# My tevas are dead. Recommend rugged sport sandals?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 2, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092 "2006-06-02T00:46:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/1 "2006-06-02T00:46:38Z")
After a few too many rough canoe trips and rocky hikes, my faithful footwear of twelve years has given up.
I’m looking for something simple, quick-drying, and durable as can be.
Any recommendations? (Oh, they need to have size 15s too)
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### Author:  [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/2 "2006-06-02T01:23:58Z")
Times had an article today testing a number of sports sandals
> **[Fashion](https://www.nytimes.com/section/fashion)**
>
> The latest fashion news and trends, including celebrities, politicians, designer reviews, runway shows and international fashion week photos and coverage.
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### Author:  [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/3 "2006-06-02T01:30:44Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#):
>
> Any recommendations? (Oh, they need to have size 15s too)
I’d see if Merrill still has sports sandals. The pair I had (years ago) had a great arch in them, were ruggedly built, and seemed to dry out fairly quickly. I bought a pair of Timberlands, and there’s no arch in them. This for a guy who wears orthotics.
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### Author:  [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/4 "2006-06-02T01:35:17Z")
If you’ve had 12 years of faithful service from your Teva’s, why aren’t you buying a replacement pair of the same brand?
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### Author:  [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/5 "2006-06-02T01:40:49Z")
I have a pair of these and like them better than my Tevas. They are lighter and have a buckle release instead of velcro. Mine are two years old and are wearing very well.
Sadly they only go up to size 13.
[NRS Pursuit sandals](http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2370&deptid=1167)
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### Author:  [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/6 "2006-06-02T02:28:14Z")
> [@Adoptamom\_II](#):
>
> If you’ve had 12 years of faithful service from your Teva’s, why aren’t you buying a replacement pair of the same brand?
All the Teva’s that I have looked at in stores around here don’t impress me much. It looked to me like the brands had taken a nose dive. Perhaps anyone else can confirm or deny this?
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/7 "2006-06-02T02:42:17Z")
I’m joinigng the Peace Corps, and it seems like most the volunteers swear by Chacos.
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### Author:  [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/8 "2006-06-02T02:48:38Z")
I have a pair of Chacos that I love. Very high arch on them though, and no cushy give.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/9 "2006-06-02T02:49:21Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#):
>
> All the Teva’s that I have looked at in stores around here don’t impress me much. It looked to me like the brands had taken a nose dive. Perhaps anyone else can confirm or deny this?
The Teva brand is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corp, and local Santa Barbara company. I know many people who work or have worked there in management positions. Deckers made a business decision a few years ago to change from a very technical sandal to a cheaper mass market sandal. Most of their best designers left shortly after that. This decision coincided with a particular patent going end of life so they had to compete with cheap knockoffs.
Trivia #1: Deckers is not only the sole marketer of Teva sandals but also of Ugg Boots and Simple Shoes.
Trivia #2: Teva is pronounced Teh-Vah (not Tee-Vah). It was named for the Hebrew word for nature.
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### Author:  [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/10 "2006-06-02T03:07:58Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#):
>
> I have a pair of Chacos that I love. Very high arch on them though, and no cushy give.
Thirding the Chacos. Love them.
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### Author:  [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/11 "2006-06-02T06:43:08Z")
I’m not a heavy user, but my Keens seem to have good arch, traction, and fit. Not the lightest ever, or very packable though
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/12 "2006-06-02T11:44:43Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#):
>
> I have a pair of Chacos that I love. Very high arch on them though, and no cushy give.
Chacos have two footbed styles. The one with the higher arch is more commonly seen. The other one has a lower arch and is flatter overall. Most folks seem to prefer the first one–even those who have naturally low arches–but I know a lot of folks who prefer the other one. But don’t think that you need the “wider” style because you have wide feet or low arches. I have wide feet and my husband has low arches, and we both prefer the regular ones. Try them both on.
Chacos are so far superior to any Tevas I’ve ever seen that it’s not even funny. There’s a reason that all the river guides wear them. The advantages include having no velcro and a strap design that is a model of efficient simplicity. Plus they are much much MUCH more durable. They can even be resoled. (I’ve had one of my pairs done.)
I’ve been wearing them for over a decade. They rock.
Apparently, they go up to mens’ size 14. Try on the 14s. If they don’t work, call Chaco. I have no idea if they’d do custom sizes, but it’s worth a try.
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### Author:  [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/13 "2006-06-02T12:41:06Z")
Chacos Chacos Chacos Chacos Chacos Chacos Chacos 😃 Chacos
Just last weekend I saw a pair of [this](http://www.riversportsoutfitters.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=MZX-2UWP-06!CHC&csurl=%2Fistar%2Easp%3Fa%3D29%26manufacturer%3DCHC%26sortby%3D%26numperpage%3D15%26pos%3D15%26) variety at an outdoor store, and I could only keep myself from buying them by looking at the perfectly good pair already on my feet.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/14 "2006-06-02T13:43:07Z")
You must at least look at ‘Keen’ sandles. Very tough.
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### Author:  [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/15 "2006-06-02T21:53:38Z")
Well, I have settled on the Chacos. Now I just hope they don’t give me Jacob Crutchfield Disease.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/16 "2006-06-02T22:32:51Z")
[Crocs](http://www.crocs.com/home.jsp). I win.
Seriously, though, they’re great and comfy shoes. Maybe not as rugged as you want, but they’re still grand.
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/17 "2006-06-02T23:00:53Z")
Seconded. I love my crocs. Ugliest things I’ve ever set eyes on, and madly trendy. But unholy comfy. I find myself wearing them around the house rather than going barefoot because they are THAT comfy. Plus, I can walk a few miles in them and not feel even a hint of “tired feet”.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/18 "2006-06-03T03:45:27Z")
They’re not even ultra trendy here. The nursing community seems to get in on the ground floor of comfy footwear.
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### Author:  [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/19 "2006-06-03T19:55:28Z")
I like my crocs too, but I don’t see them as in the same family as ‘sport sandals’. I would’t take my crocs hiking or backpacking, unless it was for something to wear around base camp. Even then, with backpack space at a premium, my Chacos would certainly occupy my ‘footwear other than hiking boots’ slot.
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### Author:  [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tevas-are-dead-recommend-rugged-sport-sandals/359092/20 "2006-06-04T05:18:01Z")
Have you considered making your own sandals [by recycling automobile tires?](http://www.hollowtop.com/sandals.htm)
Considering you’ll need a size 15 (I’m a fellow 15’er myself, and WIDE to boot!) this might be the way to go!
Well, at least, it’s a conversation-starter!
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