Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

I like the idea of sole-integrated straps but they can be very difficult to adjust, especially considering that the big-toe loop consistently cinches down tight and becomes very uncomfortable.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

I have just retired the first pair of chacos I bought close to 10 years ago. These are great sandals. They fit so well. The chaco strap thing really custom fits the shoe to your foot. The footbed is super comfortable. Arch support is in just the right place. They dry quickly, and they leave a super-stylish zoro tan on your foot. They are also very, very durable.

They require regular cleaning with a toothbrush/baking soda and water. If you live in these like I do, they tend to get funky after a week of trodding around in the dirt.

I'm onto pair #2.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

These sandals have basically been a continuation of my feet for years. I bought one pair back in 03 and just traded them back in for a new pair because the sole was just beginning to delaminate in a small spot [...]. These sandals are amazing. You literally can were them anywhere, you can even where them with socks, and its cool (much to my wifes embarassment). They are supportive (I have a bad back) comfortable, verstile, can be abused, don't give blisters, and should be owned by anyone. A little tip for you: take a 5 gallon bucket of water with some dish soap in it, put your sandals in it over night footbed down and by morning the stink will be gone and your sandals will smell like new (nothing). Let you feet enjoy CHACO bliss.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

When i first saw these they reminded me of tarahumara (indian nation) sandals, because of the toe strap. So i reckoned they would be good for running because the toe strap keeps the front of the sandal close to the foot and doesn't "flap". When i jogged in them the straps became tighter fitting. I wonder if i had the right size, even though they were great to me... I got basic black and found them to be very good looking. I had them for two years or more and the bottom were barely beginning to wear thin. I love the vibram bottom because they are as sturdy as a boot and the sole's lugs grip as well as a boot! Outstanding in rivers! Caveat...after more than two years the straps were very slightly frayed and in the river beside the city of Sedona, AZ, the smooth, fine, mud swallowed my feet up to my shins and ripped the straps off of one of the sandals. I was bummed about it. So if you are in sticky mud pull your feet up and out gracefully and tenderly. Cause these sandals deserve that much care as rugged and faithful as they can be, aye. They are great even when swimming. And like many sandals will not be pulled off by water currents or ocean waves. It is unfortunate that they always made my big toe sore, again, i wonder if i chose the right size or what. I hate to gross anyone out but after awhile the skin cells and funk get into the holes where the strap goes into the soles and collects to a nasty degree. When cleaning them i had to move the straps back and forth through the holes to get out the entire funk. oh yeah, tiny rocks and sand will get stuck in those areas, too. ...peace out.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

These bad boys rock! A friend of mine recommended them to me. I kind of froze at the price at first and asked for them at Christmas. I SHOULDN'T HAVE WAITED! these are the best shoes I have ever owned. I wear them everywhere and they look good at any occassion. These sandals were made to be outside, but even quick trips around town are perfect. Last weekend I hiked a 26 mile trail in Arkanas, i only brought my Chacs for the stream crossings but ended up wearing them the whole time. My feet felt great even after they got wet.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

I love my chacos. They are wonderful shoes and I wear them all the time. I'm a guy and was never really into shoes.. but once I discovered hiking footwear such as chacos, I became an instant shoe lover.

Alright so, I use mine when hiking, wading in the water, walking around town, jumping off waterfalls, squishing through the mud, traveling, and so on. Whenever and wherever I can wear my chacos, I will.

It's so nice having my feet exposed to the air, free to breathe. It feels so natural and I feel much more connected with my environment.

I do a lot of waterhikes and Keens seem to be more popular than chacos, but keens seem to be marketed more specifically towards watershoes while chacos are more all-around walking shoes. People have even hiked the AT in chacos. I often bring up that fact when people are surprised to see me hiking in chacos.

I can jog or even run if I need to in chacos, but I wouldn't consider them running shoes. It's good to know that you can run if you need to in these.

When swimming I've found chacos to work better than sneaker-based watershoes. The big footbed works better as a flipper than contoured shoes, though I prefer barefeet over chacos.

I get better traction in chacos than I do in barefeet. The only things I've found that I don't get traction on are steeply sloped wet rocks, or those really slippery slime-covered rocks you find in the water. The traction overall is excellent and I trust my life to these shoes. With a lot of the things I do, I basically have to.

I'd love to give these shoes 5 stars, but there are some limits that it's helpful to be aware of. They're not showstoppers, but simply good things to be conscious of.

Boulder hopping feels good in chacos, but when crossing rugged boulder fields, I prefer my trailrunners or real hiking boots. It's not just about the ankle support, but also the tighter grip around my foot. For hiking I haven't found the lack of ankle support to be an issue. Your ankles will strengthen so you'll be alright. Poles help too of course, especially when on rugged terrain or when wearing a heavy pack.

