Chaco ZX/1 Sandal

I bought these to travel around Vietnam for two weeks. It was very, very hot and humid. Some downpours and they left you wet and with some serious puddles to deal with. Knowing that was likely what I was in for before I left, I researched sport sandals and decided on these rather than my usual Tevas. Part of that decision is because I had to buy online as there are no stores near me that sell Chaco or a decent selection of Teva. Meaning, I couldn't try shoes on for comfort and fit before purchasing them. I didn't want to deal with return either. Because these sandals are so adjustable to your foot, I thought I would try them (and maybe not have to do a return). I was right!

I wore these at home for a bit to break them in. They really don't need breaking in.

I really like that all the straps are adjustable. But, if you get it wrong, it could lead to blistering. I got a blister early on during my trip on one spot on top of my left foot. I think the strap was too tight (even though I was comfortable) and certainly my foot swelled in that heat. It was quite a bit of trial and error after that to get the straps to a more proper fit on that foot. But, once I did, there were no further issues.

Anyway, these were great. They gave me confidence walking around. Dried more than fast enough after getting soaked. I recommend them to anyone. I also like the purple for a color choice. Quite subtle and went with all clothing colors. These shoes are also versatile as to what you can wear them with...which is pretty much anything except a cocktail dress.

I am blister prone...I have never found a pair a boots or sneakers that didn't cause blisters, even with all the duct tape and moleskin in the world. When it came time to pack for a recent backpacking trip, I was a little worried about footwear since there was going to be a good amount of hiking involved. Since we were going somewhere warm (Havasupai) I decided to bring my Chacos. For me, they're the ultimate shoe. I can wear them around town, hiking and in the water. They're easy to rinse off (Havasupai is super sandy) and easy to get on and off. 32 miles later, I still had happy, blister free feet! You may not want to do the same if you have weak ankles or something, but I have to say...I am thrilled. My only complaint about these shoes is that when you're walking in a river with lots of little rocks on the bottom, you will get some in between your foot and the shoe and that can be a pain.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, has very flat feet and the way his feet sit in Chacos causes horrendous blisters. I have pretty high arches, and they fit me perfectly, so I'd definitely try them out for a while before committing to days of hiking in them.

I use my ZX/1 sandals as my primary hiking footwear AND travel footwear! They're stylish enough for around town (large cities excepted) and if I take an impromptu hike they stay on my feet much better than my Birkenstocks.

The system of self-adjusting straps can be confusing, but once you get the hang of it it's really nice to change the fit to fit the conditions (eg, with/without socks, neoprene booties, kicking around town, bouldering)

My first pair lasted years, and when the straps finally frayed and the sole wore down, I found out the company will refurbish them for you...I think that would have been a viable option if I hadn't let them wear out so much.

If you hike in them, be aware that rocks and sticks will get you. On the other hand, Chacos never gave me blisters from extended uphill or downhill hiking like my hiking boots/shoes did. And your feet will be wonderfully tan at the end of your hike, not pink and wrinkly. But on longer hikes the skin on your feet can dry and crack -- not a flaw in the shoe, just a reality of hiking in sandals.

As far as these shoes go, I have zero complaints about quality or function or Chaco customer service. They're excellent value for the price.

This new version of Chaco sandals just arrived and I'm wearing them now. My first pair of Chacos was way back in '98 after a white water rafting trip in Durango. Total pairs owned are 7-each with a different configuration. My favorites are without a toe loop so I can wear them with socks right until the first snowfall. After wearing them all summer, I can't seem to give them up. Figuring out the straps is the first step towards bonding with your new sandals. I'll admit, these are more difficult to figure out than the single strap models, but from now on will need minor adjustments. I love Chacos, my doctor loves them and recommends them to anyone with plantar faciitis-but please don't call them orthopedic unless you want the tax deduction. And Chaco has excellent customer service should you need new straps or soles. They are worth the time to get the straps right-and they are extremely durable-so far only my very first pair has worn out, the rest I have to color coordinate with different outfits and I always get comments. Can you tell I LOVE CHACOS!?!

I've been wearing Chacos for years and absolutely love them. The arch support in the foot-bed is great for my flat feet, and they're comfortable to walk around in all day. The only problem I've had with this pair is that the straps aren't staying adjusted - they loosen somewhat as I walk, and I just keep adjusting them. This is my first pair of Unaweeps without the toe-loop, and I wonder if the one fewer strap means that there's less friction and thus less of a hold.

This is my second pair with double-straps and I've not found them to be much different functionally than the single-strap, but I think they're prettier. Also, I've learned from enough pairs of Chacos (each worn into the ground) that it's better to adjust them to slightly looser than I might first expect - they still hold my feet well - and I have only gotten hot spots (not quite blisters) when I made them too tight.

LOVED THESE!!!! I am a bit in between sizes, though I run more towards going up a size, rather than down. I also have medium width feet. For those like me, I would recommend going UP if in between sizes, rather than down. I would also recommend a wide width, verses the normal width.

Besides the amazing comfort of chaco, I LOVE Backcountry.com! I recently tried them out as a result of being less than impressed with my regular companies. I found the shipping here to be fast, the customer service is EXCELLENT, the selection is great, and there are great deals in the outlet section! I'm won over & am a future customer of backcountry! Try them out, you'll be more than impressed!