There are few trips where slipping a pair of sandals into your suitcase isn’t a good idea. You’ll want them for the beach, for hopping from room to dinner, for lazy ambles along cobblestone streets. But then there are more active breaks – where your cute leather strappy sandals simply aren’t going to cut it. When I took a trip to Wyoming last year, I left my stylish sliders and fisherman’s sandals at home and packed something less flashy: a pair of Teva Original Universals.
Being an American brand, I wasn’t especially familiar with Teva when I left London, and I tucked them into my suitcase without much thought. I hadn’t even tried them on, which did make me slightly anxious given how much I knew I’d be wearing them over the next week. But when I arrived at the ranch and put them on for the first time, I realised: literally everyone here was already wearing these. I mean everyone – and this specific brand, not just a similar style. When the trip leaders recommended footwear for the day’s activities, it wasn’t “wear sandals”, it was “wear your Tevas”.
Quickly I understood why: they’re genuinely a really good outdoorsy shoe. Launched in 1984 in Arizona, the design hasn’t needed improvement since. The quick-dry webbing (now made from recycled plastic), cushioned midsole and grippy rubber outsole all do exactly what you want them to. They adjust at multiple points for a secure fit, and the hook-and-loop fastening is far quicker and less fiddly than a buckle.
There were a few things that really made them a winner for me (and, clearly, everyone else). Firstly, they’re incredibly lightweight – far more so than your average leather sandal. They slid easily into the side pocket of my suitcase, taking up almost no space, and they’re just as easy to throw into a day bag if you want to swap out hiking boots for a swim while on-the-move. On my Wyoming trip, we rode into the mountains to camp for a few days, packing everything onto the horses, so it was really important to travel light – my horse appreciated my bringing along lightweight footwear!
They’re also very comfortable. I was worried they’d rub, given I hadn’t worn them in at all, but they were completely fine from the outset – even on longer walks through scrubby terrain. Not a single blister appeared even after wearing them every day for over a week.