Foot/toe protection may occasionally be an issue and it's something people often inquire about. Sometimes you'll have a stick poke your foot and get lodged in between your foot and the sandal, sticking out of it like a funky appendage. I rarely encounter problems with exposed toes, but it does happen. A summer of hiking several times a week and I only ran into chipped toe nails twice, and this was during a swim in somewhat rocky water. Sometimes when walking you may accidentally kick a boulder where a higher part sticks out more so that your toe bumper goes underneath it and it's your toes that make impact. The vast majority of the time, however, the front of the sole acts as a bumper, effectively protecting your foot. I normally wear a size 9 shoe. Size 8 was a bit too tight but size 9 works if I cinch the straps down all the way. You'll notice the extended toe bumper this larger sole offers me in the pics. Having the straps cinched down all the way means that I often have a long excess strap hanging off the side of the shoe which hasn't really ever been an issue for anything other than looks.

The straps definitely do chafe. This doesn't happen to everyone, but for me this is probably the biggest issue. I get hotspots after about 5 miles of hiking which soon turn into blisters if I don't take care of them. If I hike through water, hot spots will start making themselves known within 2 miles max. If your straps chafe, get some body glide. I don't hike in chacos without it anymore.

Dirt sometimes gets into the footbed where the straps slink in and cleaning the inside of them can be somewhat of an issue, leaving this gritty sensation when trying to adjust the strap length.

Pebbles sometimes may get caught between your foot and the footbed, but cleaning them out isn't too difficult. You can often shake them out, but sometimes you may need to loosen the straps and do some work to free those pebbles.

The toe strap sometimes gets annoyingly tight and I have to go in and adjust the strap length. This isn't just when the feet swell during a hike either. It can even happen the next time I put on the sandal, oddly enough.

I do like having the toe strap though. It helps keeps the sole very well attached to my foot. The only time my foot comes out is when I'm kicking hard when swimming in the water. Otherwise it does a good job.

You can hike without a single worry about mud or puddles. In fact, you may find yourself going out of your way to step in puddles, play in the water, or squish through the mud. While your shoe-wearing buddies will be doing their best to find dry boulders and delicately walk across a river to keep their feet dry, you'll be thoroughly enjoying yourself by walking straight into the water without hesitation. It makes life so easy. Just beware of others getting jealous of how much fun you're having... :p I've found that since I can walk right into the water, I can be of assistance to those who are trying to cross along the boulders.

So yeah, they're excellent shoes. I really love mine. I assume that wherever I go, it's likely that I'll be getting wet or want to go hiking. Whether it starts raining, I see a nice little dirt path I can take instead of a paved sidewalk, or I feel like spontaneously heading over to a local park, it's great knowing that my casual everyday shoe is also a hiking shoe and I can do whatever I want without worry about changing or keeping an extra pair of shoes with me.

They're useful, multi-purpose, comfortable, give you an awesome chaco tan (way better than the keens tiger tan or pale foot sneaker tan IMHO), attractive, and just all around awesome shoes.

While it will take some time for you to break in the shoes, particularly the footbed, get yourself a pair, walk in them for a while, then take them out with you on a hike. They're excellent shoes. :)

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

Best sandal you can buy! I am a wilderness guide and I wear this sandal for everything! Hiking, canoing, land navigation, rappeling, high and low ropes courses, you name it! I work 16 hour days 5 days a week and these are always on my feet. They offer great arch support and traction and i've never had blisters or chafing. I'd wear them all year around if the weather permitted!

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

Best sandals you can buy. Period. I use them for everything, from hiking, bicycle commuting, walking, going out, the list goes on... I have no issues at all with these. If you get them dirty, just throw 'em in the wash and they're as good as new. Also you can send them back to Chaco in Colorado and they can put new/different straps on them, adjust the strap length, or even put a new sole on the bottom. They will last you a lifetime!

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

Skeptical at first because nothing fit. I am a 15 narrow with falling arches and Keens are too wide and I have to wear a hard to find 16. Tevas are only in 15 in certain simplistic styles. Salesman put me into a 14 Z/2. Toe strap chafed at first, straps sometimes got too tight in one part of foot but keep wearin them. After a week or two, you figure it out. TIP: don't tighten the buckle too tight, then the sandle fore and aft sections adjust themselves. I wore these sandals for 3 weeks in Washington and British Columbia camping and they are absolutely wonderful. The arch in the soles makes my unhappy over-pronating foot ecstatic.

Comments about Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandals - Men's:

These sandals held up great in the rapids and thick mud of the Rio Grande. They have good traction to help you stay on your feet when the water is raging. They tighten up nicely keeping them snug while swiming or treking. They give you plenty of support while walking around or even playing sport. A great investment.