Teva Universal Trail Sandals Review

I got my first pair of Teva Universal Trail Sandals back in 2020. Now many years later, I’m on my second pair, and these are hands down my favorite sandals I’ve owned.

With the perfect amount of cushion, comfortable straps, and a thick sole, they make an excellent camp sandal and an all-around great choice for summer outdoor activities – whether that’s light hiking, beach days, or outdoor concerts.

There’s a lot to love about the Teva Universal Trail sandals. In this review I’ll go over their best features and why they continue to be my go-to sandal, despite a couple of minor drawbacks that I’ll discuss below.

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Teva Universal Trail Sandal Overview

Pros

Cons

Comfort

Ever worn sandals on a hike and ended up with blisters from the straps digging into your feet? Prior to discovering the Teva Universal Trail Sandals, I wore Chacos, and this was always an issue for me, especially if sand got stuck underneath the straps.

Once I switched to Tevas, I never had this problem again. The bottom of the straps and buckles is lined with a quick-dry, eco-friendly material called Ariapene® (which looks and feel like neoprene) that provides a layer of soft cushioning between the sandal and your feet. This layer prevents rubbing and uncomfortable friction and is very effective at helping to avoid blisters.

The soles on the Teva Universal Trail Sandals provide adequate cushion thanks to the EVA midsoles. I literally wear these almost every day of summer, and I’ve never experienced sore, fatigued feet.

If you’re camping and hiking, the cushion is thick enough to mask the effects of rocky ground. Or if you’re running errands or walking long distances on pavement, these are also soft, yet supportive.

I am fairly flat-footed, so some of the competitor sandals (like Chacos) with high arches don’t 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.

Traction

Want to do a light 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, like crossing streams or hiking after a drizzle.

I will say that the Universal Trail sandal is a hybrid for city and mountain living, though. If you want something that is a bit more rugged, has better grip, and is stiffer, check out the Teva Hurricane XLT-2 sandals. These are the camp sandals I brought on the John Muir Trail, and while I don’t find them as comfortable for everyday wear, they gave me more confidence on rougher terrain.

Adjustability

If you’ve ever worn sandals where you had to really wrestle with the straps to adjust the fit, you’ll love the simplicity of the Teva Universal Trail sandals.

Instead of having to pull and tug the straps through the sole of the sandal like you do on Chacos, on these Tevas, the straps pull through a simple loop that allows you to get the perfect fit in a matter of seconds. 

My only complaint about the straps is that for my feet, the straps are too long. I can definitely get them tight enough, but as you can see in the photo below, the strap around my ankle hangs off the end more than I’d like.

Durability

In all of the miles I’ve worn these, I’ve never had issues with durability. The straps are thick and tough, the velcro has stayed put, and the soles have handled all of the sharp rocks I’ve walked on at my campsites over the years. The pair in the photo below is 3 years old, and there is still plenty of tread left on the outsoles.

However, with my first pair, I did experience an issue. One afternoon, I left them out in the direct Las Vegas sun on a 100+ degree day. A couple hours later, I came back outside and found that the foodbed had completely shrunk (I wish I took a photo).

It was so disappointing, and I was just past the warranty period. Despite this, I liked them enough to get a new pair.

Moral of the story: don’t leave them sitting in extreme sun, and you should be ok.

Packability

There are certainly outdoor sandals that are thinner and lighter, but these Teva Universal Trail Sandals strike a nice compromise between comfort, support, and packability.

The weigh just over 1 pound for the pair, which makes them a reasonable choice as camp shoes on a backpacking trip. Most Chacos, for comparison, weigh 5 ounces more for the pair.

Style and Versatility

The Teva Universal Trail sandals aren’t just made for the outdoors. With a simple style and cute earthy colors, they can be dressed up just as easily for a night on the town (or backyard BBQs). They go with just about anything, and I love the touch of pink on the velcro. 

Plus you can throw a pair of socks on underneath for those extra chilly evenings, making them versatile as well.

Where to Buy

You can find the Universal Teva Trail Sandals at Backcountry or REI.  As long as you can find your desired size and color, I recommend buying them at REI. That way if for some reason, they aren’t working out for you, you have 1 year to return them.

Teva Universal Trail Sandal Alternatives  

If the Teva Universal Trail Sandals aren’t the right choice for you, here are a few other lightweight outdoor sandals to consider:

What questions do you have about the Teva Universal Trail Sandals? Do you own a pair? What do you love/dislike about them? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!