Who Should Buy The Teva Universal Trail
The Teva Universal Trail is styled for the city but tough enough to tackle the trails. It is a solid option if you:
- Prefer a hiking sandal that can keep the foot secured and offers quick-drying features
- Prefer a hiking sandal that sticks nicely on dry and wet surfaces.
- Prefer a hiking sandal that offers comfortable cushioning and underfoot support.
Moderate Arch Support And Cushy Footbed Provide Max Comfort
I dont care how functional a sandal is, if its not comfortable, its not going to work for me. Luckily the Teva Universal Trail sandal is about as comfy as it gets. I am fairly flat-footed, so some of the competitor sandals with high arches dont work for me. This Teva sandal midsole, on the other hand, has just the right amount of arch enough to be supportive, but not so much that it is unnatural. The footbed is also nice and cushy making it comfortable all day long.
Cushion Under The Buckles And Straps
Ever worn sandals on a hike and ended up with blisters from the straps digging into your feet? With the Teva Universal Trail sandals, youll never worry about this again, due to their neoprene-like lining. The straps and buckles are lined with a quick-dry, eco-friendly material called Ariapene® that provides a layer of soft cushioning between the sandal and your feet. This prevents uncomfortable rubbing and painful blisters. This material is also quick dry for splashing around in the water.
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Easy To Adjust The Fit
This sandal comes with a fixed ankle strap, along with adjustable Velcro ankle and toe straps connected by a single fixed outside Velcro strap. Such an intuitive design makes adjusting the fit easy. Unlike the classic Teva sandals, the Universal Trail has a soft lining underneath the webbing straps so it feels soft to the skin and won’t cause bruising.
Straps Are Made From Recycled Plastic Water Bottles
The Teva Universal Trail sandal straps are made from 100% recycled plastic called REPREVE® polyester. In fact, each sandal prevents 4 plastic water bottles from ending up in a landfill! In addition, these sandals are vegan. As a new plant-based eater, this is something Im starting to pay more attention to.
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Compare To Similar Products
| Plush footbed, great traction, classic style, solid value | Lightweight, versatile, excellent traction | Solid construction, comfortable and adjustable, good traction, weighs less than typical Chacos | Very affordable, light, comfortable | ||
| Not best for high arches | Adjustment can be tedious | Less supportive than others, loses some traction when wet | Thin, lack of support, durability | ||
| Bottom Line | This sandal keeps the classic style Teva is known for, while adding in terrain tackling tread to the mix | This lightweight sandal is comfortable, durable, and capable of handling anything out on the trail | With solid all-around performance, this is one of the most dependable models we tested | Impressive comfort and solid all-around performance in a lightweight and affordable package | An amazingly lightweight sandal with superb comfort, flexibility, and a compact design |
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| Rating Categories |
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Should You Buy The Teva Universal Trail
The Teva Universal Trail has a recognizable style, paired with a lightweight design, comfortable performance, and excellent trail traction. If you’re looking for a high-performance sandal with better support and stability, perhaps look elsewhere, but if you want a well-rounded, comfortable, and lightweight shoe with classic style, look no further. The Universal Trail provides a solid value with all-around performance and an average price tag. Other sandals will be better suited for your more rugged and extreme adventures, but for the price, this model is quite capable.
Vibram Sole Provides Durability And Traction
Want to hike above your campsite to a good vantage point for sunset? No need to put your hiking boots back on. The Teva Universal Trail sandal has a VIBRAM Mega Grip Outsole® that provides an impressive amount of traction that will keep you from slipping on rocky terrain. The grippy sole also helps in wet environments.
I will say that this sandal is a hybrid for city and mountain living. If you want something that is a bit more rugged and stiffer, check out the Teva Hurricane XLT-2 sandals.
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Men’s Sandals Buying Tips
Comfortable men’s sandals are amazing to wear, but can be tricky to choose. Casual or technical, flip-flop or water shoe, finding the right sandals for men is easy when you use our tips.
Consider your walking style first. Pick a shoe that is best for your activities. Are you traveling on pavement, nature paths, dirt roads or around water? You’ll want to choose running, multisport, casual, trail runners or light hiking sandals, depending on your destination.
Flexibility and support are your next thought. Pick up a shoe by the heel and toe and try bending the shoe. Does it twist and move? If you’re planning on hiking over diverse, rugged terrain, you’ll want to feel resistance. If you want to be comfortable in casual situations, you will want to have some flex.
Shoe weight is another consideration. Are you carrying your shoes to a campsite? You’ll want something that is low on weight. Are you heading on a long hike? You’ll probably want a sandal that has some heft, to stand up to miles of trail.
Finally, fit is more important than any other consideration. A good fit will stop you from getting blisters or sore feet. You simply won’t regret buying a shoe that fits you well. You want your sandal to be snug everywhere, tight nowhere and with enough room to wiggle your toes.
No matter what shoe you decide upon, know that REI has plenty of options for you. Choose from our most popular brands: Chaco, Keen, OluKai and Teva. Happy trails!
Our Analysis And Test Results
The Teva Universal Trail provides excellent value and solid performance across most of our test rating metrics. This sandal offers plenty of comfort, versatility, and all-around performance for the average user. While not as stable or technically-minded as some competitors, this sandal should be a hit among Teva-loving fans thanks to its simple design and reasonable weight of 1.29 lbs for the pair.
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Lightweight Yet Cushy Midsole Made Possible By Eva Foam
To keep this sandal as lightweight as it can be, Teva uses EVA for its midsole. This type of foam is very lightweight yet cushy. It also does well in absorbing impact and reducing the pressure on the feet so you can walk comfortably and without getting tired easily. The footbed is contoured so it cups the foot securely.
