

While personal preference will dictate what feels best, if you are accustomed to shoes with more support or are prone to overpronation, a molded option is probably a better choice. There are also generally two types of soles-those that are super minimalist, zero drop and flat, and those that have a molded shape including an arch support. You want something that will be grippy and have some sort of lug-thought most will not be as aggressive as those found on a hiking boot.

One of the most important parts of your sandal will be the sole. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.When you're searching for a hiking sandal, there are a few key aspects that you will want to consider to make sure that they fit well, won't cause you any discomfort, and can handle the mileage you need them to do. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollayan who know the pros and cons of materials, but we also have a panel of influencers, stylists, and experts-including designers at top brands or retailers-whom we regularly seek shopping guides from.

Lastly, you can trust our opinions on product recommendations and tips. And we constantly go into the fashion closet to feel a product’s materials and test it. We put them on ourselves to see how the items look and feel before making our final decision.

More importantly, at Men’s Health we have a whole fashion closet dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best as well as the newest products. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience. For each product, we always use items ourselves first before considering whether to include them. At Men’s Health, we don’t produce product reviews that don’t actually involve testing anything hands-on or in person.
