There are many brands of sandals to choose from, but which brands are the best? Through long hours of wear, I have tested some of the best brands out there for women’s sandals.
Of course, the best shoe option is a reputable brand that utilizes high-quality material. A great sandal also needs to fit your personal style and provide exceptional comfort for all day wear.
From formal occasions to work to an outdoor adventure, these sandal brands can cater to your busy lifestyle. In terms of comfort, these brands can accommodate your personal foot shape with a flat footbed, much-needed arch support, or even wide feet.
After learning about these brands, you will be prepared to purchase your next pair of sleek sandals for all your summer adventures! In my opinion, all the shoes I tested can be considered high-quality sandals.
This post is all about the best brands of sandals you should know about.
Best Brands of Sandals
1. Birkenstock
Birkenstock sandals are the most well-known sandal brand from Germany. They are a popular shoe trend for a good reason! These sandals are recognized for their distinctive, ergonomic design.
The cork-based footbed is Birkenstock’s claim to fame. This material molds to your foot shape over time, offering the most comfortable footbeds you could get.
The most popular Birkenstock sandal is the Arizona, my tried and true. Other popular sandal lines are the Mayari or the Gizeh! However, they seem to come up with a new, fresh style frequently.
I’ve had my Arizona sandals with leather straps for 5 years now! I’ve kept them in good condition with the Birkenstock care kit.
Needless to say, I’ve walked MILES in these and can attest they are the best overall sandal you can buy.
Not only do Birkenstocks last, but they are also notorious for being dressed up or down. I’ve paired my Birkenstocks with dresses for more formal occasions or dressed them down with casual outfits (and socks, I know!).
Birkenstocks are popular for a reason and I think would be an integral part of anyone’s capsule wardrobe. Truly anything from Birkenstock will result in your perfect pair of sandals.
2. Chaco
Chaco is a brand best known for its durable and comfortable sandals. You may have seen outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and travelers wearing and raving about this brand. They truly are one of the best sandal brands for outdoor activities like hiking, boating, or other water sports.
The trademark characteristic of Chaco is the Luvseat footbed. It’s made for extended outdoor wear to provide as much arch support as you need.
The ChacoGrip Outsole is crazy! I can attest to the amount of grip you can get on a wet boat deck. These sandals did a great job keeping me out of the ocean at times I didn’t want to be!
The other great thing about Chaco is that the strap system goes all the way throughout the shoe, being completely customizable to your personal foot size and shape.
I’ve had the Chaco Z/clouds with the toe strap for about 4 years! They are DURABLE and got me through a two-week trip to the Bahamas for one of my college classes. These went through the worst abuse you could imagine (bat guano-infested cave, anyone?) and still have all the tread from when I first got them. This quick-drying shoe combined with the ergonomic footbed and adjustable straps are what makes hiking through sand and puddles bearable.
Chaco sandals also come in the cutest patterns! There’s a color scheme for anyone. You can even customize your pair on the Chaco website with the color footbed and strap you love!
The only thing I don’t love about Chaco sandals is dealing with literally FLOSSING out the bits of sand after a day at the beach. This messes up the strap settings and I sometimes have to battle to get the straps back in the place that I want.
Overall this is one of the best sandal brands you could choose from! I know people who have had a singular pair of Chaco sandals for literally 15 years and they are still going strong. The durability and customization of this sandal brand cannot be beaten.
3. Teva
The sandal brand Teva serves a purpose similar to that of Chaco. Teva is most known for its comfortable and versatile sandal used for hiking, water sports, and more so now, casual wear.
The classic Teva sandal consists of a water-ready footbed with quick-drying velcro straps to secure your foot in place. This OG style is acclaimed for being great for hiking and for water sports.
Teva has also branched further than Chaco into different styles to support casual wear. This is where I noticed Teva stood out the most when I was looking for a fashionable sandal that I could wear to work and go camping in.
I purchased the Voya Infinity Sandal and the Midform Infinity Sandal last summer as a way to get both my platform sandals and strappy sandals wishlist items out of the way!
I could not recommend the Voya Infinity sandal enough. Overall, I think these are the most comfortable sandals due to the soft EVA-foam, toe loop, and easy slip-on design. They’re my favorite to wear with a pair of loose, drapey pants.
The Midform Infinity Sandal took a second to grow on me, but the additional ankle loop strap is what made these a wardrobe staple.
Overall, I love that Teva has combined its footbed and strap technology into something fashionable, yet functional. This is a brand that you must incorporate into your summer wardrobe and pack for all your beach vacations.
Brands of Sandals Summary
1. Birkenstock – Best for a closet staple as their classic styles pair well with a variety of outfits. These sandals mold to your foot in all the right places and will last a long time with the proper care.
2. Chaco – Best option for staying safe and comfortable when hiking or out on the water. It has GREAT customization and will last forever.
3. Teva – Best sandal for exceptional comfort for the outdoors AND an elevated style for everyday casual outfits.
This post was all about the best brands of sandals. I’ve personally tested sandals from each of these brands and I highly recommend them.
Any pair of sandals from these brands is sure to deliver flawless performance due to their reputation of utilizing high-quality materials and their attested durability!
