I’ve lengthy been a Chaco sandal gal, however typically they really feel slightly technical for on a regular basis use. Trying to find one thing slightly lighter and fewer clunky for a highway journey lately, I rediscovered the Teva Authentic Common Sandal. I rocked a pair of Tevas as a child within the ’90s, and it seems they’re nonetheless in model!
Whether or not I used to be logging lengthy driving days, automotive tenting, grabbing meals with buddies, or occurring brief hikes, it was straightforward to slide on the Authentic Universals. They pair effectively with most outfits; I can gown them up with cute sundresses but in addition strap them on for brief hikes or chill climbing days. I may even put on them with a pair of cozy wool socks when the temperature drops.
While you’re trimming down your footwear choices for an extended highway journey, the Teva Authentic Universals are a flexible sandal that may simply make the reduce. Right here’s what I discovered throughout my travels about these OG easy sandals.
In brief: The Teva Authentic Universals are a traditional sandal for on a regular basis out of doors adventures. For extra rugged hikes or scrambles, they don’t fairly evaluate to extra sturdy journey fashions constructed with Vibram rubber soles, however they’re an amazing different for extra informal out of doors excursions and on a regular basis use. On this overview, I’ll dig into efficiency, model, consolation, and match that will help you dial in your excellent summer time footwear.
Searching for a brand new pair of mountaineering sandals? Take a look at how the Authentic Universals evaluate to the remainder of our high picks in GearJunkie’s Greatest Mountain climbing Sandals and Mountain climbing Sandals for Ladies Purchaser’s Guides.
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Inexpensive worth -
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Made for water
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Doesn’t really feel extremely sturdy -
No half sizes
Teva Authentic Common Sandal: Review
I wore the Teva Authentic Common Sandals all through a spring season of highway tripping and guiding within the Pacific Northwest. Once I’m on the highway, I’m consistently switching between actions: Main weekend climbing retreats or programs at totally different locations alongside the best way, or seeing buddies alongside my route. I wore the Tevas out to breweries and climbing crags as I made my method north.
For low-key out of doors actions, I felt cute and cozy within the Authentic Universals. Once I was heading out on extra severe hikes or climbing approaches, I reached for one thing safer. I wouldn’t exchange my strategy footwear with these, however I might contemplate pairing them with a gown for an informal out of doors wedding ceremony or household reunion.
With a light-weight and easy design, they make an amazing journey sandal, even when I wouldn’t put on them on my longest hikes. And the very best half: these sandals solely run $60. That’s a steal for the Teva design legacy you’re getting.
A Easy and Amenable Type
One of many best strengths of the Teva Authentic Common Sandals is the easy, versatile design. You’ll be able to inform Teva discovered a profitable model when it hasn’t modified a lot because the ’90s! The sandals aren’t too technical-looking, making them straightforward to pair with a wide range of outfits and actions. The only real is low profile and fewer clunky than most Chaco or Eager sandals, giving them a much less sporty look.
The ladies’s Teva Authentic Common Sandal at present is available in 17 totally different colours and patterns, all the best way from a traditional, all-black sandal to a cool desert mosaic. There may be even a sample with stars, suns, and moons.
In case you’re searching for a barely totally different model, it’s also possible to attempt the Authentic Common Slim, which is the same design with skinnier webbing straps. The model even provides the Authentic Universals in a platform model, often known as the Flatform.
Dialed-Again Efficiency
Once I wanted my footwear to carry out for extra technical use, it was arduous for me to decide on these sandals over my Bedrock Cairn Evo Cs or Chacos. I wore these on a number of rocky approaches to climbing areas, and on more difficult hikes, the Authentic Universals merely don’t evaluate to sandals constructed with a Vibram sole.
Whereas the EVA midsoles are smooth and cozy, I can’t think about mountaineering for an entire day in these sandals. After an extended time out, my ft damage greater than they usually do once I put on path runners or sandals with extra help. It’s attainable to regulate the match with the Velcro straps, although the Velcro feels rather less safe than the buckle on a pair of Bedrocks or Chacos.
To be honest, Teva doesn’t declare that these sandals are made for all-day hikes; its Tirra Mountain climbing Sandals have a burlier, extra supportive footbed. The Authentic Universals are designed extra for hanging at camp, mild hikes, or water actions, and the sandals’ efficiency is completely acceptable for extra low-key out of doors pursuits. The straps additionally dry shortly, so I preferred carrying these whereas dipping within the river after a climbing day.
Match and Consolation
The molded EVA midsole is smooth and cozy, although it doesn’t provide as a lot arch help as I usually like in an all-day sandal. The Velcro straps don’t really feel as safe because the sliding buckle mechanism of a Chaco or Bedrock sandal. My ft slid round a bit extra on the only, particularly whereas mountaineering downhill. I do like that the strap design permits me to put on these sandals with socks when it will get chilly!
Featherweight and Packable
I really like how light-weight the Teva Authentic Common Sandals are. One sandal in a ladies’s dimension 7 weighs about 5.4 ounces. By comparability, a pair of Traditional Chacos weighs roughly 15 ounces per shoe. They might make an amazing journey sandal, since they wouldn’t add a lot weight to your carry-on baggage, and so they pair effectively with plenty of totally different outfits.
On a brief multi-pitch climb with a straightforward stroll again right down to the bottom, I caught the sandals right into a small backpack for the descent. They’re a lot lighter than a typical strategy shoe, so they’re a good choice for easy, straightforward mountaineering descents that don’t contain any off-trail scrambling or rappelling. I additionally would contemplate strapping them to the surface of my pack and bringing them as a comfy “in-camp” shoe on a backpacking journey.
Teva Authentic Common Sandal: Conclusion
Outdoorsy of us have beloved the Teva Authentic Common Sandals for many years, and for good motive. They’ve a traditional, timeless model that simply works, whether or not you’re splashing round on the seashore, automotive tenting within the woods, or going to an journey wedding ceremony. You’ll be able to specific your private style with daring patterns or understated coloration palettes, platform soles or slim straps.
These sandals received’t exchange a mountaineering boot or strategy shoe; if you happen to’re searching for an all-day mountaineering sandal, I’d suggest one thing with Vibram soles and extra help. The EVA foam footbeds are cozy for short-term use, however spending all day in them may result in some foot fatigue. One thing with a contoured footbed, just like the Teva Tirra, could be a greater choice.
On your on a regular basis out of doors and indoor actions, nonetheless, you’ll really feel cute and cozy within the Authentic Common Sandals. And at $60 out the door, it’s an inexpensive choice that delivers many years of expertise in sandal design.
