Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsCompared to Ahnu sport sandals and 6 others
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020
In an effort to replace my worn out, beloved pair of Ahnu sports sandals, which are no longer manufactured, I recently purchased the following shoes, all in size 9M:
Teva Omnium Slate
Merrell Women's J034170 Choprock Shandal Hiking Shoe
Merrell Women's All Out Blaze Sieve Water Shoe
Merrell womens Water Shoe HYDROTREKKER LTR SHANDAL
Brown Oak Women's Closed Toe Outdoor Hiking Water Shoes Sport Sandals
Northside Santa Rosa Sport Sandal
Teva Terra Float Active Lace Wild Dove Womens Sporty Sandal
Note that I have a 2” arch to support in this review. Yes, it really measures 2”. Even the podiatrist was surprised. Okay, here’s the rundown:
The most rugged, most sportlike, and least sandal-like were the Merrells. If you’re looking for stability, support, and good traction, look at Merrell. All of them ran longer and more narrow, particularly in the heel. The Choprock felt lighter and more open than the All Out Blaze or the Hydrotrekker.
The Brown Oak pair felt far larger in general and wider, specifically. My feet flopped around in them. Little molding or cushioning in the footbed; but then, that’s relative to the Merrells.
The Northside Santa Rosa was the most open and least sporty of them all. No molding or cushioning in the footbed. No real support. Scratchy interior. Better protection than open sandals, though.
If you need to seriously lockdown your ankles, look to the Teva Omnium Slate. I liked the security, but it didn’t allow enough space in the instep for me. These took slightly more work to put on with the additional buckle. So, weigh whether you need stability or convenience more.
Finally, and my favorite, the Teva Terra Float Active Lace felt immediately comfortable: soft interior; snug, but not tight; ample support; sufficient space in the instep to allow for an additional ¾ orthotic for arch support; supportive, but not clunky; plenty of breathability; more coverage (in mesh) for the forefoot than my Ahnu pair, which should help keep out debris; sufficient traction for my everyday activities.
Ahnu had been an offshoot of Teva, and is now manufactured by Teva. So, it makes sense that the Tevas were a good replacement for my old Ahnus. I’m grateful I found a pair that would keep my feet comfortable.
