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Teva vs. Chaco - here's how the 2 popular sport sandals stack up
Teva vs. Chaco - here's how the 2 popular sport sandals stack up
Connie Chen,Connie ChenAug 22, 2019, 21:00 IST
Connie Chen/Business Insider
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Teva and Chaco are two wildly popular sport sandals in the outdoor community. They were both created by river guides who needed practical and comfortable footwear solutions that could stand up to the elements.
Buy Tevas ($70) if you have flat or less arched feet, you don't mind Velcro straps, and you want a softer footbed.
Buy Chacos ($105) if you have high arches, like the look of the single-wrapped strap, and want a more "dry" feel. There are also more color and pattern options thanks to the customization feature.
Many great debates rage on in the world of consumer products. Apple or Samsung? Coke or Pepsi? Canon or Nikon?
If you're looking at sport sandals, we know the big question on your mind is: Tevas or Chacos?
These popular outdoor sandals were both born out of necessity. In the 1980s, two river guides, one in Arizona and the other in Colorado, needed comfortable footwear solutions that would keep their shoes on their feet and prevent their feet from wrinkling into prunes every day.
They had these basic needs in common, but from there the river splits. The sandal designs they ultimately came up with look and feel quite different. We like and have covered both Teva and Chaco sandals, delving into their history, design, and impact on the fashion and outdoor industries.
Now, here's a direct comparison that will let you easily decide which sandals are right for you.
We compared the Teva Hurricane XLT 2 Sandals and the Chaco Z/1 Classic Sandals on features like their strap system, footbed, arch design, and color selection in order to help you determine whether you're Team Tevas or Team Chacos.
An easy way to tell Tevas and Chacos apart are their strap designs. Teva straps line the sides of your feet while Chaco straps wrap across the tops of your feet.
Teva straps support the tops, sides, and ankles of your feet and have Velcro to allow for fit adjustments. They're made from water-friendly, quick-drying webbing that's made from polyester, nylon, and recycled PET.
Chaco straps include a buckle, criss cross each other, and are actually one long, continuous strap. This gives your feet the feeling of being wrapped. You adjust the fit at each part of the foot by pulling that area of the strap. They're made from water-friendly, quick-drying polyester jacquard webbing.
Footbed materials and feel
The footbed is what your feet are in contact with all day as you wear these sandals. Here's how the footbeds differ:
Chacos have a slightly textured footbed that feels more dry.
Midsole and arch design
Depending on the shape of your feet and the level of support you want, you'll like one brand more than the other.
Tevashave a lower arch and make you feel like you're walking closer to the ground. I have fairly flat feet and found Tevas to be more comfortable than Chacos. The midsole is made from lightweight and flexible EVA foam, which feels cushioned and bouncy.
Chacoshave a high arch, with a thicker midsole at the heel than Tevas. If your feet have high arches, they'll be more comfortable in Chacos. The midsole is made from PU foam, which is a little heavier than EVA foam, but has a longer-lasting bounce.
Outsole
While the outsoles have different designs, both Tevas and Chacos provide strong traction, allowing you to walk across all types of terrain — smooth tile, rocky trails, slippery rocks, and more.
Weight
Both shoes are excellent lightweight footwear options that won't weigh you down as you trek miles and miles on your travels or hikes.
Tevas are lighter. One pair weighs 1 pound, 4 ounces.
Chacos are heavier. One pair weighs 1 pound, 5.2 ounces.
Color and pattern options
Sport sandals, like all shoes, can be a reflection of your personal style. You'll be able to choose from a variety of colors and patterns from each brand.
Tevascome in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. Some styles are part of limited-edition collections, but if you aren't able to find the one you want on Teva's website, you might have better luck checking another online retailer such as REI.
Chacosalso come in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. The brand also features limited-edition collections. To ensure your pair never gets mixed up with another person's, you can create a custom pair. This process lets you customize everything from the main strap to the logo badge. You can even upload your own image as a print or add embroidery.
The bottom line
After trying the sandals from Teva and Chaco, we've learned they're both very comfortable and supportive. But you should use the following points to figure out which pair you should buy.
Buy Tevas if: You have flat or less arched feet, you don't mind Velcro straps, and you want a softer footbed.
Tevas retail for $70, but you may be able to find them at lower prices at retailers such as Amazon and REI.
Shop the Teva Hurricane XLT 2 sandals (Men's) here: Amazon | Teva | REI
Shop the Teva Hurricane XLT 2 sandals (Women's) here: Amazon | Teva | REI
Buy Chacos if: You have high arches, like the look of the single-wrapped strap, and want a more "dry" feel. There are also more color and pattern options thanks to the customization feature.
Chacos are more expensive and retail for $105, but you may be able to find them at lower prices at retailers such as Amazon and REI.
Shop the Chaco Z/1 Classic sandals (Men's) here: Amazon | Chaco | REI
Shop the Chaco Z/1 Classic sandals (Women's) here: Amazon | Chaco | REI
