fights the growth of odour causing bacteria
- Rugged Durabrasion Rubber™ outsole supplies great traction
Teva Womens Original Universal Sandals
Teva Mens Original Universal Sandals
With the Original Sandals, you're essentially getting a bit of the best of both worlds: the lightweight, airy feel of a summer sandal, with the comfort and support of a shoe you can wear for long stretches of time. And that comfort and support comes from features like these two:
- The dual-layer molded EVA midsole helps to protect your joints from the hard pavement you will likely be walking on. The heel cupping and built-in arch cookie provides a dedicated structural lift right where your foot needs it
- Easy hook-and-loop closure so you can get a secure fit from the get go, keeping your foot perfectly steady without sacrificing that classic, low-profile look
Plus, more Teva footwear expertise comes to life with the rest of the features too:
- Quick-dry webbing made from recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE® polyester yarn by Unifi® supports your foot
- Universal Strapping System™
- Rubber outsole for durability and traction
- Treated with Life Natural, a peppermint-based anti odour treatment
Best Teva Sandals for Kids
Now we've discussed the adult sandals, don't worry, we've not forgotten the kids summer adventures!
Teva has a fantastic children's footwear range, with some of the collections we highlighted for men and woman above, scaled down for smaller feet.
Teva Kids Hurricane XLT Walking Sandals
You've got all those fantastic features the Hurricane range is known for:
- Quick-dry straps made from 100% recycled plastic
- Universal Strapping System with 3 points of adjustability for a personalized fit
- Hook and loop technology that offers twice the strength of traditional options, providing a more secure and durable closure
- Cushioned topsole for additional step-in comfort (with 5mm more EVA than the previous XLT2 model)
- Updated outsole lug pattern for enhanced traction and stability
So all the adventurous kids can enjoy their summer with comfy, supported feet!
Teva Kids Original Universal Sandals
The Original series are perfect for all sorts of activities and adventures in the warmer months, with features like:
- Quick-dry webbing made from recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE® polyester yarn by Unifi® supports your foot
- Universal Strapping System™
- Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
- EVA-foam midsole for lightweight cushioning
- Treated with Life Natural, a responsibly sourced peppermint-based anti odor treatment
- Rubber outsole for durability and traction
They are the great everyday kids sandals that will be worn on repeat over the summer.
Teva Sandals Guide: FAQ
You've seen some of the best styles, so to further help you find the right fit for your summer adventures, we have gathered answers to the top questions about the range below.
Are Teva sandals good for walking?
That’s what they were made for! These outdoor sandals are built for adventures, whether you’ve got a stroll planned or something epic and exhilarating.
Often, people are toying up walking boots vs walking shoes, but we think that walking sandals should factor into the discussion, particularly for summer activities.
Teva has so many great options, so you can easily find a pair that fits what you need. We’ve suggested some top picks throughout our guide, but we have a full Teva Sandals collection to shop from:
What is the difference between the Teva ranges?
A few of the most well-known collections of Teva sandals are:
- Originals: the brand’s “first born”. Dubbed the adventure outdoor sandals, taking you from rapids to road trips and beyond
- Hurricane: For those long walks and trails that will usually see you out enjoying the outdoors for a while
- Hydratrek: All about that water-ready traction for all your adventures that might take you onto wet ground (like by the coast)
You’ve also got Terra Fi, Tirra, Aventrail, ReEmber, and Grandview as part of the line-up.
How do Teva sandals fit? Should I size up or down?
Usually true to size, so this is your best starting point.
Teva also has provided the following guidance on sizing for their sandals, so it's worth double checking this lines up with your usual size:
Women's:
Men's:
To get your foot length, Teva advises to:
- Place your foot on a plain piece of paper on the floor, and trace the outline
- Measure a straight line from the middle of the heel to the longest toe to get the length
- Compare that length to the size charts above to determine which shoe size matches. Round up or down to the closest size with 2mm.
Once you get your new sandals home, try them on and consider things like whether your toes dangle over the edge and your heel fits comfortably where it’s supposed to on the footbed. Does the strap feel comfy between your toes? You might need to adjust it slightly if not.
And if something's not quite the right size first time round, and you need to switch it out, we have a generous 60-day return period here at Avenue 85 so we’re more than happy to help accommodate that for you.
How do you clean Teva sandals?
Handwashing your Teva sandals is the way to go. All you need to do is:
- Create a lukewarm soapy water mix in a bucket or large container
- Grab a soft bristled brush and dip it in the water mixture
- Wash the sandals from top to bottom, paying attention to all the crevices around the straps and soles
- If there's any stubborn dried dirt, use the water pressure to loosen it by gently bending the sandal from heel to toe
- Once you're happy they're looking good, rinse off any soapy residue with clean water, then use a towel to dry the straps only
- Then let the sandals fully air dry in a shaded, well-ventilated area
No washing machines! And be extra careful with any suede or leather sandals, as the material is a little more sensitive. Also, make sure you don't leave the sandals exposed in direct sunlight for long periods of time as the foam materials may end up shrinking.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Pair of Teva Sandals for Summer?
Summer is all about making the most of the great outdoors, and having the right sandals ready to go makes heading out that much easier. With excellent choices for men, women, and kids across the Teva sandal range, you can easily find the right style for your holiday itinerary.
Take a look at our full lineup to find your style and get set for a brilliant season of exploring!
About the Author
Tom, proud resident of Chapel-en-le-Frith (aka the ‘Capital of the High Peak,’ as he loves to remind everyone), is a dad of two who spends his weekends ferrying the kids between football and dance class, occasionally sneaking in a peaceful walk around Fernilee Reservoir. When the family escapes to their coastal hideaway in Anglesey, he trades in the football boots for paddleboards and fishing rods, though his true passion lies in building the ultimate sandcastle. On the Avenue 85 blog, Tom shares his outdoor tips (and the occasional dad joke) with a down-to-earth approach that’ll make you feel like part of the family.